大象传媒

Please note:

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors.

It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.

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Good Morning. I鈥檓 Andrew Cudjoe, Associate Pastor.

From the coronavirus pandemic to wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, global conflicts, fuel and energy price increases, business closures, supply chain challenges and other crises鈥� uncertainty and perplexities abound.听 But even amidst these unprecedented times we can find hope and joy in Jesus Christ. Join us as we worship God and explore how Christ鈥檚 Gospel provides us with the endurance, resilience and peace we need to overcome the World as Jesus did.

HYMN CONGREGATION: BLESSED ASSURANCE
written 1873, lyrics: Fanny Crosby(1820-1914)
Tune: Assurance, by Phoebe Knapp (1839-1908)

Pr. CUDJOE SUMMARY:
The Croydon Gospel Choir led by the internationally renowned and award winning Ken Burton.听 When we worship, we celebrate, as you鈥檒l hear this morning 鈥� we鈥檙e a highly participative community who love to tell each other about the greatness of God and like to encourage our leaders when we feel moved.听
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Croydon SDA Church can trace back its beginnings to the early 1900s. Throughout the years the Church has used several premises, two of which were in Woodside and Sydenham Road respectively, and in Croydon during the 1960s and 1970s. We moved to our current location in 1978. With over forty different nationalities we are a diverse, friendly, community orientated congregation that seek opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus and help to elevate social ills within its localities.

Elder Claudia Panaitescu will lead us in our opening prayer, starting with some verses from Psalm 57.

KEN BURTON: CONGREGATION MEDLEY OF SONGS: I鈥橵E GOT PEACE* | IT WILL SOON BE DONE** | WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN*** (鈥�2:30)
*African American Spiritual *Public Domain **published 1934, **lyrics & music Cleavant Derricks (1909-1977),*** written 1898 ***lyrics Elica Hewitt (1851-1920), music听 Emily Wilson

PR CUDJOE 鈥業n our first reading which is from the New Testament, St Matthew records that Jesus never promised an easy life for his followers: He accurately foretold the turbulent conditions of the world we live in shortly before His Second Coming.
A reading of Scripture from Matthew 24:7-8, 21-22 (NKJV)

ELDER LESLENE:
As Adventists we believe that the Bible alone is the rule of faith and practice. Among its beliefs, our denomination is best known for its observance of the 7th day Sabbath (that is, Saturday).

We believe that all people are equally created in the image of God and that God loves each person unconditionally. Because of this, Seventh Day Adventist鈥檚 see it as important to help people experience His love and care for them. From its inception, the Adventist church discovered that the Bible holds for everyone freedom, healing, hope, joy and so much more, and that Jesus does provide the answer to our problems.
Along with preaching the Gospel, the Adventist church has strongly maintained its focus on health and wellness, community development, mission work, publishing, and education.
This global church with a global membership of over 21 million prides itself on its diversity. Not only is it represented around the globe, but it鈥檚 enriched with people from every continent, all bringing the wealth of their cultures, nationalities, social backgrounds, languages and education to help in its mission to take the Gospel to every nation, giving a voice to the oppressed and healing the wounds of the broken. .
We welcome this diversity as a blessing and an asset. and it鈥檚 part of our mission to create an environment of acceptance of all people groups, where each person is respected and valued despite their differences.

With a rich history of dedicated Bible study and commitment to applying Biblical principles to daily life, We remain an active, dedicated global faith community, and together听 cling to Jesus as our听 only hope. We eagerly await his return, His Second Coming, after which we believe all tribulation and trials will cease. And hopefully, no more fuel听 price rises!!

PR. CUDJOE: Please turn in your bibles to John 16:33 (NKJV) as we read together words recorded as being direct quotations from Jesus鈥� mouth.鈥�

CROYDON GOSPEL & CONGREGATION: WE HAVE THIS HOPE (2:15)
Words & music by Wayne Hooper (1920-2008) Tune: General Conference
Published 1965, Wayne Hooper

ELDER CLAUDIA: CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

CHOIR RESPONSE: Psalm 19:14, Tune: Let The Words 鈥� (Ken Burton) (0鈥�50)

VERNA-JEAN: A reading of Scripture from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, chapter 3 and verses 17-19.

PR. CUDJOE: Our preacher today is our senior pastor, Royston Smith.

Pr. ROYSTON SMITH: SERMONETTE
According to positive psychology, positive thinking is a powerful tool for transforming your inner self, through remarkable health-generation and self- healing. It provides warmth, feelings of resilience and robustness. Optimistic people are more likely to experience joy, whilst turning wishes into reality.听 So, a positive mindset provides undisputed spiritual and social benefits. Your holistic wellbeing isn鈥檛 dependant on the challenges you face but on your mindset.

For many however, the quest to live in a trouble free, pain free, world, appears elusive and hopeless 鈥� especially in the midst of a pandemic. Life appears insecure, challenging, and daunting. Furthermore, as they wake up in the morning, life throws up more questions rather than providing any credible answers in the emergence of new adversities. Yet, amidst life鈥檚 grief and unhappiness followers of Jesus can experience true joy and live a fulfilled life.
Personally, having embraced Christ, and modelled His lifestyle whilst focused on God, I have experienced true joy. Rather than dwelling on my difficulties or those things robbing my contentment, I dwell on God. If you can develop a positive attitude, regardless of life鈥檚 tragedies and difficulties, you can experience joy, wonder, awe and gratitude not just throughout the day but throughout life.

The words of Jesus highlight this reality when he taught in John 16:33, a reading we heard earlier but here I quote in the(Contemporary English Version) 鈥淚 have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.鈥� These are lovingly assuring yet sobering words. On one hand, they provide encouragement but on the other they give us warning. Yes, you will experience joy, but you will also encounter suffering. This reality is as true for Christians as it鈥檚 for everyone born into this world. We will all experience some suffering and adversities.

In fact, many have suffered persecution, rejection, and isolation because they have chosen a Christian pathway and mindset. Yet, regardless of these challenges, the fact that Jesus overcame and has claimed ultimate victory,听 breathes听 joy and peace into the adversities of those connected to Him.

Life brings storms. It brings:
Financial storms!
Emotional storms!
Relationship storms!
Health Storms!
Pandemic Storms!
Isolation Storms!

When you are going through these testing storms it can feel lonely and fretful but a positive godly mindset is vital to your health and spiritual well-being.听 Psalm 32:7 teaches, You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

The reality is, these storms confuse our lives, blur our vision, create barriers, and sometimes alter our mindset. We don鈥檛 know where to turn or what to turn to. When we鈥檙e in this state of confusion this is when Satan 鈥� the devil - whispers in our ear, 鈥淚t鈥檚 no use, it will never work. You may as well give up.鈥� What can we do when heartache comes knocking on our door and we feel overwhelmed by despair or constrained by a feeling of hopelessness? This is the time that having a close relationship with those who are like minded decreases the risk of crumbling during our stormy seasons.

Troubles and difficulties come at the most inconvenient moments. However, God promises His presence, His arms, and His complete friendship - He will be right there with you.
Personally, Jesus is and has been my most stable and lifelong friend. In my tough times, and in your tough times we can take comfort knowing that He loves us tremendously. Psalm 33:18-19 (MSG), 鈥淲atch this: God鈥檚 eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He鈥檚 ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together.鈥� He has His eye on us, and He is already working behind the scenes to help us. Trust that he will never desert you.听

Remember, no storm lasts forever! During the storm seek the Lord and run to Him for shelter. He will protect and help you to endure.鈥疛esus promises to be your shoulder and shield during times of calm and during your time of storm. He loves you unconditionally. He is that supportive friend.. He can make your storms become a platform of hope. The Old Testament prophet Nahum wrote: 1:7, 鈥淭he Lord is good, a鈥痵tronghold in the day of trouble;鈥痟e knows those who take refuge in him.鈥�

The late 19th century American theologian, James. Russell. Miller, tells the story of a saintly woman suffering for weary months in painful illness. She relays that her point of joy was 鈥淭he lovely robin that sings outside my window鈥�. In the early morning he serenades her and the tune makes her smile. What she loves about this robin is the fact that he sings in the rain. You see, when the storm has silenced almost every other songbird, the robin sings on鈥攕ings in the rain. This is what the Christian who is with Christ does. Anyone can sing in the sunshine; but you and I should sing on when the rain pours down, for Christ is with us. We should sing, in the rain!

Unlike the robin, too many of us have adopted a mindset that our happiness and joy is based on our circumstances, so when our circumstances change, so does our mood. But God wants us to alter that perspective. He reminds us to place our hope and joy not on circumstances that will always be variable, but to place our hope and joy on Jesus Christ, who is the author and perfecter of our faith.

Knowing God brings joy. Jesus was a joyful person. A good Christian is a joyful person and abiding in听 God鈥檚 presence provides joy. Adversity is a natural part of life and in the Gospel of John, Jesus taught his disciple to be unafraid of adversity. Instead, He focused them on hope! He empowered them to be resolute when in distress. Enabled them to use adversities as new beginnings. Things can change. Today will not last. Tomorrow is coming. Whatever crisis you faced yesterday; you must learn to live with today.

Do not forget this fact:
Jesus can turn:
鈥� Every hurt into a healing
鈥� Every pain into a pearl
鈥� Every trial into a triumph
鈥� Every mess into a message
We are not promised nights without sorrow,
We are not promised days without pain or times without grief.
However,
We are promised songs in the night
We are promised his forever presence
Be strong in heart. Be filled with godly joy. Let Jesus turn your weeping into laughter. Your heavy heart can experience joy this day. Take heart. Jesus overcame. He experienced joy. You can overcome. You can experience joy.
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KEN BURTON/CHIOR: NO MORE TEARS (鈥�3:20)
Words & Music: Revelation 21:4, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-20, 1 Corinthians 15:55
Ken Burton (2013)

NAOMI ASAMANI: A reading of scripture from St Paul鈥檚 letter to the Philippians chapter 4:verses 4 to-7.

HYMN CONGREGATION: IT IS WELL (鈥�3:10)
Lyrics: Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) Tune: Ville Du Havre, by Philip Bliss (1838-1876) Written 1873, published 1876

Pr. SMITH BENEDICTION: JUDE 24, 25

KEN BURTON: CROYDON GOSPEL CHOIR/CONGREGATION: TRUSTING IN JESUS (鈥�2:40)
Words & music: Ken Burton Published 1994. Copyright administered by Faber Music

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