February 21st, 2020 Worship
4 minutes we'll get to our scripture reading that I have just a couple thoughts before we get there.
Here we are at the end of February and we spent the first 7 weeks talking about growing in Christ and how important it is and how next January for Sunday and next January. I'm going to ask you the famous question. I've asked everybody so often is how did you do this year. Did you grow in Christ? Are you still where you were last year and the year before and the year before that? We've looked at the the purposes in our life to help us understand how we can grow in Christ. We talked about being disciples and being in discipleship and we talked about worship and we talked about having Fellowship loving God's family and we talked about being a Ministry and I want to tell you I want to share something with you that I think is very important for us to understand today. If we don't have those four in place will never make it to the fifth one. Do you understand what I mean? We have to be growing in these four places for us to have any impact any impact at all on this 5th one. Let me tell you what I'm talking about. Mary Ann was a great as a great lady. She still alive. She's a great friend of mine. She's a dear friend of mine, but dumb. She and I butted heads every once in awhile and a Marianne was one of those people that the doll she wanted to tell you. She wanted to tell you that God was coming back soon, and you're not ready. but she was Okay, and she want to make sure that you knew she was ready, but you're not ready. And she told everybody that little everybody in the community numerian, they loved her cared for but they didn't want to talk to her. You know, I mean, I just I was nobody you walked up to her and say hey, how are you doing? What's going on in your life? Because you didn't get an answer you got to do, you know God's coming back and he's going to take us to all home. Are you sure you're not ready? You better get ready and when they had looked at Mary Ann and she was giving me this feel again and tell me all about what God saying and when he's coming back and she knows and and I looked at her and I said Mary Ann. Can I tell you something really very honestly and she said sure what is it? I said No One Believes you the Gods coming back?
And she looked at me like what do you mean? I've been telling everybody that God is coming back and we better be ready and I said there's the problem God is coming back then marry, and you're not ready. And she looked at me and got a little bit ticked off. You got mad. And she said what do you mean I said you don't live what you're talkin. You don't live like today God is coming back. And that's all she proclaimed. I said you're not living that and she said sure I am I said, no you're not I said if you know the guts coming back today, what are you doing about it? Why aren't you out telling people that don't like you about? I'm sorry, and I love you. Let's get right together. Why aren't you telling your family about Jesus Christ? Why aren't you telling total strangers about Jesus Christ? You tell us instead of telling them the Gods coming back and you're not ready. And I said to her being a witness of Christ as much more than walking around yelling at people.
And she didn't quite grab ahold of that. She still does it 15 years later.
But I want to tell you today is we some diss up in this discipleship this worship and fellowship and Ministry that there's one more than we need to do. And I think God wants us to do this, but we have to be ready to do it and prepared to do it. We have to we have to be in that discipleship learning being his servant all the time seeking to grow in our worship. Speaking to love each other in this community better than we do always wanting to do that Ministry. I'm knowing when it is and when God wants me to do it some it's a difficult thing, but I want to tell you this. God did not put us on this Earth just to do nothing.
He has a purpose for so that is Rick Warren his whole Ministry is wrought revolved around God has a purpose for she know he has a purpose for every Avenue and he has book after book on it. I think the main purpose the God wants us to do is exactly what Mary and did but in a different way he wants us to tell other people about Jesus Christ. the goal is
the ones we know who Christ is in our lives that we should do everything we can to tell other people about it and we're going to talk about that this morning. I remember being on the bus with a bunch of kids one time and it was shortly after I started doing the ministry and I was on this bus with him and all these kids are stunning but selling behind me and they're talking about this woman who's dying. So I'm at that time. My heart was any time somebody was dying. I thought we should go pray for him. I said we were talking about the soft soap opera. I thought the soap opera. Oh and I was that woman that died like three or four times and she always came back normal to buy.
I want to share with your sisters. There's literally only two things in heaven, we won't be able to do that. We get the chance to do here. Okay, and having you know, we'll get to pray often and always as you read Revelation, you'll get to hear that we get this thing we get to have that Fellowship, you know, and in heaven that we always have wanted we will definitely keep growing in our relationship and Heaven Will Worship in heaven will serve God in heaven with sleeping heaven will eat and have a nice think it will be good food. So that takes care of my lightness.
Will relax I think have a lot of fun and have them but there's two things. We we won't have in heaven and one of them is we won't be able to share Jesus Christ in heaven. Cuz everybody there were already know it may man and the other thing we can't do is send send will not be there soon will be gone and two things we can't do is send and talk to somebody about Jesus. So, you know, you need to accept him and have him cuz they've already accepted them or they wouldn't be there. I just love it. Now. What do you think? God has put you on Earth for?
