Sans Souci Baptist Church

Induction of Mike Pearson as senior pastor of Sans Souci Baptist Church.

The Great Commission  (Matthew 28:16-20)
Jesus calls us, not to a religion based on human effort, but to Christian discipleship based on His grace.. Being immersed in His presence, His nearness, His love, and His character. 

As we gather together in His name we gain understanding and revelation, and as we go out into the world, God creates opportunities to share our experience with others that don't yet know Him. 

Jesus is building His church by gathering believers to Himself and delegating power and authority to them to carry out the work of the Kingdom of God, which is God's love in action. 

Jesus says "Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me for anything in My name, I will do it". (John 14:12-14)

Jesus is building His church, not with bricks and mortar but with 'Living Stones'.  

As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” (Matthew 16:17-19, 1 Peter 2:4-6) 

The last three verses of Psalm 23 teach us that as we pass through the dark valleys of life - pain, difficulty and suffering, that Jesus accompanies us on the journey.  We need not be afraid because His comforting presence is with us, ultimately leading us on to our heavenly reward! 

As we unpack the first three verses of the 23rd Psalm, we see that the Lord Jesus is our shepherd. As we remain in intimate relationship with Him, all our wants and needs are met.   

Jesus called the first disciples to leave behind their old life and follow Him.  Andrew exclaimed to his brother Simon "We have found the Messiah!!"  (John 1:35-42)

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

The individual responses of Zecharia, Elizabeth, and Mary to the Angel's message remind us that faith is a life-long journey of navigating disappointments, discovering what God is really like and not what we imagine Him to be, and finding an intimate devotional relationship with God the Father and Jesus the Son. We understand that the Christian life goes through seasons of change, and we bring the highs and lows to God who sustains us.  (Luke 1:26-38)

Just like Abraham and Sarah, Zecharia and Elizabeth were promised a child from God even though it seemed impossible! They had to work through disappointments and doubts until the promise finally came to pass exactly as the angel had spoken. (Luke 1:5-25, 67-80)  Disappointment can also dampen down our faith and hinder our ability to receive God's promises. 

How do we deal with disappointment?
- By being honest with God and ourselves about disappointment, and not secretly carrying it in our heart.
- Forgiving ourselves, and others that may have caused us disappointment.
- Where we have become disappointed with God, we invite Him back into the centre of our heart and resume our faith and trust in Him.