Sermon Title: What Did Jesus Do?
Prayer…
Why do we need to baptize? Last week Pst. Daniel shared because “we want to follow Jesus”
Shall we read together it’s in your notes:
“Do what Jesus did, preach what Jesus preach, together we live out the live of Jesus Christ”
Today I Want to continue what Pst. Daniel shared to you last week. He shared to you 3 things happen when Jesus baptize.
Today my sermon title is : What did Jesus do!!
I want to share with you what happen after Jesus baptize? What happen to His life?? We are called to do what He did and preach what He preach. Then we need to know what happen to him after His baptism. I’m sure this will not just bless Siew Yee and Jack but it’s going to bless everyone of us. Amen!!
Tell your neighbor: the word of God is going to bless you!!
I want to share with you 3 things that Jesus did for His life:
Are you ready?
1. Conviction and not preference
Jesus conversion, Jesus baptism, Jesus’ live was full of conviction and not preference.
I went to search dictionary to find out the meaning of preference and conviction.
What is preference? A strong liking
What about conviction? An unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence.
I give you an example of preference:
For example I say well I like vanilla ice-cream. Last night our cell group was just talking about hagendaz and we realize there’s no any hagendaz in J.B. ok so I like vanilla ice-cream. I don’t want anything else except vanilla ice-cream. After service I want to have vanilla ice-cream. So after service later I go into my car with frens to have vanilla ice-cream. Then I tell myself, “I got to have vanilla ice-cream” So I walk right into the shop, the man ask me what do you like to have, and I say I have been waiting for this whole week. I want vanilla ice-cream, got to have vanilla ice-cream. The waitress says sorry we run out of vanilla ice-cream the last two weeks. All we have is chocolate ice-cream. “OH, chocolate, well, I can have that too.” (no fish prawn also can)
This is not a conviction, this is a preference. Here we see a preference may sound like a strong belief, “I got to have it” but when it’s not convenient it may be change.
Frens, are you living a life of conviction or a preference?
If our belief is changeable, then this is just a preference. A preference can still be change under certain circumstances, but a conviction gets stronger under pressure. Frens conviction and preference, this concept is so important for us, because it effects every area of our lives. Takes example, If staying married is a preference, then divorce is always an option. Means when things don’t get on right, divorce, when there is pressure, well divorce. When there’s a third person in a relationship, divorce. It is just a preference. If staying married is a conviction you will do whatever it takes to stay together. A conviction is not something you discover, it’s something you purpose in your heart. You’ve decided. In marriage, Till death do us apart, I have decided, nothing is going to change. Some people, going to church is not a conviction, it’s a preference. My frens is not coming, so I don’t come. Why don’t you pray, nobody is praying with me so I don’t pray. “Pastor you know why I backslide, because nobody cares for me. Nobody talk to me, nobody reach out to me.” Then your walk with God is not a conviction.
Mat 26:39 And He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.
Jesus live a life full of conviction. That’s why you never read in the bible says “father I will do everyway but not the cross way.” “I can do anything but not the virgin birth, not going into somebodys’ stomach, I don’t do that” No!! Here you see Jesus prayer, he says, not my will but your will be done. Under pressure, he becomes stronger, conviction.
Frens, today the first question you need to ask yourself am I following Jesus with conviction or preference?
Siew Yee and Jack, what you are doing today is to follow Jesus, is to do what Jesus did, Baptize! But I believe with all my heart that you will follow Jesus not out of preference but conviction. Amen!!
2. Having a different spirit
You see throughout the lives of Jesus, He has a different spirit.
When the world says, a master need to be serve, He says I’ve come to serve. When the priest was trying to find His faults, He never gave in to please them. When people was doing the wrong thing in the temple, he did not compromise but to chase them out. When the people was trying to pin point his wrong by asking difficult question. Jesus never given in by giving any man please answer. Let’s see
Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Jesus was straight to the point to tell them that they need to love the Lord their God….
Let’s see what the bible says about having a different spirit…
Num 14:24 But my servant5650 Caleb,3612 because6118 he had1961 another312 spirit7307 with5973 him, and hath followed me fully,4390, 310 him will I bring935 into413 the land776 whereinto834, 8033 he went;935 and his seed2233 shall possess3423 it.