Only two things just stand there were witness, right? Which one are you voting for? Look at the loaded question. Maybe I shouldn't ask that question.
Kind of obvious, isn't it? We don't want to send but we do. But we do want to tell everybody about Jesus Christ and we don't so it's really strange. Is that whole Romans chapter 7 issue the Paul deals with kind of obvious what God wants us to do and it comes to us in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 if you want to turn your Bibles there and keep it keep your Bible there cuz we're going to go to another scripture later, but I just want to share the scripture with you this morning and let's see what God says to us as we digest a little bit the first scripture I ever memorized was 1st Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17 if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come and then I'm verse 18 it says and all these things are all this is a gift from God who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. My goodness for God was in Christ reconciling the world to install no longer counting people's sins against them and they gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are look at it Christ. Ambassadors. God is making his appeal through us and we speak for Christ. When we plead when we played come back to God to people around us. This is the word of God for all of his people. Thanks be to God. If you didn't we are given the ministry of reconciliation. We are entrusted to talk to people about their eternal life. We are nothing more than ambassadors for God and for the kingdom this if you want to put it down this fifth step that we need to do to grow I think is to grab ahold of this purpose in our life, and it's called witnessing. That's what this one is all about. It was it is witnessing and I want to reinforce that if we don't build are working our lives and growing our lives in the first 4, we won't make it to the 5th will always be short. Not being judgmental or anything, but that's what I'm saying about my friend Marianne. She was short of sharing the grace of God.
It's something that has to be done. It's it's I think for some people they see it as a job. Okay, when Whitney isn't a job it's simply simply testifying in a Bingham, you know, when the court will not the judge will not the prosecutor. We're not the what's the other guy defendant? We are the witness and we go up and give a witness of what happened and they will look at us and say what did you say and that will tell him what they saw and that's all I wanted to do is be a witness of how God touched Our Lives. It's
Doing nothing, but sharing your personal experience in life. You don't have to have a degree. You don't have to know all the right Bible verses as a matter of fact, most people who give you all the Bible verses are not witnessing. They're telling you how intelligent they know about God's words, but they're not telling you about how to turn your life over.
I mean, it's good to know the scriptures, but they use them as a weapon is not.
I think in my life. I think about that. Those ain't had to grow me through all this stuff, you know is as being that helped her she was at that Spirit Rock that I had in my life.
I think it changed maybe 25-30 years ago. I quit telling people about my story. You understand what I mean. I mean, I have a great story. You know, I'm saying it's a tremendous store. But it's all about God's grace. So I quit talking about my story cuz my story doesn't mean anything but God story on the other hand has an awful lot to say to everybody and everyone of us. I'm going to say this to you if you know Christ as your lord and savior in Christ. You have a god story to tell somebody. And literally you're the only one that can tell that story to him. Oh my did you hear that? You will touch people I will never touch Paul will touch people will never touch Donna will you know, I'm not coming to your office. I'm so hard. You'll have to do that. You there?
God wants us to tell our God story to people. especially our family
especially I think the people we work with the people. We live around our neighborhood in this community. I think God wants us to tell us his story to the whole world.
Donald thought the greatest responsibility or are you ready for this the greatest responsibility?
And the highest privilege that you and I ever have is to talk to someone about their relationship with Christ to share the good news with him. You know, it's kind of strange if I had the cure for for cancer and didn't share it with anybody didn't give it to anybody that be criminal winner. If I had the cure for AIDS and didn't give it to anybody didn't share with anybody because I didn't want to let you know offend anybody if I if I had the cure for covid-19 be waived this pandemic tomorrow and didn't do that Criminal. It's the same way with us the same way with Austin and I are sharing and and not telling people about the good news of Christ in our lives. If we don't share that someone is going to pay the penalty. I mean we might be the only Bible, you know that saying we might be the only Bible they will ever see.
Makua problem of it is we make it so difficult. Witnessing, you know, I went to I went to 15 week classes on witnessing. You got to do this and you got to do that and you got to see this you got to dress right? And You can't take keys and you can't do this. You can't you know what I mean? And and then the only ones I really can do it at the ones that have missiles after their names like in PhD should know.
