0925 Embrace Grace - More Than a Life Jacket

EMBRACE GRACE // More Than a Life Jacket

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

JOKE: Jonah and the whale.

Being saved is more than wearing a life jacket. It’s being in the ark. Vests protect from drowning but salvation is more than rescue - its new life. Salvation is more than just a rescue, it also gives me a refuge. (Home, temple, transportation)

Ark of Noah - saved from wrath of God Ark of Moses - saved from work of the enemy Ark of God - saved from wages of sin

ONE ARK (Gen.6:14) Speaks of Grace

Ark was shelter from the flood. STAND WHERE FIRE HAS BEEN!

God will PASSOVER you (instead of punishing you) when He sees the blood (Ex.12:13)

Ark was covered with asphalt “cover” “make an atonement” Gen.6:14 (“pitch” or “tar” in other versions) is kâphar. Besides meaning to cover something with pitch, this word also means to “make an atonement.” HUSBAND COVERING HIS WIFE!

Noah was righteous yet he needed the ark to be saved from the flood. THREE MEN SWIMMING TO HAWAII

Having the ark is not enough to avoid the flood, you must be inside the ark.

ONE DOOR (Gen.6:16) Speaks of Jesus.

Many paths lead to the ark but only one door into the ark. (John 10:9-16)

All roads lead to God but only one road leads to grace. heaven, through Jesus Christ.

No tunnels. No back doors. No chimneys into the ark.

Statements by George Lucas and Madonna.

Door to the ark wasn’t open forever. (Gen.7:16; Matt.25:10)

120 years of preaching!!!! STORY: Door can shut anytime.

ONE WINDOW (Gen.6:16) Speaks of the Bible.

Ark had only one window through which air and light came. Door is me. Window is for the dove. Christian life can get stuffy and stinking. You have opened your heart to Jesus but you must open your Bible to the Holy Spirit.

When you open your heart, Jesus brings salvation.

When you open your Bible, Holy Spirit brings transformation.

RESEARCH

When you’re in the ark, you see the world through the window.

ONE FAMILY (Gen.7:1) Speaks of Church.

Everyone in the ark is family. (John 1:12) Divide of race, politics, wealth is replaced by unity of brotherhood and blood of Jesus. Racism: Born pink. Grow white. Sick green. Sun red. Cold blue Die purple.

Don’t leave your family to the flood.

Two deputies were fired. STORY!

ONE ASSIGNMENT (Gen.8:15-19) Speaks of Community.

Noah fed the animals even through he never “saved” them.

Sprinkler in my lawn…Can community miss you?

“I remember when I was 10 years old, I asked my mother, ‘If there’s only one God, why are there so many religions?’ I’ve been pondering that question ever since, and the conclusion I’ve come to is that all religions are true.’” George Lucas (Star Wars, Indiana Jones)

“I do believe that all paths lead to God. It’s a shame that we end up having religious wars, because so many of the messages are the same.” Madonna

Sixty percent of young people today would agree that all roads equally lead to God

A key discovery from the CBE research is that the life of someone who engages Scripture 4 or more times a week looks radically different from the life of someone who does not. In fact, the lives of Christians who do not engage the Bible most days of the week are statistically the same as the lives of non-believers. Someone who engages the Bible 4 or more times a week is:

228% more likely to share faith with others

407% more likely to memorize scripture

59% less likely to view pornography

30% less likely to struggle with loneliness

Two deputies were fired Tuesday for inaction during the mass school shooting that left 17 students and staff members dead in 2018 in Parkland, Florida. A 15-month investigation shows Peterson, the former school resource officer, refused to investigate the source of gunshots, retreated while victims were being shot and directed arriving law enforcement to remain 500 feet away from the building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Another deputy, Sgt. Brian Miller, was also found to have neglected duties and was fired, according to Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony.