THE MAGNETIC POWER OF JESUS
Jn. 12:32
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
Here’s Exercises you don’t have to move a muscle for:
1. Beating around the bush; Jumping to conclusions;
2. Climbing the walls; Swallowing your pride;
3. Passing the buck. Throwing your weight around;
4. Dragging your heels; Pushing your luck;
5. Making mountains out of molehills; Hitting the nail on the head.
6. Wading through paperwork; Bending over backwards.
7. Jumping on the bandwagon; Going around in circles;
8. Eating crow; Tooting your own horn;
9. Adding fuel to the fire. Opening a can of worms!
B. MAGNETISM & GRAVITY
Magnetism and gravity are totally different forces.
1. First of all, gravity, as a force, acts between on two objects no matter what their compositions are. As long as the objects have mass, gravitational forces will act between them; they will be pulled towards the source of gravitational force.
2. In contrast, magnetism primarily depends on the specific properties of the object. The force of magnetism has two directions. It can pull objects together or it can also pull them away from each other. The behavior of magnetism is also influenced by the alignment of electrons inside the objects.
3. The majority of objects on earth are insensitive to magnetism. If an object were not sensitive to gravitational force, then it would be ejected from earth all the way to outer space.[http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-magnetism-and-gravity/]
4. SUMMARY: Gravity pulls all objects (with mass) toward its source, regardless of composition; but magnetism only draws objects of a certain composition, or it may pull (push?) them away, depending on the position of positive/negative poles, or the alignment of electrons.
C. SPIRITUAL PARALLEL
1. God draws all humans to Himself, regardless of their composition. He wants everyone to be saved. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” Jn. 12:32. (1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; John 5:40; Acts 7:51, etc.).
2. But if we have Christ in us (like magnetic material), then we are of heightened composition that can be taken up in the Rapture, while lost people will be unaffected but that magnetic force (1 Th. 4:16-17; Rom. 8:11; 2 Tim 2:19; 2 Pet. 2:9). But even after salvation, God has requirements. We have to line our poles with His, or we’ll be repelled. He even fine-tunes the details of our hearts (electron alignment), if we want to continue to be pleasing to Him.
3. WHAT ATTRACTS US TO JESUS?
I. HIS EXTRAVAGANT SACRIFICE
A. THE GREATEST LOVE
1. The Lord Jesus demonstrated his love many ways. He showed His love by coming to earth. He lovingly fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead. He was loving during his whole life. But Oh! His death demonstrated how surpassing his love is for us.
2. “Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” John 15:13-14. Going to the cross was the greatest sacrifice of love any human could ever have shown us! Jesus did!
B. WHY DID PAUL ‘GLORY’ IN JESUS’ CROSS? Gal. 6:14
1. There have been many great teachers and leaders who captured the hearts of men. But only Jesus died for us!
2. But how can you look at His:
a. Thorn-crowned, sacred head; those...
b. Eyes red from weeping;
c. Hands fastened to the Cross with nails;
d. Feet dripping with gore; and know
e. His shameful death was for You!
3. We don’t love Him for coming to Bethlehem, but for going to Calvary! Oh, what love!
II. JESUS IS THE GIFT OF GOD
A. HE SATISFIES OUR THIRST & HUNGER
1. Jesus told the woman at the well, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
2. “And Jesus said unto them, ‘I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst’” John 6:35. Jesus alone satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst.
B. GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE HIS GIFT!
1. Q-“Don’t we all like Free things?” First, the term "gift" is "dorean," and refers to a free gift -- it’s a “grace” endowment, freely given. You don’t have to work for it or be “good-enough” for it – it’s a FREE gift!
2. Paul said, "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).
3. All you have to do is ask for it. In Isa. 55:1 God said, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” The point is, GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE HIS GIFT of eternal Life! And there’s NO CHARGE! IT’S FREE!
III. HE IS THE DESIRED OF THE NATIONS
“And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts” Hag. 2:7
A. THIS DESIRE IS A PERSON
1. Jesus is what we’ve all been longing for, but didn’t have. “There’s a God-shaped vacuum in every human being that only God can fill,” Blaise Pascal.
2. When we get Jesus in our hearts, our separation from God disappears; suddenly all is right between us and God. We experience the joy of salvation!
B. WHY THE NATIONS WOULD DESIRE HIM?
1. When Jesus comes and establishes His (millennial) Kingdom, He will END ALL WARS. “He will turn our swords into plowshares.”
