Magyar Egyház, 1972 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1972-10-01 / 10. szám
8 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ dispelled for behold, the Lord helped them to build a temple in Jerusalem. So, our sovereign God has shown to you His children, here in McKeesport, His grace and mercy. He has helped you to accomplish your goal, and build this House of Worship to His glory. God claims this building for Himself. Although you all helped with sacrificial gifts, yet He says “I HAVE CHOSEN THIS PLACE FOR MYSELF!” Therefore, this temple should he a ‘'holy place”, where members of this church can find peace given to all by our Omnipotent God. This is a holy place, where you can find rest for your soul. This church should be a holy place, where strangers may enter and find refuge from before the pressure of the world, and speed of our modern age. But, this church can only he a “holy place”, a tabernacle of God, if you bow down before Him and quiet the turmoil and noise of life, and acknowledge Him, Lord God Almighty, your Heavenly Father, who has “chosen this place” for Himself, as a House of Worship. Finally, the message of the Lord is: “I HAVE CHOSEN AND CONSECRATED THIS HOUSE, THAT MV NAME MAY BE THERE FORE1VER!” Remember Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, when they dedicated the battleground, where thousands upon thousands died and were buried? He said: it is not us the living, who are gathered together here, but rather the ones who died and shed their blood, who have already dedicated and consecrated the battlegrounds of Gettysburg. So it is true, that God Almighty is the one, who had chosen you to build ... who had decided to consecrate this temple and whatever we do is only by His grace and mercy. Blessed are the ones, who believe His words, and can sing with the heavenly chorus: Amen, so let it be, Lord! .. Let Thy name dwell within these sacred walls and Thy people diligently frequent this temple. The question is, how can we fittingly dedicate and consecrate this new church? The Lord says: “If my people humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear their prayers and forgive their sins and heal their lands.” Furthermore, God says: “His eyes will open, and His ears will he attentive to the prayers that ascend from this House of Worship.” Some say they can pray at home, or out in the forest or by the sea or anywhere else: True, but, God had made special promises to hear the prayers of His children, that are sent to Heaven from His House of Worship. If everyone would decide to pray at home, would there be any need for this beautiful new church? Walk before the Lord therefore, as your forefathers did, follow His commandments, keep His statues and obey His laws. Now, if Almighty God said, that He has consecrated the house Guilt to honor and glorify His name and for the purpose of worshipping Him there, what shall we do? You people of McKeesport must dedicate your heart and soul and all to our Heavenly Father. You must consecrate your whole being for the advancement of the cause of our Savior. You should have no greater goal, than to honor and glorify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise Him here within these sacred walls! When you enter these courts of the Lord, come with love, hope, kindness, and all good virtues in your heart. If you have any ill feelings, hatred, jealousy, malice etc. . . cast them out. Cleanse your heart and enter here with a new “re-dedicated heart and soul”. Remember God’s message to us today: “I HAVE HEARD YOUR PRAYERS!” Yes, God has chosen and consecrated this house that, His name may dwell here forever. May the members of this congregation stand on the side of the Lord and say with united hearts and voices: “0 Lord, God of our fathers, the only wise and eternal God, hear our sincere prayers from this church as we re-dedicate and consecrate our lives unto Thee, now and for evermore. Bishop D. Abraham P.S. Sermon preached at the dedication of the new church in McKeesport, Pa. Sunday, July 23rd, 1972. OBSERVATIONS A month has gone by since our return from the B.Y.F. Conference... For some of us it was the first, for others perhaps the second or third, while still others were there for their fourth or fifth. But I wonder how many of us “senior citizens” were attending their tenth?! That’s what it was for me — a decade of conferences . . . the memorable tenth . . . (The very first camp conference and the only one I missed was hosted by Trenton back in 1962 at Camp Delaware.) Without a doubt the first conference one attends is memorable for a multitude of reasons ... To some it could be great, to others a dud . . . For adults it’s perhaps on eyeopener — an exposure to a large number of diverse young people not all attending for the very same reasons . . . But back at Forest Lodge in the Laurel Mts. of Pa. at a conference hosted by Duquesne I decided to stay involved and help bring about some changes in conference activities... I wonder if Rev. Szőke or Mr. Cookson ever think back to those days?
