St John the Evangelist

November 4th – 23 Sunday after Pentecost  ALL SAINTS

Sermon outline: EPHESIANS 1.11-23

PRAYING TO A SOVEREIGN GOD – AND GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM

1.            GROWING IN KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM OF GOD

            1 Kings 3.5 and 3.9

             James 1.5

              Hosea 4.6

             Psalm 111.10

              Proverbs 1.7

2              PRAYING FOR A SPIRIT OF REVELATION

              .Paul  “This is the same power that enables us to live transformed lives.”  

·              Eph 1.17

3              We must have the eyes of our hearts enlightened

·              Ephesians 1.18  “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saints.”

             “Though we are weak, yet we are strong in Jesus.”

              Job 24.12

           Daniel 10.19  “Beloved, fear not.  Peace be unto you.  Be strong, yea be strong.”

IN AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED COURTROOM, A South African woman stood listening to white police officers acknowledge their atrocities.

Officer van de Broek acknowledged that along with others, he had shot her 18 year old son at point blank range.  He and the others partied while they burned the son's body, turning it over and over on the fire until it was reduced to ashes.

Eight years later, van de Broek and others returned to seize her husband.  She was forced to watch her husband, bound on a woodpile, as they poured gasoline over his body and ignited the flames that consumed his body.  The last words she heard here husband say were "forgive them".

Now, van de Broek awaited judgement.  South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission asked the woman what she wanted.

"I want three things," she said calmly.  "I want Mr. van de Broek to take me to the place where they burned my husband's body.  I would like to gather up the dust and give him a decent burial.  Second, Mr. van de Broek took all my family away from me, and I still have a lot of love to give.  Twice a month, I would like for him to come to the ghetto and spend a day with me so that I can be a mother to him.  Third, I would like Mr. van de Broek to know that he is forgiven by God, and that I forgive him too.  I would like to embrace him so he can know my forgiveness is real".

As the elderly woman was led across the courtroom, van de Broek fainted, overwhelmed.  Someone began singing "Amazing Grace".  Gradually everyone joined in.

Stanley W. Green, The Canadian Mennonite (9th April 2000).

The Reverend John Simons asks:  "Can we forgive like this?"  His answer: "Yes we can".