Evangelist Herman E. Wesley III
DEAL OR NO DEAL
John 10:10 (NKJV)
The Memorial Service Message
for Clara Shameka Whatley
Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
NorthPointe Church of Christ Montgomery, Alabama
THE TEXT
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
INTRODUCTION
The other day, early Christmas morning, when a large number of us were gathered at the home upon hearing the news of Meka’s death, there was a young man walking in the crowd. He had on a T-Shirt, and when I looked at it, I saw the message behind it. The gentleman may even be here today. It was a simple shirt that had the logo of a game show on it, and it read..TAKE THE DEAL.
Hosted by Howie Mandel on NBC, "DEAL OR NO DEAL" is an exhilarating hit game show where contestants play and deal for a top prize of $1 million in a high-energy contest of nerves, instincts and raw intuition. Each night, the game of odds and chance unfolds when a contestant is confronted with 26 sealed briefcases full of varying amounts of cash – ranging from a measly penny to $1 million. Without knowing the amount in each briefcase, the contestant picks one – his to keep, if he chooses – until its unsealing at game’s end. The risk element kicks in when the player must then instinctively eliminate the remaining 25 cases – which are opened and the amount of cash inside revealed. The pressure mounts as in each round, after a pre-determined number of cases are opened, the participant is tempted by a mysterious entity known only as "the Banker" to accept an offer of cash in exchange for what might be contained in the contestant’s chosen briefcase – prompting Mandel to ask the all-important question – Deal or No Deal? As each case is opened, the likelihood of the player having a valuable cash amount in his or her own case decreases or increases. Viewers will see if, truly, fortune favors the bold. The contestant knows that as long as the larger cash prizes haven’t been opened, the Banker’s deals will only get higher. And if the conflicted contestant accidentally opens a case with a bigger cash value – the Banker’s offer could suddenly evaporate.
With this concept in mind, let me share with you a verse from scripture, as I address, briefly, the subject DEAL OR NO DEAL.
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
This text is really part of a discussion Christ is having relative to the shepherd and the sheep, and the dangers of one coming into the sheepfold to destroy the sheep. He gives His audience some insight on how to tell them apart, how to distinguish between the good shepherd, and the thief. I know I don’t have to spend a lot of time this morning helping you identify Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
If I were to draw a parallel this morning, I would identify Howie Mandel as Jesus. He wants you to win. He does not force you into a decision, but he lays out your options to you. You must deal with the consequences of the decision you make. You are the contestant, and for some of you, you have already chosen a case. The case you have chosen is eternal life. It sits, ready and waiting for you. The banker...I liken him to the Banker. He wants to offer you something to get you to change your mind, to doubt the decision you’ve already made. He wants you to take chances, roll the dice, and his aim is for you to lose. You see, 1 million dollars is the prize. Anything else is a loss, and if he can keep you from getting the prize, he has done his job. If all you want is a big house, you can get it...but its not the million dollars! You just want to be able to pay your bills...you can do that...but its not the million dollars! He wants to lure you with greed and chance. He wants your eyes to sparkle with lust as you push on and on and on. But hear God’s Word when it says:
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole
world and forfeits or loses his soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
As the Good Shepherd this morning, the Master is saying to you I want you to have abundant life, but in the midst of His Will for your life, the Banker is making you some offers that he really can’t deliver on.
He offers you another opportunity!
I know you’ve heard him whisper in your ear things like, “You don’t have to make a decision for Jesus today, “ or “You can always do it tomorrow.” But the truth of the matter is no one can promise you tomorrow!
For John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., tomorrow they were going to make another speech. For Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. tomorrow they were going to head to the studio. For Lisa “Left-eye” Lopez and Aaliyah, tomorrow they were going to make another video! Nobody can promise you tomorrow! James says:
What is your life...it is a vapor, that appears for a short while, and vanishes away! That’s why Jesus says “The day you hear my voice, harden not your heart, today is the day of salvation...Behold, now is the acceptable time!
