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God's Appointments - Part 3
Joshua Daniel
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Joshua Daniel

God's Appointments - Part 3

Joshua Daniel teaches that true beauty and transformation come from Christ's work in our hearts, exemplified through patience, forgiveness, and Christ-likeness.
This sermon reflects on the transformation that Jesus brings to our hearts, emphasizing the beauty that comes from His work within us. It shares a touching story of a gentle Anglican minister who responded with grace when accidentally locked in his own room, highlighting the beauty of patience and forgiveness. The speaker encourages the audience to strive for Christ-likeness, acknowledging personal imperfections and the need for God's Spirit to work in their lives.

Full Transcript

My heart, which Jesus changes, just keeps you beautiful too. Your words are beautiful. Your reactions are beautiful. I can never forget this scene. I was at a conference in England. And the host, our host, my host, was an Anglican minister. The vicar, a big, venerable, oldish gentleman, very gentle. He was running a temperature that evening. And he said, I'm staying home. And we, my friend and I, both of us, who were living with him, departed to the meeting. And when we returned, we expected we were on tiptoes. We said we mustn't disturb him. We must let him sleep. But when we opened the door, we saw him on the same sofa or couch where we had seen him sitting when we left. And he was not in a grumpy mood either. He said, you locked me in. When you went out, you locked me into this room. Nearly three hours locking a man into the room. In his own living room. I can see how some of us would have fumed. But what a gentle, gracious smile. No offense taken. What a beautiful man I found him to be. Imagine all of you girls, your wives, locking your husband into the bedroom. When you come back and open the door, one of the bed heads will land on your head. That is a typical Asian husband. My dear people, God's spirit gives us beauty for Asia. I don't know whether you want to remain as you are. No, no, I don't want to remain as I am. I have to be more Christ-like. Oh yes, there are many things which are not very beautiful in my life. I have had to learn patience. And you know, some of our brothers whom I have had to train were almost unteachable, incorrigible. But I had to exercise faith and patience over the years. So I do not know how many of you are patient in stressful situations. The Bible speaks of the patience of Job. Something a height which a man like me will never reach, I presume. And when I look at our Saviour before His accusers, will you not say anything in your defence? Don't you hear all that they witness against you? I wonder if two or three people accuse you of something. You know, I hear of people who take the phone and harangue people. See, I didn't do like this, this, this and so on for two hours. See, to come back to the Lord's Prayer, hallowed be your name. Deliver us from evil. What great prayers. Thine is the kingdom. The power and the glory. We all know what it is to lean on the flesh. The arm of the flesh. Every person here who has a tongue that goes roundly in his mouth, you don't know that.

Sermon Outline

  1. I
    • The beauty of a transformed heart through Jesus
    • A story of grace and patience from an Anglican minister
    • The importance of gentle and gracious responses
  2. II
    • The call to be more Christ-like in daily life
    • Acknowledging personal imperfections and need for growth
    • Learning patience through challenging relationships
  3. III
    • The example of Job’s extraordinary patience
    • Jesus’ calmness before His accusers as a model
    • The power of prayer and reliance on God’s Spirit

Key Quotes

“My heart, which Jesus changes, just keeps you beautiful too.” — Joshua Daniel
“What a gentle, gracious smile. No offense taken. What a beautiful man I found him to be.” — Joshua Daniel
“I don't want to remain as I am. I have to be more Christ-like.” — Joshua Daniel

Application Points

  • Practice patience and grace in difficult situations as a reflection of Christ’s character.
  • Seek daily transformation by relying on the Holy Spirit to overcome personal imperfections.
  • Use prayer to align your life with God's kingdom and to find strength against challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main message of the sermon?
The sermon emphasizes that true beauty and transformation come from Christ working in our hearts, especially through patience and forgiveness.
Why does the speaker share the story about the Anglican minister?
To illustrate the power of grace and patience in difficult situations and how Christ-like behavior reflects inner beauty.
How does the sermon encourage personal growth?
By acknowledging imperfections and urging believers to strive for Christ-likeness through the Holy Spirit’s work.
Which biblical figures are highlighted as examples?
Job’s patience and Jesus’ calmness before His accusers are presented as models of enduring faith and grace.
What role does prayer play according to the sermon?
Prayer is shown as a vital practice to seek God’s kingdom, power, and deliverance from evil.

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