Calvin Synod Herald, 1984 (84. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1984-04-01 / 2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 5 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA Message at the installation of the Rev. Kantor Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, April 1st, 1984 “But ye shall receive power after that the holy ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me. ” (Acts 1:8) Dear Fellow servant of the Lord! Members of the Columbus, Ohio Hungarian Reformed Church, as we gathered together for the solemn occasion to install you as the new leader of the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ, here in this congregation, let us hear the voice of our Savior as it speaks to you and all, who are here in this sanctuary today. Jesus Christ charged His disciples to be witnesses unto Him in Jerusalem, in Judea, Samaria and unto the uttermost end of the world. This is my message to you today: trusting, that thru my humble voice the charge of our Master will guide you and strenghten you as you begin your ministry, in this congregation: You shall be a witness unto me, said the Lord. There are many aspects in the life of our Savior, that the servants of the Lord can imitate or follow: we know, that our Lord was the best teacher the world has ever known. My charge to you is: be a teacher of the laws of God and the tenets of our faith. Also, He was the good Shepherd of His flock, who cared for the lamb and went after the lost sheep. As a charge to you I could say: be a good shepherd of the people of God here in Columbus, Ohio, whom our Lord and God entrusted into your care. Then again, you can be a friend of the friendless as Jesus was. Strength of the helpless, healer of those, who are sick, and whose hearts are broken, by sorrow and grief: but above all these, I would like to emphasize the charge of our Lord to his disciples: be ye witnesses unto me! I. In order to achieve this great task, the disciples had to receive power from on high. This power of God descended upon them as they were waiting for the blessing of the Spirit of God, when like a mighty rushing wind, the Spirit was poured out upon them and immediately the timid became brave, the quiet ones began to speak, the weak became strong. The bible mentions the deeds of the first apostles as Mighty, which filled the new Christians with zeal and enthusiasm. I know, Dear Pastor, that the Spirit of Almighty God enabled you to bear witness for the Lord during your ministry, and strengthened you to go on and on, performing great service in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father, but, you must continue to pray for the special blessing from on high, that the spirit of God may come down upon you and your people, that together you may be true witnesses of the Lord. II. IS Where should you perform your witnessing for the Lord? First, here in this congregation: The disciples had to bear testimony of Jesus first among their own relatives and friends. God has called you to bear testimony of the Lord here in Columbus, to the young and old, men and women, old and new members of the congregation and all who will come under your sphere of service My charge to you is: be a true and humble witness of the Lord! What would have happened if the disciples and first Christians would have refused to obey the Lord? Christianity would have ended right then and there. If one generation would refuse to bear testimony of Christ, if parents would not tell the good news to their little children, in a very short time our churches would be closed: Christian hospitals would not carry on their healing ministry. Christian schools and other charitable institutions would all cease to be. God has placed this charge upon your heart very emphatically: be a witness unto me: bear testimony of our Savior, here in the congregation here in this community, and wherever God shall lead you. This charge is a life saving message. It is not only directed to the pastor, it applies to every member of this congregation: ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . III. The first Christians had such great success because they were true witnesses for the Lord. People were added to their ranks and files day by day, because they believed the testimony of the disciples. Dear Members of the Columbus church! The success of your new pastor depends greatly upon the people, who hear his testimony, If you believe the message of the servant of the Lord and unite your efforts with his, you will accomplish great things to the Glory of our God. The trouble will start, when instead of hearing God’s message, the people will turn deaf ears to the preaching of the servant of the Lord. Instead of changing their ways, they would rather change everything and everyone else. Dear Brethren, we all must go back to the time when Jesus lived, when the aspotles walked with the Lord, talked with Him and told us what to do. If we obey the commands of Christ, we shall see a revival in our churches. New zeal and new spirit of enthusiasm will fill the hearts. Then the service of the new pastor will be a blessing here. Be a true witness for Christ. Bear testimony of Him, both now and forever. Amen. Bishop Dezső Ábrahám SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
