Intro: my Mom’s motto was never leave the table hungry and we never did. But sometimes when I went to friends homes they gave out enough to feed a bird. So many times I would come home and raid the refrigerator because I was starving. In life there are times that you just gotta have more. Today, we will look at four people who were not satisfied with their lives, and how Jesus was able to meet the deeper needs of their heart and soul.
JESUS, I’VE GOTTA HAVE MORE
I. Nicodemus–John 3 The story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus needs to be put in proper prospective today. Nicodemus was one of the head religious men of his day. He was trained in scripture, knew the law inside out, and enjoyed great status as one who knew God. But here we see him coming at night for a personal interview with Christ.
What did he say, Jesus, I’ve gotta have more than religion. Today, you may be here, been in church all your life, and need to have a personal interview with Christ at these altars. You may need to tell Him you are dissatisfied with the way things are going, and that there has got to be more than this.
A. Religion doesn’t satisfy because–it may give you a great standing with others, but not a true standing with God. Nicodemus realized his position with men didn’t matter anymore, what he wanted was his position with God to be right. Today, everyone may say you are a great Christian, but like Nicodemus, if your standing with God isn’t right, then wherever you are standing is wrong.
B. Religion doesn’t satisfy because-knowing things in your head isn’t like feeling things in your heart. For Nicodemus it had all become stale. He was tired of getting up in the morning, putting on his robe, and being a somebody in the religious circles, but feeling an emptiness.
C. Jesus gives him more–Jesus gives Nicodemus what he needed. A new life, a new birth, a new beginning. Jesus let him know it was Spirit not flesh. Jesus gave him something that would satisfy the soul. Jesus gave him true salvation which was good news. In the middle of the night Nicodemus found the light of the world.
II. Samaritan Woman–the lady at the well is one of the great stories in scripture. Here is a lady, a Samaritan, who were despised by the Jews as a mixed group. Jews who had married foreigners in the Northern Kingdom after the Assyrian invasion. In her meeting with Jesus she tries to explain he shouldn’t be talking to her, that he had no ability to get water without a bucket, and that she knew all about worship. But after Jesus introduces living water that never runs dry, something that will satisfy your soul forever, she realized she needed Him, more than He needed her. She said, I’ve gotta have more.
She had spent her life in bad relationships, and learned that relationships cannot satisfy.
A. Relationships do not satisfy because–they are water that runs dry. Now I am not putting now the blessing of marriage or other relationships, because they are God given. But without Christ in our lives, every other relationship will leave us empty.
B. Relationships do not satisfy because–there is hurt, rejection, fear and a lot of other things attached to them. Only Jesus can give pure, agape, perfected love. A love that loves at all times, a friend that sticks closer than a brother. No greater love than this.
C. Jesus gives her more–he gives her forgiveness of sins, he gives her purpose in sharing Christ, he gives her a living testimony of life transformation. She never knew the well was the starting place of her ministry.
Ill) I love the story of Billy and Ruth Graham reaching out to Jim Bakker. After the fall of P.T.L. people deserted Jim Bakker because of his sins. At the prison one day, Jim was told he had a visitor, it was Billy Graham. Many people do not know this, but when Jim Bakker was released from prison, He stayed with Billy and Ruth Graham, and from that place his ministry was restored. It doesn’t matter how far we can fall, what matters is how high he can lift us.
III. Zacchaeus–Luke 19:1-10 It is always great when a Tiger Woods, a Donald Trump or a Bill Gates comes to Jesus Christ and says, I’ve gotta have more. You may say, does that really happen, it did in the case of Zacchaeus. If you read scripture you find that he was probably one of the riches men in town. He was hated as a tax collector for Rome, but even so, He was wealthy. As one song goes a wee little man was he, he had to climb up a tree to see Jesus passing by. But since Jesus saw that Zacchaeus wanted more, Jesus stopped so that he could get what he needed.
A. Success in life doesn’t satisfy because– after you have eaten everything there is to eat, gone everywhere there is to go, seen everything there is to see, you will still have an emptiness of a life chasing the wind. You see if you could have everything in this world, what does it profit if you lose your soul. Zacchaeus had come to the conclusion, I am obtaining a lot but losing more. I am climbing higher but sinking lower.
B. Success in life doesn’t satisfy because–it will pass away with you. Solomon learned this long ago when he said the glory of man fades away. One day you are a great success, the next day forgotten. What was today’s big news, is tomorrow’s no news. All men’s crowns tarnished quickly.
C. Jesus gives him more–true success was a peace in his life that passed understanding. Jesus gave him the one thing no one else could give him, a bank account that would never run out. An investment in things that would never pass away. Jesus gives true fulfillment in life, treasures in heaven. Zacchaeus realized in Jesus Christ, I’ve finally have what I’ve been looking for in my life.
IV. Matthew – follow me –Jesus walks up to Matthew and says follow me, and he leaves everything he is doing, and follows him. He’s said, I’ve gotta have more than this. More than collecting taxes at this table, more than just being a face in the crowd or a number on a wall.
Christ offers more–he offers Matthew a chance to make a difference in the lives of other people. He gives a bigger purpose than ever before. He gives them a vision of reaching a world that is lost.
Today, there is more. There is a new life, there is living water, there is forgiveness of sins, there is purpose and vision for your life. Matthew leave your table and find the world that is waiting for you.
Close: The other night at the speed the light grand club I had a new revelation. As I talked with the missionaries that we support I noticed they all were so happy, so fulfilled in their lives. Then Jason Loper showed pictures of our missionaries ministering around the world. In every picture their families had giant smiles. Next to huts they were smiling, in jungles they were smiling, in canoes going through dangerous waters they were smiling. With every smile the message was ringing out, we’ve got more. More than Tiger Woods, More than Donald Trump, more than Larry King or Bill Gates. Then the picture that will live in my mind forever, the Scott Matthes family, he,his wife, and three beautiful little girls, smiling from Siberia. Scott relays this message, it was 20 below when the picture was taken. They met Jesus at a well, they met Jesus up a tree, they met Jesus at their job one day, and their lives have never been the same.
Today, if you want more, He is more.
Like Nicodemus you don’t need more religion you need more life, like the Samaritan woman, you don’t need another relationship, you need living water, like Zacchaeus, you don’t need more money, you don’t need more things, you need Jesus, like Matthew you don’t need a job, you need an adventure. Take this whole world but give me Jesus.
I’d ratherhave Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand:
refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway!
I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name:
