Frozen

INTRODUCTION

Did you ever play the game FREEZE TAG?

I used to play this game all the time as a kid … the object is to FREEZE everyone until the entire opposing team is FROZEN!

Now, I have to admit I CHEATED from time to time … c’mon anyone else with me on that one … we so wanted to win that we changed the rules …

Well, here’s the deal – life is kind of like this game of FREEZE TAG … we have our team (Christ’s follower’s) and the opposing team (the Devil’s morons) … and the moron’s are trying to FREEZE every believer.

FREEZE (def) – incapable of being changed or moved; not available for present use.

That’s the mission of our opposing team …

Anybody remember Dr. Freeze? I am a Batman FREAK … Dr. Freeze’s greatest weapon was putting people in a FROZEN or Cryogenic state …

86% of teenagers who attend a non-Christian colleges lose faith before graduation (George Barna).

Why? Because they have been FROZEN … their spiritual life halted … held in some Cryogenic state …

My hope for every graduate here … and every family member or friend … is that we never become FROZEN in our spiritual journey.

Moses in Exodus 3 comes face to face with a burning bush that was not being consumed … that really did not bother him … that’s kind of weird.

A few moments later the Bush carries on a conversation with Moses … that really did not bother him either … that’s even stranger …

Then the Bush says, “I am the God of your Father.”

All of a sudden … MOSES FREEZES!

He is experiencing one of the greatest spiritual moments of his life … and what happens … he freezes …

There were really only 2 options for Moses …

• Stay Frozen

• Move Forward

You see, Moses could have stayed in his FROZEN state … yeah he made some excuses in that Moses Moment, but he chose to move forward … he refused to STAY FROZEN.

There have also been some great people of our society that refused to be FROZEN by opinions and they MOVED FORWARD …

• "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." - Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943

• "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." - Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977

• "This ’telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." - Western Union internal memo, 1876.

• "We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." - Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

• "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." - Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre.

• "Everything that can be invented has been invented." - Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899.

• "X-rays will prove to be a hoax" Lord Kelvin, President of the Royal Society, 1893.

• "Unworthy of the attention of practical and scientific men" – British Parliamentary Committee report on Thomas Edison’s electric light bulb.

Wow … I am so glad these GUYS moved forward!

Jesus also had some Moses Moments … he could have FROZE, but not Jesus … he chose to always MOVE FORWARD … no matter what life threw at him … he always moved forward!

Jesus’ life … According to John …

• Called the disciples (1)

• Changed water into wine (2)

• Clears the temple (2)

• Heals a man that could not move for 38 years (5)

• Jewish leaders persecute him (5:16,17)

• Feeds 5,000 (6)

• Walks on water (6)

• His own disciples desert him (6)

• Demon possessed man is set free (6)

• People try to kill him (8)

• Heals a blind man (9)

• Raises Lazarus from the dead (11)

• More plots to kill Jesus (11:45)

• Teaches great biblical truths (12)

• Empowers his disciples by washing their feet (13)

• Hated by the world (15)

• Intense times of prayer (17)

• Betrayed by a friend (18)

• Denied by a close friend (18)

• Killed (19)

• Resurrected from the dead (20)

• Inspires his followers again (21)

What if Jesus FROZE? What if Jesus gave up and said, “The cost is too great.”

Not Jesus … he continued to MOVE FORWARD! He did not stop because he knew his life mission – “… to seek and save those who are lost …”

Life Principle: Something set on FIRE can never FREEZE!

Honor God in your speech, thoughts, and actions! Live life with a burning passion for God!

REMEMBER: Nothing is ever fun if you do it halfway!

You only have one life to live … use it well …