It's Way Past Time!

Happy Sabbath North shore Church , Shot out to the Shepherd of this house Pastor Jonathan Burnett, his wife and children , his Pastoral Team, Pastor Felipe and wife, the Elders. To Elder , Thanks for the invitation. Apologies that my wife couldn’t be here with me today, she is in Arizona visiting my two high school children at TTA, we actually haven’t seen each other since Sunday as I was at the Pastors Health Retreat at Camp Akita , then Wednesday she left for Arizona.I do know that she has been and is praying for me this Sabbath. If you can please stand with me for the reading of Gods word and the invitation of the Spirit of God in this place. Prayer! Once again thanks to Elder for the invitation and today must be my lucky day as your Pastor has given me 1:45 mn in his Pulpit , that will get us out today at , Amen? Today I want to speak under the subject of “Its way past time”

Have you ever noticed that we as a church we get so excited when we are participating or engaged in an activity in the community? Its like the best feeling ever for a church, when we have visitors or you invite a person or two , and for the rest of the congregation if your wondering who they came with all you have to do is watch the smile on the face or faces of the one they are sitting next to and you will know who they came with. Don’t get me wrong, im not saying thats a bad thing to be smiling from ear to ear, Im saying when are we as SDA going to ever get to a place in your church , my church in our church where being connected to others wont be such a random occasion or an every now and then occasional occurrence. We roll out the carpet for one or two people , now once again , I’m not knocking Im about to make a point , you need to know that I’m also speaking to myself and my situation as well!

If you notice , Jesus very seldom gathered the disciples alone to share the word with them. Jesus didn’t choose for his audience , other SDA those only who knew the way of life. It was His mission , his work everyday to reach the multitudes who were in ignorance and error to his word! Jesus Specialized in truth he gave His lessons of truth where they could reach people in the most dyer situations . He Himself was the Truth, standing with girded loins and hands ever outstretched to bless, and in words of warning, entreaty, and encouragement, seeking to uplift all who would come unto Him. . DA 298.1 When I read this I see that Jesus was always ready to uplift and encourage the down trodden , helpless and less fortunate. We in the context of Discipleship seem to be missing something when it comes to community. We spend more time in church with church folks loving on church folks helping church folks talking with and encouraging church folks than we do in the community! We say we are Christians followers of Jesus , we pray to be like Christ, but yet we are failing to follow his methods. Christ mingled with people, when was the last time you mingled or even talked with your neighbors around your house or church. What is it thats keeping us from being more active in our communities? Being more available even to our family members that don’t know Jesus. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, Jesus didn’t care who he talked with or ate with, as evidenced by Luke 15: 1-2 .Have you ever noticed that some people will always look for and find a reason to start some mess or roll the wheel barrel , rolling the wheel barrel means starting rumors or gossiping . Some people are just not happy or content with what they are doing or with what they have going on but feel the need to get all up in your kool aid. That’s how the Pharisees and scribes were. Here it is Jesus, was minding his own business , talking with the common folks if you will and the rumor mill started rolling. I’m in the text and verse two says that “ This man receives sinners and eats with them” Jesus is eating and sitting with sinners and talk about being a sinner , I don’t know about you but how many of us in the house today are just over joyed at the fact that Jesus is still in the business of eating and sitting with sinners.Me I’m a sinner saved by grace and I thank God for loving and remembering a sinner like me. What about you, do we have any common folk in the house do we have any sinners in the house. The fact that Jesus is still sitting and eating with sinners brings me hope

