Notes from a sermon heard on 25 November 2012
Luke 9 verses 18 – 27
If Jesus was here on earth today what would he have to say
to men and to women?”
If Jesus was standing here in our
midst I wonder what he might have to say to you and I. Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today
and will be for ever.” As you ponder
through the pages of the word of God the most important thing at its heart was
that of direction. In the Old Testament
scriptures when God inspired Moses to stand before the nation of Israel as he
was near the end of his days. He addressed
that crowd of people with the words “I have set before you the way of life and
death, a way of blessing and of cursing.”
Jesus told his disciples “follow me” as they tended their nets in the
boat. Matthew sitting at the tax
collectors desk one day met Jesus who told him “follow me”. Direction was important for Jesus
Christ. We are only going to pass
through this life once. There are only 2
places to face in eternity – need to be careful in which destiny our soul is
heading. “And he said to them all, If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.” Luke 9 verse 23. What
direction are you going in tonight? Have
you trusted Christ as Saviour?
A serious consideration. Jesus is
asking something specific – “if any man will follow me.” He is asking for people to follow him. We find the characteristics of the person who
will follow him “let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow
me.” Which way are you travelling? There is no point in ignoring it. The reality is we are not all following
Jesus. The devil will make us think we
are alright, on our way to heaven and home.
Have you ever given it any consideration? The moment you were conceived you were a
sinner. Every one of us have sinned and
come short of the glory of God. Heaven’s
door is closed upon our faces. The
prophet Isaiah said sin was like a wall separating us from God. The first prayer the Lord hears is the
sinners prayer. Confession before God of
heaven, acknowledge sin against God.
Remember the Pharisee who went up to God’s house. He thought he was best in the world and
looked down at the publican beside him.
He thanked God that he wasn’t like this publican. The publican couldn’t even lift his head to
heaven, he smote his breast and asked the Lord to be merciful to him a
sinner. Have you acknowledged your
sin? This is the thing we need to give
close consideration to. Consider the
state you are in and where we are going too.
Isn’t it wonderful to consider the one called Jesus? If you are looking for another way into
heaven there is none. John the Baptist
came upon the scene, preaching the word of god as great multitudes gathered in
Jerusalem. They were there for the feast
of the Passover. John the Baptist thought
it was a great time to catch the people’s imagination. The people’s minds were on the lamb slain and
blood spread on the door posts of the house of the children of Israel living in
Egypt. When God saw the blood he would
pass over that house. The people were
now coming centuries later to remember that lamb slain on that night. As Jesus stepped out from the crowd John said
“behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” Only one that can take you into heaven and
home, break the power of sin in your heart and take you into the splendours of
heaven and glory. His name is Jesus
Christ. Have you ever come to him? Considered him, realised you have come short
of the glory of God? Has there ever been
a time when you have invited Christ into your heart and life? Jesus told the story of the man who went out
into the field. There was something
different about this field. It could
make him richer than anything he could imagine.
He took a look at himself and he sold all he had so he could come and
secure this field. You can secure Jesus
Christ in this meeting, give up everything that is holding you back and come to
the Lord Jesus Christ. The man realised
he could never have that field while he held on to his possessions. You have to give up your sin to come to
Christ too.
A call for strong conviction. Notice when this challenge come – verse
18. He asked them saying “whom say the
people that I am.” Who did the people
say that I am? Took a strong conviction
because after this the Lord says “him that will follow me let him take up his
cross daily and follow me.” The answer
to that question could well determine your eternal destiny. Out in the world the answer is coming back as
Peter gave the answer. Peter said the
people tell us what they think. He is
John the Baptist, some say Elias. All
the names went further then the Lord brought Peter to a definite point in his
life – “but who do you say that I am?”
That world is no friend of Jesus Christ.
You would get the same answer today. He is the perfect being, a created being. When he died on the cross dieing just as a
mere man but what about you tonight? Who
was dieing on the cross of Calvary for you?
If you have it as anyone else than God’s own son you are on your way to
a lost eternity. The man or woman who
wants to follow Christ has to get it clearly in his mind. It takes a firm conviction to get saved. Not just a question of putting your hand up
but it takes a great conviction to come to the Lord Jesus and be saved.
A call for a sincere commitment. If you want to get saved it will take a
commitment to Christ. The cross has lost
some of its significance in this first century days. It was a symbol of disgrace, shame, disorder,
abuse. Tonight as you take up your cross
you are taking up the cross of shame.
Remember the young man who lives out amongst the tombs. He was possessed of a legion of devils. No one would go near him. He was vicious, violent. There were those who were concerned about
him. The devil would stir him up so that
he would snap those fetters. Nothing
would hold him. One day Jesus came past
those tombs. He gave him a peace he
never had. He broke the power of the
devil in his life. He could now go down
into his own home. Something he couldn’t
do for many years. Jesus clothed him and
gave him respectability and a peace in his mind and heart. When Jesus turned to go away the man said “I
will follow you.” Jesus said “no go back
into your village and tell them what Christ has done for you. He had a sincere commitment to follow
him. Do you have that same desire to
follow Christ, obey his word? Is every
direction of him tonight? He bore our
sins on his body on the tree. He waits
for you to bow your heart and you don’t have to make a public show. You can simply say “I am a sinner and I want
to be saved, take away my sin.”
A sure companion. “let him follow me” He will go before your every step. When life is finished and you close your eyes
for the final time then God will take you to heaven. If you are depending on a church, a minister,
a respectability it will take you to this side of the grave. When you come to face the last enemy, death
itself, the Bible classes as death then your religion, church minister will not
help you. You will have a sure companion
through life and through death and into the presence of God himself for all
eternity. What direction are you going
tonight? Are you saved tonight, sure of
it, on way to heaven and home?
25/11/12 pm LIMC
No comments:
Post a Comment