Ten is the Number

This morning I was almost glad that I shall be going outstation this weekend. I had had another exhausting weekend. With teaching a preaching seminar on Saturday from 9am to 2.45pm in a village 90 minutes away and then preaching a 44 min sermon yesterday, I laid in my bed at 5pm Sunday but just could not fall asleep. There were just so many things in my mind, not least after my sermon I prayed for 10 children in a dedication service.

One girl who was 11 years asked to be prayed for last Sunday and I did not want to disappoint her as normally the dedication ceremony is meant for babies and young children. But yesterday quite a few aged 7 or 8 years old were prayed for and altogether 10 came forward as their parents led them out for the ceremony. I had to insist that those who had not filled in the forms to do so after the ceremony, because at least one parent has to sign a form that he or she is willing for his or her child to be dedicated to the Lord. Ten is the number. But I also did not want to disappoint anyone who has not filled up a form but they came forward as well, so I prayed for all of them by God's power and grace.

The preaching went better than I thought. I thought I got up too early, at 4am and ate a small bun at 5.30am. Then just before 7am I had an egg, knowing from last week that I felt really hungry as I went up to preach at 9.30am with a 9am start. We start our service always on time, and by 8.58am the children already queued up in front waiting for the opening prayer and children also prayed for before they go to their Sunday School. For three weeks in a row, we had more than 160 people with adults numbering 125 and more than 40 kids in two Sunday school classes. 

There are a lot of people serving from refreshments after service, master of ceremony, worship leader, those who collect the offering, and a leader who prays for the benediction. I normally do not say the closing prayer as I move to the end of the hall as we close our service to greet members leaving the church hall. Yesterday a few people thanked me for the message and one young woman (late 20s or early 30s) was really touched as she said to me that message meant a lot to her. I spoke about the apostolic calling, though we are not called to be apostles we can learn much from Paul's life and his commitment to the gospel. I ended the sermon by quoting Jesus' teachings on leadership that whoever wants to be first must be the last and servant of all.