" TWELVE INCHES FROM GLORY "
REVELATION 2:1-5
OVER THE YEARS I HAVE COME TO REALIZE ONE PROFOUND THING ABOUT MY REALTIONSHIP WITH GOD, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD WITH MY LIFE IF I LIVE IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT DENIES HIS GUIDANCE. IT IS MORE THAN POSSIBLE TO MISS THE MARK IF WE TAKE OUR EYES OF JESUS BUT IS PROBABLE THAT WE WILL MISS THE MARK WITHOUT CHRIST. THROUGHOUT THE WORD OF GOD WE ARE WARNED NOT TO BECOME PUFFED UP WITH PRIDE AT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WE ARE TOLD NOT TO LEAN ON OUR HUMAN MIND, OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, BUT INSTEAD TO TRUST IN THE POWER OF GOD TO GUIDE US. WE ARE DULY WARNED THAT JUST HAVING A KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD AND THE WORD OF GOD WITHOUT APPLYING IT TO OUR LIVES IS DANGEROUS.
IN THE SOCIETY WE NOW LIVE IN WE ARE CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THAT SOMETIMES THE ONLY THING THAT SEPERATES A WINNER FROM A LOSER IS A MATTER OF INCHES. SOMETIMES THE ONLY THING THAT SEPERATES A VICTOR FROM THE CONQUERED, A CHAMPION FROM THE DEFEATED IS A MATTER OF INCHES. WE SEE EVENTS LIKE THIS PORTRAYED ALL AROUND US EACH AND EVERYDAY IN THE ATHLETIC CONTESTS WE HAVE GROWN SO FOND OF. WE UNDERSTAND THE FEW SCANT INCHES THAT ALLOWED A HALF-FOOTED MAN TO KICK THE WORLD RECORD FIELD GOAL FOR THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS SO MANY YEARS AGO BECAUSE HE ONLY CLEARED THE GOAL POSTS BY A MATTER OF INCHES. WE HAVE ALL SEEN OLYMPIC RUNNERS STRAINING TO STRETCH THEIR BODIES JUST ONE INCH FARTHER THAN THE MAN RUNNING NEXT TO THEM IN STRIDE. SOMETIMES THE ONLY THING THAT SEPERATES A CHAMPION FROM AN ALSO RAN IS A MATTER OF INCHES.
WHAT SPIRITUAL APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE TO US AS WE SEARCH FOR WAYS TO APPLY THE PRINCIPLE OF INCHES TO OUR LIVES. WHAT IS IT THAT CAN SEPARATE US INTO A CHAMPION FOR CHRIST INSTEAD OF JUST A PARTICIPANT IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?
BEFORE WE BREAK THE BREAD OF LIFE TO SEARCH GOD’S WORD FOR HIS ANSWER, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES TWO VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS…
1. DO I WANT TO BECOME SOMEONE WHO IS A CHAMPION FOR CHRIST?
2. AM I WILLING TO GIVE GOD ALL THAT I AM SO THAT I CAN BECOME ALL THAT HE DESIRES?
EVERYBODY SITTING HERE TODAY HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BECOMING A CHAMPION FOR JESUS CHRIST AND I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN SITTING HERE HAS A DESIRE DEEP DOWN TO SERVE GOD MORE, TO KNOW GOD MORE AND LIVE A LIFE THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD. MOST CHRISTIANS WANT TO DO THINGS AND LEARN THINGS ABOUT GOD THAT WILL PRODUCE FRUIT IN THEIR LIVES THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD, BUT THEY JUST DON’T KNOW HOW.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT IS REAL AND PERSONAL?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR GOD SPEAK TO YOU? WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW WHAT GOD IS TELLING YOU? WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE IF YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE GOD AT WORK ALL AROUND YOU?
WOULD YOU LIKE GOD TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN HIM IN THE WORK HE IS DOING?
· WOULD THAT MAKE YOU LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE TODAY AND APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF JUST HEARING A BUNCH OF MEANINGLESS WORDS AND PHRASES?
· THE ONLY THING SEPARATING YOU FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT IS REAL AND PERSONAL AND HEARING GOD SPEAK TO YOU AND USE YOU IN HIS WORK IS A MATTER OF INCHES
· I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT EVERY PERSON WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE IS ONLY ONE FOOT FROM GLORY AND LIVING AN ABUNDANT LIFE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU DON’T THINK GOD IS ABLE TO BRING YOU CLOSER TO THE FOOT OF THE CROSS OR USE SOMEONE LIKE YOU IN HIS GREAT MASTERPLAN, YOU ARE SAYING MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD THAN WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT YOURSELF. IF GOD CAN RAISE CHRIST FROM THE GRAVE AND SEAT HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND TO RULE, SURELY THERE IS HOPE FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU.
