Where Are You Going?

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

If we were to stand in an Airport check in line what would be the most likely question that people would ask us?

That’s right "Where are you going"

But if I were to stand in the foyer of a Hotel in Bancock or Singapore the question would be more like "Where have you come from"

Who hear knows we are on a jurney?

That’s right we are on a jurney we have not arived yet!

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

IT’S NOT WHERE YOU COME FROM THAT’S IMPORTANT

IT’S WHERE YOU ARE GOING THAT COUNTS.

Did you know that the Arabs have been celebrating Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during this month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. Lasting for the entire month, Muslims fast during the daylight hours and in the evening eat small meals and visit with friends and family. It is a time of worship and contemplation. A time to strengthen family and community ties.

For the devote Muslim Ramadan is seeking an encounter with Alah

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Many Muslims come to know Jesus during this time.

Instead of having an encounter with Alah they have an encounter with Jesus and become born again. Many people in Paul and Fleur’s church have come to know Jesus this way.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

You see God’s not interested in where you have been, He is only interested in where you are going.

Anyone who is seeking to have a relationship with the only true and living God will have that relationship

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

It does not matter to God were you have been He is only interested where You are going

Deut. 4:29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Here the Isralites had gone astray worshiping other gods that is where they were coming from and yet in the midst of that rebelion and turning away from God, He makes this statement that if they seek Him with all their heart and soul they will find Him.

That leads me to this question I have for you

What do you think of when I mention the Apostle Paul?

His Conversion

Missionary Journeys

His Writings, much of the New Testement

Reaching out to the Gentiles

Church Planting

OK what do you think of when I mention Osama bin Laden?

Afghanistan

September 11

Terrorism

Hijacks

Bombings

What then do Osama bin Laden and the Apostle Paul have in common?

They are both responsible for killing Christians, they are both responsible for persecuting the church.

Look at what Acts has to say about Saul before he became the Apostle Paul

Acts 7:57-8:3 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; [58] and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. [59] And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." [60] Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. [8:1] Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. [2] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. [3] As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Hear is what the Apsotle Paul said about himself

1 Tim. 1:15 (MsgB) Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof-Public Sinner Number One-

Everyone in this room has a past!

We have all been places and done things that we regret!

No one in this room can do anything about where they have been