2. The idea behind the United Nations is to establish PEACE BETWEEN NATIONS. That will never happen until Jesus comes, because He is the Prince of Peace!
3. When Jesus comes He will bind the devil and cast him into the Abyss (Rev. 20:3). So for 1,000 years, there will be NO EVIL on the Earth. There will be NO CRIME, do wars, no dangers!
4. During Jesus’ millennial Kingdom, all SICKNESS & DISEASE will be GONE. Doctors will have to find another job. The great hospitals will be unnecessary.
IV. NO OTHER HAS THE SAVING MESSAGE
A. IT GIVES BELIEVERS ETERNAL LIFE
1. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ has power to revolutionize men and women from the inside out. Programs like Teen Challenge have an 80% success rate (unparalleled by other programs) because of the life-changing power of Jesus.
2. Jesus’ words are unique. His disciples once said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life” John 6:68.
3. Bernard Ramm says, "The words of Christ are read more, quoted more, loved more, believed more, and translated more because they are the greatest words ever spoken."
B. NO OTHER GAINS YOU ENTRANCE TO HEAVEN
1. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by me” John 14:6.
2. People say, “There are many roads to God.” That’s false; there’s only one! GOD’S WAY -- through the crucified Savior.
3. When Jesus died, the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. Jesus’ death took away the separation between God & mankind. The way to God is now open, through Jesus!
4. HUMOR.
a. Nicholas Bank’s dad, an anesthetist, was summoned to the hospital. As he raced toward the hospital, a police patrol car sped up behind him—lights flashing, siren blaring.
b. So his Dad hung his stethoscope out the window to signal that he was on an emergency call. The policeman's response? A pair of handcuffs flapping outside the police car window!
V. HOW TO ACQUIRE THIS TREASURE
Jesus told the parable of the Treasure hidden in a field. “When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” Mt. 13:44-46.
A. THE RESOLVE TO PURCHASE THE TREASURE
1. Q-Have you ever seen a great bargain you couldn’t pass? If we ever see the inestimable value of Jesus and realize He’s within our grasp, we’ll want to own Him, whatever the cost.
2. The Pearl of Great Price (Jesus Christ) can be yours tonight, if you meet the terms God has laid out.
B. SELLING OUT TO BUY THE PEARL
1. The merchant sold all that he had. Everything must surrendered to get the Pearl. If Jesus Christ is to be attained, all the things we value must be sold. Our reputation, popularity, our financial security, acceptance by others, etc.
2. We must make Jesus “Lord” of our lives and surrender the control to Him, for Him to direct our paths. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” Mt. 16:24.
3. THE GREAT SECRET IS, when you give Jesus your paltry rags & life, He makes you a joint-Heir with Him of the greatest fortune in the universe. You will experience the Joy of knowing Christ now, and the overflowing blessings of God throughout all ages! You’re making the greatest trade of all time!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Very few ever get entrance to Buckingham Palace or have an audience with the King/Queen. Once when King Edward VII reigned in England, He and his queen were out walking in the country late one afternoon when suddenly she stumbled and sprained an ankle. In great pain, and with considerable difficulty, she limped along, holding to her husband's shoulder.
2. At dusk, they approached the home of a humble man. The King knocked on the door. "Who's there?" came the query. "It is Edward. It is the King. Let me in." The man inside shouted back, "Enough of your pranks now. Be off..." the King again said, "I tell you that is the King! It is Edward, your King. Let me in."
3. In anger the man shouted, "I'll teach you to torment an honest man trying to get his sleep. "He threw open the door in disgust, only to see that indeed it was his King! With profuse apologies the laborer invited the royal visitors in and sent for help to attend the Queen.
4. Years later, when the Britisher was too old to work, he would spend much time rocking on the porch and visiting with neighbors. He took great delight in reviewing that experience, always concluding with the same words: "And to think, to think, I almost didn't let him in!"
B. THE CALL
1. DON’T TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED. “No one can come to Me unless the Father...draws them...” Jn. 6:44. God wants to give you Jesus, the greatest Treasure of Heaven, but it’s at the price of your whole self. Are you ready to make the trade?
2. Only those who have Jesus inside will go up in the Rapture of the Church. Do you have your “Boarding Pass” to Heaven? Do you want to know Jesus and serve Him forever? PRAYER.
