Which Picture Do I Paint?

August 28th Pastor Alex Hardt   Which Picture Do I Paint?
 
Pastor Alex used the scene of the feeding of the 5,000 as the background for his sermon. (John 6:1-15)  He drew attention to the little boy who had the lunch (5 loaves and 2 small fish) that Jesus multiplied to the amazement of the crowd of probably 15,000 or more.  As I listened to Pastor Alex’s sermon and the unfolding of his concept of ‘voice’, I began to ask myself “At what volume is my voice set?”  Alex defined voice as the part of me that represents who I am, where I belong and what my purpose is.  God wants to take who I am and give me a voice to be heard for Him.  He wants me to belong to Him and be in His family forever.  Since my creation, my purpose has been to glorify Him in all I say and do so God desires to use my voice, me, to reach out to others for my good and His glory.

So again, I asked myself “What is the current volume of my voice?”  Am I set on low so that only God and I can hear?  Am I set on medium so that my family and friends can hear my love and testimony for Jesus?  Or am I allowing God to set my voice on high, turned way up, so that He is heard through me wherever I go? 

Why would I not have my voice set on high all the time?  God gives life to my voice and will use me wherever I am.  Perhaps, you are turned on low because of low self-esteem, crushing circumstances, fear or feelings of unworthiness.  If this resonates with you, turn to Jesus and claim His truth of your worth.  He came and died so that you might live a full and abundant life in Him.  He loves you.  Remember the words of John 3:16 “For God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave his only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   God loves you and desires to hear your voice above the noise of the world.

Perhaps you are on medium because you fear the recrimination of those outside of your circle.  You fear their rebuke and hostility.  You are worried about the repercussions of speaking out for Jesus, the rejection and hatred of the hostile world.  Jesus told us that would be the case in John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” However, we have to trust Jesus and believe that He has indeed overcome the world and count the difficulties we encounter as trials.  I love what James says about the difficulties of life and being heard for Jesus.  James 1:2-4 “ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.    We can be assured that Jesus will use it all to refine and grow us.  Through it all, our voice will become stronger for Him.

I pray Alex’s sermon caused you to think about how loud you are willing to let Jesus use your voice for Him.  Remember, He gives you voice, He welcomes it and will give infinite life to your voice when you turn it up and speak out for Him.  

May you spend a week on high volume resounding with His love and grace to all.
Linda

P.S.  Next week we are reading Psalm 121 and working to memorize this familiar encouraging psalm.  May you be blessed through His Word and may it add to your voice in a new way.

SERMON LINK
Painting a New Perspective | Which Picture Do I Paint?
Sermon Link

https://youtu.be/GnHbDUwId-4​

Sermon series, "Painting A New Perspective." Today Alex teaches from John 6:1-15

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