Embracing roots, honouring a legacy - Pt1
Published:Sunday | October 13, 2019 | 5:34 AMTamara BaileyGleaner Writer -
Manchester, Jamaica:
At the expression of the statement, ‘Remember where you come from’, many automatically think ancestry, country, community.
wHowever, pastor, Dr Wayne Palmer, said our roots go far beyond that to the creation story.
He said the Bible is the single most important guide to understanding where we are from and who we are.
“The Bible is the ultimate revelation of God’s character. By accepting the truth of God’s word, we are fully embracing the character of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is good to study the Bible; it is good to live by the Bile and order our lives in harmony with the principles of God’s word. The Bible is the book of all books.”
In a sermon at the Campbell’s Castle Seventh Day Adventist Church recently, he added, “One of Satan’s deceptions in the cosmic conflict is to convince the world that they can find the truth outside of Jesus Christ. Let it be understood that there is no truth without Christ. Some have even advanced the notion that truth is relative. The truth revealed in the Bible is totally absolute.”
“Jesus said, ‘I am the truth, the way and the Life…’ therefore, at all times we can remain fully anchored because truth is in Jesus and Jesus is eternal. He is a God that never changes.”
He said Malachi 3:6 is a reminder that God will never change.
“Don’t equate God with the Rastafarian’s god; don’t equate God to the Muslims god; don’t equate my God to the Hindu’s god. I serve an unchanging God. Paul in Hebrews 4:8, said that ‘If our God had made some changes He would have told us’. God is God that never changes.”
“In embracing your roots you have to know who Jesus is. Some people think their roots is in an African country, but wherever you think your roots is, I am here to change that thinking. I want you to know that your roots are in Jesus Christ. It is in Him that we live, move and have our being.”
He said when one encounters Jesus, change must take place.
Anchored in Christ
“I am happy to know that my roots are anchored in the promises of Jesus Christ. I want you to understand that the Seventh Day Adventist Church is firmly rooted and grounded in the word of God and everyone belongs to God’s true church.”
“There are some of us who believe the doctrines are not right, but I want to let you know that the doctrines of this church are biblically sound. The doctrine of the Godhead is not about three separate beings of God: it is centered around the character of God. Many of us make a debate about whether it is three different beings or three beings in one person, but the most important thing to know is that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one in purpose and their desire is to save us by their grace.”
He said the purpose of creation was more than creative skills on display.
“The doctrines of the creation story are not so much about the wonders of God’s creative skills; it is about God’s omnipotence in creating the world and what an omnipotent God we serve! The Bible said He spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast. My God is a mighty God.”
Join us next week for Part II of his sermon that focusses even more at what points us to our roots.