JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Introduction:
Have you had fun these last six weeks with our Hoedown Showdown? It’s alot of fun working together to try and win a prize isn’t it? I want you to know, throwing a pie in the Pastor’s face is a pretty cool prize...... I know growing up I never had that chance... of coarse my Pastor was always my Dad, so I’m not sure I would have taken the chance even if I would have had it......
I love competition, it brings out the great qualities in a team, it can be used to bring people together who may have never had the chance to bond together any other way. I’m thinking of our New Hope Softball team. Just as we’ve been working for a win during our Sunday School contest.... the New Hope Softball team has been working for a win on the softball field... in fact we’ve been working for that first win for what? Around three months... Guess What? Last Tuesday we won our first game... what a great feeling.
Working as a Team..... encouraging each other even when we don’t see the wins all the time has been a great character strength of our Softball team.... and you guys who are here this morning because of first coming to the softball team.... what a priviledge it is to have you here with us this morning, This is my New Hope Church Team..... and I want to tell you, We Would absolutely love to have you on this team also.
We live in a world friends where people are always looking for the Prize, looking for that Win that will make them feel like they have found what they are looking for... there looking for fulfillment... that Joy that won’t leave.
Millions of people..... people we know... people in your family... maybe someone sitting next to you... maybe you... A multitude of people searching... looking ..... pursuing that “Prize” or that “Accomplishment” that will finally set them apart... make them happy.
Last night I watched the Florida Marlins win the World Championship in Baseball as they beat the favored Yankees....... The Florida Marlins manager, Jack McKeon has been in baseball for over 40 years... he is 62 years young and this is his first World Championship.... Don’t you think he’s a happy man today?
Being a World Champion is a sport doesn’t bring happiness... that’s been proven over and over again. If it did then Mike Tyson would be one happy camper don’t you think? Instead it ruined him.
I remember listening to Deion Sanders give his testimony... how the night after his team had won the NFL Superbowl how he laid in bed and cried and wondered if this was all ther was to life....... He knew there had to be more..... and he found out what it was....
Will a million dollars make you at peace and be the prize that makes you content?
Will the man or woman of your dreams be the the prize that gives you the peace you are looking for?
There’s alot of things that we pursue... we track.... we dream about..... things that may not be evil by any means.... but there not the one true Prize... can I share with you the one True Prize?
Look at our passage this morning.... When you want to know what’s True in Life... Go to God’s Word.... that what we are going to do.....
JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
This morning I want to share a few thoughts about the Real Prize in Life.
1. You Can’t Earn The Real Prize.
Doesn’t that just rub you the wrong way? What do you mean I can’t Earn it.... That’s the American Way... anything worth having is worked for.. right? In most cases the answer is yes... But one thing you will find about God and His Kingdom..... it normally operates opposite of what we think it should.
Listen..... “For God so loved the world...” Friends.... that is talking about our Heavenly Father... He so loved you...... it doesn’t say anything about Him loving you after you finally wised up and cleaned up your life.... it doesn’t say anything about Him loving you only after you stopped doing all those things you shouldn’t be doing..... it doesn’t say anything about us earning his love.
It says, For God so loved the world... “the world” is you and me... For God so loved us... from the very beginning of time.... God the Father loved you before you were concieved... you weren’t a surprize to Him... He knew you before you were knit together in your mother’s womb... He loved Sophia Manly and Clayton Ming way before Mom and Dad were ever even born. He loves us because we are His. You can’t earn it... God’s Love is a free gift.
Let’s see how God the Father demonstrated His Love for us....
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God’s Word says that the Heavenly Father...who you may not even know this morning.... He so loved you..... Did you hear me.... He so loved You.... That He gave his one and only Son,..” Why Did God the Father Give His Son to Us?
Was it to be just a good example for us? Was it so that He could give us all those good teachings we find in the Bible? Did God the Father send us His Son so that we could see How Good He was, and How Bad we are?
God so loved the world, Me, that He gave his one and only Son...... the question is Why?
Friends... the God who created you... the God who loved you from before the beginning of time.... He so loved you even while we were at our worst..... He gave us Jesus to die for us... To die for our sins on Calvery.
Do you know why people are searching... do you know why people are pursuing every avenue looking for that missing piece in their life?
When we are lost we search..... When we are lost we look for a way home. When we are lost we will try anything to survive. People today are willing to believe just about anything as they look for meaning in their lives.