Luke 15:1–2 KJV 1900

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

Luke 15:1–2 KJV 1900

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

I was just thinking what if Jesus was a member of our SDA churches, better yet what if he was a member of the Board ? How many of you would like that? I mean let’s keep it real,Although we worship him and sing songs about lifting him higher , we say the cliche God is Good and all the time God is Good.I don’t believe some of us would like Jesus being a member of this church. One of the reasons why is Jesus is to radical , too grace filled.Because then you would be forced to speak to those people you don’t speak to ? You know those people you walk pass or those people who aren’t as clean as you or don’t smell like you. I think the church would have a problem with Jesus because all the people we don’t want in the church, the drunks , the homeless and helpless all the people we try to keep out the church he would open the doors of the church for them all and invite them all in. Which is actually what we all should be doing.The pregnant girl you tried to keep out the church for getting pregnant . All the while forgetting that when you were her age or even younger you had some issues with boys and were permiscuiss . That young man that can’t seem to stay out jail . That son or cousin or that husband that will not stop drinking no matter what office he holds in church. Jesus would welcome them into the church .Jesus would pull them in and have the gossiper placed right here in front of the church. Jesus would make some of us cringe with the stuff he would put up with that we wouldn’t. So I’m glad that Jesus is still in the business of hanging out with sinners. If Jesus was a member of our churches,.Jesus would say you don’t need a new church evangelize the community get more relational and I will provide for the church. I’m still in the Bible.The last time I checked if the community was suffering the church was suffering.Jesus would say take care of the poor and those in need .That would make a lot of us uncomfortable having people high and drunk and poor hanging around North Shore SDA. So Those same people we want out the church the ones we want to disfellowship Jesus he would welcome . Notice we get closer in the text,Notice that Jesus is being accused of eating and hanging out with sinners. The Pastors and Elders the ones who knew the word better than anyone else or rather the scribes and Pharisees had brought an accusation on Jesus if you notice they didn’t say he sleeps with women, that wasn’t an issue.They didn’t say he steals the churches money it wasn’t an issue of tithes or thighs that wasn’t the issue. There accusation is Jesus received them and eats with them so once again I’m Glad Jesus still eats with sinners. As I’m reading this it appears that Jesus was a big disappointment , this was not the Idea of the messiah that they we’re looking for.The chosen one doesn’t eat with sinners. I am in the text, I will prove it thru the word.John the one who paved the way for Jesus was a little confused, John had heard that Jesus , I’m in the text Jesus ate and hung out with sinners.Were talking about John the one who when he saw Jesus said “behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world” That one specific sin people are still struggling with today, the sin of unbelief. Some people are suffering from believing that they are better than others, buts another sermon for another day.Were talking about John the first cousin of Jesus separated-by six months, the one who leaped in his mother’s womb at the presence of the unborn messiah. John knew exactly who Jesus was yet when he was in prison he heard of the people Jesus was hanging out with, he heard about the places that Jesus would frequent.John sends his disciples to ask Jesus are you the one. Or shall we look for another. How many of us have that same question on our minds, how many of us want to ask the question is Jesus ever coming? How many of us are secretly doubting that we serve a risen savior? John the same one who proclaimed him had to ask this question. remember the accusation of the Elders. For me ,I’m glad Jesus is still in the business of hanging out with sinners. If If Jesus didn’t hang out with sinners he wouldn’t even been with you on Monday, on Tuesday , on Wednesday. Come on say. Jesus knew who his audience was, The multitude came for different reasons, some came to hear a word, some came to criticize,.I suspect and I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that we’ve got a mixed multitude in the house today.Some of you came to hear a word, some of you came to see if the speaker is theologically errant , some of you may be taking notes as we speak.Todays message is fitting for the season of evangelism that we are in , as this entire chapter deals with people ,family members ,friends , loved ones co-y amen.workers that just may be lost and need a savior.

, This man eats wits with sinners , If Jesus did then whats stopping us from doing it? It’s ok I came to today to bowl down some alleys, if I step on some toes , just say ouch then I will know you heard . Pen of Inspiration says , It is the work of the angels to come close to the tried, the suffering, the tempted. They labor untiringly in behalf of those for whom Christ died. When sinners are led to give themselves to the Saviour, angels bear the tidings heavenward, and there is great rejoicing among the heavenly host. “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke 15:7. A report is borne to heaven of every successful effort on our part to dispel the darkness and to spread abroad the knowledge of Christ. As the deed is recounted before the Father, joy thrills through all the heavenly host. . AA 153.3 for heaven to receive this report we have to stop being so Isolated and Insulated and be more about our father’s business. I believe we have the wrong concept on discipleship. Being a disciple of Jesus has nothing to do with but everything to do with

