The Summer is Ended - Part i

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Lost Opportunity

Lost Opportunity

“Seize each opportunity to do righteous deeds, because the pull of the times is downward towards moral debauchery.” In 1979, while in seminary in Texas, I was painting for some men who invested in older apartment buildings and renovated them. One of them commented that Texas Instruments was about to unveil a new personal computer, and that if I had any extra cash, I should invest—their stock was certain to go up. I didn’t have extra money, but watched the stock reports, and sure enough, within a year T.I. stock had climbed substantially. But I’d lost the opportunity!

John Underhill, Spokane, WA

Introduction:

The significance of opportunity cannot be overstated. When someone has an opportunity, this usually means that there is something available for them that was not previously available and will not always be available. For example, there may be a job opportunity, or an opportunity to make a purchase…etc

The significance of opportunity cannot be overstated. When someone has an opportunity, this usually means that there is something available for them that was not previously available and will not always be available. For example, there may be a job opportunity, or an opportunity to make a purchase…etc

There are also varying degrees of opportunities. These opportunities vary in importance. For example, maybe you have an opportunity to go on a missions trip or to go on a family vacation. These are good opportunities; but then you have life and death opportunities. For example, the doctor may tell you have if you want to live you need radiation and chemotherapy for cancer, before it’s too late. [Ill: Alex Trebeck recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer]

The Most Important Opportunity

The opportunity that Judah had in this passage is the most important opportunity that any people could have been given. uses the word “saved” to identify the kind of opportunity they had. This deliverance that Jeremiah is talking about is being delivered from the “anger” and “fury” of the LORD ().

Why is this the most important kind of opportunity? It is this because when we speak about the LORD, we are talking about someone who is worthy of sincere worship (). Worship carries with it the truth that He is worthy. Worship is the humble expression of man’s entire being. Man is believing and behaving like the LORD is worthy. Worship involves both the invisible part of man and the visible part of man.

Illustration: We purchased our first dog around 10 years ago or so. We did so for several reasons. We wanted the happiness of having a puppy. We wanted our children and home to enjoy him. We wanted someone or something to bring us joy/happiness by also paying attention to and playing with us. Over the years, we had many good moments with our dog. Soon though, he became apparently ill, seemed like he was losing his eyesight. As a result he began biting, became more territorial…etc The LORD had purchased a people out of Egypt. He did so by the blood of the Passover Lamb. This people were for God’s pleasure. They were for God’s glory. They would bring God pleasure as they would worship him alone.

If the LORD is the only One who is worthy of worship, this means that man’s greatest created purpose is

This is why the LORD had delivered his people from Egypt. (). After the deliverance from Egypt the LORD gave them commands (). In spite of this, the people had decided to put their trust in other gods, and this was evident in two really big ways (a) their worship was fake (), and (b) the way they treated one another was wrong ().

The LORD was now commanding them to turn back to him before it was too late. The difficulty with all of this was that they had an evil heart they continued to follow (), and even though the LORD sent them prophets over and over again, they rejected them ().

This then is the warning to us today. Turn to the LORD as the only truth God! Worship Him truly, before it is too late.

First, consider the reality of God. Creation confirms for us that He is eternally powerful. Our conscience affirms that he exists. Secondly, note that if God is real, then He rightly demands that mankind worship Him alone. Thirdly, our hearts are continually evil. Our hearts are so evil, that we can take something that is a spiritual activity, pretend like we are really worshipping God but be lying the whole time. Fourthly, face the reality that you are NOT sovereign over your own time of life. Fifthly, listen to God’s Prophet. Believe Him before it’s too late. This greater Prophet is named Jesus Christ.

illustration: Many years ago, an altercation took place between a man and a woman. The woman was somewhat defensive of her ethnicity at first; but as she began to speak to the man, her interest was peaked. As a matter of fact, this would have taken a lot since this woman had known many men. She’d been in five legal marriages, and she was currently on a 6th man. She said to the man that she thought he was a prophet, but as the conversation continued on, she realized that she was speaking to Jesus the Christ. Notice what Jesus said to her:

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Jesus Christ is how God has ultimately dealt with the evil heart of mankind.

First, Jesus Christ was sent by the Father as the Perfect Man. Jesus was really clear on worship. Consider the temptation in the wilderness.

