THE CHANCE TO WIN - LUKE 23:39-43

EASTER GREETING.Activities

Men’s IMPACT Weekend

Different approach on Easter; Harvest!

INTRO: Syndicated TV Game Show for 50 years - Truth or Consequences.

2 Contestants were randomly selected to win prizes. Usually there was a prank that the audience was aware of but ONE of the contestants was not.

One episode, a male and female contestant were brought out. The female had glasses that had “Kiss me to win $50.00.” If the male did what the glasses said, he would win the prizes. He didn’t win.

CONSEQUENCE - LOSER!…”Aren’t we Devils?”

Devils? A term used to identify the deceiver, the liar, the selfish one.

The devil DECEIVES. He deceives people by telling them they are worth nothing; a failure; they must do whatever to survive. That “whatever” is always SIN.

Eve - Gen 3

The devil LIES...on God…God doesn’t love you; God will not protect you; God does not exist.

JOHN 8:44 “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

ACTS 5:3 ““Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.”

The devil is the SELFISH one. He wants to receive God’s glory; God’s worship.

Jesus temptation in the wilderness. bread; kingdoms; WORSHIP.

One of thief’s on the cross, fell for the devil’s DECEPTION; listened to the devil’s LIE’S; imitated the SELFISHNESS of the devil.

Listen to his words as he is on the cross dying...”So you’re the Messiah are you?” Satan always comes with a QUESTION. to EVE; Jesus.

Save yourself AND ME!

He had THE CHANCE TO WIN, but instead he was a loser. He chose the CONSEQUENCES of not believing.

But the other thief...

He lived a sinful life. Sin = falling short or missing the mark of God’s holy standard.

Yet, there was something different about this thief, this worthless criminal, this “lost cause.”

Listen to him as he hangs from the cross -

Luke 23:40 “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?” His words display TRUST.

Luke 23:41 “We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” CONFESSION; FAITH.

This person, hanging on the cross, convicted for sin he had committed, was willing to give his life to Christ…not to be saved in this life, but in the life to come.

Luke 23:42 “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

JESUS had compassion and offered THE CHANCE TO WIN.

How? FORGIVENESS; ACCEPTANCE; TRUTH.

LUKE 23:43 “Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

FORGIVENESS - to live in Paradise.

ACCEPTANCE - to be WITH Jesus...

TRUTH - When Jesus said ‘I ASSURE YOU” He spoke TRUTH.

John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made His home among us. He was full of grace and TRUTH.”

John 8:32 “32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

CLOSE: On the show Truth or Consequences, one of the shows was about a woman who’s son went to war. She received the report that he was killed in battle. During the show she mentioned how hard her life had been without him; the struggles she endured without him…and then all of sudden, her son walks out on stage.

Tears streamed down her face. “How could this be?” she asked.

The host said, ‘Your son contacted us, because you watch the show. He asks us to contact you to let you know he wasn’t dead. They left the show as WINNERS since the TRUTH had been revealed.

Jesus is offering YOU the same opportunity today.

You have THE CHANCE TO WIN!

Jesus is offering FORGIVENESS, ACCEPTANCE; NEW LIFE…IN CHRIST!

Won’t you accept it?