Finding Jesus, Part 2
“A Shining City”
Tonight we continue our series on Finding Jesus.
WE LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT JESUS BECAME THE SON OF MAN SO THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY WITH HIM.
JESUS WAS TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY THAT WE ARE.
IF WE FIND HIM IN OUR TEMPTATIONS, WE WILL FIND AN EXAMPLE THAT WE CAN FOLLOW.
IF WE FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE, TEMPTATION WILL HAVE A HARD TIME INCUBATING INTO SIN!
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TONIGHT, WE CONTINUE IN OUR SEARCH.
WHEN WE FIND JESUS IN OUR DAILY LIVES, WE WILL FIND OUR FATHER’S WILL.
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WE BEGIN TONIGHT BY GOING TO PROVERBS.
Proverbs 18:1
He who separates himself indulges his desires and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.
THESE ARE POWERFUL WORDS!
HE WHO SEPARATES HIMSELF INDULGES HIS OWN DESIRES!
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THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT WE SEPARATE OURSELVES.
WE CAN SEPARATE OURSELVES THROUGH PRIDE:
READ: Acts 10:9-16
Ÿ PETER WAS A DEVOUT JEW. HE HAD NEVER EATEN ANYTHING UNCLEAN OR COMMON.
Ÿ NOW, PETER DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE VISION.
Ÿ BUT THE SPIRIT TELLS HIM THAT THERE ARE MEN LOOKING FOR HIM AND THAT HE SHOULD GO WITH THEM.
READ: verses 21,22
Ÿ CORNELIUS WAS A ROMAN ARMY OFFICER!
Ÿ WE ALL KNOW THAT JEWS & ROMANS DON’T MIX!
Ÿ BUT PETER OBEYED GOD AND WENT TO HIS HOUSE.
READ: verses 28,29
Ÿ GOD SHOWED PETER NOT TO SEPARATE HIMSELF!
READ: verses 34,35
Ÿ IT IS PLAIN THAT WE CANNOT SEPARATE OURSELVES BECAUSE OF OUR “RIGHTEOUS PRIDE”
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ANOTHER WAY THAT WE SEPARATE OURSELVES IS THE “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” IDEA.
“IS IT SO WRONG TO JUST BE AROUND CERTAIN PEOPLE?”
“DOES GOD REALLY CARE IF I TREAT MY FRIENDS BETTER THAN MY ACQUAINTANCES?”
“WHY DOES IT MATTER IF I ONLY HANG OUT WITH THOSE I AM MOST COMFORTABLE WITH?”
BECAUSE THE BIBLE CALLS IT SIN!!!!!
James 2:1
My brothers, practice the faith of our Lord Jesus, the glorious Messiah, without showing favoritism.
verses 8,9
If you truly attain the goal of Kingdom law, in conformity with the passage that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show favoritism, your actions constitute sin, since you are convicted under the law as transgressors.
IF BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER, THEN THEY FLY THEMSELVES RIGHT INTO THE FIRES OF FAVORITISM! . . . EXCLUSIVE-ISM! . . . CLICK-ISM!
THIS IS NOT . . . . . . . . . . . . THIS IS
UNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DISARRAY
HARMONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DISCORD
UNION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SEPARATION
AND THE BIBLE CALLS IT SIN!
REMEMBER WHAT WE READ IN PROVERBS:
Proverbs 18:1
“He who separates himself indulges his desires . . .”
WE SHOULD NOT INDULGE RELIGIOUS PRIDE,
“ “ FAVORITISM,
BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON TONIGHT IS INDULGING OURSELVES BECAUSE OF FEAR!
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READ 1st Kings 19:1-3
Ÿ BECAUSE OF FEAR, ELIJAH SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM EVERYONE!
Ÿ BECAUSE OF FEAR, HE CLOSED HIMSELF OFF!
Ÿ BECAUSE OF FEAR, ELIJAH FLED FROM ALL WHO MIGHT HURT HIM!
