SF1m Humpty Dumpty Lives
SF 1
Title: Humpty Dumpty Lives
Text: Titus: 3: 3-7
Attention Step:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the King’s horses,
And all the King’s men,
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
ILL. HUMPTY DUMPTY FELL OFF THE WALL.
Humpty Dumpty really wanted to "stay on top of things", so to speak. He wanted to remain on top of the world and get the most out of life. Yet in spite of having the best seat in the house, he fell, and was broken into pieces.
We, like Humpty Dumpty, want to live lives that are happy, successful, and meaningful. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Yet in our efforts to he happy, successful, and live the good life, we find ourselves to be spending more time at the bottom of the wall, fragmented, frustrated, lonely, in our personal lives.
As I thought about these things I remembered a key passage in the bible. It is found in Titus 3:3-7 and I want you to hear it and understand it.
Titus 3:3-7 NASB “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. [4] But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, [5] He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, [6] whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
HUMPTY DUMPTY FELL OFF THE WALL, AND SO HAVE WE!
That’s what the Bible means when it says,
"…For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23
Because we have chosen to live our lives largely apart from any meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, Our lives move more toward emptiness, frustration, and fragmentation -- rather than toward wholeness and fulfillment. We are literally “off the wall”.
V. 3 describes a life that is “off the wall”
Titus 3:3 NASB “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
WITHOUT CHRIST OUR LIVES ARE EMPTY AND FRAGMENTED
This verse describes the characteristics our lives progressively take on without a personal relationship with the King. See if this sounds like you…
Trans: Life “off the wall” is…
1. “Foolish”
Without spiritual understanding. Without practical wisdom for living. We do not use our minds, our common sense. "foolish". The word can be translated “empty-headed”.
Therefore we tend to have difficulty making decisions in all areas of our lives. We find ourselves repeatedly making decisions that are detrimental to our live and the lives of others.
Trans: An “off the wall” life is foolish and…
2. “Disobedient”
This means our general direction in life as it relates to God is that we deliberately choose not to believe the truth about God.
We are obstinate, inpersuadable, we reject God and His will. We refuse to respond to God. "Disobedient"
Ill. We become like the man who refused to get medical attention for his terminal illness because he said, "The doctors can't do anything for me, I'll be okay on my own."
We decide to believe a lie - even when the truth is the best thing for us.
Trans: Life “off the wall is foolish, disobedient, and …
3. “Deceived”
This word means to be led away into erroneous living.
Wandering from the right path. We are deceived by the wrong value and thought system. We are "disobedient" because we have been "deceived" in this direction.
Ill. We become convinced that the wrong way to live is the right way to fulfillment, contentment, happiness, and success. We say that the wrong way is the right way, and that the right way is the wrong way.
The bible says, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."(Prov. 14:10)
“Many of us are climbing the ladder of success, but when we get to the top, we find it is leaning against the wrong wall."
Trans: Life “off the wall” is a life that is foolish, disobedient, deceived, and …
4. Enslaved to various lusts and pleasures
This does not mean that we enjoy the lusts and pleasures. It means that we become controlled by our own desires. We lose self-control. We find ourselves saying things like, “I just can’t help myself.”
This is the next step in the negative progression of characteristics that our lives produce apart from a relationship with Christ. The next step in “life off the wall”. We are slaves. We don't control our passions and desires; they control us. We think with our glands. The need to gratify our natural desires is prominent. Do whatever seems natural. Yet always coming up frustrated and empty.
“Slaves to various lusts and pleasures"
If there were ever a culture that was controlled by its own lusts and passions it is ours.
Trans: A life “off the wall” is foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved, and…
5. Spent in malice and envy
Have wrong attitudes toward other people.
We become anti-social, and at times vicious toward others who seem to have more of happiness, success, or material possessions than we do. We even wish to deprive others of what they have.
"spending our lives in malice and envy"
Transition: A “life off the wall” is a life that is foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to lusts and pleasures, full of malice and envy, and …
6. Hateful and hating one another
It is a life characterized by a dislike for ourselves and for other people. These are malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others, innocent or by mutual animosity. It is having an attitude of hate that works its way out into actions of hate toward others.
This is the final consequence when people in society do not live under the care and supervision of Jesus. It marks the last stage of ruin before a person loses all hope in living.
“hateful and hating one another"
THEN HERE IS THE PICTURE OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS CHOSEN TO LIVE A LIFE UNDER HIS OWN CONTROL RATHER THAN IN RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST. Just like Humpty Dumpty, he is broken and fragmented. Unable to "Get it all together!"
So…how are you doing with this self-evaluation?
If you are honest you may be saying to yourself, I am “off the wall”.
What do I do pastor?
Trans: Well, I have good news for you.
Satisfaction Step:
Sermon Idea: Your broken life can be put back together by the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.
