Say Your Lines

I have preached this sermon before, but God has called us to revisit it.

Some things are so important that they need to be reviewed . . . in many jobs you have to be re-certified . . . if you uhave heard it, this is a re-certification

Isaiah 46:10 NASB95

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

in verse 9, God had just finished saying that “I am God, and there is none like me” . . . then God gives an example of his power

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done

Because of God’s power, he can declare and has declared the end of the story, at the beginning of a story.

He’s has already decided things that have not been done yet

He is the writer/author of this book that we call human history . . . God first decided how human history would start and end, and then began it

From the beginning, the end, is already set . . . the future is set, the book called, “Human History”, written by God . . . is completed and published

the events that throw us off, the craziness that surprises us, don’t faze God at all . . . they were already in his book

let me say it this way, God writes prequels

a prequel is when you already know the outcome, but the movie or book will show you how it got there

In Star Wars, a character named Anakin Skywalker became the evil villan Darth Vader, but how did he become Darth Vader? Episode III of Star Wars reveals that . . . when the movie came out, we went to the theaters knowing the end of the story, but were excited to see how it got there . . . it was a prequel

God has revealed the end of all time in the Bible, in the book of Revelation . . . and human history is about how do we get there . . . human history is a prequel

And the point is that it is wise to pay attention to what God has put in his book!

For not only has God published the big ending, but also smaller endings and conclusions . . .

Christians don’t have to go through life wondering how things will turn out . . . God’s word had declared the endings, we live in smaller prequels

Romans 8 28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

we are given the ending - all things work together for good . . we just have to walk it out . . . prequel

Isaiah 54:17, no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper

weapons will come, but we know the end . . . won’t prosper . . . prequel

Christians would have more peace and joy, if we would remember that our lives our prequels

we just have to have faith and live out the prequel -

because he declares the end, from the beginning

My purpose will be established

God has his reasons - why he wrote the book of human history, like he wrote it

the history of the world was written by God for HIS purpose

and his purpose WILL be established, everything God wants to accomplish WILL be accomplished

God has a master plan that cannot be denied

though it often looks like the world is out of control, and going its own way . . . everything God has planned is right on scheduled, and headed in one direction . . . fulfilling God’s purpose, accomplishing God’s will

it’s all about God

let me say it this way, You are a supporting actor/actress in your own life

Your life was written into human history for God’s purposes . . . . you were not born for yourself

Thus, the main character in your life’s story is not you

The main character in your life’s story is God

In fact, it’s not even your story, it’s His-story (as my mom says)

so don’t forget your true role/place, you are a supporting actor/actress in your life

not center stage, but off to the side somewhere

your role is to support the lead actor, God

you’re like the person in a super man movie that says, “Look up in the sky!”

that’s it, you’re done! . . . supporting role

“thank you super man”

“thank you for saving me!”

Even Mother’s day is not really about Mothers

Mothers come from God

the wonder of motherhood comes from God

the love of a mother comes from God

a woman’s ability to be a mother comes from God

on Mother’s day, I can’t thank my mother in person, but I can always thank God for my mother

the life you are living is a prequel, and you are a supporting actor

and there is one other thing you should be aware of . . .

and I will accomplish all my good pleasure

Not only was the history of humanity written for his purpose, the history of humanity was written for his good pleasure

That means God will do what he wants to do and HOW he wants to do it

and I have learned that his good pleasure often includes drama . . . his narratives are full of drama

if you notice, The Bible is fully of Drama

Joseph - a young man with big dreams, but sold into slavery by his brothers, sexually harrassed at his job, thrown in prison . . . will his dreams ever come true? . . drama

Moses - child of a slave, adopted by the king’s daughter, murderer, fugitive, sent by God to take on the man, up against a powerful army . . . drama

Esther, the orphan who became queen, and risking it all to save her people is drama

Jesus not coming immediately to heal his friend Lazarus but waiting until he died . . . drama

Why does God make things so dramatic?

I don’t know all the reasons why, but we as people like drama too, so we should understand

look at the most popular films and movies and TV shows. . .full of drama;

Sports: the best games are those with dramatic last second plays; March madness

and when we Put it all together . . . in life, we are supporting actors in a prequel written by God, and the prequel is full of drama. . . . don’t be surprised you have things to deal with

God writes plots that are so exciting and filled with twist and turns that it’s very difficult to see how it is going to get to the forgone conclusion he has declared in the beginning

because of the danger, excitement, suspense, mystery, the close calls, and time running out . . . life will not feel like a prequel but a mystery or horror movie

By the fact that you are living, I know that you are faced with some seemingly impossible and dramatic situations in your life . . . if people knew just the half of what you are going through . . .

