Summary of Dr. Péter Hack’s sermon on January 22, 2023
The nature of secular man immediately rebels against being told what to think. According to the Bible, it is God who wants to tell us this, and for our own good.
We must rejoice in the opportunity to choose good. It is God’s will that we enjoy the good that he created for man, in his image and likeness.
Unfortunately, the first couple listened to the devil, but God must be Lord over our lives. The Bible speaks of the sons of wrath and the sons of grace. We must keep God’s guidance and then we can be the sons of grace.
Our decisions have great significance in the outcome of our lives. It is not true that our fate is in the hands of others. Inheritance from our ancestors can be overcome through rebirth in Christ.
After becoming a newborn christian, the Word advises us to rejoice continuously, which can stabilize our good state. Historical events have a significant impact on the life of a nation and an individual, but we can change this with a life-affirming attitude. It is shocking that today there are many depressed and suicidal university students.
Those who watch the news but have no connection to the Lord cannot imagine how Christians are capable of rejoicing in today’s world.
When the Bible says to rejoice always, we must know that God never asks us to do something we cannot do. The Word says not to worry, because it kills joy.
WORRYING IS FUNDAMENTALLY UNBELIEF, WHICH ASSUMES THAT THE DEVIL IS GREATER THAN GOD.
We should approach the Father with absolute trust and express that He is above the circumstances, so we should not let worry kill joy. It is very important that instead of worrying, we bring our requests before God with thanksgiving. We owe thanks to God because He created us, we did not create ourselves. Ultimately, everything good we have received is from God. The psalmist says, “we are the sheep of his pasture.” Sheep are not complaining animals, they love to graze and be close to the shepherd. However, ingratitude is strongly ingrained in our culture, but gratitude and ingratitude are both decisions. It’s like a switch that we turn on. Let’s turn our “switch” towards gratitude!
IT IS POSSIBLE TO TURN FROM INGRATITUDE. THOSE WHO APPROACH THE LORD WITH THANKSGIVING KNOW HOW POWERFUL THEIR GOD IS.
We enter into God’s presence through thanksgiving. The more we communicate our gratitude towards God, the more we will be able to do so with those around us. Giving thanks does not mean that we should call bad things good, but rather that we give thanks for the good things we have received from our Creator. Giving thanks is not the same as positive speech.
WE CAN EXPRESS OUR PROBLEMS, BUT WE SHOULD DO IT WITH THANKSGIVING BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY TO SOLUTIONS.
We, who are from different nations, have also been grafted into the gentle olive tree, and therefore the declarations given to Israel are also given to us. This includes God revealing His Word, laws, and decrees to us. Therefore, we will be able to rejoice even when secular people cannot.
„Know all of you that the LORD he is God: it is he that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations.”
Psalm 100:3-5
THE VERSES QUOTED:
- Philippians 4:4-9
- Ephesians 2:3-5
- Book of Psalms 69:30-33, 95:1-7, 100:1-5, 147:5-20