Second, Jesus Christ, though he was innocent, suffered the wrath of God for sinful people.

Thirdly, Jesus Christ offers to make you a new creature. This means that right now you have this evil heart, but Jesus Christ can save you and actually make you WANT to worship the LORD alone.

Fourthly, Jesus Christ requires reception. He will not force himself into your life.

Fifthly, Jesus Christ’s offer is only for a limited time. Those who do not have Him suffer the wrath of God forever.

What is the LORD/Jeremiah saying?

is a lamentation of the people over missed opportunity. They now regret the fact that when they had the opportunity to be delivered from judgment, they did not take it.

Application:

(1) Worship God because of what He has given in Jesus Christ

Why is LORD/Jeremiah saying this?

(2) Unbeliever, if Jesus Christ is the only One who ever offered up worship to God that was perfect, and He suffered the wrath of God and arose victoriously, then you must have Him if you will avoid the wrath of God.

He wants those who are worshipping God to amend (make agreeable) their ways (7:1 - 5)

(3) Christian, if you have been saved to worship the LORD - is your worship sincere?

(a) Seniors, you are preparing for the end of your senior year; but have you prepared for eternity? Christian seniors, you have prepared for eternity, but is your heart primarily concerned with your worship of the LORD or with a job, a school....etc?

What is the principle?

(b) Juniors, if how you treat one another was the only test for whether you worship the LORD or not, would you pass? If not, what does that say about your relationship with the LORD?

Turn to the Lord, while there is still time!

(c) Sophomores, if God is the true God, is it possible that He’s responsible for putting you in this school? If the LORD did this, why did He do this? What opportunity is He giving you right now to worship Him?

(d) Freshman, you’re just completing your first year of high school. This means that academics and athletics tend to be more meaningful at this level. If Jesus died to make you a worshipper (identity) of Him, are you so free in Jesus that your academics and your athletics is part of that worship? You may be missing the opportunity to worship him in this way.

FCF?

What makes this difficult for mankind?

(1) Men know that the LORD should be worshipped ()

(2) Men easily trust in lies ()

(3) Men often don’t want to face the reality of the past ()

(4)

Where is Christ?

(e) 8th Grade, many of you have claimed that Jesus is your Lord (Thomas worshipped Him); but you are just not completing a year in which statistically most young men become addicted to pornography. This sin is the idolatry of pleasure. You have opportunity to turn to the Lord. Will you take it?

The remedy is “knowing the Lord”. One day, God would send the clearest expression of himself. God would send a better Jeremiah. This Man would make it possible for God to be known like never before. He would make this passible by suffering the wrath of God that man deserved.

(f) 7th Grade, you are really at an awkward age because you want to be somewhat independent to make your own decisions, but you are really dependent upon your parents still. Sometimes the idol of pride can enter in and make us to be worshippers of self. Do you know that if you are truly born again, a worshipper of Christ, then rather than worshipping yourself by rebelling against your parents decisions, you can worship Christ by repenting of that heart idolatry and obeying your parents in the Lord? Don’t miss the opportunity to turn to the Lord now.

(g) 6th Grade, by this point, you’re getting ready to enter a more awkward stage where the words and thoughts of other people matter so much. Jesus Christ died to save your soul. You can worship God by repenting of thoughts and words that you might say or receive about other people.

(h) Teachers/Administration - You are worshipping today. Who or what are you worshipping? If you are not careful, self-worship may cause you to lose your temper when a student is disrespectful. The worship of academics may cause you to lead a student to find his/her ultimate identity in academics. It is the worship of the Lord that will make you to be zealous about Him.

This means that you will have a burden to see students no longer enslaved to sin. This means that you will address discipline and not overlook it. This means that you will give report slips where necessary. It is not because you are mean but because you see that the student is worshipping something other than Christ, and this leads to his/her destruction. ()

You all have various opportunities right now to turn to the LORD and to allow your lives to worship the LORD. This exact opportunity will not be afforded you forever. If your are saved, then your desire is to worship the Lord. If you are not saved, then your desire can become to worship the Lord.

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Quotes

Don’t waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention. - F. B. Meyer

Tomorrow: If God is so loving, why would he do such bad things?