04/03/05 – “JESUS IN THE MOMENT”
After Jesus’ death, the apostles were scared, scattered and skeptical – Only John was at the crucifixion…the rest fled
A few weeks later, these same men and women that had huddled in secret, fearlessly and openly proclaimed the Resurrection of Christ
The only thing that could account for their immediate and miraculous change is they had encountered the resurrected Christ
The early church had little time to establish themselves before they were threatened, persecuted and even martyred in Acts 7 & 8
The early church had every reason and opportunity to give up, but instead grew in numbers and influence in hostile circumstances
We are part of a legacy of “a great cloud of witnesses…” those first saints and the many who followed…they gave everything for Christ
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Eliot – Martyred in 1957 by Ecuadorian Indians
What are the things we cannot keep? Time, money, energy, good looks? – “Like sand in the hour glass, so are the days of our life.”
Even when we manage time, it still slips away – Money, how much did he leave? All of it…naked we come into the world and naked we go out
Jesus says to lose our life that we might find it – If we keep it (hoard it for self) we will lose it – A paradox and principle for Christian life
The Samaritan woman in John 4 is a prime example of how Jesus came to seek and save the lost…an unlikely choice…He found her!
Jesus speaks into her heart…an unlikely person to have spiritual impact…a woman married five times and is living with a sixth
A few years later revival breaks out in Samaria, the most unlikely place…an outcast woman used to prepare the way of the Lord
Does God know what He is doing? Absolutely…“The secret things belong to the Lord our God…” – Deuteronomy 29:29
From Saul to Paul - Acts 9:1-9
Saul deserved judgment for his violent persecution of “the Way” – He had witnessed and approved the murder of Stephen and shown no mercy
Saul encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus - Saul’s calling was to be a chosen instrument of God…to suffer much for His name’s sake
God chose a religious zealot and violent persecutor of His people – Another unlikely choice to bring glory to God
Whether a five time divorcee “living in sin” or a religious zealot, the Lord always makes right choices
Saul the persecutor, becomes Paul the persecuted, chiefest of sinners, least of the apostles, least of the saints, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss, in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” – Philippians 3:7-11
Paul had an amazing and radical transformation from darkness to light…from enemy to apostle and bondservant of Christ
The message is…the secret things belong to God – We won’t always understand but we can trust – When God is “wrong” He’s right
The message is…His ways often make sense only in retrospect – Our journey is a walk of faith – Without faith it’s impossible to please God
The message is…Jesus is in the moment and in the process…God has a sovereign plan for your life…gifts and callings are without repentance
Faith is not knowing how you’ll get through the crisis, but that He will get you through – Where He leads I will follow
Our job is not to get out of the crisis but to be led out by God…trust, hope, fight the good fight, stay the course, keep the faith
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28
All things aren’t good but work for good – through the Lord’s love and the guidance of the Holy Spirit all things WORK FOR GOOD!
“He’s no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”…Jesus is in all our moments! Hallelujah!