true discipleship involves denying oneself, we have it backwards because we are denying the community and those around us, e we have taking up our crosses and placed them in the church so no one can see the cross that we are bearing. In Mark 8:34, Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." This means that true discipleship requires self-sacrifice, surrendering one's own desires and priorities, and wholeheartedly following Jesus' teachings and example. Jesus mingled with people. It's hard for most of us to even fathom mingling with some one that's not Adventist. That's why our churches aren't growing, we aren't mingling we are to afraid to talk with them because they swear or drink or smoke . They eat pork and listen to bad music. We have Isolated ourselves to the point where we aren't good for any body but adventist. We've turned witnessing into a fight, Saturday versus Sunday like freddy verses jason. We think it's our responsibility to tell everyone the truth about the Sabbath and state of the dead and healthy food diet that we are forgetting to tell them about Jesus. Jesus is the chain that will link hearts together not your doctrines. We're struggle with a good morning, well you know technically our biblically speaking the evening and the morning consists of a day so it's really the afternoon! If we want to be like Jesus get out and mingle, invite those family members over, Share what Jesus has done for you ! Thats were the power lies not in you fighting about your doctrine and what he believes. Its by our testimonies that people will be won to Christ. It will be by you telling someone you were sick with Cancer and your church prayed and God healed you. My lights and gas were about to be cut off and God stepped in. My son wS gang banging and he is a deacon in the church! look beyond the body, look beyond the persona being the issue . I was suffering with depression But God stepped in and I have hope today. People are struggling with anxiety and depression, so self esteem low self worth, abandonment issues , addictions and we can help relive the chains on their feet and hands, but we don’t. Thats why you need to tell your story, tell your testimony to your neighbor or coworker , tell them what a mighty God we serve , angels bow before him , heaven and earth adore him , what a mighty God we serve. The Bible says that when Christ be lifted up all men will be drawn towards him , not the 28 fundamental beliefs, but Jesus! When we begin to tell our stories to people in our families and communities, Jesus will get the glory . We are to busy fighting over women’s ordination and wedding bands, have you ever thought about what your going to do when Jesus places that Gold crown on your head, oh I don’t wear jewelry. We have to stop majoring in minor and realize that we have the power in Jesus name to bring life and hope to those who in despair. Lift up the name of Jesus.When people in our families and communities see and hear what God has done for us how he has been a way-maker, a miracle worker and promise keeper the light in the darkness a bridge over troubled waters , when people see how we were broken bruised battered and scared but now were trees of righteousness, now we are trophies of Gods victory. In order for us to be relevant we have to get out of these four walls from time to time and mingle. If North shore Church closed down today would the people in this community miss the church ? Would they know we are gone or even care? As disciples of Jesus, we are called to build our lives on a solid foundation, just like a house built on a rock. This foundation is Jesus Himself, who is the cornerstone of our faith. He is the one who provides stability, strength, and direction in our lives. However, it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and place our energy in the wrong places, neglecting the spiritual aspect of our journey.

Jesus recognized this tendency in His disciples and taught them the importance of adjusting their priorities to align with their spiritual growth. He emphasized the need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that everything else would fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

So, how do we adjust our lives to help our spiritual growth and live as true disciples of Jesus? One key aspect is to actively engage with our community. We are not meant to walk this journey alone. We need the support, encouragement, and accountability that comes from being a part of a loving and caring community.

Being connected to our community spiritually means more than just attending church services or events. It involves actively participating in the life of the community, building relationships, and serving one another. It means being there for each other in times of joy and sorrow, praying for one another, and sharing our lives authentically.

Living a life following Jesus also requires us to examine where we are placing our energy and focus. Are we investing our time and resources in things that align with His teachings and values? Or are we allowing ourselves to be distracted by worldly pursuits that lead us away from Him?

As we reflect on these questions, let us remember that adjusting our lives for spiritual growth is an ongoing process. It requires humility, intentionality, and a willingness to surrender our own desires to God's will. It means allowing Him to shape and mold us into the image of Christ.

Today, on this Community Guest Day, let us recommit ourselves to building our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. Let us embrace the importance of community and actively engage with one another in love and support. And let us adjust our priorities and energy to align with God's purposes for our lives.

May we be a community that shines brightly, like a house on a rock, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus to the world around us. Amen.

Get Outlook for iOS