Worship Leader JH Ginmung opened the church service with Ephesians 6:10-13. The church sang a few selected hymns after which, Elder B Langkham prayed over the offerings for the morning service.
Pastor T Lamkhanthang encouraged us to pray for our Meitei brothers, asking God to bless them and soften their hearts. He then led the mass prayer. There were several announcements to be made. Next week’s program was announced to be themed as the Love Series, uncovering the love of God. The pastor also gave a brief update about the upcoming camp. He then welcomed the prominent visitors that had come to visit the church today as well as the newcomers. After which, Pastor Biaklal was invited to talk about his purpose of visit.
As today’s service was Sunday School, Pastor T Lamkhanthang taught the congregation from Lesson 21-22, i.e., Galatians 5:13-26. After reading from verses 13 to 15 to introduce the lesson, he opened the Sunday school with a prayer. Immediately with reference to the verses being taught today, he established that the core intention of freedom in Christ was that freedom was for our good. However, if our freedom inflicted harm or hurt others then it was not true freedom but the misuse of freedom. As freedom was given through Christ for us to be freed from the judgment of the Law and to receive the identity of being Children of God, we cannot use our freedom for self-centered wishes nor to hurt others. This means not to use our freedom for the flesh.
Flesh consists of not just the body but human’s self-centered thoughts and desires. Hence, living by our desires is the start of being a slave again. The pastor further elaborated that Love is the way through which we should live in true freedom, in the Spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself because through this, many of the Law is already fulfilled as when one cares about the other, murder, adultery or any sinful activity does not take place.
The pastor started Lesson 22 with Galatians 5:16-18. He commented that while as Christians we have triumph over the desires of the flesh, it does not mean that we won’t struggle in our Christian life. Until we die we will be wrestling with all forms of sin. He then explained that there are two ways of ‘walking’ in life- through the flesh and through the Spirit. While unbelievers walk in the flesh, we as Christians must walk in the Spirit. This however is not automatic, we must choose to walk in the Spirit through the Holy Spirit’s guidance that is given to us when we receive Christ into our lives through faith. The sins mentioned in verse 19-21 while condemning the sinner to hell, may be committed by a born-again Christian, if so, he encourages that we can always start again. The difference between the person condemned to hell and the Christian is that the former ‘practices’ these sins while the latter, if a true Christian, naturally will not keep falling back into the loop. An example of such a Christian is David, who committed adultery but did not keep repeating it. In conclusion, it is the chosen lifestyle that makes the difference. The pastor ended his segment with a prayer.
Following, the TBUC Secretary introduced the newly registered members of the church after which, the pastor prayed over them. The worship team led the church in a short worship session that was succeeded by Elder H Kamsuanthang who closed the morning service with a prayer.
Photos Video Gamchiam
