When you think of the word intensity, what comes to mind...
Webster’s definition: earnest, fervent, showing strong emotion, firm purpose, great seriousness. Which is the result of something developing within one’s self.
Once when Alabama was playing Auburn, Coach Bear Bryant sent in his 2nd string quarterback with instructions to run on every play and he had better not pass the ball. Alabama led by three points and only had to run the clock out to win. Three downs in a row Alabama was crushed. On the fourth down with a few seconds left and Alabama ahead the quarterback took the snap. Looking into the end zone he saw his receiver so open the temptation was too great. He threw the ball only to see it intercepted. Though he was the slowest player on the field the 2nd string quarterback ran down the interceptor and Alabama won the game.
After the game coach Dye of Auburn said to Bear Bryant, “How did that boy run down my boy who was so much faster?”Bear Bryant answered “Simple,” Your boy was running to score a touchdown – my boy was running to keep me from killing him!”
Pictures...which one best describes your intensity for Jesus?
“The greatest threat to the Christian world today is not the evil outside, but rather the apathy inside” ...Charles Stanley
“Apathy” - lack of concern, feelings and passion.
Paul writes to a young man to keep him committed and intense about Jesus.
Notice Where Our Intensity Comes From:
• The Commandment. Vs. 11,14
• The Calling. Vs. 12
“Fight” = Agony
Literally Paul is saying, “ agonize over the agony of faith”.
Jude 3 “Contend(agonize) earnestly (intensely) for the faith”
(Keep on until victory - like an athlete competing)
• The Confession . Vs. 12b, 13
Probably his baptism or ordination.
Not a cheap confession, when compared to Jesus’ confession leading to death.
• The Coming . Vs. 14, 15
Here’s the Key: All of these 4 points don’t mean anything to our life if Jesus isn’t all-powerful, all King and all Lord over our lives in 2007!
Let me ask...what good is it to fight the good fight of faith, contend earnestly for the faith, if Jesus isn’t Lord? And if that’s the case then you will live a life full of compromise and conflict?
The level of intensity for Jesus Christ is determined by this action - We must first dethrone self and enthrone Jesus!
Ben Franklin said, “A man wrapped up in himself makes for a very small package.”
Robert Owens said, “If I am half full of my self, there is no way I can be full of God.”
LIFEPOINT: God’s Kingdom means that He is King in His kingdom and that means - citizenship without Lordship is impossible!
The first person to receive a patten for the wheel barrow was Jed Smith. He was a strong Christian and devoted to an intense walk with God. He owned a wheelbarrow business, and at the entrance of his manufacturing plant was a sign that read, “If you are like a wheel barrow - going no farther than you are pushed - you need not apply for work here!”
Folks, our church is at a crossroads as we enter 2007 - many of us are standing at the juncture wondering what to do! A church can’t make impact on it’s community if some pick up their marbles and go home! If some never fellowship, if some never serve, if some have sour attitudes and if some never grow in Christ!
Some of may want this church to stay a country club for the saved, but folks, FBC is more than a hospital for sinners - it’s an intensive care unit for the sin broken soul!
Individual Intensity Inventory
1. Jesus Christ is my Lord when I obey the initial prompting of the Holy Spirit without hesitation or argument.
John 14: 26 “And I pray the Father and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever.”
Comforter = comes along side prompting, guiding and leading!
Ephesians 5:18 “And do not be drunk with wine which in excess, but be filled with the Spirit .”
2. Jesus Christ is my Lord when I am committed to fulfilling His will for my life before I even know what He will require of me.
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
“Do not be conformed” = displaying an outward old expression that does not reflect the inward new creation of the believer. Paul is implying that it’s happening!
J. B. Phillips translates this, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold.”
“Transformed” = “meta/morphosis” - it’s a compound word:
1. “Meta” = change
2. “Morphoo” = to take shape or form
A word that’s very similar is “meta/noeo” = to change a mind (repent)
“World” = a system of beliefs, values or a worldview
“Renewing” = indicates a present continuous action in the mind. This makes it so much easier to then know the perfect will of God!
