Remember What We Are To Do Series

A Country Church was having their annual revival meeting. On the first night the preacher preached a message about repentance and the need to return to the Lord. At the altar call, a man came down the aisle saying “Fill me Lord, Fill Me”.

The next night the preacher challenged the congregation with the need to totally surrender their lives to Christ in complete obedience. Again the altar call was extended; like the night before the same man came down the aisle saying “Fill me Lord, Fill Me”.

The third night of the revival preacher warned his congregation of the evils of sin and urged the congregation to live lives of holiness. Again at the invitation was made to give one’s life to Christ, the same man came up the aisle saying “Fill me Lord, Fill Me”.

To which someone in the back of the church yelled; “Don’t do it Lord, He leaks”

The truth of the matter is we all leak from time to time. We all lose our way, we tend to lose our first love or we wade in the pool of the lukewarm.

We are in a series of messages called Red Letters; the life of Christ. Our goal of this series is for us to reexamine the Life of Jesus to remind us we are to be distinctive in this world. To remind us how different we are to be we are to follow the instructions of the Hebrew writer; Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Last time we looked at this passage we wanted to remember who we are as God’s people. Understanding our identity is crucial to fulfilling our destiny.

Our identity is tied to Jesus Christ as the Son of God; Jesus is not simply the latest and greatest savior. He is not simply another choice on the spiritual buffet; you can’t say, I will take a little bit of Jesus, a little bit of astrology, a little slice of Buddhism and a sampling of New Age Philosophy and that will get me to God. No Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus would later tell his disciples "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

The disciples would carry on the same thought in the book of Acts when they told the religious leaders, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

While it is important to remember who we are; it just as important to remember what we are to do. Jesus does not just call us to recognize him or to know him intellectually. Jesus expects us to do something with the knowledge of him.

In Mark’s gospel we quickly discover what he expects us to do…

Mark 1:14-15

14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Last week we focused on the Distinctive Messiah this week we focus on…

The Distinctive Mission

Mark begins our narrative with the arrest of John the Baptist. The work of the forerunner is now complete; he has pointed people to Jesus. Now it is time for the mission of Jesus to begin. The mission of Christ begins with an announcement – The time has come. This is what we have been waiting for! Remember, for 450 years God had been silent no prophecies, no visions, and no miracles and seemingly no hope. But hope is rekindled with Jesus. 15"The time has come, The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

The coming of the God’s kingdom is approaching, God’s influence and God’s agenda is near. As Jesus announces the God’s kingdom is about to be revealed he tells his audience they must respond to the kingdom…

IN REPENTANCE

Repentance –was not a popular word in the NT and it is not a popular word for us as well. When was the last time you heard someone tell you, YOU NEED TO REPENT

You do something wrong – You may be tempted to apologize, blame others, or let it slide – BUT Repent, not so much?

Webster defines repentance as; to feel sorry or contrite for past conduct or to be conscience stricken about a past action or attitude. Biblical repentance is more than just feeling sorry for something. To repent means to change your mind and your actions – Literally means to turn in the opposite direction.