Laurelbrook Academy SDA Church

Audio file

The church service in the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on January 20, 2018 began with the congregation singing “I Sing the Mighty Power”, accompanied by Jara (sophomore). Clifton Brandt He reminded everyone that the religious liberty offering is coming next week. The congregation then sang again.

Rodney Herra welcomed everyone and made a few announcements. The cafeteria will be open today for any guests and members.  Vespers will be at 5:00 in the auditorium with a guest speaker.

Jara played an introit. The congregation had a silent invocation.  The congregation then sang “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessings”. Rodney Herra then had the Morning Prayer; the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer”. 

Josia (senior) then called for the offering.  Scott Sterling and Isaac (sophomore) then collected the morning offerings; the loose offering went to the local church budget.  The congregation sang the doxology, and Josia prayed for the offering.  

Mark Kent then told the children a story about a pastor the emperor wanted arrested.  The pastor sent his family away, went back to his room, and prayed.  He felt impressed to find a door open in another part of the city.  He was also to take with him a loaf of bread.  The door led him to a barn with a big pile of wood, his refuge for the next two weeks. Every day a hen laid an egg by the wood pile. That egg and the load of bread provided his food for the next two weeks. A second story - a man was wounded and was too weak to get food from his back pack. Next morning a hen laid an egg within reach (she repeated the feat every morning for five days).
Josia read  2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 

Rodney Herra discussed the topic “Prayer”. The congregation sang “I’d Rather Have Jesus”.   Rodney Herra had the closing prayer. 

Personnel Other Than Students:

Rodney Herra – works with the auto body and farm programs
Scott Sterling – academy physics teacher / one of Laurelbrook IT personnel

Following are some notes on the sermon by Rodney Herra

1. Luke 18:1-8 “1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
2. God cares about everything that takes place in our lives.  We cannot weary God. He longs for us to come to Him.
3. Jara (sophomore) had a personal testimony – she didn’t like going house to house in visitation. She asked God to have the person she was to pray with to open the door to her. One woman opened the door, and Jara prayed with her and her family.
4. Ellen White says in Steps to Christ that we must have communion with God.  We must discuss with Him our everyday lives.  Prayer brings us up to God.
5. Rodney once had a sin he loved but that definitely God hated. Finally, he asked God to change his attitude towards the sin.  He had to recognize that he, not God, had to change.
6. Jesus knows all about your life already, but we have to admit that we really cherish the sins we commit.
7. Jesus realized that He had to have communion with His Father personally so He had the power He needed to withstand sin and do His work by praying.
8. Christians don’t use prayer to withstand Satan and lose out to Satan.  Prayer is a necessity for those who want to be victorious in the struggle with sin.
9. Satan continually tries to block us from praying.
10. We must feel our need of help from God and engage in constant prayer.
11. If we really hunger after righteousness, the Spirit will fill us.  If you are missing a blessing, open your heart.
12. If we cling to any known sin, the Lord won’t listen to us. But if we repent, He will always accept us as His children.
13. Jesus will always answer the prayers we pray.
14. Citlali’s personal testimony – she was trying to get the needed money to go to Cuba. She had most of it, but it seemed hard to get the rest of the money by the deadline. But after she prayed, the Lord impressed people to make up the rest of the money she needed – and extra money to help other people. 
15. Citlali prayed – and God answered with an excess that she used to help others.
16. Our prayers will not always be answered at the time and in the way we ask.
17. As a baby, Becky Herra developed a terrible cough, a problem the doctor thought indicated a heart problem. Rodney was losing his focus at work.  He prayed, giving Becky up to God.   God took care of the problem in His way, completely erasing any signs of the problem.
18. Let God have control of our problems. Nothing is too great for God to bear, none of our problems too small for Him to notice.
19. Read the chapter on prayer in Ellen White’s book Steps to Christ.
20. Do we put worldly things above God?
21. If we want to come close to God, we must spend time communicating with Jesus.  Lift up Jesus wherever you go.