Untitled Sermon (3)

Situation

Every choice has a consequence. Some choices lead to suffering, and that suffering although it may hurt, God still leaves room from freedom. To think when you are overwhelmed by obligations, punished and in pain, stressing and struggling Jesus still gives you the freedom to tap into his grace.

As Jesus is hung on the cross there are two other men who are being crucified with him. Crucifixion literally means to put up on post. Jesus Christ our savior between two thieves, “There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side and Jesus in between.

We have to believe that when Jesus is in the middle of our crucifixion we have the power to overcome some of the most tumultuous times. The freedom begins when you begin to believe. True believe allows you to be confident in the fact that no matter where life takes me if Jesus is in between me and my mess, I’ll be alright.

When Jesus is in between Me and My Mess

Were the thieves guilty? Yes! And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.

Jesus was suffering just like these men. Not to mention Jesus was suffering unjustly seeing as he had committed no sin. Nonetheless, as long as Jesus had breath in his lungs he was going to fulfill his mission:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me

No matter the mess, when Jesus is in the middle of it he can clean it up if you believe in him.

Even the mess we get in, when Jesus is in between me and my mess he can make everything alright. Even when my mess is visible for the world to see, Jesus can step in and make everything alright.

The thief (we will call him thief belief) on the cross who believed in Jesus and his power even in his hanging on the cross “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” and Jesus responds, Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.

Understand that the power of your mess depends on if you allow Jesus to work it out for you or not.

Even When You See My Mess

Even when you see my mess, Jesus sees my best. There is nothing like making a mistake for the whole world to see. Some of us, including myself need to be thankful that God has not allowed some of our most rancid mess to be a repulsive smell for our friends and family to experience.

Brother Thief Belief is on this cross for taking something that did not belong to him. Thank God for Jesus that will give him something that no man can take away and that is eternal life.

Understand that even though we have an invitation to become Christians from Jesus. Even though God sent us a savior it is still determined by Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Jesus saves! We have to believe in him. Never forget that you are the workmanship of God. Even in your mess you were still created by a magnificent God that can see his workmanship through the greatest mess.

Sometimes being surrounded by mess will cause you to be identified as such. Nonetheless you will look through trash if what you are looking for is important enough. Have you ever thrown something away that was important, and you were willing to dig through trash to salvage it?

Do you know that God decided to search for you despite all the trash that was in your life.

He did not care about the smell.

He did not care about getting his hands dirty.

He did not care about the spiritual vermin in your life.

God just knows that we do not belong there and he wants to save us.

All the mess that has caused the heaviest tears God says he has taken account of our wanderings, put our tears in his bottle!

Even when we have pain that we have brought on our ourselves and end up suffering on the crosses of life, Jesus still does not want to leave us in the mess!

My Suffering Ends When Belief Begins

Thief Belief had hope and recognized Jesus despite his suffering. His fellow brother in thievery had no intention in believing in Jesus.

“Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”

His question seems quite sarcastic! He calls on Jesus but does not really believe he can do it. What we must understand is conversion and belief is not an easy task. Conversion rarely takes place on a bed of roses!

With that said Brother Thief Belief states and we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.

He believes in the innocence of Christ, he believes in the power that Jesus has as it pertains in salvation.

Even though he is suffering, his suffering becomes a little more bearable knowing that Jesus confirms he will be with him in paradise.

When Jesus is on my side, my suffering does not seem so strong. My pain doesn’t seem so pressing, my heartache isn’t so hurtful, my depression doesn’t seem so defeating because Jesus is on my side!

My mess does not define me, even when I have been nailed to the cross of my consequences as long as Jesus is beside me I still have the chance that I am going to be alright. Sin might deter you but it should never defeat you.