1. Orange You Glad!
...the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit. Colossians 1:5-6
As a young man, Anthony Rossi emigrated from Italy. He sailed into New York harbor, but his plans were to move to the South and become a farmer. One day he visited the library at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue and found a book on agriculture. He sat down to read it at one of the long tables. Another book was sitting there, entitled The Life of Christ. Rossi, who knew little about Christ, began reading it and was transfixed. The next day he purchased a Bible and became engrossed in its message.
Rossi became both a Christian and a farmer. He's remembered today as the citrus king of Florida and the founder of Tropicana orange juice in Bradenton, FL in 1947. He became a leading Christian businessman in the twentieth century, a man whose legacy far exceeds the "100% pure squeezed sunshine" that made him famous.
There are many books in the library, but only the life of Christ can truly change us. Only the Bible can produce lasting fruit in our lives. God's message can transform you into someone you could never become on your own. He brings true sunshine to your soul.
Be honest. Don't look back. Keep looking ahead.... And, above all, listen to God. Have faith in God. Let Him guide you. Anthony Rossi
2. Colossians 1.1-8
a. There are "amazing" things from time to time -- gramophone; I-Pod; spectacular athletes; inventions such as computers (New + Old); fax machines; AC;
b. Note verse 6 -- Bearing fruit; growing; grace; hear/understand -- all over the world
c. This verse could start a quest in our lives for a fresh view of God's grace and our response to it
3. We must take God and his grace from theoretical to experiential and practical -- embodied in Jesus
4. Because of Jesus:
I. We Can Have a Proper View of God
John 14.7-11
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
A. Jesus showed us the Father by His Life:
1. Purpose -- Matthew 20.28
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. Holiness -- I Peter 1:15-16, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
3. Obedience -- Philippians 2.8 -- "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!"
B. Jesus Showed us the Father by His Words -- Matthew 7:28-29, "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who authority, and not as their teachers of the law."
II. We Can Have a Proper View of Grace
A. Incorrect Views
1. Brother John -- grew up in the church; has known the 5 steps of salvation as long as he can remember; In his maturing, he has always been careful to live right and faithfully; seldom misses church assemblies; led some people to Jesus in his earlier days; LATELY has grown judgmental -- he watches for people in his congregation and imagines why they may be absent from time to time; the only good Christian is one who is like him; he only appreciates fire and brimstone, judgmental preaching; HE has determined who is IN and who is OUT of the kingdom; HE determines HOW things should be done; he seems happiest when he is unhappy; people with struggles have no place in his life; the only people with whom he is happy are the ones most like him; he is no longer interested in bringing people to Jesus because they probably can't cut it any way; HIS circle of the saved gets smaller every year, soon he will be the only one in it; people around him have become uninterested in hearing of his faith;
2. Sister Sally -- the daughter of a church leader; lived as a straight arrow until she came home from college; she became one of those people who bothered Brother John so much; she attends church services sporadically, often missing the LS; People generally excuse her because of her job but the job is not always the issue -- her boyfriend is an unbeliever her friends in general are on the wild side; people have talked with her about her lifestyle and lack of faithfulness and her response is: "I am free from rules and regulations. I am a free Christian under the gospel, not a Hebrew enslaved to the Law." Few of her acquaintances know she is a Christian.
B. Healthy View
1. Brother Bob -- is in love with Jesus; he is as excited now as 8 years ago when he became a disciple; he is FOR everyone and everything; he has tried to become all things to all men that by all means he might save some (1 Corinthians 9.22); He misses church occasionally -- usually to care for someone in need or to talk to someone about Jesus; he speaks on occasion of how God is delivering him from the sins with which he struggles; he does not try to impress you with himself, but with God
2. What is the difference in these? It is the understanding of God and his Grace!
3. When we have Jesus, we have enough. It is not Jesus + circumcision; strict Torah observance; traditions of men -- John15.14 (love = keeping commands; Exodus 19) Love of Christ compels us
4. Paul begs for the removal of a "thorn in the flesh" -- God's reply, "My grace is sufficient/enough."
III. We Can Have a Proper View of Our Growth
A. We have appreciation for our salvation -- a great price -- 1 Peter 1.18-19
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
1. Marred Hands
An orphan boy was living with his grandmother when their house caught on fire. The grandmother, trying to get upstairs to rescue the boy died in the flames. The boy's cries for help were finally heard by a man who climbed an iron pipe and came down with the boy hanging tightly to his neck.
Several weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who would receive custody of the child, A farmer, a teacher and the town's wealthiest citizen all gave reasons why they should be chosen to give the boy a home. As they talked the boy's eyes remained focused on the floor.
Then a stranger walked to the front and slowly took his hands from his pockets, revealing scars on them. As the crowds gasped the boy cried out in recognition. This was the man who had saved his life and whose hands had been burned when he climbed the hot pipe. With a leap the boy threw his arms around the man's neck and held on for dear life. The other men silently walked away, leaving the boy and his rescuer alone.
2. Scarred Hands saved us -- freely given to us
B. We see our need to Grow -- 1 Peter 2.2
1. Just GROW as Babies -- it is a normal process unless we mess it up -- consider children -- take nourishment and grow
2. God and the Vine -- John 15.1-5
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
1. Golden Gate Bridge
In the 1930's the Golden State Bridge was built. Many lost their lives at one time the loss of life became so bad that Engineers, safety experts & Civic Authorities met to seek a solution. The work had fallen hopelessly behind schedule because of the fear of the workers falling to their deaths.... Costs were soaring. Bond holders were fearful of losing large sums if the work was not completed on schedule. Finally, the suggestion was made that a large net be hung under the bridge to catch any workers who might fall. But the cost was nearly prohibitive. But the greater question was, what about the cost in human lives? Finally the net was seen as the only solution. It was obtained and hung and work resumed. But workers were skeptical until one day a worker fell from the span into the net and was rescued. From that day forward confidence was restored, the work moved more quickly than ever. There were fewer mishaps. And the bridge was finished on schedule.
2. That's grace - the net of God's love which relaxes us to serve Him in love. BECAUSE we know we are already loved, accepted, forgiven and headed home...We have nothing to prove, only a grateful life to live.
3. It's all because of what God di for us in Jesus -- not what we have done