No. I'm sorry. According to Matthew 28 18 through 20. We are all called to go and be my Witnesses. Be my witness and tell them everything that I have done for you. the Great Commission
problem is we don't know how to do it. So I'm going to show you how simple it is this morning if you want to be a witness. We have to live the right word white right way right way and we have to have the right to words. Don't grab ahold of that. If we want to do it, sometimes you know what I did forget who said I think was Francis of Assisi. We should all be a witness of God's love in our lives and if we have to then speak. Hey, man. People are watching how you live. People are watching how you live because you walk in and say whether you say it out in the open or not, but you don't laugh at their jokes. You don't do this. You don't do that. They know that you're different. So they're looking at you just make sure that you don't make a mistake and then they'll say all is one of those Christians. Hey, man. They're watching you closely. Let me tell you they want to see folding us so that they can say all I don't want to have any of that.
So we have to watch how we love. We have to watch how we talk.
I love my brother dearly but he has them off comments. Thanks, and then he'll look at me and you said that you think that's funny.
Knew it wasn't funny. So he doesn't do it as often as they used to but but they stuff, you know that the other people even the offense and our words have power and that's what I was saying trying to say to Mary Ann or words have power power and it's what what is behind those words that gives it the power if it's us it's an ugly power if it's in spirit infested words. The gracious power isn't those words have power beyond our imagination. I think what we need to ponder today is the to think about it this way. There are people that you and I know there were intimate with that. We see all the time that are going to spend one of the fraternity in one of two ways Antichrist present or away from his present and you and I I think you and I are responsible. I'm sorry, if we could Proclaim that we are in Christ and we are seeking to grow and one of the places we need to grow is to be able to tell somebody in our actions or in our words that God is Grace God is where we get our peace God is where we find our love is where you feel that hole that is in your heart that you're trying to feel with a red truck. Hey, man. You know or the best-kept house in the neighborhood where the best grass or whatever it is that you want to fill your heart with.
I'm telling you.
How do we do that? How do we live our lives and how do we learn how to say the right thing? Well, you can take all the classes you want. but as you know
I don't think we need to have another meeting. Because I don't think this is nuclear science. They were talking about I don't think that God wants us to make sure that before we go and say something to anybody. We have everything in place. I think the best way best way to fulfill this purpose is to do something highly strange. And that's the person that you're thinking about even now as we've been talking about this in your head you're saying. Oh, I know somebody like that at least I hope you are in your heart. I hope you're saying
But they won't listen to me and you know, you're right they want. But here's what we can do. We can change that whole situation. We can change that situation by doing something highly unique. For every person that you've been thinking about what you need to do is start praying for him. That's all you need to do. You don't need to go get a degree. Do you need to go get a certificate? You don't need to go to this class in that class. If you really want to be a witness in person for Jesus Christ start praying. Start praying for the people that are pushing you the wrong way start praying for the people that you love dearly and they love you start praying for your co-workers start praying for everybody that God puts on your heart. And guess what happens I'm going to if you don't know what happens. I'm going to tell you doors are open. Doors are opened lives are brought to your heart.
It was really strange that he was he was he was ministering to this friend of his and he said to me he said that you need to call him and talk with him. And his wife is listening in on the phone call. We have FaceTiming it on and he said it's on my forehead. Go ahead and tell me your troubles. But he said they never look at the fine print the people he works with you. No, tell him all day buddy their troubles, but he says I got fine friend up there that they don't read then I said he said I don't really care about your problems and tell me.
Another Lana statement to make and Harry has bring his ministering to this lady his friend and his wife's friend and our friend and I'm thinking oh my goodness Sean you might have that if I bring up there, but God has something else.
He will open doors for us that we won't believe can be open.
We're still scared of. you know, we're still scared to do it if I pray for them and that crazy guy up there said that God will open doors and then I'll have to say something, you know, or I have to start changing my life around whatever maybe
the trouble over this is you and I think we're in this by ourselves. And I want you to know we're not. We're not did you all hear that we here in this church. I hope will one day even teach more but I hope right now don't you do what your mission statement is in this church. The mission statement is really simple to grow in Christ. My goodness and I want to tell you something. We don't do any of these five things by herself. We have to do it together we have to do it together. So we're going to love your family. We're going to love your co-workers. We're going to love all the people that you're having struggles with we're going to love all the people that you love dearly and want them to come come to Christ that we're going to do everything we can to help you. That's what we should do as a body of Believers that are in Christ. Amen. We should help each other along this journey so that we grow in Christ and are able to mature mature in our worship of him. But you're in our fellowship bible ship noise stjes teach me some more teach me some more about how I can worship you and love your your family even more and then seek to find what that Ministry is in and make sure that we do it when God wants us to and then I think we'll be able to start witnessing a different way than we do now.
Morning has a terrible survey that he put out and it was just out for the United Methodist Church.
