In the light of all that is happening in the church world, the falling of men and the increase of what I would like to call the broadway churches that entertain you instead of guiding you in spite of all that craziness in the church world understand that God is still God, in spite of the chaos that we see around us and the destruction that seems to have a hold on society, we are to remember that God is still God, in light of the predators that seek to destroy our lives and the lives of our children in media, schools, the work place and in our streets God is still God and active for those who will make a conscience decision to say I will continue on I will not give up.
In church we can point the finger and say they are the reason I don’t do this or do that, we could try to blame someone else but the reality is this beloved they didn’t die for you Jesus did and yet even though you betrayed Him, even though we were obvious enemies of this Holy and awesome savior He continued going to the cross, for the purpose of saving you.
“Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them. ” And they went to another village.”
??Luke? ?9:51-56? ?NKJV??????????
"The Christian Life begins and continues on the foundation of FORGIVENESS, not on a promise of protection and help in a difficult world."
See beloved the reality is that an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. We are to realize that forgiveness is a necessity that is desperately needed and a desire amongst a dying and sinful generation. And Jesus is the example of forgiveness and true redemption that is not to disappoint.
This points out a very remarkable truth about how determined our Savior was. Steadfastly. The meaning of steadfastly means in a resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering manner. This is very critical for you and I to understand, Jesus is firmly headed to the cross, He is not allowing anything or anyone to stop Him in His journey to this gruesome death. He was set for the journey, He was prepared, He knew His mission and was not going to allow anything to stop Him, Jesus did not and was not going to quit. Too many lives at stake, too many souls in the balance nothing was going to deter Jesus from His task. He was not allowing anything to become a stumbling block. The Bible says He was steadfastly.
1st point “I know why I’m here”
This is a very common question in many troubled teens and also in adults today, the question, “why am I here?” This is normally answered by people who lack truth and lack wisdom, and who very often give a wrong and inconsistent answer to the question at hand. They would say you would have to find out, or continue to search and hopefully get an answer, God already wrote in this word that you were created and placed here for His purpose.
Scripture gives us clear understanding that we are all created for a purpose to glorify God.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
??Ephesians? ?2:10? ?NKJV??????????
And the purpose is sure in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. See beloved Jesus understood and knew His purpose and in this He is sure to help us understand ours. People are forever trying to find their niche their purpose their calling to no avail because for the most part it is not in the things of God and so they continue on in a dissatisfying journey looking for it in all the wrong places. And yet here is Jesus the savior of the world who understands that He was brought to this earth to die for you. He was steadfast, His work was not to be disregarded it wasn’t to be abandoned, but completed.
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
??Matthew? ?16:21? ?NKJV??????????
Beloved Jesus knew His mission, He clearly spoke of this truth to all who would listen when He said I must go to the cross for you. I must be the final sacrifice for you to be with me in heaven. See His desire to please God and save you were enough for Him to stay focused. What is your desire, what is your reason to stay focused?
See beloved once you know why you are here then and only then will you find satisfaction in your God given mission. Beloved you must understand that you were created for a purpose greater than yourself. You were created for a mission that will out live you, that will bless your children, I’m not talking about money, property, toys or material things, beloved I’m talking about the purpose of God’s glory being evident in lives that you touch. You were put here to help bring others to the light. Jesus died a dark death so He can show forth the light in being risen up with/in Him. What are you here for? To just take up space? To just go to work and go home? What are you here for?
You are here to be a ray of hope, you are called to be evidence of God’s forgiving grace. You are called to be a spiritual firefighter. You are suppose to save people from the fire and flame of hell. That is why you are here.
2nd Point “Bumps and bruises, don’t quit”
Wha I am about to say is a reality and stands true this morning, this life is going to leave you with some scar’s. Life is going to take you places that are going to leave you with some bumps and bruises. But it is all worth it. When your going through it your going to want to quit, your going to want to give up, just think of all that is at stake, the peace of mind, the covering of your family, the bright future, beloved the salvation of many including yourself, to give up is to be eternally without God. Beloved don’t quit.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
The enemy has a plan and that plan is to kill you, that plan I to strip you of your joy, strip you of your purpose, strip you of all the promises of God, the enemy wants to take the very fight out of you and kill it. Don’t quit but your going to need to fight back.