You’ve got to make a choice for Jesus! It’s a deal or no deal kind of choice!
Elijah called for such a choice on Mt. Carmel - I Kings 18:21 “AND ELIJAH CAME UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE, AND SAID, HOW LONG HALT YE BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLOW HIM: BUT IF BAAL, THAN FOLLOW HIM, AND THE PEOPLE ANSWERED HIM NOT A WORD.” He called for an "either - or" choice, an exclusive choice! · Jesus called for an "either - or" choice - Matthew 6:24 “NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE, AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON.” He called for an "either - or" choice, an exclusive choice.! We all make exclusive, "either - or" choices. · We will either be truthful or we will be dishonest · We will either be generous or we will be selfish · We will either be dependable or we will be unreliable · We will either work for a living or we will try to live off of society · We will either be faithful in our marriage covenant or
we will be adulterous · We will either serve Jesus or we will not!
Be careful listening to the banker, he is the person who says there is another door, and the Bible tells us he is a thief and a robber. The “banker” steals and kills and destroys the sheep. The thief misleads and deceives the sheep, leading them through a door that leads to destruction.
Drugs, money, sex, abuse...lying, homosexuality, unfaithfulness, He wants you to believe that it’s alright, and everybody is doing it.
There are some who definitely want the wool and life of the sheep (false and liberal religions, denominationalism and false philosophies). They want the sheep to follow them and their position, so they do all they can to secure the sheep’s...
• loyalty
• allegiance
• possessions
• time
effort • energy
• recognition
• praise
• honor
By leading the sheep away from the restrictiveness of Christ, because following Christ means there are restrictions, the false teacher becomes a thief—a thief in that he steals the soul of the sheep from God and leads it into a sheepfold that will be destroyed. It causes the sheep never to know the true Shepherd.
False religions, false doctrines, false churches...these are all bad deals, and the worse deal of all is one someone lies to you about how to grab hold of the salvation offered to us only by Christ! The Good Shepherd stands at the gate, but the thief uses the back door, the window, he’ll even come down the chimney...preaching and teaching error to keep you from God!
If you want Christ in your life, there’s only one way to access Him, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! H,B,R,C,B!
-- In closing, The story is told, -- Satan once called together the emissaries of hell, and told them he wanted to send one to earth to aid men and women in the destruction of their souls. He asked who would volunteer. -- One came forward. Satan asked, "What will you tell the children of men?" He said, "I WILL TELL THEM THAT THERE IS NO HEAVEN." Satan responded, "They will not believe you, for there is a bit of heaven in every human heart. And in the end everyone knows that right and good must have the victory. You may not go." -- Another came forward, darker and more foul than the first. "If I send you," Satan asked, "what will you tell them." "I WILL TELL THEM THERE IS NO HELL." Satan looked at him with contempt and said, "They will not believe you for in every human heart there is a conscience, an inner voice that says good will triumph and evil will be defeated. You may not go." -- One last creature came forward, darkest of them all. And Satan said to him, "And if I send you, what will you say to women and men to aid in the destruction of their souls?" And he said, "I WILL TELL THEM THAT THERE IS NO HURRY." And Satan said, "GO."
Now, Jesus and eternal life are waiting in the case you’ve already chosen. There is no doubt, you made the right choice. When you give your life to Jesus, when you become a part of His Church, you have made the best choice! And while the world beckons, and tries to draw you in, I want to encourage you today to know that Jesus offers the best deal! He’s not out to beat you! He’s not out to destroy you! He’s not in it to hurt you! He loves you! TAKE THE DEAL!
Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool...TAKE THE DEAL!
Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest...TAKE THE DEAL!
All things work together for good to those who love God and have been called according to His purpose...TAKE THE DEAL!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me...TAKE THE DEAL!
I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly...TAKE THE DEAL!
Whosoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved...TAKE THE DEAL!