Some hug trees. Some mutilate themselves. Some Worship Satan..... some worship budda....In the middle East today there will be some lost soul who will blow themself up hoping that Allah.... this false god will be the answer.. People are searching... and they will do anything to find the Real Prize.
Listen to it again...."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Are you still looking for that missing peice in your life that will bring you peace, joy, contentment? The God of the Bible, The Great I Am, Jehovia....doesn’t require you to earn his love in any way... in fact you can’t..... He already loves you.... what is required on our part is simple.... That we would believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He has died for our Sins.... and that we would put our Faith, our Trust in Him for our salvation..... That’s it.... Faith in Jesus.... a belief that He is who He says He is.... a Trust in Christ....
Today before you leave this little building.... you can call off your search, your pursuit of true peace, true Joy, true happiness... because if you will accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior... put your trust in Him.... You will know that He is the way , the truth and the life.... He will confirm in you that He was what you were looking for.
The second thought I want to share with you about the Real Prize....
2. You Must Share The Real Prize With Others.
Christians I’m talking to you this morning. I’m going to say this as plain as I can. It’s our Christian responsibilty to share Jesus Christ with those people around us that are looking for Him, but they haven’t realized it’s Jesus there looking for.
Friends, we have in the Gospel what every man, women, and child needs to hear. The question is are we sharing it.
Well, Pastor, Evangelism is not my spiritual gift.....
Let me ask you a question. If you neighbor’s house caught on fire, you saw all five of your neighbors sleeping in their beds, would you go over to their house and wake them up and get them out of danger.... or would you think to yourself, well, I’m not a fireman, it’s not my job to put out fires... and walk away.
We have way too many Christians this morning who come into our churches and look the part, but they take absolutely no interest in saving the lost people around them.... in fact, if I were to follow these people around and ask the people that they see every week, not strangers mind you.... but ask the people that they see every week.... If I were to ask them when was the last time that sister so and so... or Bro. so and so shared anything with you that had to do with spiritual things... when was the last time? We would be ashamed.
We have the greatest Prize in the world.... We have what everyone is chasing... they just don’t know the answer to their riddle... we know.. we need to share....
How do you share the gospel with people today?
1. Get to know them, where there at. If you invite them to church and they don’t come, don’t be surprized, but don’t give up. Find ways that you can get to know them in their home, or in their comfort zone. If you can do this, and we all can.... You will be able to share with them the gospel.
2. Be willing to invest your life into their life. What I have found is that you need to be willing to give time, energy, but most importantly... you must be willing to give of yourself as an investment into the lives of the people your trying to reach.
How many of you when you invest money get a return the next day? The truth is investments take time..... You will never be a soul winner unless you are willing to invest time into the people God has placed in your path and in your heart. Pay the price.
3. Love makes the difference. Let me tell you a secret about winning people to Jesus. You don’t have to be eloquent... you don’t have to be a Bible scholar.... you don’t have to know the Roman Road or the Four Spiritual laws to be successful.
The one thing you must have or it doesn’t matter what you know or how you say it... you need to Love them with the Love of Jesus... unconditional, unwavering....
Love them right where they are... that’s what Jesus does for all of us...He loves us so much He won’t leave us where he finds us... but His love is not conditional and our love for people must be Christlike... Amen.
How many people here this morning would say Pastor... I know people that I want to share the Real Prize with... I’m just afraid of making that first step or I’m just not sure how to get started..... Raise you hand if you know of someone you would like to share Jesus with.....
Were going to pray for you.... I’m going to pray with you and for you this week.... for courage to run into that burning house and be the one God uses to save them for His glory.
This morning..... you may be here and realize that you are the one who has been searching, looking for that one piece of the puzzle that would help make your life make sense....I want to tell you that God loves you so much that He has made it possible for you to be saved from your sins, and to know that you will spend eternity in heaven with Him.... And as you put your faith in Jesus, you will be blessed with a peace, a joy that only comes in Knowing Christ personally, as your savior. Are you willing to pray that prayer of Faith today? You will not be sorry you did...
God is working miracles around us these days... many of you have just recently given your life to Christ... some for the First time... some have rededicated their lives to Christ.... God is doing a New thing here at New Hope and it’s exciting..... Do you want the Real Prize?
... Whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Will you say yes?
As we close this morning I am going to give you the opportunity to come and pray... and if your a Christian this morning, and you want to recommit yourself to sharing Christ with the people in your life, come and pray and tell God that you want to be used by Him, ask him to lead you to the people right around you that are hurting, who are looking but they are lost.... Pray for God to help you be used to win them..... He will....
Do you want the Real Prize?
