Fully Persuaded

Romans 8:38-39

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have you ever read the scriptures about a man named King Agrippa?  You can find it in the book of Acts Chapter 26. Paul is given an opportunity to speak the Gospel before this King. He shares his testimony of what Jesus Christ had done for him. Paul also shares how Jesus now sends him to preach the Gospel to the lost. It's awesome to see how Paul, who is saved, now shifts the attention to King Agrippa. He says, "I wasn't disobedient..."  Paul explains that we must trust and believe in Jesus as our Savior. If we are disobedient in our belief then we will die in our sins. 

As Paul was sharing his heart with the King, one of his successors called Paul a crazy man. Probably because of his excitement for Jesus. You see, Paul was not undecided, no he was fully convinced!  Now he is asking Agrippa if he also is convinced. 

Look at Agrippa's answer... 

Acts 26:27-29

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

Agrippa wasn't convinced, even though he believed. He didn't believe to the point where he was fully persuaded. This morning, move from the seat of belief to the throne of being fully persuaded. God has told us that nothing shall separate us from His love. Not death, not angels, not principalities, not powers, not height, not depth, nothing can separate us from the Love of God. 

Because Paul was persuaded many came to faith in Jesus. Because we are persuaded many may come to faith in Jesus. Being persuaded is believing in action. Persuading someone to trust Jesus is putting faith in motion. I'm FULLY persuaded, are you?

The Man

Galatians 1:11-12

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

You've seen it. Men beating on their chests like a silverback gorilla yelling, "I'm the man!"  Men are constantly bragging on themselves. This kind of pride has even spilled over into our pulpits, and it should have no place in the pulpit. Preachers, Pastors, Sunday School teachers, etc... are on this move. 

This movement is not new. It was around in the early church days as well. At one point church members were choosing who they would rather listen to. Paul said that some of you say I'm of Paul, while others say I'm of Peter and Apollos. Imagine the differences in these men. One with great education and speech. One with great wisdom and the mystery of the Gospel.  And the other, a fisherman who held the keys to the church. Wow!  I can see how easy it would be to get caught up in following one or the other. I can easily see it because it happens today. Some choose Billy Graham, while others choose Billy Sunday. Some choose education while others choose entertainers. Some choose the loud screamer and others the quiet one. 

All serve a purpose!  You see, if men point to their wisdom and abilities then we are missing it. If they point to their growth and number system, then we are missing it. If they depend more on their abilities than the almighty, then they are missing it. If we lean upon our plans and programs, then we will miss it!  Or more so, we will miss Him. 

Paul said that the Gospel didn't come from "a" man, but "the" man. Jesus Christ is that man and no one will ever fill His shoes. Paul says he didn't receive it from man, or was taught it from man, but by Jesus Christ "The Man". 

Is That You Final Answer?

1 Peter 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Do you remember the game show from the late 90's called "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"  Regis Philbin was the host of the show. He coined the phrase, "Is that your final answer?"  The show would build and build the closer they got to the million dollar question. The lights would drop. The music would become intense. The crowd would get quiet. Now all eyes would be upon the contestant and Regis' microphone would be turned up a little louder. He leans in and says... "Is that your FINAL answer?"

Well, there you are. Sitting at your desk working, riding a bus to school or serving a customer and in comes an unbeliever asking you the million dollar question. The lights may not dim. The sound of everything around you may or may not intensify. The crowd or others present may not even stop talking. All eyes may not be on you, but there are definitely one set of eyes looking to you. It's not Regis!  It's the person who asked you for a reason of your hope. What would your answer be?  What scriptures? What testimony? What would you say?

STOP!  Really think about your answer. What would you tell these people that are looking for hope?  You know something? It could be your final answer. If could be your last opportunity to share the hope you have in Jesus. Not many people get a second chance at the million dollar question, but you do. So prepare yourself right now by prayer and study. 

Oh, and is that your FINAL answer?

Letting Jesus Love You

Zephaniah 3:14-17

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel;

be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy:

the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee:

thou shalt not see evil any more.

In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not:

and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;

he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;

he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

All Jesus wants to do is love you. His wrath and judgment are holy filled and not hate filled. He loves you so much that he died instead of you. Did you hear that?  He died instead of you. You and I were the ones who deserved death. You and I are the ones who deserve punishment. But instead, He loves you. 

Even when Israel was at their worst and sin prevailed in the followers, Jesus still loved them. We want to look at how Jesus called them hypocrites and say that he didn't like them. We look at how He ran them out of the temple with a whip and say that Jesus was cruel and mean. But the reasons for his discipline is because he loved them. He said in one scripture, "How many times I would have gathered you up as a mother hen would gather her chicks but you would not let me". In other words, "I wanted to love you, but you wouldn't let me". 

God rejoices over you!  He loves you so much!  Even while we were in our sins He loves us! (Romans 5:8)

Listen to the words of this song an old Gospel group I knew used to sing...

When you're all alone and blue, no one to tell your troubles to,

I know One, He really loves you

When this old world has let you down, and not a true friend can be found,

I know One, He really loves you

His name is Jesus, He Really Loves You

Are you letting him love you?

What's That I Hear?