I need ask the statement was when was the last time you ask someone to come to church?
once in every 32 years
The 11 million people in the United Methodist Church back, then it's not down to about $9 now the 11 million people back then after the survey was over came out and once every 32 years someone a method of United Methodist invited someone to come to church.
You know what? That means nobody invited anybody to come to church. Go to a Baptist Church. That's that's in question to be a whole lot different go to a Presbyterian Church. I think it would be different.
And I think back in the day it was different for us. I remember our neighbor hounded us to come hounded us. We finally relented only because we wanted to shut up. Come to the Presbyterian church, and we ended up there for years.
growing in Christ like crazy you have your Bibles with you turn to chapter 6 of 2nd Corinthians. I want to share just one verse with you the first verse.
When I say this to you, I think. All of us as Christians, it doesn't matter what's on the front door out there all of us as Christians do some terrible things with the gifts. God has given us listen to Paul as he talks to us in chapter 6 verse 1 in our work together now understand what he's saying. They're in our work together. This is work. My friends were talking about this is not not a piece of cake it is it is work you're going to you're going to be upset. You're going to get beat up. You're going to get spit on your going to be ostracized. You're going to be thrown out of the community or family is going to disown you if everything doesn't work involved. In our work together with God Paul says we beg those of you who have some receive God's grace. Those of you have said that I believe in the cross of Calvary. I'm in Christ those that have that Grace. Listen to us last statement if you have your Bibles open underlined us.
Those are never received God's grace not to let it be wasted.
You might have another word there. But I like that version of it. Greek word But not be wasted. I want to share with you. I think we waste God's gifts in our lives because we don't grow and that's your pastor. And as your friend, I want you to know the next 10 months of I'm praying that you grow. But you grow and Christ that dumb you give God a reason give God a reason like he did Hezekiah and say, okay. I'll give you 15 more years because you got 15 more years of stuff to do. I know it.
No one has been looking at so I'm only looking at 5. So it at 75 I'll pray. Okay. Give me 5 more years. I don't want 15. You know, it's too far out.
But I'll take five that's what they said to me when they told me that my liver was done. They said what we're going to try to do is give you five more years that was four years ago. So, I mean I'm getting a little antsy.
now
I think God wants us. To grow in him so that we can live out the purpose that he has for us and if we don't seek to do that, we don't take to do that. We have wasted what God has given us on the cross of Calvary Ramon. Let's pray to God.
I want What changes prayer this morning in my heart and and prayed personally for Floyd? But also you prayed for you at home. Put your name down put your eye there. Right here on the parking lot wherever you're at.
My talk was like this father.
I have to admit that all these years that I known you. I haven't always use my life. the way you intended
and this morning is I humbly come before you I I figure forgiveness. I'm sorry Lord.
No because of these times that you talk to me in these seven Sundays. I think I'm more impressed with what you want me to do.
So continue to change me in my life.
Because I'd love to do nothing more than what your purpose is for me. So starting now help me to even more Center my life around you.
I would pray that you would help me to learn to love.
Your family is more important. I guess I would like to learn to let you love me.
Help me grow with your family right here. Are there in here enough? I'll see you at home. And the car's helped me to grow closer to them Lord.
How many build that relationship? Phyllis Ann and my kids and my fist family here.
And I pray that I would mature something someway, especially this year 2021. afraid that I wouldn't grow and become more christ-like and
But without my even knowing and understanding of my life would become more of a contribution to others.
My desire, I guess more than anything is.
To give back to you all that I can unselfishly. Want me to set myself a sign?
How many set myself aside so much that when people come and talk with me or people I know and people I don't know. Help them to not see me, but see you Lord. God see you in the midst of everything is going on.
I just want to thank you for giving me this wife. And I don't want to waste it. I want to learn more and more your purpose of my life.
my friends where you're here at the flcu in the parking lot or home If you've never opened your heart and your life to Jesus Christ today might be the day to do that. It's a simple thing. All you need to do is and I'm saying it for myself again to Jesus. I I need to trust you. I need to believe in your great gift. So this day I invite you into my life. This day I put my trust in you and I accept your great gift on the cross of calvary.
And if I do that Lord God help me help me in my time. grow to grow in every aspect of your purpose for me grown my maturity of worshiping you and
being in fellowship and being a disciple of wanting to learn more and more. To serve you however I can into to pray and be that witness. So you want me to be for all the people you send my way?
Don't let me waste it Lord is my prayer today.
All For Your Glory do I pray this? Hope your glory Lord God. Do we pray this today? And all of God's children said? amen, amen
Bosch