TURN TO THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER TWO BEGINNING IN VERSE ONE.
PRAYER
SOME OF US WOULD BELIEVE THAT A SHORT DISTANCE OF ONLY TWELVE INCHES COULD NOT POSSIBLY SEPARATE ME FROM HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST THAT WOULD TRANSFORM MY LIFE. SURELY I HEARD YOU WRONG BROTHER MIKE YOU MUST HAVE MEANT TO SAY A DISTANCE OF TWELVE HUNDRED MILES KEEPS ME FROM GLORY AND IF I COULD JUST TAKE A TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND THEN I WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE GOD. MAYBE YOU MEANT TO SAY THAT TWELVE MILES DOWN THE ROAD IS ANOTHER CHURCH THAT GOD WILL USE TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO ME IN A WAY THAT WILL TRANSFORM MY LIFE. SURELY THAT’S WHAT YOU MUST HAVE MEANT PREACHER BECAUSE IT CAN’T BE AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
FRIENDS, YOU ARE TWELVE INCHES FROM GLORY AND SEEING GOD WORK IN YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU’LL NEVER STRUGGLE TO HEAR HIS VOICE AND KNOW WHAT HE IS TRYING TO TELL YOU. LAST WEEK I SHARED A MESSAGE ABOUT MARTHA AND MARY AND THE TWO DIFFERENT RESPONSES THEY HAD TO JESUS EVEN THOUGH THEY BOTH SHARED THE SAME DESPERATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THEIR LIFE.
ONE RESPONDED TO JESUS WITH HER HEAD AND THE OTHER RESPONDED TO JESUS WITH HER HEART. ONE SAW NO DIFFERENCE IN HER LIFE AND LEFT FROM THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST AND THE OTHER SAW A MIRACLE SHE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. ONE LEFT JUST AS BROKENHEARTED AS SHE WAS WHEN SHE FIRST CAME AND THE OTHER SAW GOD POUR OUT A BLESSING THAT SHE NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT POSSIBLE IN HER WILDEST DREAMS. YOU ARE ONLY TWELVE INCHES FROM GLORY TODAY AND IT IS SO SIMPLE MOST WILL LEAVE HERE DOUBTING IT CAN BE THAT EASY BUT IF YOU WILL JUST LET JESUS TRICKLE DOWN FROM YOUR HEAD INTO YOUR HEART HE’LL MAKE HIMSELF SO REAL TO YOU THAT YOU’LL NEVER LEAVE HIM OR NEVER LEAVE HIM AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MESSAGE APPLIES TO ALL PEOPLE HERE THIS MORNING WHETHER YOU ARE EVEN SAVED OR IF YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED MANY YEARS AGO BUT NOW A DISTANCE OF ONLY TWELVE INCHES KEEPS YOU FROM EXPERIENCING GOD AGAIN.
SHORT DISTANCE TO TRAVEL BUT NOT EVERYONE IS WILLING TO WALK THIS ROAD BECAUSE WE’RE TOO BUSY THINKING THAT THIS MESSAGE IS FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. IF WE WOULD JUST EXPECT GOD TO SEARCH OUR OWN HEARTS WE WOULD BE SO MUCH HAPPIER IN THIS LIFE HERE ON EARTH. WHO IS IT THAT ISSUES THIS INSTRUCTION TO YOU ON HOW YOU CAN BECOME A CHAMPION FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD? IF YOU FEEL THAT IT’S JUST BROTHER MIKE TRYING TO MOVE ME THEN YOU’LL WALK OUT THESE DOORS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU CAME IN. SOMETIMES YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE TOO MUCH CREDIT! DON’T YOU KNOW THAT ALL I AM IS AN EX-POLICEMAN WITH NOTHING BUT A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND YOU GIVE ME CREDIT FOR EACH WEEK WALKING UP HERE AND HAVING SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY TO MAKE YOU SQUIRM.
I’M NOT THAT SMART FOLKS!
JESUS IS THE ONE WHO LOOKS UPON YOUR HEART AND HIS WORD TO YOU TODAY IS THAT YOU ARE ONLY TWELVE INCHES FROM GLORY IF YOU’LL JUST LOOK PAST THE PASTOR TO THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.
