The Secret of Spiritual Hunger
October 27, 2010
Introduction
A Wednesday night we talked about being possessed by Jesus.
1 He wants to totally take complete control of our lives.
a Actions, thoughts, hands, etc.
b If He’s “inside” me, I’m embarrassed of the way things look.
aa (IL) Do you let someone in your house when it looks like Katrina just hit?
bb Phyllis Diller quote
2 I know what things are like in there...it ain’t pretty.
a Wallpapered with fear/guilt
aa I’ve got anger & disbelief all over the floor.
bb Holes in the wall of argument & distrust
cc Smells like envy, greed, lust in the air
dd The electrical work needs attention because it’s been overloaded with me trying to hold onto past grudges, pain, & hurt.
b Now Jesus wants to live in me.
3 Jesus knew all about the problems this ol’ heart had when He bought me.
a If you ask me, He paid too much!
b I wasn’t worth it!
aa ...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)
bb He paid the asking price & moved in.
cc I can’t pick the place up, fix the holes, change the wiring...He’s already here.
B What I hear Him say is, “Let me worry about changing you. You give yourself to changing the world.”
1 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. Rev 21:6 (NASB)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matt 5:6 (NASB)
2 I like to entertain, it’s the preparing to receive guests that I don’t like.
a Jesus is telling me, “I’ll clean up the place, you entertain the guests I send your way.”
b Side thought...do you pick up more for mom/dad/ kids or guests?
aa I clean/pick up more for guests.
bb We don’t have to impress God, prove ourselves to Him.
cc He’s already proven us through His Son!
3 Instead of worrying about being Super Baptist, biggest giver in this/that, numbers...we just chill/relax in His presence.
a Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; the upright will dwell in Your presence. Psalms 140:13 (NASB)
b "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls.30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NASB) God hasn’t put a heavy weight on us...chill out!
4 My voice reminds me of my past; He reminds me of my future.
a My voice-mistakes, failures; His-blessed choice
b My voice-impossible; His voice-everything with Him is possible, doesn’t need 12 steps, doesn’t need blue and yellow to make green.
c My voice-what will people think of me; He reminds me that He’ll take care of my reputation.
C In His presence is “yes!”
1 Peter was a disciple who dropped the ball, denied Jesus three times, ran to his past...back to Galilee, fishing. After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus , and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.5 So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No."6 And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught."11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord.13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. John 21:1-14 (NASB) I can’t change, quit.
a Surely, Peter was damaged goods, missed his destiny, messed up His calling.
b Jesus said, “Go back into town & do the will of God.”
aa Can you imagine Peter’s inner dialogue?
bb I denied You three times, I cut off a guy’s ear in the Garden, I wanted to build three tabernacles for Elijah, Moses, and You...build me.
cc There was the time I told you to stop talking about the cross.
c Sounds familiar, huh?
2 We can all think of a hundred reasons for God not to use us.
a We are loved with a love that our failures can’t destroy.
b Jesus loves you...died to show you...tells you all the time.
3 Peter was frustrated trying to change himself-can’t do it.
a It’s not your job to change yourself-that’s His job.
b “Peter, get back to town, you’re about to preach your biggest sermon...got to leave this net here.”
4 Church, we’ve got a job to do!
a Change the world...while we’re changing the world, Jesus will change us.
aa Once heard of a Lutheran pastor that criticized Baptist preachers because they didn’t have the education to preach.
bb Some of the best preachers I’ve heard didn’t go to seminary, are divorced...Baptist.
cc We just put down our nets/past, and God will change us!
b Jesus changes people.
aa If we do our job (change the world), He’ll do His job (change us).
bb He came to change us.
5 Pray
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