Key: Until we lay our lives on the alter our will is not dead - and God’s will won’t be manifested or appreciated in our lives! We will never experience God’s power and passion in life without the power and passion of His will!
3. Jesus Christ is my Lord when I am available to serve Him without regard to time, or circumstances.
Acts 16: 22-23
4. Jesus Christ is my Lord when I recognize His ownership of my total life, including possessions.
I Corinthians 6:19,20 “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you who you have from God, and you are not yours? You were brought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.”
Galatians 2: 20 “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, and thelife which I know live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.”
5. Jesus Christ is my Lord when I look to Him as the source of all my needs and desires. God will work out His providential provisions in my life.
Psalm 37: 3,4 “Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart”.
Romans 8:28 “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”.
6. Jesus Christ is my Lord when I am turning my difficulties and my failures into opportunities for spiritual growth.
James 1: 2-5 “My brother, count it all joy when you fall into various (multi-colored) trials. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (perseverance) . . . might be perfect and complete lacking nothing.”
Psalm 66:10,12 “For You, O Lord have proved us, You have refined us as silver is refined.” But you brought us out to rich (abundance) fulfillment.”
7. Jesus Christ is my Lord when knowing Him intimately becomes the obsession of my life.
John 4: 21-23 “In Spirit and truth.”
Intimacy with Jesus comes through worship!
Worship that is not yielded to the Spirit is not worship
Philippians 3:3 “worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus. . .”
Psalm 119: 32 “I will run the course of your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.”
Ray Ortland said, “Worship is the highest and noblest act that any person can do. When men worship, God is satisfied! And when you worship, you are fulfilled! Think about this: why did Jesus Christ come?
He came to make worshipers out of rebels. We who were once self centered have to be completely changed so that we can shift our attention outside of ourselves and become able to worship Him.”
Together Let’s Experience a Fresh Start With God!!!
A NEW HEART, A NEW LIFE
It was March 18. Leanne tried not to think about the fact that Melvin would have been 39 today. The face of the man driving the van flashed in her mind. She tried not to feel the anger. Once more the scream of brakes, the crash and then the silence replayed itself in her memory. She thought of the whispers in Melvin’s ear through a maze of tubes and machines, words that she could only hope he somehow had heard. Leanne remembered having to tell her two boys about the nightmare and trying to support them in their grief as she struggled with her own.
She remembered the sound of the blades whipping through the evening sky as the helicopter carried Melvin’s organs to others whose very life depended on his final gift. Who were they? Would she ever get to see them? The recipient of Melvin’s heart had written twice in the year and a half since the transplant. Leanne had finally found the courage to answer and admit that she longed to hear that beautiful heart beat again.
There was no way she could have known that at that very moment, John Meinhardt and his wife Jan were signing release forms to reveal their identity to the donor family.
John’s head swam with memories too: he could almost feel the mix of terror and elation hearing the nurse’s casual statement that a heart had been found. He wanted to live so much, but he had struggled with guilt knowing that for him to live someone else would die. He remembered the nurse walking away and his wife Jan slipping under the covers and holding him. She had kissed his heart good bye. Together they had prayed for the doctors and their future and surrendered the outcome to God.
Later that night a small light appeared in the evening sky and soon the roar of whipping chopper blades. Jan remembered the tears watching that blue Igloo cooler being lowered from the helicopter and carried into the hospital on a dolly. She had stopped the survival flight team and dropped to her knees to kiss the cooler. She prayed with their children for the success of the surgery and for family of the donor.
And now John was signing the papers to meet that family that so many times they had wrapped in gratitude. Soon John and Leanne were choking back tears as they spoke on the phone "When can we meet?" John asked. "How about in an hour at Latina’s Pizza?" Leanne replied.
An hour later Leanne laid her head upon John’s chest and heard the heart she had loved for so long, Melvin’s heart. The heart which had given new life to John.