READ verses 9-14
Ÿ ELIJAH SEPARATED HIMSELF BECAUSE OF FEAR!
Ÿ BUT GOD HAD A WORD FOR ELIJAH!
A MIGHTY BLAST OF WIND . . .
A TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE . . .
A RAGING FIRE . . .
BUT GOD WAS NOT IN ANY OF THEM!
WHAT WAS GOD SHOWING ELIJAH?
THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM!
THAT SMALL SUBDUED VOICE IS THE VOICE OF CONTROL!
A CALM IN THE STORM . . .
A PEACE IN TURMOIL . . .
SAFETY IN THE FACE OF DANGER . . .
CONFIDENCE IN INSECURITY . . .
ELIJAH HEARD THE VOICE OF CONTROL SPEAKING TO HIM!
ONCE GOD SHOWED ELIJAH THAT HE WAS IN CONTROL, HE GAVE HIM A COMMAND IN 2 WORDS.
verse 15
The Lord said to him, “Go back by way of the desert. . .”
WHEN WE SEPARATE OURSELVES
BECAUSE OF FEAR . . .
BECAUSE OF PAIN . . .
BECAUSE OF TRUST . . .
GOD SPEAKS TO US JUST AS HE DID TO ELIJAH:
GO BACK! GO BACK! GO BACK!
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I KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:
Proverbs 16:28
A deceitful person stirs up strife, and a slanderer can separate even close friends.
WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE CAN EASILY SAY:
“I JUST WON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM, THEN I WON’T GET HURT.”
BUT GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO SEPARATE OURSELVES! GOD IS SPEAKING TO US:
GO BACK!
THIS RAISES A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION:
IF GOD LOVES US SO MUCH . . .
IF GOD WANTS US TO BE HAPPY . . .
IF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS US TO BE SAFE,
WHY WOULD HE WANT US TO GO BACK, IF WE HAVE BEEN HURT?
WE ANSWER THIS QUESTION WHEN WE START SEEKING JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF MAN.
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WHEN WE START FOLLOWING JESUS, WE START FINDING THE PLAN!
I follow Him because He is
Thewisdom of the wise,
The power of the powerful,
The ancient of days,
The ruler of rulers,
The leader of leaders,
The overseer of the overcomers,
The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is To come.
And if that seems impressive to you, try this on for size.
His goal is a relationship with ME!
WHEN WE FIND JESUS, WE FIND THE PERSON HE WANTS US TO BE.
NOT THE PERSON WE SEE, BUT THE PERSON HE SEES IN US!
JESUS SEES IN US SUPER-CONQUERORS!
JESUS SEES IN US OVER-COMERS!
JESUS SEES IN US MORE THAN WE SEE OURSELVES!
JESUS DOESN’T SEE IN US A BUNCH OF ISLANDS SEPARATED BY THE OCEANS OF THE PAST!
JESUS SEES IN US THE NEW JERUSALEM!
WE NEED TO FIND JESUS IN EVERY PART OF OUR LIFE!
WE NEED TO BE SEARCHING FOR HIM EVERYWHERE AND ALL THE TIME!
AND WHEN WE FIND HIM, WE FIND THAT WE CANNOT SEPARATE OURSELVES!
WHEN WE FIND JESUS:
Ÿ WE CAN’T SEPARATE OURSELVES BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS PRIDE.
Ÿ WE CAN’T SEPARATE OURSELVES BECAUSE OF FAVORITISM.
Ÿ WE CAN’T SEPARATE OURSELVES BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HURT.
Ÿ WE HEAR THE WORDS OF GOD ALMIGHTY SAYING:
GO BACK! GO BACK! GO BACK!
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NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU WHY WE CAN’T SEPARATE OURSELVES.
IN FINDING JESUS, WE FIND THAT HE DOES NOT CALL US OUT TO BE ISLANDS . . .
HE CALLS US OUT TO SHINE!
ISAIAH 60 TALKS ABOUT JERUSALEM.
