Sermon Summary: Be Immovable by Fr. Joseph Ghattas
The following is a written summary of Be Immovable by Fr. Joseph Ghattas, you can listen to the recording here.
1 Corinthians 15:58 - a massive dispute regarding the resurrection arose.
“Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”.
1. Be a rock not a leaf!
Every work you do for the sake of the Lord, it is accounted for.
The altars in the Church are consecrated and therefore, immovable.
We too are consecrated during the sacrament of Chrismation and are called to abound in the Lord.
In Baptism, if a baby girl is baptised with her earrings, her earrings become a property of the Church - how much more are we than the earrings?
In the Orbana, the centre is the cross surrounded by 12 smaller crosses which resembles the disciples. The rest of the Orbana is the body of Christ comprised of His children. Thus, if in communion, a part of the bread falls, the priest must search for it because no child of God shall be lost.
2. Knowing our final destination allows us to be immovable.
When we fall into sin, we neglect the place God has prepared for us.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 - “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy them. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are”.
1 Corinthians 6:13-20 - “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”.
3. Keep yourself busy and working in service.
In the story of Joseph, they stripped him of his coat, but not his character.
4. Don’t let anyone strip you of your character and values.
If you want to know God more, you need to spend more time with Him.
The quantity and quality of time is substantial in contributing to your immovable character.
Luke 6:48-49 - “They are like a man building a house who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock”.
Where do we build our house? On what type of foundation?
Repentance and confession are critical and our return to God.
Repent everyday! “I will arise because sin is death” (The Prodigal Son).
God wants your soul back to Him.
We are in the midst of a physical fight between God and Satan, in desire of our soul.
God has defeated death, but it is through sin that we turn away from Him and the ultimate sacrifice He has given.
Embrace the beauty of a proper confession, don’t hold back.
Carry Christ wherever you go and know that Christ wants to carry you into heaven.
God has every interest in you coming back home. He is your bridegroom and has prepared a mansion of eternal happiness.
We belong to Christ and not the world.
How many of the people who encountered Christ left sad?
To ensure Christ is with you, encounter Christ today, tomorrow and every other day of your life.
Communion gives us a sense of power because the Lord is within us.
Do not stop having communion if you have sinned, but ensure that you have truly repented.
ENCOUNTER GOD EVERYDAY.