He can put our fragmented lives back together.
The account of our friend Humpty Dumpty leaves us viewing a sad situation.
All the King's horses and all the kings’ men couldn't put Humpty together again. Much effort was expended to put Humpty Dumpty's life back in order and get him back up on the wall, but nothing succeeded.
If only they had called the King!
THE KING COULD PUT HUMPTY DUMPTY BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AND HE CAN PUT YOU BACK TOGETHER ALSO.
READ TITUS 3:4-7 [4] But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, [5] He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, [6] whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
God wants you to be on the wall, not “off the wall”.
Life “On-the-Wall”
Jesus himself said,
“I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." John 10:10
1. This means that He rescues us from spiritual darkness and forgives us of our sins.
"He saved us" v.5
The bible says that
“... Even when we were dead in our transgressions, He makes us alive together with Christ."(Eph.2:4).
2. This means that Jesus gives us brand new lives
“…by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
The bible says,
"If any man is in Christ he is a new creature, the old things passed away, behold new things have come." II Cor. 5:17
We can never be the people we want and need to be by ourselves. Yet everything we could never become, by his kindness, mercy, and grace, He makes us to be. Everything that we desperately need but can't produce in our lives, He brings into our lives. Not by anything which we can do but according to his grace and mercy.
Ill. He will:
· Make a foolish man to be wise.
· Make a disobedient man to be obedient to Him.
· Make a deceived man to live according to the truth.
· Make a man who is a slave to his own desires, live in self-control.
· Replace malice and envy with love and compassion.
IT IS AS IF LIFE WAS WORN OUT AND RUN DOWN, BUT NOW IT IS RENEWED. He offers a man here and now a life of a quality which he has never known before. When Christ enters into a man’s life, for the first time a man really begins to live!
3. This means that Jesus also declares us “not guilty” and “innocent of all charges” out there up there in his courtroom of justice.
“…being justified by His grace…”
4. This means that Jesus brings us into the Kingdom of Heaven now .
“…by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
We get to live life under the care and supervision of Jesus now and on into the afterlife.
Action Step:
YOU CAN RECEIVE A BRAND NEW LIFE: HERE'S HOW
A. Repent of your sins.
Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away… "
1. Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for your sins.
2. Repentance is turning away from your sin, and turning to God through Jesus.
ILL. MILITARY COMMAND - ABOUT FACE.
B. YOU MUST PLACE YOUR FAITH IN JESUS
1. Placing your faith in Jesus is more than just believing facts about Jesus.
2. It is placing your trust in Jesus for your salvation. It is taking action on the facts.
ILL. Airplane illustration
YOU MUST SURRENDER TO JESUS AS LORD OF YOUR LIFE
ROM. 10:9- " ... if you confess with your mouth Jesus as lord, you shall be saved."
1. Surrendering to Jesus as Lord is more than just saying that we give our lives to Jesus.
MATT. 7:21 - "NOT everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven."
2. Surrendering to Jesus as Lord means that we give Jesus control of our lives.
Ill. DRIVING THE CAR ILLUSTRATION
V. INVITIATION
Let's bow our heads for a time of prayer and commitment.
You may be one of those people who have fallen off the wall. Your life is shattered into pieces. You just can't seem to get it together and enjoy living. Life seems to get worse instead of meaningful. You need forgiveness and cleansing from your sin. You need the assurance that you will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus when you die.
2. Is there any reason that you would not be willing to receive God's gift of eternal life?
3. Are you willing to turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus right now? I want to give you the opportunity.
4. Will you pray this prayer of commitment to the Lord Jesus right now?
Remember, the Lord is more concerned with the attitude of your heart than with the words of your mouth. Repeat this commitment to the Lord after me. Just forget that I am here. You are communicating with Jesus Christ.
“Dear Lord, I believe you are the Son of God, and that you died on the cross and were raised from the dead. I know I have sinned and need forgiveness. I turn from my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for saving me."
5. If you made that personal commitment of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ just now, I want you to raise your head and look at me.
Welcome to God' family! You have just made the most important decision of your life. Now, as evidence of your personal commitment to Jesus, you will want to identify with Him. The Bible says that we are to confess Jesus publicly and to follow Him in baptism and church membership.
On the back of your registration card is a place for you to record any spiritual decision that you made today. If you committed your life to Jesus Christ, I would like for you’re to check the first box.
You may also want to be baptized and become a member of Dogwood Church. Please check the appropriate box.
We have friends here who are willing to pray with you and discuss with you any spiritual decision. As we begin to sing please step out and come tell me of your commitments, I will introduce you to one of these friends who will help you make this important step.
MUSIC
If you have made a personal commitment to the Lord Jesus this morning, and did not come forward to share it with a counselor, let me encourage you to drop your registration card, marked with your commitment into the offering plate in just a moment.