BUT IT ALSO SPEAKS TO US BECAUSE WE ARE AND WILL BE THE NEW JERUSALEM!
As we read this, ask yourself:
“Why can’t I separate myself?”
Isaiah 60:1-4
Arise, shine for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has risen over you . . .
WHY CAN’T I SEPARATE MYSELF?
BECAUSE THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS SHINING UPON ME!
For although darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the peoples; on you the Lord will rise; over you will be seen His glory.
WHY CAN’T I SEPARATE MYSELF?
BECAUSE THE WORLD IS COVERED IN DARKNESS.
THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE GOD’S GLORY!
Nations will go toward your light and kings toward your shining splendor.
WHY CAN’T I SEPARATE MYSELF?
BECAUSE THE SHINING SPLENDOR OF SALVATION IS UPON ME AND IT WILL DRAW PEOPLE TO CHRIST!
Raise your eyes and look around: they are all assembling and coming to you;
WHY CAN’T I SEPARATE MYSELF?
BECAUSE THE FIELDS ARE WHITE!
BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND!
BECAUSE THE DAY IS ALMOST ENDED!
DARKNESS IS ALL AROUND!
BECAUSE BY TRUSTING IN MY JESUS!
I HAVE FOUND ETERNAL LIFE!
JESUS LIVES INSIDE ME!
AND JESUS IS THE LIGHT!
ARISE & SHINE!
ARISE & SHINE!
ARISE & SHINE!
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I’M PREACHING TO YOU WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT!
JESUS DIDN’T CALL US
TO SEPARATE OURSELVES W/ RELIGIOUS PRIDE!
JESUS DIDN’T CALL US
TO SEPARATE OURSELVES W/ FAVORITISM!
JESUS DIDN’T CALL US
TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING HURT.
JESUS CALLED US TO SHINE!
Dan:12:3:
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
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JESUS SAID IN John 9:4,5
As long as it is day, WE must keep doing the work of the One who sent me; the night is coming when no man can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
BUT NOW . . . WE MUST DO THE WORK . . .
HEREIN LIES THE HEART OF WISDOM.
IF WE SEPARATE OURSELVES, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE FAIL TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE AROUND US.
WE NEED TO BE AN EXAMPLE
TO THE UNCHURCHED . . .
THOSE WHO ARE IN DARKNESS . . .
THOSE WHO ARE IN PAIN . . .
EACH OTHER IN CHURCH!
EXAMPLE:
IF I GO TO TALK TO SOMEONE IN THE BODY, AND THEY JUST TURN AND WALK AWAY.
I REFUSE TO BE HURT, AND I REFUSE TO BE DEFEATED. I WILL FOLLOW THAT PERSON AROUND AND TALK TO THEM UNTIL I’M BLUE IN THE FACE.
DON’T LET ANYONE ROB YOU OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE!
DON’T LET ANYONE CAUSE YOU TO SEPARATE YOURSELF, INSTEAD: SHINE!
DON’T LET ANYONE KEEP YOU FROM DOING WHAT JESUS HAS CALLED YOU TO DO: SHINE!
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO
Matthew 5:14-16
You are light for the world.
(Remember John 9:5:While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.)
A town built on a hill cannot be hid.
YOU ARE A SHINING CITY IN THE LIKENESS OF THE NEW JERUSALEM!
Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl, but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house.
JESUS IS THE LIGHT! AND THAT LIGHT SHINES IN YOU!
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
WHEN WE FIND JESUS
IN EVERY PART OF OUR LIFE . . .
WE SEE THAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO SHINE!
HAVE YOU BEEN CALLED OUT DARKNESS?
HAVING BEEN CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS . . .
WE NEED TO SHINE!
BUT WE CAN’T SHINE IF WE SEPARATE OURSELVES.
WE CAN’T SHINE IF WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE UN-CHURCHED.
WE CAN’T SHINE IF WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM EACH OTHER!
2 Corinthians 4:6
For it is God who once said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has made His light shine in our hearts, the light of knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of the Messiah Jesus.
