₦Sermon 10
04/10/2015
(A Sermon Preached by Rev. Fortune Emerence Chinemerem Nwaiwu)
“No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment” – Luke 5:36 NTL.
The above quotation could be termed a parable of Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist was put in prison, his disciples fasted for him, just like what was obtainable in the life of Pharisees. A group of people took notice of this that Christ’s disciples do not fast. They came to Jesus and asked him: “Why are your disciples always eating and drinking? – Luke 5:33. Jesus replied; Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not, see verse 34.
The answer Jesus Christ provided proved that he is the bridegroom of believers, the disciples. He is the author of all men’s prayers, through him; prayers are channeled to his father. He then avowed this parable – No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment, for then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment. – Luke 5:36.
Some Christians today are patching their Christian life with their old manners and behaviours. We tend to use our Christian life as overrun garment and use our bad manners as underwear garment. Why? The glaring motive is that we don’t want men to see in us our bad manners. Some people are sorcerers and to cover themselves up thereby to exonerate from being known as wicked, they run into a church so that when evil is happening in the community, no one would dare think of them as the wicked that cause havoc in the community. The main emphasis hers is that, there is no how you can patch your old garment with a piece of new cloth without it being noticeable.
How do we know those patching their garment with a new piece of cloth?
Those in the church who desire no good of their follow men – Luke 6:6-11: The men – Pharisees who claimed to be sons of Abraham really held their ancient belief. They erroneously believed that Sabbath is a day of rest and no work or good deeds should be done on that day. As Christ was teaching in the Synagogue, their mind was not right; they began to plot evil against Christ if he eventually heals the man with a deformed hand. Some men today who profess faith in Christ are always hypocrites; they tend to condemn their pastors because the pastor did something good to one of their members.
Those Christians who steal things dedicated to God, men etc – Joshua 7:11, 20.
From the account of Joshua 7, we notice that Achan, an Israelite was patching his old garment with a piece of new cloth. As an Israelite, he was not to be guilty of stealing because the God of Israel forbids it. He was in the community of believers and yet, paganistic life was in him. He stole some of the precious items dedicated to God and hid them in his tent. People, who claim to be Christians and yet steal, are deceiving themselves. They patch their old life with new life.
Those Christians whose hearts are not right with God - i.e. - Simon, the Sorcerer: This Simon was a sorcerer, he became a Christian when he saw wonders Philip wrought on people. He offered himself for a baptism. When he saw Peter laying his hands upon new converts and they received the power of the Holy Spirit, He offered the apostles money to get the power too as to regain his well acclaimed power which he has lost. Some men of God today have left the true path and are in search of power to claim being powerful to people. What oil do you use to prophesy? God forbid that I will be a part to that.
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