The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough. We’re sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."
Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. "Like heck
they’re getting divorced," she shouted, "I’ll take care of this." She called
Phoenix immediately, and said to her father. "You are NOT getting
divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother
back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. "Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their flights."
1. Attention
I met Janet at Bible College in TN. Before we ever dated I knew her because she was in charge of the Wed. night Jr. Girls Club (about 75 girls) at church and I was on church staff and in charge of the Boys-- I knew she was (first step in our relationship ) a good Christian girl. I also knew that she had a real heart for ministry and was a servant of the Lord (second thing). Janet was in one or two of the school dramas and it was there that she met and began to date my room mate. I never thought about dating her because she was Russell’s girl friend and I got to know her better (third). I guess that’s what made me notice her! She really began to look different to me - so I asked her out and stole her from my room mate. Our first date was on July first and we have been seeing fireworks ever since. We began to spend a lot of time together (4th). We talked on the phone all the time and we became close (5th). She graduated and we home. When she was gone I knew I couldn’t live without her so I proposed6th. We were married 7th the next July and then I really began to get acquainted with Janet. You don’t really know a person until you have lived with them. Now it has been over 20 years 8th and I think I am beginning to get to know Janet. I love and appreciate her more and more. She means a lot to me.
UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE VERY SAME THING. He means more and more to us the longer we know Him.
BUT YOU HAVE TO GET TO KNOW HIM!!! -- WHO IS HE? >>> WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO KNOW HIM?
>>>>Listen to HOW John Westly GOT TO KNOW PEOPLE - AND THE LORD.
John Wesley was about 21 years of age when he went to Oxford University. He came from a Christian home, and he was gifted with a keen mind and good looks. Yet in those days he was a bit snobbish and sarcastic. One night, however, something happened that set in motion a change in Wesley’s heart. While speaking with a porter, he discovered that the poor fellow had only one coat and lived in such impoverished conditions that he didn’t even have a bed. Yet he was an unusually happy person, filled with gratitude to God. Wesley, being immature, thoughtlessly joked about the man’s misfortunes. "And what else do you thank God for?" he said with a touch of sarcasm. The porter smiled, and in the spirit of meekness replied with joy, "I thank Him that He has given me my life and being, a heart to love Him, and above all a constant desire to serve Him!" Deeply moved, Wesley recognized that this man knew the meaning of true thankfulness. Many years later, in 1791, John Wesley lay on his deathbed at the age of 88. Those who gathered around him realized how well he had learned the lesson of praising God in every circumstance. Despite Wesley’s extreme weakness, he began singing the hymn, "I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath."
2. Need
What made Wesley so rude and thoughtless? It was the absence of true THANKFULNESS!
What makes a sinner revel in his sin? What makes a lazy person relish and enjoy inactivity? What makes a Christian apathetic toward the Word of God and the things of God?
I believe most people are the way they are because of the lack of the proper appreciation for JESUS.
ILL>>>The story is told of a poor man who was given a loaf of bread. He thanked the baker, but the baker said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the miller who made the flour.” So he thanked the miller, but the miller said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the farmer who planted the wheat.”
So he thanked the farmer. But the farmer said, “Don’t thank me. Thank the Lord. He gave the sunshine & rain & fertility to the soil, & that’s why you have bread to eat.”
3. Satisfaction
The most life changing thought a person can have is REALThanks to God.
Thanks to Jesus for who He is to us. God who loved us and came down for us!
This morning I want us to see 7 steps to Christ that will allow us to APPRECIATE HIM MORE.
These steps are the 7 “I AM” statements of Jesus in the book of John.
It begins with a clear statement that Jesus is God.---- Hellenistic & Stoic understanding or “The Word”
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Joh 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Remember how God the Father spoke to Moses and said... As He revealed Himself to the world He made a clear reflection to God the Father through His “I AM” statements.
Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
HERE IS THE STORY OF WHO JESUS IS IN OUR LIFE. --- How He reveals Himself to us.
7 steps to Christ that will allow us to APPRECIATE HIM MORE.
7 “I AM” statements of Christ
1. I AM the Bread of life-------- THE SOURCE OF LIFE
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
a. STARVING SPIRITUALLY
Christ is so called, because he gives life to dead sinners: men in a state of nature are dead in trespasses and sins; and whatever they feed upon tends to death; Christ, the true bread, only gives life, which is conveyed by the word, and made effectual by the Spirit: and because he supports and maintains the life he gives;
B. STAYING SPIRITUALLY Cometh - believeth
Faith in its active aspect and in its resting aspect.
2. I AM the Light of the World -------- THE SIGHT OF LIFE
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Early in the morning 8:2 after freeing the woman caught in adultry -- may have see the sun light and remarked...
Christ is the Light of the world. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Christ, and there needs no more. What a dark dungeon would the world be without the sun! So would it be without Jesus, by whom light came into the world.
3. I AM the Door of the sheep -------- THE SALVATION OF LIFE
Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
7 steps to Christ that will allow us to APPRECIATE HIM MORE.
4. I AM the Good Shepherd -------- THE SHEPHERD OF LIFE
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
5. I AM the Resurrection and the Life-------- THE STIMULATION TO LIFE
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
6. I AM the Way the Truth the Life-------- THE SITUATIONS OF LIFE
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 steps to Christ that will allow us to APPRECIATE HIM MORE.
7. I AM the true Vine -------- THE STRENGTH OF LIFE
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
4. Visualization 5. Action
7 steps to Christ that will allow us to APPRECIATE HIM MORE.
ILL>>> Tell how doubting Thomas got to know Jesus.-- Unless I see the nail pierced hands - I will not believe!
We can have no other response other than Thomas when he saw who Jesus really was ...
Joh 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
I invite you to reach out your hand this morning... See and feel - the “I AM”
