The Three Cheers of Our Risen Savior
Jesus provides his presence so that we need not be afraid of the troubles that come our way because he has overcome the world and we find our purpose in life through him.
I.The Cheer of Presence (Mark 6:50 (45-51))
a.“It is I be not afraid”
Ill: Ann Landers 10,000 letters/month: "The one problem above all others seems to be fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself."
Ill: "I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it." --Charles Swindoll
e.For a Christian, fear is unbelief in disguise
f.Psalms 27
g.2 Timothy 1:7 “7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
h.The sinner needs to fear…Luke 13:1-5
II.The Cheer of Power (John 16:33)
a.“I have overcome the world”
b.Problems are opportunities in work clothes.
c.Troubles are real
d.Some people are just depressing to be around
e.Your problems may be depressing, but your problems are not what’s depressing you.
f.I John 4:4, I John 5:4-5
g.I want to be what Jesus saved me to be!!!
III. The Cheer of Purpose (Acts 23:11)
Illustration: Jesus told us to be the salt of the earth. If we take his analogy seriously, we should note there are fourteen thousand industrial uses for salt. That’s a lot of possibilities!
b.Paul may have been concerned:
c.Nothing disheartened Paul so much as the thought of being taken off from doing service to Christ and good to souls: --II Cor 4:5-18--
d.If you rely on God, He will see you through
Conclusion:
My purpose: For God to use me this morning as his mouthpiece
Our purpose: To listen and be obedient to the Holy Spirit
God made us so that we might find him.
