Sermon Central
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Homesick
Contributed by Mark Elkins on Mar 25, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Homesick- Have you ever been homesick? There was a time in my life when I was in college, my parents were getting a divorce, and my team was on a losing streak, and I can’t remember, but I believe that I was in a slump. I wanted to go home bad! This
HOMESICK! Heb. 12:1-3
Our world is corrupt. It is becoming more corrupt ever day. The issues today are not any different than they were way back when we left the garden. They may manifest themselves differently. The root is the same. Today we face same sex marriage, child abuse, drug addiction, and the list goes on. Bottom line, corruption. The bible teaches “1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
Everyone seems to be out for what is best for them. Again, this attitude leads to corruption. It makes me homesick.
Homesick- Have you ever been homesick? There was a time in my life when I was in college, my parents were getting a divorce, and my team was on a losing streak, and I can’t remember, but I believe that I was in a slump. I wanted to go home bad!
This life causes me at times to yearn for that which I cannot obtain now. Heaven! Read verses from “Beulah land”.
I have discovered that this yearning will cause me to do some things. Being homesick will cause you to: turn loose, turn to Christ, and trust Christ.
Heb. 12:1-3; READ AND PRAY
Being homesick will cause us to :
I. Turn loose. 1 Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
There is a story of a man who was walking with a friend down Fifth Ave. in NY. They came across the gigantic statue Atlas, a beautifully proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. “There he is, the most powerfully built man in the world, and he can barely stand under this burden. But that is only one way to live. Follow me.” Said the friend. He took him to the other side of Fifth Ave. There was a shrine of boy Jesus, perhaps nine years old. He is holding the whole world in His hand. Tell your neighbor, “You can turn loose now!”
God wants us to be SET FREE.
7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Pet. 5:7
6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7
How can we live like this? I need an ABC, 123, type direction. I need some clarity. We can do this by simply turning to Christ.
II. Turn to Christ. 2 looking unto Jesus, the
Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
This is where the rubber meets the road. To be imitators of Christ means that we implement His beliefs and ways into our own lives. It doesn’t mean that we can skirt the pain and suffering. Therefore, we as His children should: 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR, “Hang in there!” for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:23-25.
God wants us to SEEK CHRIST.
III. Trust in Christ. 3 For consider Him who
endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
God wants us to SURRENDER TO CHRIST.
We get so frustrated with unfairness of life. It is one of the ironies in life. Why all of the pain. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is life so hard? We forget what Christ has done for us! We forget Heb. 4:15. 15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
We forget Heb. 2:17 17Therefore, in all things, TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR, “In all things”. He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
