Video The Jesus Rant
Slide #1
Welcome to VP…it’s hard to believe that we are already in our third week of our Re-Discover Church “Open House” Month.
I hope and pray that you have used this opportunity to share with your families, friends and neighbors the exciting things that have been happening in your life…and around the church.
If you’re the one here this morning because a friend thought enough of you to invite you…or if you’re here because you just felt the need to come.
We are excited that you have decided to worship God with us today…
Welcome Card
Prayer
Here’s the great news…because you entered in thru those doors…you …just like every other person here…have the opportunity to walk out of this building a changed person.
Jesus is all about change…From the time He was boy until He was an adult… He challenged people with a radical way of thinking and changed their lives.
How many of you here today believe that He is still in the business of changing people’s lives…amen…me too!!!!!!!!!!
I am so excited that you’re here today…you have defiantly made the right decision by getting out of bed this morning…
It is so exciting to be involved with this church…a church that is growing weekly because…Christ is entering people’s lives...
In the past six weeks…Because of God’s concern for the lost…5 people’s destinies/futures have been permanently changed forever.
These people have realized the importance of asking Jesus into their lives...by changing them…transforming them to His way of thinking.
As I was driving home from the church last Sunday morning...I felt the overwhelming presence of joy. (Kinda unexplainable)
I guess you could say that I had my own kinda…Jesus Rant (the video)
I was excited…not just because of what Jesus has been doing in people…but I was just as excited thinking of ways that we can continue to share Him…with more people.
I mean…isn’t that what life’s all about…sharing Jesus with people?
After I began to calm down from this Jesus buzz…
I began to wonder… if this is what Jesus felt like when He helped people with their problems?
Because of Jesus…People with little hope…now believe that mountains can still be moved.
Because of Jesus…People who were carrying around heavy burdens (just in the last 6 weeks) have turned them over to Jesus and He is helping them carry the load.
Because of Jesus…Heaven is a few people larger.
He’s worth it isn’t He???????
We read throughout the bible that…People walked for miles hoping to just get the opportunity to see Him pass close by…or possibly…just possibly get a chance to meet and touch Him personally.(Life Changing)
Why?...What was it that drew people towards Him? What was so special about Him…about His touch?
Still today...Thousands of years after His death…people are still drawn to Him…why is that?
It’s simple really…
People Need Jesus. (You need Jesus)
Slide # 2 Why Is Jesus Important?
Slide # 3 We all Face Storms in Life
The world that we live in today is slowly falling apart…and if people like you and I don’t continue to seek out Jesus…very soon I believe that it will cease to exist at all.
Jesus has the power to calm any storm in your life.
Read…Matt.8:23-27
Every time I read or hear the Bible being read…I pay attention to what’s being said…because I know that it was meant for me to see it or hear it.
Why is this story so important to us this morning?
There is not one person here today…that isn’t dealing with some kind of storm in your life.
Your storm could be the call from your doctor…you never wanted to receive.
Your storm could have to deal with an un-appreciating boss...who doesn’t care that you never get to spend time with your family.
Your storm could be you’re the only one in your household that understands the importance of having Jesus in your life.
Your storm could be financial troubles…dealing with drug addiction.
Or your storm could be with Jesus Himself.
You’re the person here today who’s still trying to figure out if what I’m saying this morning is true…is He real…and if He is…can he help me?
Let me encourage you this morning by sharing with this with you.
The same Jesus that stood up in the boat that day…And commanded the wind and the waves (storms) to be still.
Is the same Jesus that has the power/the ability to make your waves stop…but here’s the catch…you have to be willing to meet Jesus in the middle.
Everything that has been written in the Bible is truth…
Jesus does love you…He wants to help you…but He needs to see that you are as committed to Him as He is to you.
Ever since I’ve been a pastor... This word commitment is one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced.
Day after day I talk with God and ask Him…How do I get His people (YOU) to realize the importance of living each and every day completely sold out for Christ?…
And after the many years of preaching Gods word and talking with Him…I have learned that ...I can’t make people love Jesus…and become committed to Him.
The only thing that will make people love and be committed daily to Jesus…is found deep within their own heart.
