When The Music Stops!

"When the Music stops!"

Opening remarks:

This weekend was a great success. People where blessed and touched from every age bracket. You could say we experienced one of those mountain top experiences. So I ask the question today, “What do we do now that the music stopped?”

This is a very good question? In essence we ask ourselves what NOW? I believe we need to remember the great mountain top experience of the Gospel Fest but we also need to see that God gives us the mountain top experiences in life to drive us into the valley of service for Him.

I see an all to common occurrence in Christian circles today where people want to stay on the mountain top experiences but never go down into the valley of service. These individuals would be like someone who would still be sitting down at the tent site waiting for next year to come. They just sit there relishing in the fest over and over remembering it, relishing in it but never applying it to life and service. So my challenge to you today is you had a great experience what are you going to do with it?

Will you let it propel you into service for the Lord?

Will you let it ignite a fire in you for serving Jesus for the year?

Will you get fired up about sharing how Jesus met you and then share that experience with others so they too can experience Jesus in a similar way?

Will you allow the spirit of the One Nation Youth Choir to affect the way you live?

Will you decide to be the solution to the problems of society and not the problem itself?

Will you begin to tackle some of the problems of society in our area?

Will you make a commitment to be an impacter for the Kingdom of Love?

Will you embrace those who need love and care?

Will you take what you received and then give it away to others?

Will you leave the mountain to go into the valley of service?

Thesis: The Mountain is the place we always meet with God and never want to leave. But, God desires us to go home and share our experience with others.

Illustration:

"Welcome to San Diego. Now go home.", is a bumper stick you will find in San Diego. Another is "Enjoy San Diego. Then go home." People who have been there say that San Diego, California is a friendly city. It is also a city bursting with promise.

San Diego, however, is now the 7th largest city in the United States. Many residents believe that it is big enough. So they put bumper stickers on their cars, "Welcome to San Diego, Now Go Home." And to be sure you take the hint, they have put their airport right in the middle of the city.

Introduction:

This not-so-subtle hint by residents of San Diego is a reminder of the subtle messages of the Gospel. "Enjoy the Mountain, Now go home." There are two dimensions to the Christian life. The mountain of exultation and the valley of service.

The mountain -- where we encounter God -- where we feel our souls refreshed -- where we find a new motivation for the living of our lives.

And the valley -- where we maintain our responsibilities -- where we reach out to those who are hurting -- where we seek to be the body of Christ at work today. Where we fulfill the charge of Christ found in Matthew 28:16-20:

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in£ the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (MESSAGE)