Who Disqualifies You

Being much concerned about the rise of denominations in the church, John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, "Are there any Presbyterians here?" "Yes!", came the answer. Then he asked, "Are there any Baptists? Any Episcopalians? Any Methodists?" The answer was Yes! Each time. Much distressed, Wesley was then ushered to the gates of Heaven. There he asked the same question, and the answer was No! "No?" To this, Wesley asked, "Who then is inside?" The answer came back, "There are only Christians here."

(1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

This morning beloved I want to preach on the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ I pray that you lend your ear for a moment because I do believe that Christ will speak to our hearts this morning and touch the heart of your soul. This morning beloved their seems to be a multitude of people that believe that they do not have what it takes to be a Christian. Many people that I have spoken to will not flat out say I do have what it takes to be a Christian but they blow off the invite of conversation because condemnation has told them that they will never amount to anything. Even good-meaning Christians go out of the will of God to fulfill what they can only receive through Jesus Christ.

There might even be someone here this morning that has been told all your life that you would never amount to anything but this morning I want to declare to you that even in your state Jesus can use your life for His glory. Beloved I want to preach a sermon I’ve entitled “Who Disqualified You?” I was pressed upon this sermon yesterday as we were outreaching and later that evening as we had shown the movie as I heard a voice tell me something that I want to share with the congregation. That voice said “Who said you’d make it here, you are going to fail just like everyone else and be disqualified”, and as I heard this voice in my heart how I was broken in spirit as I had to look up and cry to my Savior and say; “Whatever your will Lord let it be done with my life”. This was how this sermon was birthed and I want to encourage you this morning with the hope that Christ has given me for you this morning.

Acts 1:15-26 (New International Version, ©2011)

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters,[a] the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” 18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood. 20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

“The world’s Qualifications”

Beloved this morning the world sees qualification a lot different then you and I do. People size you up in the streets, they look at what you drive or what kind of clothes you wear, or how many kids you have or what school you went to. If you drive a mini-van with duct tape on the bumper you’re not worth talking to, or if you have four kids looking for an apartment the landlord says that you’re disqualified for having too many children for a three bedroom, many even base your character on your credit. The qualifications and standards of the world are contradictory and unjust in many ways as the world has a spirit of partiality in their lives.