Each one of you here today has a decision to make before you walk out those doors.
Are going to ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins…come into your life and change you…and if that is what you choose.
Are you willing to Live for Him…I mean surrender everyday of your life…every minute to Him. (Do your own Jesus Rant)
He’s life changing…He’s worth the effort!!!!!!!!!
Or you can choose to walk out those doors like many do week after week… and struggle with trying to live life on your own.
Jesus’ heart breaks because many people choose to serve Him…but they do it half-heartedly.…
Half hearted Christians are the ones who play the church game.
On Sunday they model the Christian that everyone wants to be…But then Monday-Saturday they are never to be seen around the church again until the next Sunday Morning…and no change is seen at all…
They ask Jesus to save them…but some of the rules that go along with…they just can’t live with those.
These people might be fooling the masses…but God knows if a person is completely sold out to Him or not. (He is the creator of your heart)
Jesus not only wants to guide you through the storms in your life…But He also wants you to understand why He’s so important to you.
Slide # 4 He’s Becoming Extinct
Jesus is slowly being removed from everything in our nation.
Our schools…Our currency…Our government …and sadly…the home itself.
When are we gonna wise up and make a change?…
We have got our priorities mixed up…..
When an animal that God created… is placed on the endangered species list…our Government immediately creates a law to protect it.
And sadly…as a nation…we don’t even have enough brains to realize that the creator of us all…The Creator of the universe is already on the endangered list Himself. (And we are not doing anything about it)
Oh we’ll talk about it amongst ourselves…(On the street corners, in the coffee shops, in the break rooms, and even on Capitol Hill)
Most Americans have really become good at complaining about how it should be done instead of getting involved with correcting the problem.
I’ve always said that I would never bring politics into the pulpit…but all I’m saying is if you agree with me (that America needs Jesus back in the picture)…then this coming election do something about it…get out and VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sure that our founding fathers of this great Nation… “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave” are rolling over in their graves.
What do you think God is thinking about all this?
How many times do you actually see a family bow their heads in a public restaurant for prayer.
I was so encouraged last Monday when we went to the elementary school program and the kids were actually allowed to sing a song about God. (Maybe there hope for this great nation yet?)
Which brings me to my last point of why you need Jesus in your life.
Slide# 5 We are all Living in the Last Days
Think about what the Bible says about the end times…
Read! I Peter 4:1-11
Read foot notes 4:3…4:4
Clearly we are living in times towards the end of the Bible…
Marti Graz in New Orleans…even here in Hobbs
People are clearly disobeying what the Bible says…
Divorce rates are at are all time high (marriage is like fishing in a Bass tournament…if the one you catch isn’t what you’re after…throw it back and catch another until you find a keeper)…
Barna research shares that 33% of all marriages in America will end up in divorce.
Kinda blows what the Bible says about marriage out of the water huh!
What about Abortion
Abortion in the United States has been legal in every state since the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade
WORLDWIDE Number of abortions per day: Approximately 115,000
Number of abortions per year: Approximately 42 Million
Out of 1000 people who were interviewed on whether abortion should be legal in the U.S…49% of those interviewed said that they felt it was okay to make it legal.
Jesus has and still does make a difference in life…although the church obviously still has work to do.
Among evangelical Christians interviewed, 78% (3/4)believe that the practice should be illegal in all or most cases.
Let just remind you all what God says about this…
Gen. 2:7 “then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
When has it ever become our decision…who should live…and who shall die?
And if divorce and abortion weren’t enough…another problem we are dealing with in our generation today is…
Same sex marriage is becoming an accepted practice in our country (all for a Vote)…
Read Genesis. 1:26-28.
God’s word is very clear on the point…
He made man and woman and told them (referring to them as a couple) “Be fruitful and multiply the earth”
There has never been more of a need for Jesus in our world than Now!
The world which we all live in is daily slipping away from Jesus.
The summer Olympics are 67 days away…What I love about the games is before each one begins…someone is chosen to carry in the torch to begin the ceremonies.
I guess my question for you today is…which one of you here today is ready to pick up the torch (the Cross) and live for Jesus?
Stand
