IT IS ABOUT YOU!
1 Corinthians 15:1-58
>>Pastor Ken had a recently new believer read chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians before preaching<<
>>There was also a silent video called “This Hand” showing during the sermon<<
Welcome & Opening Comments:
We have asked ourselves the question “What would you do if you had only one week to live?” during this Holy Week. We have encountered Jesus as he answered that question for us.
• On Monday he cleansed the temple – he reordered worship with God. We too, used Monday as a day to confess, repent, and cleanse the temple thus reordering worship with the Heavenly Father.
• On Tuesday Jesus taught the masses in the temple. And so we, met for a Bible study and offered open prayer throughout the day.
• On Wednesday Jesus retreated and spent the day with friends. All the while Judas and the powers in charge were working in the shadows to bring about His demise. We spent time in worship with the brethren.
• On Thursday he gave himself to His disciples. He had a good meal with them … the last supper. Then, in the final hours of comfort Jesus taught the a “new commandment” a commandment that was to be and become the trademark of the Church. I find it more than curious that his final words would be words of instruction.
• On Friday he gave Himself to the world. He placed Himself in harm’s way to ransom and redeem humankind.
In the final summary, I would suggest Jesus spent his last days preparing life and eternity for others rather than soaking in all that earth had to offer for himself.
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Post-Video Comments:
They “fixed His wagon” didn’t they? They saw him riding into Jerusalem on a colt and proclaiming Himself as King of the Jews and they knew that this time they had to stop Him permanently.
He came close … but they showed him who was in charge.
He won’t be stirring the masses any longer … He is gone! Dead! They settled it once and for all!
Or so they thought.
But what they did not count on was that Jesus really was who He claimed to be. That was the “x-factor’ that changed everything.
They put Him on the cross but they could not keep Him in the grave!
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It is a common phrase these days. It is also very accurate. In most cases it does the hearer well to remember it because it places life, purpose, and relationships is a broader perspective. I have even seen a devotional/journal by this title being circulated in some circles within the church.
I have used the phrase myself on countless occasions. I use it in self-talk, I use it in parenting, and I use it in pastoral counseling situations. I use it because I believe it.
The phrase I am speaking of is … “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU.”
I cannot speak for others but I can tell you that I need to be reminded quite frequently that’s its not about me otherwise my world gets pretty small and out of focus.
But I have news for you on this Resurrection Sunday … I have GOOD NEWS … When it comes to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, IT IS ABOUT YOU!
In fact, it is ALL about you. The whole sum total of the day and the divine mission was … YOU.
IT’S ABOUT YOU HAVING A SPIRITUAL NEED YOU CAN NOT FILL
AND GOD HAVING THE RESOURCES TO FILL THEM.
When you read the NT, you see that Jesus’ disciples were not expecting him to rise from the dead, but when the truth about his resurrection dawned on them, it changed their lives. Their despair turned to joy. Their hopelessness turned to purposeful living. Their timidity turn to courage.
The Apostle Paul counted himself among them. He was violent toward Christians, going out of his way to inflict persecution on them. But when he met the risen Christ, the direction of his life completely changed. In v. 10 he says, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” He knew he didn’t deserve it, but God had changed him.
I hope you can you say that.
For the past week we have had a list of sins from the Bible projecting on our cross in the front of the sanctuary. It seems vulgar; almost wrong to let them flash across the cross. It was vulgar. It is vulgar. But it was essential for our sins to be placed on the cross. It was only when the sacrifice was made that our spiritual need could be satisfied.
You see, it was about you … and to God’s Son you were worth the humiliation of the cross.
If I were to stop preaching right now and pass the microphone around, several of you would pop right up to tell us how Christ has changed your life. Some of you lived with the bitterness of an unforgiving attitude. Some of you carried guilt. Some of you were filled with despair, lacking direction and purpose in your life. But through God’s amazing grace, he changed you. And that is a reason to celebrate.
IT’S ABOUT YOU HAVING A DESTINY YOU COULD NOT CHANGE
AND GOD HAVING THE POWER TO ALTER IT.
Your eternity has been altered!
Death need not be feared!
Did you catch the undertone of the reading that Cathy did this morning? Paul’s words have this air of confidence, this sense of destiny about them. He addresses many things in chapter 15 but the underpinning of all he is saying is … we have a new destiny and this life is no longer all there is!
For the Christ-follower, death is not the end; it’s the beginning.
V. 53 says, “This perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”
IT’S ABOUT YOU HAVING A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP YOU CAN NOT MEND
AND GOD HAVING THE LOVE TO REPAIR IT.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
(John 14:18-20, NIV)
Easter is the culmination of Christ’s mission on earth. Easter sealed the deal; finished the task; provided your security; and paved the way.
Easter gave you access to the Heavenly Father like humankind has not known since that tragic fall in the garden.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16, KJV)
And this was all done because …IT’S ABOUT YOU!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, KJV)
For us, Easter is a day of great celebration and victory. It is a victory won for us at the cost and price of another. It is a victory we did not deserve or merit. In fact, the price Jesus paid was so great and so horrific that he had to remember that “IT”S ALL ABOUT YOU” and not about him before he paid it.
Just a day before the crucifixion Jesus was praying in the garden, he was praying with such fervor that he was sweating something like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44).
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. … He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. … And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
{Matthew 26:39-44 (portions) KJV}
My modern paraphrase of that would include … I know it’s not about me Father. It’s about them.
And it was enough.
The video clip titled “This Hand” which we have been showing during the sermon can help illustrate what I am trying to say.
Easter is all about you. You the question begs to be asked … Have you had a life changing Easter experience?
Here, today, you can experience the full benefit of Christ’s great gift. You can know Him as Lord and Savior, and Friend. Simply trust in the work of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.
Whenever someone wishes to join our church they have to fill out a Spiritual Questionnaire and give us their testimony. In Marcie ____’s testimony she gave a small acronym to help a person know how to become a Christian. It works off of the word F A I T H.
F – is for Forgiveness.
Salvation is only available when one has had their sins forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3, KJV)
A – is for Available.
Heaven is available to everyone but not automatically applied to everyone.
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:2, NIV)
I – is for Impossible.
It is impossible to go to Heaven any other way than through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17, NIV)
T – is for Turn.
We must turn to God. This is a choice we make. We transfer our faith from our own Good works to God’s grace.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33-34, KJV)
H – is for Heaven.
IT IS ALL ABOUT YOU!!!! God has provided a place in eternity with Him – God has settled the account and removed the penalty of sin!
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57, KJV)
