FollowinGod - Christian Revelation

• Talk to them, tell them “I love you”
• Spend time with them
• Get to know them
• Do things THEY want to do
• Include THEM in things you like to do

 “Love” originates in God 

Jesus told us the greatest commandment in Mark 12:30:

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”

How will you show God your love?

Will you…

• Talk to Him, tell Him “I love you”
• Spend time with Him (Pray)
• Get to know Him (read the Bible)
• Do things HE wants to do (witness)
• Include HIM in things you like to do

Joke day:

Sister Mary Ann, who worked for a home health agency, was making her rounds in her local town. She was visiting homebound patients when she ran out of gas.

As luck would have it, a gas station was just a block away. She walked to the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas. The attendant told her that the only gas can he owned had been loaned out, but she could wait until it was returned

Since Sister Mary Ann was in a hurry to see this patient, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas and spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient. Always resourceful, Sister Mary Ann carried the bedpan to the station, filled it with gasoline, and carried the full bedpan back to her car.

As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two Baptists watched from across the street. One of them turned to the other and said, “If it starts, I’m becoming Catholic.”

- author unknown

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me?
      Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

According to the Lord, Himself, there is truly no way to describe Him. Think about it, if we can’t compare Him to anyone, how can we truly describe Him?

 ²⁶ Look up into the heavens.
      Who created all the stars?
   God brings them out like an army, one after another,
      calling each by its name.
   Because of God’s great power and incomparable strength,
      not a single one is missing.
 ²⁷ O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
      O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
 ²⁸ Have you never heard?
      Have you never understood?
   The Lord is the everlasting God,
      the Creator of all the earth.
   He never grows weak or weary.
      No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
 ²⁹ He gives power to the weak
      and strength to the powerless.
…
 ³¹ But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
      They will soar high on wings like eagles.
      They will run and not grow weary.
      They will walk and not faint.                 
                                - verses from Isaiah 40, New Living Translation

We might not be able to describe Who God is, BUT, the best part is we can rely on Him to strengthen us, to love us, and most importantly to SAVE US. We are doomed to a fateful place that we deserve, and it’s not Heaven. However, God loved us so much that He WILLINGLY gave us His son to die a gruesome death that became a beautiful episode that serves to remind us daily that we can have eternal life in Heaven. But at a great price.

Now, the good news to that is that the great price has already been paid. It’s as if you walked into the store and your favorite item had been put on lay-away with the final payment being paid for you. All you have to do is ask for the item, and it’s yours. That’s Salvation. Paid-In-Full by a Savior that loves you so.

Take time today to thank Jesus for what He did for you on Calvary’s hill.

the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints….For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,   Colossians 1:26-27

The secret very plainly is identified as that of Jesus Christ – “The hope of glory”

It’s interesting to me that Scripture reminds us that although God is love and God is our Father, He is also our hope! 

Many people throughout the world, and even in America struggle with little things that we consider large.

• Teens worry about boyfriends/girlfriends and school
• Adults worry about finances and work demands

Yet, we always seem to forget that as Christians, we have an eternal life in Jesus Christ. A contemporary Christian song lyric reminds me “This world has nothing for me, This world has nothing for me.” Is that true for your life?

Interestingly enough, the lyrics that follow the line above is purely “I will follow you” meaning follow God. Are you following God? Do you trust in Him? Is your faith and hope in Him, or do you still worry about today and worldly events?

I challenge you today to put your TOTAL FAITH in GOD through JESUS CHRIST! It’s not a secret that true Hope can only be found in Jesus Christ!

click here for music to RESCUE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXAN3l8jQDg&feature=related

“RESCUE” by New Song

You are the source of life
I can’t be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of You

I need You Jesus, I need You Jesus

My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do
Lord I put my trust in You

I need You Jesus to come to my rescue
Where else can I go?
There’s no other Name by which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow You

My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do
Lord I put my trust in You

chorus/bridge

This world has nothing for me  – I will follow You!

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

 

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

 

And without faith it is impossible to please [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. – Hebrews 11:1,3, 6  

Faith isn’t easy to come by, it takes time. There was a time I didn’t have faith, and I found my life to be difficult and hard to take. I tried to do everything myself. I thought: I’m capable and I’m in control, I can handle anything. Well, I quickly found out that wasn’t true! Finally, someone told me about God.

Now, after trusting in God, developing my faith, I realize it’s all ok. God IS in control. When we have faith, we can be comforted, in the knowledge of God. I can’t tell you how to get faith. All I can do is tell you to start attending church, reading your Bible, and praying to God. Over time, your faith will develop and you’ll become a better person…depending on God.

You’ve probably watched the popular TV show Family Fued. Two contestants from separate families go to the front of the stage, the host poses a question for them to answer, and the first one to respond tries to pick the “most popular” answer based on what the “survey says.” Then the contestant with the most popular answer gets to choose whether or not to play the round with his family.