1 Timothy 6:12
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
The Bible says fight the good fight. Take up the amour of God and prepare for this warfare, who said it was going to be easy, who said it was going to be a walk in the park, Jesus tells us that it is going to cost us something, it is called sacrifice.
Any thing worth having is worth fighting for. Let me ask you a question, is your family worth it? Your spouse? Your kids, your loved ones, any loved one? Look at them and tell them that you gave up and see how they respond. See beloved whether your saved or not your going to leave this life with scar’s, why wouldn’t it for the things of God?
See beloved the purpose you were created for is so important that it is being warred against in the heavenly places, if you were not made for a purpose why is the enemy so adamant on keeping you from fulfilling it? Have you ever thought of that? The enemy of your soul is so afraid of what can become of you that he wants tot stop it now. He is so much more aware of your purpose than you are that he is trying to stop every fiber of your soul from fulfilling the promises of God in your life.
“You will never be entirely comfortable. This is the truth behind the champion – he is always fighting something. To do otherwise is to settle.”
“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” That means continuing on to see the battle won. Not giving up not quitting, Jesus did what His flesh refused for Hi to do, He continued on even when it hurt.
He said father if it is possible take this cup from me, nevertheless let your will be done, in other words father is there another way, no, okay so lets do it. Was He tired yes, was He exhausted yes was He looking for another way yes, but He wasn’t wiling to quit. I was steadfast then I’ll be steadfast now, till the end. And He did it till the death and brought forth life.
3rd Point “He died so we can live”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
??John? ?12:24? ?NKJV??????
Every human being on earth is looking for fruit in their lives, a good life, promotion at work, a successful marriage, kids that do well, a good reputation but they are not willing to pay the price and die to themselves for it. Beloved Jesus died so you an I can live. He died so we can be His fruit and produce more fruit but in order to do so we must first follow His steps and not create our own in the midst of it.
Think with me for a moment, the King of all kings, the Prince of peace who has all was willing to give it all up for you so that you can have life and life more abundantly, now the question is are you willing to give it all up for your neighbor?
It is a lot of work to go and tell someone about this wonderful salvation, its not easy the first couple of times. But once you get over the hump of selfishness and realize this is not about me but its about Christ. You would be able to die to yourself for the sake of others.
When the California gold fever broke out, a man went there, leaving his wife in New England with his boy. As soon as he got on and was successful he was to send for them. It was a long time before he succeeded, but at last he got money enough to send for them. The wife’s heart leaped for joy. She took her boy to New York, got on board a Pacific steamer, and sailed away to San Francisco.
They had not been long at sea before the cry of “Fire! fire!” rang through the ship, and rapidly it gained on them. There was a powder magazine on board, and the captain knew the moment the fire reached the powder, every man, woman, and child must perish.
They got out the life-boats, but they were too small! In a minute they were overcrowded. The last one was just pushing away, when the mother pled with them to take her and her boy. “No,” they said, “we have got as many as we can hold.” She entreated them so earnestly, that at last they said they would take one more. Do you think she leaped into that boat and left her boy to die? No! She seized her boy, gave him one last hug, kissed him, and dropped him over into the boat. “My boy,” she said, “if you live to see your father, tell him that I died in your place.”
That is a faint picture of what Christ has done for us. He laid down his life for us. He died that we might live. Now will you not love Him? What would you say of that young man if he should speak contemptuously of such a mother! She went down to a watery grave to save her son. Well, shall we speak contemptuously of such a Savior? May God make us loyal to Christ!
You must continue to understand that fighting for this is what we need to do and it will cost us much but we will also gain much. Continue on for Jesus Christ.
