BECOMING LINE CROSSERS!
INTRODUCTION
Ephesians 5:14-16 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
· God is looking for people willing to move across the line into the impossible - can’t live in the comfort zone of possible.
· What’s the “comfort zone”?
· Tendency is to want to “go with the flow”, getting out of your comfort zone means pushing against the flow.
TRANSITION: The first thing you must do to be a line-crosser and move out of your comfort zone is to Put on Purity
I. Put on Purity
I Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
1. Purity in Thought
We have to decide to get out of
our “easy chairs” and make
the changes necessary to be
different.
We’ve been caught in the world’s
trap in our thinking, our philoso-
phies, our social agendas
Line up everything with God’s
word (Abortion, Homosexuality,
Church & State, Evolution)
2. Purity in Action
ILLUSTRATION
A middle-aged business executive approached the front entrance of the office building in which he worked. A young feminist came up at the same moment, so he stepped back and held the door open for her to pass on through. She looked at him and said with annoyance, “don’t hold the door for me just because I’m a lady.”
To her surprise, he looked right back and replied, “I’m not. I’m holding it open because I’m a gentleman.”
Likewise, we are Christians must always act toward others on the basis of what we are in Christ Jesus, and not on the basis of what they may or may not be.
3. Purity in Speech
Our speech must be different
from the world’s speech.
What do we allow in our homes?
At our workplace? Jokes?
conversations? Jesting?
TRANSITION: After putting on Purity, the second thing you must do to be a line-crosser and move out of your comfort zone is to Put forth Priority!
II. Put forth Priority
Joel 3:13-14 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
A. First priority of the church is SOULS
· He will give His heart to you. Can you imagine what the heartbeat of God is like?
· As our hearts touch the Father’s heart our hearts become the same rhythm as His.
B. First priority of the Christian is finding God’s Will for their life.
1. God has a plan for your life
· The anointing is upon you once you agree to give up and give Him control.
Romans 11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Joel 2:29-30 "And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. "And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
2. Never commands us to do anything He doesn’t give us the anointing to
do!
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars."
TRANSITION: The final thing you must do to be a line-crosser and move out of your comfort zone is to Put off Passivity!
III. Put off Passivity
A. Moving into the impossible costs!
Judges 7:20 “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon”.
Gideon ordered his men to do two things.
“He put a trumpet into every man’s hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers” (Judges 7:16).
“They blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. They held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing -- and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” (Judges 7:19-20).
This is precisely what all Christians must do.
First, they must shine, perhaps by breaking the pticher than conceals their light, or by throwing aside the basket that has been hiding their candles.
“Let your light so shine before men, that thye may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)
Then there must be sound, the blowing of the trumpet. There must be activities for ingathering sinners by proclaiming Christ crucified.
Christians must take the gospel to them, carry it to their door, place it in their way. Let them not escape it. (Hell Night Outreach)
Blow a trumpet in their ear. Remember the true war cry of the church is Gideon’s watchword, “The sword of the Lord nad of Gideon!”
God must do it, for it is His work, but we are not to sit idle. If we only cry, “The sword of the Lord,” we will be guilty of idle presumption.
If we only shout, “The sword of Gideon,” we manifest idolatrous reliance on the arm of flesh.
We must blend the two in practical harmony. “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.”
We can do nothing by ourselves. We can do everything with the help of God.
Therefore, in His name, let us determine to serve with a flaming torch of holy example and with trumpet tones of earnest declaration and testimony.
God will be with us.
B. Testimony
Ephesians 5:14-16 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
CONCLUSION
Acts 5:12-16 And at the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number; to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets, and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. And also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits; and they were all being healed.
None of the rest dared to join them -- there were no line-crossers.
Have to be willing to sell out, step out of your comfort zone...put on purity, put forth priority, put off passivity.
v. “Greater works than these we should do” (John 14:12)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.
