No Reputation Series

NO REPUTATION

Opening: We serve the one and only risen Savior, Jesus Christ. The living King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is second only to the very throne of God. We have worshiped Him this morning in Spirit and in Truth.

I am encouraged by what the Lord has been doing here in the last few weeks and months. The Lord has met many needs and answered prayer. We need to be encouraging one another about the things of God as often as we can.

God’s Word has called for us to:

1 Tim 6:3

"...consent ... (ourselves) to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to (His) doctrine..."

I have only God’s Word, His doctrine, for you this morning

2 Tim 4:2

"Preach the word...exhort (comfort) with all...doctrine."

Heb 3:13

"...exhort (comfort) one another daily"

(Every opportunity we have for each other)

After a long and busy week, any of us can use some comforting words from the Lord. I know most of you have come to worship the Lord today. But as well, I need the comforting words found only in the Gospel of Jesus.

You can’t find (that kind of) lasting comfort anywhere else. Not in an interesting novel, an inspiring poem, and certainly not sitting at home reading the Sunday Morning Newspaper. I want to read, hear and listen to what the Lord has for me this morning.

All any of us needs to know is that Christ died so that we could live. So that we could experience and enjoy the Life He has for us. Jesus comforted His disciples (in John 10) when He said,

"I am come that you might have Life, and...have it more abundantly."

He wants us to enjoy all of these gifts. We should not refuse the Lord. We should be open and receive these great gifts of God.

His Life provides a great abundance. Ephesians 3:20 says Jesus is,

"able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask OR THINK, according to the power that worketh in us,

But by far, the greatest of all the things Jesus did for us was when He faced the shameful death on the cross of Calvary. We cannot forget that this morning. We should encourage one another with this Truth. There can never be enough said about the struggles He faced for us (at the cross).

Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. His Father sent Him to come down (out of a glorious heaven) to this world of chaos and confusion. Let us stand in reverence to the Word of God.

Text: Philippians 2:5 thru 8

Prayer:

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" (KJV)

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:" (NIV)

We have been trying to better understand our relationship with Christ. It is often our "attitude(s)" that allow or prevent us from having a relationship with the Lord.

That is, our identity in Christ. Our repentance to Christ. Christ living within us. Our dying to self, our ways and motives. And, (as a result) His Life reigning and ruling inside of us. Our desire should be for those around us to see Christ living inside of us.

One way this is to happen is to look at the events that took place as Christ made His way to Golgotha’s Hill (to be crucified). As we have read recently in Galatians 2:20, we share in His crucifixion.

We have been "crucified with Christ".

Christians have always been taught to tell everyone the crucifixion story. And now I am convinced the church of Jesus Christ is to BEGIN SHARING WITH HIM in that timeless story. I want us to better understand the sacrifice Christ made going to, and while He was on, the cross.

It only stands to reason that we should share/partake of His crucifixion. I believe true believers (everywhere) are beginning to understand -

how important it is to:

1. Survive - spiritually the times they now live in

2. Overcome - the temptations they face each day

3. Identify - themselves entirely with the Living King of Kings

Today I want us to experience the obedience Christ demonstrated going to the cross. We must identify ourselves with Christ, and His crucifixion. This message will be an attempt to take us on that walk with Christ. A journey to the cross.

I would like to ask each of us (in our daily devotions this week) to read and study the few passages that record the death of Christ on the cross. If you have a daily/scheduled devotion you have been following, I would ask you to consider taking a short break from that program. Long enough to meditate on the short story of the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus.