01-09-2022 - Sermon - Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known

OPENING

We are continuing this morning with a sermon series titled, “Fitting the Pieces Together.” Last week we talked about how we are all Living Stones. Going back to part of our Scripture text from last week, 1 Peter 2:5 tells us that:

1 Peter 2:5 NKJV

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We also talked about how God is bringing us all together at Farm Hill Church, with our different talents, abilities, and gifts, and is fitting us together like Living Stones to build a church, a body of believers, to advance the Kingdom of God.

This week, and over the next couple weeks, I want to focus on what are going to serve as our mission and vision statements for 2022. A mission statement defines who we are and what we do. Vision statements defines what we want to accomplish through our mission. In other words, what are the results we want to see happen. Today, we are going to focus on our mission statement. I believe that this statement summarizes who we are and what our focus is going to be in 2022 and beyond, if the Lord tarries. Our mission statement is the title of our message this morning and it is this, “Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known.”

It’s really all about Jesus. It is about us growing in Christ as individuals as well as a body of Christ. And it is about sharing the good news of the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we can reach. This is going to be our focus for 2022. “Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known.”

MESSAGE

Knowing Jesus

As we begin 2022, I believe the Holy Spirit has impressed on my heart to share with Farm Hill Church that we need to focus more on Knowing Jesus. You see, it is one thing to know about Jesus. It is quite another thing to Know Jesus. Let me give you an example of what I mean.

Back when I was a teenager, I loved to play basketball. I had the opportunity to play at Ernest Ward High School for a few years. I wasn’t that good. But I loved to play. And when I was growing up and playing, it was during the peak of Michael Jordan’s career. Everybody wanted to be “like Mike.” I even had a poster of him on my bedroom wall with his tongue sticking out about to dunk on somebody. I loved to watch Michael Jordan play. And I know a lot about Michael Jordan. I can tell you that he won a national championship as a Tar Heel at the University of North Carolina. I can tell you he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984 as the 3rd overall pick in the draft. I can tell you that he won a total of 6 NBA championships. I can tell you that he won those 6 championships as two separate three-peats. I can tell you he retired after the first three-peat and tried to play professional baseball. I can tell you that baseball didn’t work out for M.J. and he went back to the NBA where he won 3 more titles. I can tell you he averaged over 30 points per game over his entire career. I could go on and on because I know a lot about Michael Jordan. But that’s where it ends. I know a lot about Michael Jordan, but I don’t really know Michael Jordan. Because Michael Jordan doesn’t know me.

The same thing is true with a lot of people and their relationship with Jesus. They know a lot about Jesus. They can quote His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. They can recount the miracles He performed. They can tell you that He died on the Cross and was resurrected from the dead. They know a lot about Jesus, but they don’t know truly know Jesus because they don’t have a close, personal relationship with Him. Most importantly, Jesus doesn’t know them in the sense that they are not truly one of His disciples. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23,

Matthew 7:22–23 NKJV

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

So it is possible to know a lot about Jesus and think you are one of His disciples, but not truly know Him. So what does it mean to truly Know Jesus? How do we come to know Him and to know Him better? Well, we covered this Scripture a few weeks back in Bible Study, but we are going to cover it here again this morning. So turn with me to Philippians Chapter 3 and let’s look at what Paul writes about Knowing Jesus.

Philippians 3:7–11 NKJV

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul said he was willing to give up everything in his life that was once so important to him just for the privilege of Knowing Jesus. In fact, he says that he considers all his accomplishments, his Jewish heritage, his knowledge, his time as a Pharisee, everything, as rubbish (the King James Version says “as dung”) compared to Knowing Jesus.

Paul says that he wants to Know Him, by knowing the power of His resurrection. How many here today know that there is power in His resurrection? The Bible says that Jesus was raised for our justification. In other words, Christ won the victory over sin at the Cross, but the resurrection sealed the deal! The resurrection was the proof that Jesus was the Messiah, the God-man, that came to take away the sins of the world! Paul says, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.”

But then Paul says, “and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Let me ask you today, do you know that Jesus? Do you truly know the Jesus that suffered and died for your sins on the Cross of Calvary? Do you truly know the Jesus who gave everything for you? I’m not asking you if you know about Jesus. I’m asking you today do you truly know Him? Most importantly, does He know you? Have you taken your sins to Calvary? Are you so in love with Jesus that you would be willing to “fellowship in His sufferings?” Can you say that you truly consider everything else in this world as rubbish compared to the privilege of Knowing Jesus?

In order to truly know Jesus, you have to spend time with Him. You have to be in close relationship to Him. People know when you’ve spent time with Jesus and when you haven’t. They know when it’s real and when its fake. Your closeness to Jesus, or lack thereof, will be known by the way you live your life. It will be known by your fruit. Take Peter and John for example. The Bible says that after they prayed for the lame man at the gate called Beautiful to be healed and were questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducees, that these religious leaders couldn’t help but notice there was something different about these two men. Look at what they said about Peter and John in Acts 4:13.

Acts 4:13 NKJV

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

They realized that they had been with Jesus. There was something about the way they spoke with boldness and confidence that let others know that they had been with Jesus. They had listened to His teachings. They had become like their Rabbi, their Teacher, in many ways.

Back in biblical times, a teacher or a Rabbi would call disciples to follow him. It was considered the highest honor and privilege to be chosen by a Rabbi. When Elijah anointed Elisha to be his disciple, Elisha was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah threw his mantle over Elisha, effectively saying, “follow me.” Elisha left everything behind and followed Elijah closely. When Jesus began calling His disciples, He simply said, “follow me.” They left their livelihoods and sometimes their families to follow Jesus.

A disciple would be with the Rabbi all the time. They wanted to soak up every bit of information and teaching that they could get from the Rabbi. Their goal was to know everything the Rabbi knew and be able to pass it on to others.

In fact, a disciple would follow their Rabbi so closely that there was often a blessing that would be spoken over a disciple: “May you be covered with the dust of the Rabbi.” This was a metaphor for how closely the disciples followed the teachings of the Rabbi. As they traveled from place the place, the paths they walked on were often dusty. After a long journey, they would be covered in dust that had stuck to them. If they were following closely behind the Rabbi, the dust of the Rabbi would get on them. In the same way, when they were following the teachings of the Rabbi so closely, the dust (or the teachings) of the Rabbi would become stuck to them (or became a part of who they were).

This is a picture of what is means for us to Know Jesus. We must follow Him so closely that His dust gets on us. We must spend time with Him through prayer, through the reading and studying of His Word, through attending church services, and through praise and worship. We must allow His Word and His teachings to cling to us and become a part of who we are. This is my prayer for us, for Farm Hill Church, in 2022: “May we be covered with the dust of Jesus!” May we know Him better! May we make a commitment to spend more time with Him! May we allow His Word and His teachings to change us! May we seek to know the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings! For us here today, as we begin 2022, may we focus on making this year a year of Knowing Jesus!

Making Jesus Known

I believe as we focus on Knowing Jesus, we will automatically be Making Jesus Known. In other words, if you get Jesus in you, Jesus is going to come out of you! In the way you act and in the way you talk. If you get Jesus in your heart, Jesus is going to come out of your mouth. Because “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!” This is another message for another time. But let me ask you, what are you allowing to come out of your mouth? Is it negative? Is it hurtful? Is it a curse? Or is it positive? Is is uplifting? Is it a blessing? Whatever is coming out of your mouth is the fruit, is the evidence, of what is truly in your heart. If you’re struggling with this, the good news is God can change it. But in order for this to happen, we must be willing to allow God to change our hearts.

Knowing Jesus is about focusing on our own lives and our relationship with Jesus. Making Jesus Known is about focusing on sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible. And in 2022, I want Farm Hill Church to be focused on reaching as many people for Christ as possible.

But in order to do this, we must be willing to speak the Word of God with boldness. Peter and John, after being questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducees, in Acts Chapter 4, were commanded by them not to preach at all any more in the name of Jesus. When Peter and John were released, they went back to the other disciples and told them about all the things that had happened to them. How the lame man was healed. How they stood up to the religious leaders and spoke the truth of Jesus Christ. And how they were commanded not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. What did the church do? They had a prayer meeting. They got down on their knees and asked God for boldness to continue to preach the Word of God. And looked what happened.

Acts 4:31 NKJV

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

There was so such of the power of God present in that prayer meeting that the very foundations of the building were shaken. And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. But wait a minute, I thought that they were filled with the Holy Spirit back in Acts Chapter 2 on the Day of Pentecost? They were. And here, in Acts Chapter 4, they were filled again. There is an initial experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit, but it is not intended to be just a one time experience. Read through the book of Acts and you will find that that disciples were filled on multiple occasions. That is why Paul writes:

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Paul says don’t get drunk with wine, because that is dissipation. The KJV says “excess.” It has the meaning of debauchery, reckless living, and a waste of resources that should be devoted to God. One translation just plainly says drunkeness will “ruin your life.” The Bible very plainly condemns drunkenness. But here, Paul contrasts drunkeness to being filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the new wine of the Holy Ghost. The crowds thought the disciples were drunk with wine on the Day of Pentecost when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Not so. Peter declared, “they are not drunk as you suppose, but this is what was prophesied by the prophet Joel. In the last days, says the Lord, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.” And Paul’s language here in Ephesians Chapter 5 is clear that it is not intended to be a one-time experience. Paul’s grammar here clearly says, “be constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit.”

If you want the anointing of God to speak the Word of God with boldness, get filled with the Holy Spirit. I’ll ask you today the same question Paul asked the believers in Ephesus in Acts Chapter 19. Have you been filled with the Holy Ghost since you believed? The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is empowerment for service in order to be a more effective witness for Christ.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The Holy Spirit is available to every believer. The early church turned the world upside down (actually turned it right-side up) and boldly declared the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they were filled, and constantly being filled, with the Holy Spirit. They had no problem Making Jesus Known. And if you and I will get filled with the Holy Spirit and be constantly being filled, neither will we!

Our community and the surrounding communities are filled with people who are hurting, fearful, hopeless, depressed. And this world does not have the answer to their problems. We as the church hold the answer to their problems: Jesus! And the way that they are going to hear about Jesus is when we get up and get about the Father’s business! When we understand that the church is not a building, but the church is a body of believers, a collection of Living Stones, that are being built up into a spiritual house! When we understand that, as the church, we have to be willing to go outside these walls, to go into the highways and hedges where the people are who are in need, and take what we’ve been given and share it with them! When we get so much of the dust of our Rabbi, Jesus Christ, on us, that we can’t help but get it on someone else when we come in contact with them! That when they do come inside the walls of this building where we assemble together, that they feel love and not condemnation, acceptance and not rejection, they feel at home and not out of place, they feel like they are part of a family and not an outsider, and that there is a hope for them in Jesus Christ that is greater than their past mistakes and greater than their current circumstances!

CLOSING

I want Farm Hill Church to be known as a church that is passionate about Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known! Over the next couple weeks, we are going to talk about some ways that we are going to live this out. I have a vision of some ways that I believe God is going to begin to lead us in 2022 in order to fulfill our mission. And I hope you will catch this vision along with me!

I believe God is saying that it is time for Farm Hill Church to take it to the next level! It is time to get back to the fundamentals of what the church is supposed to be! It is time to get back to the power and boldness of the early church in the book of Acts who operated in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is time to get back to allowing the Holy Spirit to move and operate in the way He sees fit in our services! It is time to set useless traditions and religious habits aside and just simply start being Living Stones who are ready to move and function where God puts us in the church, the spiritual house that He is building! It is time for us to stop thinking of church as simply a place where we meet, and start realizing that the church is who we are and what we do! It is time to realize that our mission is Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known!

ALTAR CALL

Do you know Jesus?

I didn’t ask you if you know about Jesus. I asked you if you know the man Christ Jesus. Have you come to the saving knowledge of the power of His death, burial, and resurrection? Have you become acquainted with the fellowship of His sufferings? Have you allowed Jesus to forgive you of your sins and transform your life? If not, today is the day of salvation. You are here. Jesus is here. We have an altar. What is hindering you from coming right now and being saved?

Maybe you’re saved, but are you spending time with Him? Are you covered with the dust of the Rabbi? Are His teachings a part of who you are? Are you being conformed into His image? In other words, are you becoming more like Christ everyday? Or have you reached a place where you don’t sense any further growth in your relationship with Him. You are here. Jesus is here. We have an altar. What is hindering you from coming right now and beginning the process of knowing Him more?

Are you Making Jesus Known?

Could it be said of you that, “he/she has been with Jesus?” Is there evidence in your life of the transforming power of Jesus Christ? Are you allowing the dust of the Rabbi, Jesus Christ, on your life to impact others? Or are you holding back from being the hands and feet of Jesus? When you are around sinners or non-Christians, do you act like your Rabbi? Can they see Him in you? Or do you act like them because you are too afraid or too ashamed to take a stand for Christ in that moment? Well, You are here. Jesus is here. We have an altar. What is hindering you right now from coming and letting Jesus set you on fire with some Holy Ghost boldness to be a more effective witness for Him?