GOD ENCOUNTERS: THE FOURSQUARE GOSPEL #1: JESUS THE SAVIOUR:
INTRO TO TOPIC: Discuss Aimee Semple McPherson and the Foursquare Gospel Church.
Give an overview of church history through the Protestant Reformation through Pentecostalism.
The Foursquare Church was founded in Los Angeles, CA in 1923 by a farm girl from Ontario.
Foursquare Gospel: Jesus the Saviour, Healer, Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, Soon Coming King.
Theme verse: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8).
THE BIG IDEA: One of the most important things we learn about Jesus is that He is our Saviour: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10).
I. SAUL WAS A TERRIBLE SINNER:
“Yet I could have confidence in myself if anyone could. If others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one! What's more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. And zealous? Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault.” (Phil. 3:4-6, NLT).
• From Saul’s own autobiography, he was a religious man, yet he didn’t know God.
“As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” (Acts 8:3, NKJV). (havoc = ravage, devastate, ruin).
“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2).
• Saul was also a murderer – ravaging churches and killing Christians for fun.
• Christians were afraid of him, and no one ever thought that Saul could be saved.
• “This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – and I was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Tim. 1:15-16, NLT).
THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL:
• If you are a sinner, it doesn’t matter how far gone you are – Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him! (Heb. 7:25).
• If you have a friend or family member who is a terrible sinner, or deeply entrenched in a false religion – don’t give up on them. There is always hope in Jesus!
• “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV).
• When you become a Christian, Jesus saves you – you can be saved from your sins:
• Forgiveness, freedom from guilt and shame, power to live your life for God.
II. SAUL MET A WONDERFUL SAVIOUR:
“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:3-4, NKJV).
1. SAUL’S CONVERSION WAS A SOVEREIGN ACT OF GOD’S GRACE:
• Saul wasn’t looking for Jesus, Jesus was looking for him.
• Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16).
• Later on in his life, Paul wrote: “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Eph. 1:4-5, NKJV).
• What an amazing thought, that God chooses us and adopts us into His family!
ILLUSTRATION: As a 12 year old, I wasn’t very athletic, but I tried out for the Huskies baseball team. Why did I make the team? Not because of my abilities (good works), but because my best friend’s dad was the coach of the team! Why does God choose us? Not because of our good works, but because of Jesus!
2. SAUL’S CONVERSION WAS SUPERNATURAL:
• He saw a light from heaven, and heard the voice of God.
• Paul wrote: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17, NKJV).
• God changed Saul’s name to Paul. He received a new name and a new nature.
• When you become a Christian, it’s like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
• Our conversion is also supernatural – it is something that Jesus does for us.
• “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9, NKJV).
III. SAUL ASKED TWO QUESTIONS THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE:
“And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:5-6).
• Here is where we look at the practical application of this message to our lives today:
1. KNOWING GOD: Paul’s first question to Jesus was, “Who are you, Lord?”
• This question became the #1 passion and driving force in the rest of Saul’s life.
• “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Phil. 3:10).
• Amplified version: “For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him…”
• This is our highest calling as Christians, the first question to discovering our destiny!
• May this question spur you on to know Jesus more and more throughout your life.
• APPLICATION POINT: Take the time to study the nature of God in the Scriptures, revealed in Jesus His Son. The Foursquare Gospel of Jesus: He is our Saviour, Healer, Baptiser in the Holy Spirit, and Soon Coming King.
2. DOING HIS WILL: Paul’s second question was, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
• He realized that the second most important thing in life was to discover God’s will.
• “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, NKJV).
• You can’t call yourself a Christian if you don’t obey Jesus! Is He your Lord?
• “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10, NKJV).
• We are not saved by good works. We are saved by God’s grace. But if we are truly saved, there will be the evidence of good works in our lives.
• APPLICATION POINT: Make a commitment to submit to the Lordship of Jesus.
CLOSING CHALLENGE: THE ROMAN ROAD:
• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
• “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).
• “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).
• “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
ALTAR CALL: For salvation. If you don’t know Jesus, call on His name today!
CLOSING SONG: On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand
My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
