Volume Seven – My First Sermon

Description

There are moments in life when you find yourself somewhere you never expected to be, doing something you never imagined you would do.

For me, one of those moments happened on 103rd Street Northwest in Miami, Florida, in the projects at Silver Blue Lakes Apartments.

I believe the Spirit of God led me there.

If it had been completely up to me, I would have asked, “Why in the world would I go to a place like this to preach?”

At the time, Silver Blue Lakes had a reputation for being a rough place. It was not somewhere I would have expected to stand in front of people and deliver a sermon.

But I went.

I was visiting my best friend’s wife, Ms. Betty, and Ms. Rhonda. Her daughter, Mercedes, was there as well.

Then something happened that I had never experienced before.

I preached.

I was on fire!

I had never preached a sermon before in my life, yet something came over me, and I spoke with a passion that surprised even me.

When I finished, Mercedes brought me a bottle of cold water.

I remember that moment because I was exhausted, but I also felt something inside me that I could not explain.

But Why Me?

That’s the question I kept asking.

Why was I preaching?

I didn’t even believe in God at the time.

People had been telling me that I was glowing.

People had been telling me that I was chosen.

But I had questions.

Could this really be happening to me?

As I look back now, I believe the answer was yes.

And let’s get real.

I believe I am doing this because I care.

I care about people.

I care about what happens to us.

And as I have gotten older, I have realized that life is precious.

Death is closer now than it has ever been.

But there is something beautiful about the promise of faith:

Death has been conquered.

For those who believe, tomorrow is still filled with hope.

The Word of God tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. It also tells us that He is preparing a place for us, and that where He is, we will be also.

Look at Me Now

The man who once said he did not believe in God is now saying something completely different.

I am a believer.

Praise the Lord!

My journey did not happen overnight.

It happened through experiences.

Through questions.

Through miracles.

Through moments I could not explain.

Through moments when I felt led somewhere I did not want to go.

And through moments when I realized that maybe my life had a purpose greater than what I could see.

If you have been questioning your own beliefs, your own purpose, or whether there is something greater than yourself, I encourage you to open your heart and consider the possibility.

Maybe this is your time.

Remember:

Something greater than us exists, and I believe it is working for our good.

A Message of Faith

The Bible teaches that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

That is the faith I have come to believe in.

And that is the message I want to leave with you.