The Revolutionary Choice

We all have a revolutionary Choice to make when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It this modern world many people are looking for security, for safety. Just watching the news is enough to make you want to run and hide. It seems a new unheard of danger pops up at every turn.

April 15

It is a choice that many will tell you that you do not have to make but in fact if we are going to be part of moving The Resurrection Revolution forward we must make.

Yet many have rejected the one who can help them find freedom from their fears. They reject me as being “old-fashioned,” and look for other solutions.

Last week we pointed out that this Letter from John was written about 50 years from the resurrection of Jesus…It was being written because the teaching about Jesus was beginning to change.

Scripture

That choice is this…Will you allow Sin to rule in your life?

I’m here to tell you that nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is as constant as my love.

Most if not all of us would say absolutely not. Then we would go on to justify this by saying something like we don’t drink, smoke or chew or go with girls who do.

There is value in this...However it is also true that Sin does not have anything to do what that type of thinking…

Sin is a much deeper issue than what we see in the outward appearance

Sin has to do with what has your heart....some of the things that can have your heart can be bad things, however it is easy to point out negative behaviour as something not to be apart of.

(Bob Hardman) Illustration

However, sin can also be an unhealthy focus on things that truly are good, or things that really do not matter.

In essence Sin is really Idolatry…not man made images mind you…but today maybe man made virtues. Hunting, Sports, Spiritual Pride, Control, Even a Window seal....

Whether we want to believe it or not many have fallen into a trap of idolitry…whether it is

“The Only Way” to be part of the revolution is to intentionally love God and others by allowing God to free us from our Sin nature.

Sermon Title The Revolutionary Choice

Consistency breeds security. Employers like employees who arrive on time, every time. Students are rewarded for perfect attendance. Coaches are more likely to play their most consistent player. You shop for the most reliable car or laptop or watch. You like to know you can rely on someone or something to be the same day-in and day-out. In uncertain times this is even more important.

What if I told you that the best way to be part of the revolution or actually “The Only Way” to be part of the revolution is to intentionally love others by completely forgetting about your self.

This seems like an impossible task there are some that say that it is impossible…we are slaves to Sin…we Sin every day in every way…

Last week we pointed out that this Letter from John was written about 50 years from the resurrection of Jesus…It was being written because the teaching about Jesus was beginning to change.

What about me? Can you rely me? My Word says, “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” ( NLT) and “For I am the LORD, I do not change…” ( NKJV)

If we have no power over Sin then the Revolution of the Resurrection is worthless at best or not true at worst…

Docetism was beginning to challenge the actual physical presence of Jesus…that means there were only 50 years after Jesus resurrection people challenge the physical existence of Jesus…Last week John reminded us they he and many other witnessed a real Jesus with their own eyes…

My love NEVER changes. I love you. I loved you yesterday, I love you now, and I will love tomorrow. You didn’t earn my love and you can’t do anything to lose it.

If God cannot help us to choose not to allow sin control over our life then how can we believe in the Resurrection?

Sin was defeated and Death was arrested and being part of this revolution is not as hard as it seems…Living above Sin is not as difficult as it seems.

They watched him live, die, be raised form the dead and they watched Him ascend into heaven.

it just requires us to allow God to replace our selfishness, idols and Sin with Love for God and others above everything else.

The resurrection did happen and it is resulting in a revolution that we should all be a part of.

There is no way you can sin against God or others if you are focused on loving God and others.

That’s the center piece of the revolution that Jesus started....Love. John points out that if we are to take on Christ-likeness we must be willing to make conscious decisions to love as Jesus loved.

I believe that the only way for us to be a joyful part of this Revolution is to focus on who God is and why we should be so joyous....

I like you have some stressful moments. I like many of you can tend to allow those moments to make life more difficult than they need to be…So lately when I am in stressfull moments I have been taking a time out and saying the Lord’s prayer in my mind.

I am not saying that what happens for me should or will happen for you but by the time I am done focusing on the words of this prayer that Jesus himself taught us to pray I

with this Idea of being a child of God.

When My focus is on that it seem like a

I think we all have people in our lives that exude this type of thankfulness and excitement about the love of Jesus…Bill Wiesman….Joey Burns...Every time they speaks of the love of Jesus they cry…His love and his thankfulness compels them to do their part in building the kingdom in love.

That Inspires me.

The the center piece of the revolution that Jesus started is in fact Love. John points out that if we are to take on Christ-likeness we must be willing to make conscious decisions to love as Jesus loved.

this love of God and the the presence of the Holy Spirit is what gives us the ability to intentionally choosing not to sin with faced with obvious sin no sin choice.