Here says Caleb has a different spirit!!
out of 3 million people who came out from Egypt, only 2 made it into Canaan land.
Num 32:12 Save1115 Caleb3612 the son1121 of Jephunneh3312 the Kenezite,7074 and Joshua3091 the son1121 of Nun:5126 for3588 they have wholly4390 followed310 the LORD.3068
Deu 1:36 Save2108 Caleb3612 the son1121 of Jephunneh;3312 he1931 shall see7200 it, and to him will I give5414 (853) the land776 that834 he hath trodden1869 upon, and to his children,1121 because3282, 834 he hath wholly4390 followed310 the LORD.3068
What are they different? THEY WHOLLY FOLLOW THE LORD!!
If your conversion is out of preference and not conviction, then let me tell you frens, when times get tough, you will not follow Jesus whole heartedly, you will not have a different spirit to rise up, you will follow the crowd. Frens, do you have a different spirit when you are being tempted? Do you have a spirit to stand firm and not follow the crowd? Do you wholly follow Jesus? Tell your neighbour: I wholly follow Jesus.
3. Finish Well
As I was preparing this sermon, I realize if I don’t have the 1st and 2nd point, most slightly I may not fulfill the third point, that is to finish well.
Our life on earth is like running a race. If we are going for a marathon, and from the very beginning we don’t purpose in our hearts that this is what we want to do, we might have an attitude of maybe half way I go for a tea and drop out. I was thinking, even if we purpose our heart to finish the race, but if we don’t have a different spirit, a spirit of perseverance, when times get tough, along the way when we are tired, when we are alone, the easiest way is to give up, and blame someone else for our failure. But frens today I want you to do what Jesus did. He finish well. Let’s see what He says
Joh 17:4 I have glorified You upon the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
Jesus has finish the race, and He finish well. He says I have finish the work which you have given me to do.
Frens we only live once, let’s finish well our live on earth so that when we go back to see our father, we can say the same thing “I have glorified you upon the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do. Amen!!
Can you last for 5 more minutes. I want to share a last story, then I’ll close.
There was a young boy who join a race in his school. He was so excited and can’t wait for that day to come. Because he wanted to show his dad that he can be proud of him. So finally, that day has arrived. This little boy was excited, full of hope, each thought of him was to think that he will win the race if not at least 2nd place. His dad was watching him at the side. The whistle blow and off they went. To win and be the hero was each boys’ desire. But this little boy was near the lead, he thought in his heart “my dad will be so proud”
But as he speed down the field, the little boy lost his step and slipped. He was trying hard to get up as he heard people started laughing at him. Now he thought he couldn’t win now.
But when he fell, he saw his dad stood up and show his face to the boy was saying “get up and win the race”
He quickly stood up, no damage, even tough behind abit but he kept on run with all his mind. He was running so fast that he nearly catch up to overtake the lead, he was so focus that his mind went faster than his leg and, he fell again. This time he thought “I shouldn’t try again” then he saw his fathers’ face telling him “get up and win the race”
So he jump up, even tough he was behind the last. He was running so fast that he regained eight or ten. Then he slipped and fell again. This time he feel truly defeat, a tear dropped from his eye. He thought “there’s no sense running any more, 3 strikes I’m out why try?”
The will to rise has disappear. All hope has gone by now. He’s too far behind. When he as sitting there, giving up, he saw his dad’s face and he heard his dad saying “get up and run, you were not meant for failure, common son, you haven’t lost at all. For winning is more than this. To rise each time you fall.”
After listen to his dad, he found new commitment to run the race. He was trying his best but he was still very far behind. He got the last place that day. As people cheer for the winner, the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race. He thought he would have won to listen to the crowd. Then he came to his dad and say “dad, I’m so sorry cos I didn’t do so well.” But his dad said to him “to me you’ve won, because you raised each time you fell.”
Frens, A strength of a man is not determine by how he starts but how he ends. Finish well require us to have conviction and purpose in our heart to run this race. Finish well require us to have a different spirit. Finish well require us to stand up each time we fall.
Frens, will you determine in your heart today to do what Jesus did, to preach what He preach, and live out a life of Jesus Christ. To run this race fully for Him.