Well, today’s survey says…

Thank God! The answer is Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 7:25

Now, you may be asking: what is the question? Well, in many cases, the question is irrelevant. Why? Because Jesus is the answer! Without Him, we have nothing, we can do nothing, we are nothing, and unfortunately…we will be nothing.

I have the opportunity to talk to a lot of people in my job and through my weekly travels. While many people know Jesus, it is amazing how many people still do not know Him. Why? Because we haven’t told them about Him.

We go to church, we have Sunday School, we may even read our Bibles daily, but how many people tell others about Jesus?

That’s the real question we should be focused on answering today. How better and more often can we tell people about Jesus?

Survey says…you make the call – tell others about Jesus!

John the Baptist was a famous man in his days. Many people thought he was the Messiah. Others thought he might be a prophet. Others didn’t care, they just knew he was very spiritual and they looked up to him as a mentor. In fact, these men were called John’s “disciples.”

But let’s see what happened in those days…

First, we know that John NEVER claimed to be Jesus:

John testified about him [Jesus] when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” – John 1:15

He [John] came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” – John 1:20

But let’s look at what happened shortly thereafter…

³⁵ The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. ³⁶ As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. – John 1:35-37

Ok, so now what, you ask? Simply put, STOP “idolizing” that pastor or priest that you look up to becuase he is so “spiritual,” and start following Jesus. Following a person and being discipled by them is GREAT, but in the end, you need to be in a relationship with Jesus. God needs to be the one discipling you and teaching you. Religion won’t save you, that religious leader can’t save you, and be no means will a “feel good” preacher make you feel good in eternity.

Follow God in everything  you do. Open your eyes, your ears, and your heart to the only truth there is: Jesus

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

In case there are any questions, the answer is simple: Jesus.  The ONLY way, the ONLY truth, the ONLY life, the only way to Heaven!

Are you struggling in life? Then maybe this prayer to the Lord in the form of a Psalm will help you also:

Psalm 17 – A prayer of David.

 ¹ O Lord, hear my plea for justice.
      Listen to my cry for help.
   Pay attention to my prayer,
      for it comes from honest lips.
 ² Declare me innocent,
      for you see those who do right. 
³ You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
      You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
      I am determined not to sin in what I say.
 ⁴ I have followed your commands,
      which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
 ⁵ My steps have stayed on your path;
      I have not wavered from following you.

 ⁶ I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
      Bend down and listen as I pray.
 ⁷ Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
      By your mighty power you rescue
      those who seek refuge from their enemies.
 ⁸ Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.
      Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
 ⁹ Protect me from wicked people who attack me,
      from murderous enemies who surround me.
 ¹⁰ They are without pity.
      Listen to their boasting!
 ¹¹ They track me down and surround me,
      watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.
 ¹² They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart—
      like young lions hiding in ambush.

 ¹³ Arise, O Lord!
      Stand against them, and bring them to their knees!
      Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!
 ¹⁴ By the power of your hand, O Lord,
      destroy those who look to this world for their reward.
   But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones.
      May their children have plenty,
      leaving an inheritance for their descendants.
 ¹⁵ Because I am righteous, I will see you.
      When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.

If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

You may have heard that quote before. It’s from Matthew 24:43. And it applies to our lives in many different ways. In this context, it is telling us to prepare for the Lord’s return. In conjunction with that, I propose the following situation.

Let’s just assume that Jesus could just stop by and visit you  on any single day. He just casually walked up to your front door and rang the bell. Or He just happened to walk up the stairs of your house and knocked on your bedroom door. You respond by opening the door, and then what?

Would you have to say “Excuse me just a moment while I…”  

Would you have turn around and “clean up” some things? Are there items in your room/house that are inappropriate and need to be “hidden” so Jesus doesn’t see them? Would you have to log-off the internet because of the websites you were visiting were crude and explicit? Would you have to change your clothes because what you were wearing was too revealing or inappropriate?

If any of these items are true, then I remind you that Jesus IS watching. The Holy Spirit is around us ALL the time. God is everywhere and knows everything. It’s too late to clean-up once He knocks at the door. The time to clean things up is NOW.

God isn’t there just to impose or spy on you. Just the opposite, He is there because He loves you. He wants to bless you for what you are doing! Are you allowing Him to bless you by following His commands, or are you failing His commands and now need to pray for forgiveness?

Don’t wait another minute. Take time now to make things right. “Repent” as Jesus said; He is ready to forgive you . . . all you have to do is ask.

John and Jane were not a very religious couple but tried their best; they only went to church once a year. As they were leaving the church, the minister said, “John, it sure would be nice to see you and Jane here more than once a year” “I know,” replied John, “But, we’re very busy people, leading active lives but at least we keep the Ten Commandments.”

“That’s great,” the minister said. “I’m glad to hear that you keep the Commandments.”

“Yes, we sure do” John said proudly, “Jane keeps six of them and I keep the other four”.

 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

 

1. Do not worship other gods.
2. Do not worship idols.
3. Do not misuse God’s name.
4. Keep the Sabbath holy.
5. Honor your father & mother.
6. Do not murder.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not covet.

Which ones are you keeping?