Can You Handle the Truth?
THE RED LETTERS • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsThe truth of who Jesus is and what He did for you is worth far more than the most valuable treasure you have
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Introduction
Powerhouse Players did a great job bringing the message of resurrection to us — “Son Rise”. The story they told is the best story ever told. A story of ultimate sacrifice, ultimate victory, and a story of love beyond our ability to understand. It is the story of Christ our victorious King — the only one that could…and did…defeat death, hell, and the grave when he arose on that 3rd day.
I heard Francis Chan ask the question, “Can you handle the Truth?” He was talking about how Jesus often taught in parables. Contrary to what you might think, parables were not simple stories that were easy to understand. For example:
In one parable Jesus told of a person that sowed seed that landed in different types of ground. Some seed ends up on the road — Some was sown on rocky ground — some was sown among thorns — some was sown on good soil (yielding 30, 60, or 100 fold).
Mark
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
He then explained the parable to His disciples. Jesus used parables, knowing people might have a hard time understanding them…but the ones that truly wanted to know would keep seeking until they understood.
“Do you really want to know the truth?”
The truth of who Jesus is and what He did for you is worth far more than the most valuable treasure in your life
What does God think of Himself?
What does God think of Himself?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
He must think a lot of Himself
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
That is quite a claim
He is greater than your most valued treasures
What is the real treasure of your life?
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:25-27
Can you imagine hearing Jesus preach that message
We see here exactly what God think of Himself — in comparison to our desire to know and follow Jesus, our love for father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters should look like hate”
He thinks He is so great that when we look at Him we are blown away…and we either run the other way or drop everything to follow Him
He thinks He is so great that when we look at Him we are blown away…and we either run the other way or drop everything to follow Him
Can you handle the truth?
Transitional: The Bible is full truth and that truth shows what God thinks of Himself…and rightfully so. The question is...
What do You Think of God?
What do You Think of God?
God is overwhelming
“Seriously, I can be forgiven by you?”
“I can be loved by you?”
“Hold on! I can actually talk to you and be close to you?”
God is so great that, when we take one look at who He is and what Jesus did for us…we are like, “No way!”
“Anything, anything…I will give up anything and everything. I don’t care what it is! Family, friends…my very life. I don’t care, I just want you”
Jesus died for you!
He paid for all my crimes and yours…and He challenges us to follow Him
“I am overwhelmed God — You would put your Holy Spirit in me…little me?
“I can be loved by you?”
“Hold on! I can actually talk to you and be close to you?”
God is so great that, when we take one look at who He is and what Jesus did for us…we are like, “No way!”
“Anything, anything…I will give up anything and everything. I don’t care what it is! Family, friends…my very life. I don’t care, I just want you”
“I am just a speck in the universe that you created and you would send your Son to pay for my crimes by dying on the Cross? No way!”
“Where do I sign up!”
Compared to Him…no other treasure comes close
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“ I’ve gotta have that field. Nothing else matters…I will do what ever it takes.”
“I must have a relationship with Jesus. He is far above and beyond anything else I consider important or valuable in my life. I give it all up”
The Kingdom of Heaven is like:
“You can have it all…my family, my job, my money, my reputation…my very life! None of those come close to the treasure I find in knowing you!”
The Kingdom of Heaven is for those that are so obsessed with the Living Savior that they say:
“You can have it all…my family, my job, my money, my reputation…my very life! None of those come close to the treasure I find in knowing you!”
It doesn’t make sense to only allow a little bit of God in your life --- “It might be good for my kids to come to church once in a while…it’s build character. Maybe I can shuffle my life around a little bit in order to make some room for God here and there”
When you look at the words of Jesus, If that’s
If that’s what you are trying to do — just fit Jesus in somewhere, it doesn’t work that way
Jesus is saying, “You want to just fit me in on the same level (or even less) as all of your other relationships? The same level as your mom, dad, wife, kids.”
If we believe the Bible, we cannot apologize for Jesus’ words — “If you don’t hate…, you have no place with me.”
You cannot compare your relationship with God to any other relationships. Our love for all of the people in our lives, even though it is deep love, looks like hate compare to our love for God.
Challenge
God doesn’t beg anyone to follow Him — He sees Himself as so great that we should be running after Him with desperate passion.
“Jesus…please, please let me have you! I’ve got to have this treasure that is found in you. Nothing else matters.”
God’s love is so far beyond the love we have for family — so far that He gave His Son to die on the Cross, to take our place and our punishment so that we can be reconciled to God
God is saying, “You want me? Come after me! You want the truth? Come after me!”
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Here’s the truth
Jesus says, “I am only giving you this free gift…me…if you are willing to give up everything else for it --- because I am that valuable.”
“I am only giving you this free gift…me…if you are willing to give up everything else for it --- because I am that valuable.”
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On the first day of the church, Peter was preaching to a large crowd — and when they heard the powerful message of Jesus…their hearts were cut to the quick because they were among the people that killed Jesus. “What can we do? We must have Jesus! Where do we sign up?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repent: Make a complete turn around — and follow Jesus
Confess
Baptize: “To immerse”
No sprinkling of Jesus will get you to where your heart longs to be
Totally immersion in Jesus
“I was dead in my sins and now I have been washed clean — I am a brand new person”
Many of those early Christians were marked…targeted because of Jesus…many died…but they wouldn’t turn back. They would follow Him no matter what the cost.
Today I challenge you to immerse yourself in Jesus — totally
Do you want Jesus so bad, that even the most important relationships in your life do not compare?
God is a treasure…that is so great — we say “Lord whatever it takes, I will follow you!”
The truth of who Jesus is and what He did for you is worth far more than the most valuable treasure in your life