Closetchristians

Closet Christians

Intro

Tolerance…  Americans pride themselves on their tolerance towards all cultures, religions, and practices.  We have shows on TV that have openly gay characters, and they are really funny and we laugh and give them awards.  There is a new MTV show Coming Out… that gives kids a chance to stand up and say I’m gay with the whole world watching and we wouldn’t dare say anything bad…it’s on MTV!  The channel that determines what is cool and what is not.  We say good for you, be proud of who you are.  Matthew Shepherd (gay guy killed a few years back, tied to a post and beaten) has been turned into a martyr.  I think what happened was despicable, and the guys who did it should have the same thing done to them.  But at the same time it becomes a rallying point for homosexuals, a battle cry and reason to “come out.”  So here we have people who are living in sin, getting courage to stand up and go public, while we have Christians who continue to “stay in the closet”  What will it take?  Someone getting beaten and killed?  MTV to say that it is ok?  Don’t sit and think that you are going to make any kind of difference for Christ unless you are willing to go against the current, to stand out from the crowd and be different because of Christ in you.  It is time to kick it up a notch and come out of the closet! 

This message tonight is strictly for Committed Christians. If your life is out of control with big roller coaster climbs and dips…please do not advertise that you are a Christian and be reaching out to others.  You will only damage the cause of Christ.  How can you invite others to follow Him when you yourself cannot?

Surrender

You will face what has always been.

Unless you have already totally and completely lost your life in Him, you will sacrifice what’s left out of fear. 

Unless you have come to the ultimate point of surrender in Him, you will be confused and think that the things of this world are your life. 

The true path of surrender is not giving your life and identity away only, but being willing to receive your new identity and live according to it.  There are plenty of Closet Christians in school.  They love the Lord, they are going to Heaven, but they are of absolutely no use to the Kingdom of Heaven and are no threat at all to the Kingdom of Hell. 

Outreach

Following Jesus is not an escape from the world and the things of the world, it is an empowering change that enables you to make a difference around you.

They will walk around frowning at all the sinners saying things like “that’s so stupid, why don’t they get saved?”  I believe the whole time the heart of God is crying out “because my children see, but do nothing!”

Stay in the (prayer) closet

The only closet you should be staying in is your prayer closet

“God does nothing except in response to prayer.”  If you are not a praying Christian then you are a dead Christian.  I want to remind you that we have warfare prayer every Tues at 7pm.  Are you serious about reaching your campus for Christ this year?  Don’t listen to the lies of the enemy “you don’t have to go to warfare prayer to pray…stay here.”  -discipline, commitment.

-Prayer stations at school this year with Allies.  Kristan-details.