But I am here to remind you that though you are facing some serious drama, and it feels like a mystery or horror story . . it’s still a prequel

and for God’s children, it is a prequel that has everything working together for your good

I am here to remind you that you are the supporting actor/actress in this drama, so you don’t have to carry the burden of the main role . . . that’s God’s job . . . let the star of the production carry the movie . . . cast all your cares on him

With that understanding, God sent me to coach you up on some of your lines, help you rehearse some of your lines, help you memorize some of your lines . . . . as you are living in this dramatic prequel called life.

Because the drama often causes us to forget our lines, or we remember our lines but they don’t seem to make sense based on the circumstances . . . so we make up or own lines, or the devil says read these lines that I wrote.

Result is that God has to say “cut” . . read the line I gave to you . . . this my movie . . . do it over! action!

remember Peter? . . . He was in a scene so scary that he forgot his lines

Jesus told him he was going to forget his lines, but Peter thought he had his lines down

but after Jesus was arrested and they said, “you were with Jesus too”

“wasn’t me” instead of “Yes, I was”

“I don’t know what you are talking about” instead of “Jesus is my master”

he even threw in some cussing lines, you know God did not write that for him

and after the resurrection, Jesus made him do those lines over . . .”Peter do you love me”

So if people who walked with Jesus in the flesh can mess up their lines, we certainly can . . . so let me help you . . . help us

you must learn to SAY YOUR LINES

Some of you are in a prequel called “I don’t see how”

and your line is, “I know the Lord will make a way somehow”

Some of you are in a prequel called “ups and downs”

your line is, “I will bless the Lord at all times”

Some of you are living in a prequel called, “Serious Trouble”

your line is, “God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”

Some of you are living in a prequel called “High bills, low Money”

your line is, “Jehovah JIreh - The Lord will provide”

Some of you are living in a prequel called, “Giving up”

Your line is, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”

some of you are in a prequel called worries on top of worries

your lines is, I’m not going to worry about anything, instead I will pray about everything and tell God what I need, and thank him for all he has done

Some of you are in a prequel called, “Doing things God’s way doesn’t seem to be working out”

your line is, I’ll trust in the Lord with al my heart and I won’t lean to my own understanding, but in all my way, I will acknowlege him, and he will direct my path

Some of you are in a prequel called, “Scandalized my name”

and you don’t have a line because you will hold your peace and just let the Lord fight your battles

Some of you are in a prequel called, “The Most Difficult Time in my life”

your line is “I need thee, Oh I need thee, every hour I need thee”

Some of you are in a prequel called, “I messed up bad”

your line is, “Lord, have mercy on me according to your lovingkindness”

Whatever you are going through, just say Your line, the main character will do the rest

Jesus

That reminds me biggest prequel in the history of mankind is the story of Calvary!

There were special effects (earthquake, darkness in the middle of the day, curtain in the temple ripped in half by itself, dead souls appeared in the city)

In this scene, Jesus played the role of Savior!

And didn’t he play his part!

He played it like no other!

it was full of drama

praying so hard that he sweated blood

praying, “Father if it be possible take this cup from me, but nevertheless not my will but your will be done”

In this role, his disciples left him, and his enemies mock him (go through the passion)

In this role he suffered for me

In this role he bled for me

In this role he paid the price for me

Jesus had Powerful lines like, “Father forgive them for they know not

My God, My God . . why has thou forsaken me

And to a thief, “This day you will be with me in paradise

He even died in his role and it looked really, really, really bad!

But God likes drama . . .so when they thought it was over, it wasn’t over . . .there was a surprise ending that should not have been a surprise because Jesus had already told them the ending ahead of time . . . prequel

On the 3rd day there was Another earthquake, Angels from heaven showing up,

Soldiers passing from fear, Giant stone rolled away

And Jesus got up from the grave with all power just like he said he would!

just like he declared from the beginning

Invitation

if you are not a Christian, then you are not in a supporting role, you are an antagonist . . . you against the story that God has written

in this prequel called life, the antagonist are headed to hell because of their sin

but Jesus died, so that you could give up that role and take on the role of Christian

it’s a good role, because in this role

you are saved from hell

destined for heaven

help in this life

guarantee that he will never leave you

Just believe in the gospel of Christ and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior