Living in times of crisis
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: The sermon is about the importance of being a community as a church and maintaining good relationships with the brothers and sisters in the church. The speaker emphasizes the need for Christians to be aware of both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of their life, as the cross goes up and to the sides. He also reminds fathers to be involved in the spiritual care of their children and not to leave it all to the mother. The sermon then focuses on the story of the Shunammite woman and her son, who was given to her by God but later dies. The speaker underscores the fact that difficulties and trials are part of life, even for those who are in the will of God, and encourages listeners to remain attached to God's promises and seek strength in their faith during times of affliction.
The speaker discusses the importance of being prepared for the bad days that will come in life. He encourages listeners to put on the whole armor of God, filling themselves with the power of the Holy Spirit and God's provision. He emphasizes the need to identify when difficult times come and to stand firm on what God has promised. He uses the story of the woman in 2 Kings 4 as an example of someone who was spiritually and emotionally prepared for the crisis when her son died. He also references the story of David and Goliath, encouraging listeners to have the same faith and confidence in God's ability to deliver them from their problems.
The speaker encourages listeners to invest in their relationship with God during times of rest and prosperity, rather than only seeking spiritual intervention during times of crisis. He advises against allowing problems to consume one's thoughts and emotions, but instead to cast them onto God and pray continuously. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard and strengthen one's mind and heart in Christ Jesus. Praying in various forms, including silence and praise, can nourish one's spiritual life like a "miracle grow" for plants.
The sermon encourages people to focus on Jesus in times of trouble and to cultivate the habit of instinctively looking towards Him. By doing so, the power of Christ can be transmitted into one's life to dissolve and destroy problems, and provide solutions. The speaker emphasizes the importance of building a place of refuge for the presence of God and putting problems in God's territory. The message also calls for spiritual adulthood, discipline, and investment in one's relationship with God in order to attain vitality, authority, and discernment. The goal is to become a warrior people who honor God and are prepared for the battles of life.
The speaker discusses the importance of being prepared for the bad days that will come in life. He encourages listeners to put on the whole armor of God, filling themselves with the power of the Holy Spirit and God's provision. He emphasizes the need to identify when difficult times come and to stand firm on what God has promised. He uses the story of the woman in 2 Kings 4 as an example of someone who was spiritually and emotionally prepared for the crisis when her son died. He also references the story of David and Goliath, encouraging listeners to have the same faith and confidence in God's ability to deliver them from their problems.
The speaker encourages listeners to invest in their relationship with God during times of rest and prosperity, rather than only seeking spiritual intervention during times of crisis. He advises against allowing problems to consume one's thoughts and emotions, but instead to cast them onto God and pray continuously. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard and strengthen one's mind and heart in Christ Jesus. Praying in various forms, including silence and praise, can nourish one's spiritual life like a "miracle grow" for plants.
The sermon encourages people to focus on Jesus in times of trouble and to cultivate the habit of instinctively looking towards Him. By doing so, the power of Christ can be transmitted into one's life to dissolve and destroy problems, and provide solutions. The speaker emphasizes the importance of building a place of refuge for the presence of God and putting problems in God's territory. The message also calls for spiritual adulthood, discipline, and investment in one's relationship with God in order to attain vitality, authority, and discernment. The goal is to become a warrior people who honor God and are prepared for the battles of life.
We are going to the word of the Lord in the Book of Second Kings in Chapter 4. And we are going to continue with the theme that we started a couple of Sundays ago ("Living in normal times") which was the theme based on the life of this wonderful woman who we call the Shunammite. Why do we call her the Shunammite? Can someone tell me? Because he lived where, in what city? Shunem. Say all: "Shunem." And that's why she was called the Shunammite. It was a city in Israel and the prophet Elisha went there to pose in his house.
A couple of Sundays ago we started that sermon and the Lord changed the twist of the sermon that I originally had. I had shared another teaching based on that text in the morning; but you will remember that the Lord stopped me there at that moment when Elisha was moved by the generosity of this woman who has offered him a bedroom in her house so that when he goes on his missionary trips and passes through that city he can stay in home and have a quiet place there to go and rest.
A couple of Sundays ago we started that sermon and the Lord changed the twist of the sermon that I originally had. I had shared another teaching based on that text in the morning; but you will remember that the Lord stopped me there at that moment when Elisha was moved by the generosity of this woman who has offered him a bedroom in her house so that when he goes on his missionary trips and passes through that city he can stay in home and have a quiet place there to go and rest.