The the center piece of the revolution that Jesus started is in fact Love. John points out that if we are to take on Christ-likeness we must be willing to make conscious decisions to love as Jesus loved.

(NLT)

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

It is so important to remember that people who do not recognize us as people of God are not anti God because we are doing the wrong thing…but they simply do no know God.

The love of God is not understood that is why people at times seem hostile to our faith in God…The same could be said for many well meaning Christians of today.

The answer for us is not to go on the attack…it is quite simply to keep ourselves pure just as Jesus kept himself pure. Not one time did Jesus ever go on the attack with his accusers.

He did not lash out He did not demand his rights…He loved them all the way to the cross…

This is what is often missed in modern day Christianity…My story last week about a guy who felt it was his duty to defend Jesus by pointing out and even attacking perceived enemies.

It was not worth damaging His image to attack anyone…It is also important to see that Jesus did not sin in the face of persecution…It was never about Jesus it was about Him forgiving the Sin of the world.

If this is true and we are called to be like Jesus then:

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

John stresses that there is a fundamental incompatibility with knowing God and living an ungodly life.

He is appealing for obedience, discipline, and consistency. We must walk in the light God gives us. If we claim to be His child, we must demonstrate Christlike character. Our belief and our behavior need to agree with each another

5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

However, the most important point to be made may be the victory of Christ over sin (v 5): Christ “appeared so that he might take away our sins.” The point is made even more strongly in v. 8: “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 

6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

One cannot be eager for the return of the Lord and at the same time be in rebellion against him

New Living Translation Chapter 1

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him

If the world did not recognize God in Jesus (see ), then God’s children should not be surprised that the world does not recognize God in us. In fact, we ought to be surprised – and discomforted – if the world sees and knows us as some of their own!

If we take on the same selfishness and take by force mentality of the world how are we any different…this is why I find it so hard to swallow POP Christianity…so many faith leaders telling you what you deserve as a Christian and so few telling us to give up what we deserve to lead the desperate to Jesus

7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous

John is reminding us that the best way to overcome the doubts of anyone is for His people to focus on living a gently loving and selfless life. When we do this that is what draws people to faith.

You can know the Bible inside and out…you can be sanctified and holy but the real test of Holiness is about being consistent and loving EVERYONE just like Jesus did.

Victory in Jesus is found not in what we know or even how we act…it is found in how we love.

This is not do-it-yourself Christianity which makes it more about our efforts to live like Christ than about the victory of Christ over sin.

Victory in Jesus is found not in what we know or even how we act…it is found in how we love.

For it is by imitating the Love that Jesus models that leads us to not sin.

There is no way you can sin against God or others if you are focused on loving God and others.

This leads us back to our revolutionary choice to Stop giving in to the Sin of Selfishness or Idolatry.

So this truth leads us back to the Revolutionary Choice which I …If the Love of God is in us then it is possible to Choose not to allow Intentional Sin to reign in our lives.

This is not simply about making the right choices all the time…It is not even developing an Iron will...An exhortation to “just stop sinning” is hardly a word of encouragement for those who feel powerless and defeated by sin.

The reality proclaimed by this passage is that we are children of God...and Jesus’ victory over sin ensures our victory over sin as we live in Christ!

To live as Christ is to make the revolutionary Choice to Consistently show Love instead of Constantly demanding our way.

Simon Sinek Youtube Why did she fall in love with you

There is no more effective way to lead people that do not know Jesus to Jesus than by you and I Loving everyone we come into contact this way…look for ways to focus on them and our issues will eventually become less controlling in our lives…stay focused on self and settle in for a long lonely angry life.

There is no better way to have a satisfying connection to the family of God than focusing on loving God and His people rather than looking for a place where all or your needs are met.

with in a consistent and positive way.

I have news for you today…if you are looking for a church where all your needs are met and you are completely comfortable all the time that is an idol…instead of looking for a church that “fits” you what if you became part of a Church that Loves God and others more than self????

As we prepare to Come to the Table maybe there are a few people who need to accept Jesus love for you…

Maybe you have accepted Jesus love but you need the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit to help you focus on simply Loving everyone.

Or maybe you are doing great with this…

Whatever your stage of faith allow God to make himself real to you this morning as we come to the Table of the Lord.

Let the Spirit of God Witness to your spirit as we celebrated this Holy Moment together.