Luke 23:42

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

They came and got Him in the garden while He prayed. As an enemy, they grabbed Him with force. The beating began... The slaps, the kicks, the punches, the spitting... But much more than that, the verbal attack upon Jesus began. 

All night the Jews sought witnesses to speak evil of Jesus. Person after person came and told of things that were not true against Him. During all of this no one said anything on His behalf. Peter stands beside the fire warming his hands from the cold while they mocked and tortured Jesus. One person came to Peter and said, "I know that you were with Jesus, your speech gives you away". And he said, "I know not the man". Over and over false accusations arise against Jesus and again there is no one to defend Him. 

On the morning Jesus is taken to the Romans. He has been bruised and battered throughout the night and now He stands before Pilate. The Jews are still talking lies about Jesus with no one to say other wise. Pilate looks at Jesus and says, "Don't you know I have power to release you?" Jesus assures him that he has no power unless His Father gave it to him. Still no one in the crowd yells, "Stop, that's my Lord". No they continually yell, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!"

As His hands and feet are nailed to the cross, again there is no one to speak up for Him. When they lifted Him up between Heaven and Earth, the crowd mocked and shamed Him louder and louder... "If you're the Son of God, come down..." Yell after yell... Screams of wrath and hate are shouted all over the hill of Calvary. 

...But then out of the screams... Something that Satan never counted on... Something that even the demons in Hell tremble at... It could be heard over the Pharisees mockery. It was louder than the soldiers gambling at His feet. This voice was amplified from a sinners heart as he said, "Lord, remember me..." He moved from saying, "If you're the Christ, save us..." To crying out for salvation. Out of all the screaming and mockery that day Satan never bargained on a sinners prayer from a dying thief.

Through all the chaos and turmoil God still hears the prayer of a repentant sinner. "And there may I though vile as he wash all my sins away Lord!"

The Big Frog

3 John 1:9-11

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

The desire to be the biggest, best and popular seems to be inside of every human. Now some will tell you that they have no desire to be first in everything, and I understand this. But everyone, even you, love to be heard in their opinion. All people desire to be the best at something. The difference is that some desire to be the best in what they are called to do and there is no sin in this. While others desire to be the best in everything and over everyone. They love the preeminence. What is that? It is the desire to have supremacy over all people. 

The Bible describes these people in our scripture this morning. Look at it closely. 

  - They only receive those who do as they say

  - Tearing others down with their words is vital to their happiness

  - Never Satisfied

  - Will not receive the body of Christ

  - Target everyone who receives the brethren 

  - Kick out anyone who doesn't see things as they do

The best illustration I can come up with on the "Diotrephes" person is a frog. Not just any frog, but THE frog. The bullfrog to be more accurate. When their ways are yielded to, they seem to be the loudest in the pond. Always bossing and imposing their poison upon all in their path. "Croak, croak, croak..." Then when the truth is being preached, arms are folded and the famous "look like a blowed up bullfrog" statement comes to mind. 

Although the illustration is of a bullfrog. The truth of the matter is that they are false teachers and liars. If there is one big frog of the pond, it should be, and is, Jesus Christ. We should all sound off the Gospel which we have heard and received. Croaking the Gospel of Jesus until the day we croak in Jesus!

Cake Batter Christians

2 Peter 1:5-9

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

How many times have we been fooled by people you thought had it all together?  You know the ones...nice home, smiling faces, laughing children, helping hands. Only to find out that inside, they were full of turmoil and even sin. 

This morning take a good look at our scripture. He tells us that we, as Christians, need to add some things to our lives (walk). Now there is nothing that can be added unto salvation. Jesus completed all that on Calvary. Everything we need in salvation is found in Jesus. But after our salvation, new-birth, we must learn to walk in Jesus. Read over the list of things that we need added to our walk. Notice how He tells us, "if these things be in you...", they make you a fruitful Christian. 

I like to call these people, "Cake Batter Christians". Because they are first of all filled with the right ingredients. When making a cake you need eggs, milk, flour, etc... You would not make a cake out of 5W30 motor oil, sawdust, milk of magnesia, etc...  If you would, then please show it to me so I can give my piece to someone else. 

Are you filling your batter bowl with everything else except these things? Then you're not going to have a very tasty cake. I don't know about you but whenever I cook, I want people to love every bite of it. Sometimes when I cook things I go a little overboard with flavoring it and the taste is no good. Sometimes I under flavor it and the taste is bland and dull. That's the reason God has given us this recipe for a great cake batter Christian. So there is no guesswork. 

Last of all, consistency is key!  If you just throw things together and never measure them out, you will find that your consistency will be off. Nothing ruins a good cake batter than poor consistency.  We have a tendency to go overboard on some things and lack in others. We need a right balance of temperance, patience, virtue, kindness, love, etc... We need to walk in these everyday in every way. Christians are guilty of beating the doors down of the church one month and then the FBI can't find them the next month. They knock on doors and share Jesus one week and then they will not answer their door the next. Why is this?  The consistency of the cake batter. 

Lord Jesus, we cannot be a great sweet smelling or tasting cake unto you without your help. Thank you for the recipe this morning. Thank you for the model and guide that you are to us. Please help us to be consistent "Cake Batter Christians" for you and the Gospel. We love you Jesus.