FIRST THING YOU MUST COME TO GRIPS WITH IS THAT JESUS KNOWS YOUR TRUE CONDITION AND HE JUDGES US BY THE CONTENTS OF OUR HEARTS NOT THE FOOLISHNESS OF OUR HUMAN MINDS AND HOW SMART WE THINK WE ARE. THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES DIDN’T FOOL HIM, HIS OWN APOSTLES DIDN’T FOOL HIM AND THE THE DEVIL HIMSELF COULDN’T FOOL HIM AND NEITHER DO YOU. I KNOW THAT SOMEONE WILL COME UP TO ME TODAY AND SAY GOOD JOB BROTHER MIKE THAT’S JUST WHAT THEY NEEDED TO HEAR.
1. JESUS SAYS THAT ONLY INCHES SEPARATE YOU FROM THE GLORY OF LIVING A SPIRIT FILLED LIFE AND IF YOU’LL ONLY LET HIM PAST YOUR ADAMS APPLE HE’LL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE.
2. YOU MAY HAVE READ THAT BIBLE FROM COVER TO COVER AND CAN QUOTE SCRIPTURE TILL YOU’RE BLUE IN THE FACE, BUT IF JESUS DOESN’T HAVE YOUR HEART HE DON’T WANT ANY PART OF YOU.
3. YOU CAN RECITE ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU ONCE DID FOR JESUS AND EVEN THE THINGS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO EACH AND EVERYDAY. YOU CAN SUFFER FOR HIS NAME AND PREACH IN HIS NAME AND TEACH IN HIS NAME AND HAVE THE PATIENCE OF JOB IN YOUR SERVICE…
HE KNOWS HOW HARD YOU’RE WORKING BUT HE STILL SAYS THAT
YOU LACK ONE THING AND JUST TWELVE INCHES SEPERATES YOU
FROM GLORY
BECAUSE YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE. YOU KNOW IF WE LOSE FOCUS ON OUR LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST EVERYTHING IN OUR LIFE IS GOING TO BE OUT OF FOCUS. IT IS A MATTER OF THE HEART MY FRIENDS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT LOVE EMENATES FROM THE HEART. HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO DINNER WITH PAT AND J.C.?
I’LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THOSE TWO PEOPLE LOVE EACH OTHER BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE IT WHEN THEY’RE TOGETHER. J.C. IS SO EAT UP WITH IT HE WOULDN’T EVEN BEAT PAT IN BOWLING. IF WE REALLY LOVED JESUS WE WOULDN’T HAVE A PROBLEM DOING THINGS FOR HIM TOO THAT MIGHT MAKE US LOOK SILLY OR THAT DIDN’T LET US HAVE THE GLORY.
SOMETIMES WE JUST GET SO OVERWHELMED BY THE WORK AND ALL THE THINGS WE SEE AROUND US THAT NEED DOING, WE LOSE FOCUS. WE MAY THINK THAT ALL THE PROJECTS WE DO OR ALL THE OUTWARD SIGNS OF OUR FAITH MATTER, BUT TO JESUS IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW BUSY WE ARE.
HE WANTS OUR HEARTS! OUR LOVE!
IF HE HAS OUR HEART HE WILL HAVE ALL OF US. OUR TIME, OUR TALENTS, OUR MIND, OUR MONEY AND OUR SERVICE. SOMETIMES IT’S NOT HE BUSYNESS OF OUR SERVICE BUT HE BUSYBODIES SURROUNDING OUR SERVICE THAT OVERCOME US. THINGS HAPPEN TO US AND THOSE WE THOUGHT NEVER WOULD NO HAVE AND WE JUST CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE AND WE LET SATAN ROB US OF A BLESSING. LIKE FRIGHTENED LITTLE TURTLES WE WITHDRAW INTO OUR SHELLS AND BUILD FENCES AROUND OUR HEART THAT NO MAN CAN CLIMB OVER AND NO PREACHER CAN BLOW EM DOWN. IT’S JUST SO MUCH EASIER TO NOT GIVE JESUS OUR HEARTS, ISN’T IT?
DON’T SIT THERE AND DENY IT, IF HE HAD YOUR HEART HE’D HAVE EVERYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. NOBODY CAN HURT US NOW AS FAR AS WE’VE RUN FROM THE FEELING AND THEY CERTAINLY CAN’T OVERWHELM US ANYMORE IF WE NEVER TRY.
HOW MUCH FAITH DOES IT TAKE TO NOT TRY? HOW MUCH LOVE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO SIT BACK AND THROW ROCKS AT THOSE WHO ARE TRYING?
