SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH
“TURNING MADNESS INTO GLADNESS”
Article by Pastor Philip Nissley,
New Hope Assembly of God, Taylor, MI
of what is “convenient” to them and are wasting time on trivial things, rejecting God (or at best 1 hour a week in church) and as a result consumed with much anger and stress! The 4th Commandment of God in Exodus 20:8 says, “Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy”. Heb. 10:25 says, “not forsaking our own assembling together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another and all the MORE as you see the day of Jesus’ coming drawing near”. How many of you are seeing the day of Jesus’ Coming drawing near? Then why are you limiting church to one hour a week or just Easter and Christmas? Psalm 100:1-2 commands us “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. SERVE the Lord with GLADNESS; come before Him with joyful shouting.” Your life was intended to remain in fellowship and service with God! What are you doing in His Church and to reach people for His Church in your weekly life?
B. It is Madness to Indulge in Life our Way
A Spirit of Anger and Fear is enslaving people. Many experience
Did you know “the happiest people in the world” are not the wealthy or famous, not the scientist or men of high positions. The happiest people are those who found their hope in God not only for this world but also for the world beyond. This confidence in God found in Psalm 100:1-2 says “Serve the Lord with Gladness”. This is helpful in:
I. REJECTING MARCH MADNESS
When I hear the phrase March Madness. I don’t just think of basketballs and brackets. I also think of First Quarter ending to-do lists, Tax time, people rejecting God for temporary worldly things, Spring Break, and a world tragically broken. But our hope is secure in something bigger than “brackets” and these things—God. The Bible says:
A. It is Madness to Reject God and Righteousness
A Spirit of MADNESS is engulfing the world, evident in irrational, idiotic occurrences around the world. People today are by and large SELFISH, thinking