OH, BROTHER MIKE I TOOK AUTHORITY OVER MY PROBLEMS AND REBUKED THE DEVIL BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE AUTHORITY OVER JUST LOVING GOD, READING YOUR BIBLE, PRAYING.
1. WHAT IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOME AND OVER A CUP OF COFFEE HE TOLD YOU THESE SAME WORDS I’M SPEAKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW? WHAT IF HE TOLD YOU THAT HE WASN’T GOING TO TRY TO COME OVER AGAIN BECAUSE HE KNEW HOW UNCOMFORTABLE IT MADE YOU IN THESE SITUATIONS AND RATHER THAN PUT YOU THROUGH THAT AGAIN, HE’LL JUST STAY AWAY.
WOULD THAT BOTHER YOU?
2. WHAT IF GOD SENT YOU A MESSAGE TELLING YOU HOW MUCH HE REALLY LOVED YOU AND HOW MANY THINGS HE WANTED TO DO IN YOUR LIFE BUT BECAUSE OF THE AWKWARDNESS OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP HE JUST WOULD WITHDRAW FROM YOUR LIFE. HE DOESN’T WANT TO SEE YOU OVERWHELMED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO KEEP FROM PUTTING YOU IN THE PAIN AND STRESS OF FAKING IT, HE WASN’T GOING TO WRITE OR CALL ANYMORE.
WOULD YOU QUIETLY ACCEPT THAT MESSAGE?
IF ALL GOD HAS IS YOUR MIND AND YOUR SERVICE YOU WOULD SIMPLY RESIGN YOURSELF TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND GO ON LIVING THE REST OF YOUR DEFEATED CHRISTIAN LIFE…
BUT IF GOD HAD YOUR HEART, IF HE TRULY HAD YOUR WHOLE HEART
NOTHING WOULD LET YOU BE SEPERATED FROM HIM WITHOUT EVEN
SO MUCH AS A WHIMPER.
HOW MANY TEARS HAVE BEEN SHED BY BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE ON EARTH WITH MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE BUT ONE BREATH IN THEIR BODY WHEN THEY WALK OUT OF OUR LIVES? HOW MANY TIMES DO WE CRY OUT WITH OUR BROKEN HEARTS FOR JUST ONE MORE CHANCE… " I’LL CHANGE, I’LL CHANGE I PROMISE IF YOU’LL JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE, OH NO PLEASE DON’T LET IT END LIKE THIS, PLEASE, PLEASE"
SADLY WE’LL BEG A MAN OR WOMAN, BOY OR GIRL, THAT WE THINK WE JUST CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT NOT TO WALK OUT OF OUR LIFE, YET WE WILL LET THE ONE WHO TOOK OUR SINS AND DIED IN OUR PLACE BEG US TO LOVE HIM AND SLAM THE DOOR IN HIS FACE BREAKING THE RELATIONSHIP. IF GOD WERE TO SPEAK TO US IN THESE MANNERS WE WOULD SIMPLY RESIGN OURSELVES TO BEING MISUNDERSTOOD OR NOT APPRECIATED AND GO ON WITH OUR LIVES.
TWELVE INCHES FROM GLORY AND WE’RE NOT WILLING TO GIVE CHRIST OUR HEARTS EVEN THOUGH THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT PLEASES HIM. WE ARE THE ONES WHO LOSE MY FRIENDS WHEN WE CONSIDER THE COST TO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY. WE LOSE.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE QUESTIONS YOU ASKED YOURSELF WHEN WE BEGAN HERE THIS MORNING? DO YOU STILL WANT TO EXPERIENCE GOD IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS REAL AND PERSONAL? DO YOU WANT TO HEAR GOD SPEAK TO YOU? DO YOU WANT TO HEAR HIS VOICE AGAIN AFTER SO LONG A TIME OF SILENCE?
GIVE JESUS YOUR HEART, RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE. RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE AND DO THE THINGS WITH HIM YOU USE TO DO… SPEND TIME WITH HIM… LISTEN TO HIM… TALK TO HIM… TELL OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT HIM… LOVE HIM.
REPENTANCE IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED. TELL HIM YOU’RE SORRY AND YOU WON’T NEGLECT HIM AGAIN. CONFESS IT TO HIM AND HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE. REMEMBER HOW FAR YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM THAT RELATIONSHIP YOU HAD AT FIRST AND RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE.
TWELVE INCHES FROM GLORY,
WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER TO HIM TODAY?
INVITATION
