Recovered from Windows Live Spaces: Come and See/Right Where I am

Come and See/Right where I am....

10/13/2009 10:30:51 PM

I have two themes to talk about.... two things that rose up in the message on Sunday morning and bit me so hard, right to the bone! I can't just share one, they are both very important... both very strong... both very needed.

The actual title of the message Sunday was "Come and See". This is described in John chapter 1 when Jesus meets His first disciples. Actually, they were disciples of John the Baptist, but in verse 35, John says "Look, the Lamb of God" and by John's word, His two disciples began to follow Jesus. Jesus saw them following Him and asked them "What do you want?" and they replied "Rabbi, where are you staying?" and Jesus replied "Come and See", and they went and saw where He stayed and spent the day with Him. A few passages later, Andrew who was one of the two disciples went and got his brother Simon and said "We have found the Messiah", and he brought him to Jesus.

Come and See! ... We all get excited when we have new good stuff to tell our family and friends right? We love sharing positive, uplifting things that will bring happiness to someone else??? Right?? That is what Andrew did when He found out that Jesus was the One... he went and got one of His loved ones and brought him to Jesus: literally!

Come and See! ... Jesus was bringing and inviting everyone into His life while on this earth. I know that a lot of non-Christians and some Christians feel like religious people try to separate themselves from non-believers, just like the Pharisees did back in Jesus' day… but guess what? Jesus IMMERSED Himself with everyone: the unclean, the disabled, the outcasts... He even TOUCHED them physically when healing them. He didn't have to! He could have easily not touched anyone and kept His distance to do His miracles... but that was not what He was here to do...

Jesus says "Come and See" for whatever you are looking for, He will give it to you....

He is the Rock of Salvation, and I would like to say to all of my friends "Come and See" what Christ is doing in me. See what He has to offer you, and you will not go away empty, but full like a river that is overflowing.

The next message that was impressed upon me was on missionaries.  Now, I have been a Baptist for about 40 years now, and trust me when I say that I know what Missionaries are and have heard many great stories of foreign missionaries abroad and even people here in the States that do mission work, but Pastor Shante' defined “Missionary” differently than when I was younger. She said Missionary means "to send". A Missionary is someone who tries to persuade others to accept or join something such as a belief, a cause, or a movement. The message here that the Pastor was trying to convey was that I am a Missionary "Right Where I am"

I spoke in my very first blog about how I felt God was telling me to start in my own back yard by telling my friends about Him... well friends, He is still telling me that by the sound of this message... He is not asking me to go join the Peace Corp, to move to a Foreign Country mission, or even to join something local here in Rocketown that is part of a group. He is asking me to be willing to be "sent" among His people- among you, and among anyone else that I associate with...that makes ME a missionary.

One thing that I thought very significant was said... the bible says "For God SO loved THE WORLD" As a believer, I am to be IN the world, because that is where His children are that need Him... so…. not trying to hide out from anyone... if you want me, want to talk, would like to hang out, I am here as your friend. Right here...

Not a Fan Series:Week 3- "The Comfortable Cross"

Today's message was given by Pastor Shante' Buckley, and it is the third week of the "Not a Fan" series that has really been one of THE best sermon series that I have heard at LLUMC. Since I did not blog the first two weeks of the series, I will give a short summation of the first two parts of the series. Most of the quotes and notes that I have in this blog are directly from Pastor Shante's message to be accredited.

The series is based on one scripture, Luke 9:23:

Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me."

The first week in the series we learned that a fan was defined as "an enthusiastic admirer". Jesus never called us to be fans, but to be followers. We learned that fans don't have to "sacrifice", but followers do. Then the questions were asked "why we are here?" Why were there so many people hanging out with Jesus? Was it for what he could do for them? For the "show" of signs and miracles he performed? If so, these people were fans....

Pastor Shante' also challenged us in week 1 by asking "are you all in?" There are so many non-committed Christians in the churches. She used an example of a "flexitarian" which is a vegetarian that sometimes eats meat. Are we flexitarians when it comes to following Christ? And lastly in week one, Pastor Shante' asked "have you made it your own?" In other words, is your walk with Jesus yours personally: not your mother's religion, or your spouse's relationship with Him.

Week 2 emphasized Luke 9:23 on the single word "Anyone". Pastor Shante' spoke of University requirements and criteria to be accepted. Also, that in Jesus' day, Rabbi's had students that followed them that came from certain families, and held certain standards. Not just "anyone" could be a student of a Rabbi ....... but Jesus changed all of that. Even Jesus' pick of his disciples were random. "Anyone means Everyone." There are no qualifications, no prerequesits. "Following will not cost you anything, but it does cost you everything."

Finally, to catch up to today's message in week 3, Pastor Shante' started the sermon with a pic on the video screen of Jesus sitting next to a man on a bench in modern day times saying to him "No, I'm not talking about Twitter, I literally want you to follow me." It was a picture that was being passed around on email that she wanted to share that I thought was very appropriate for our modern day techno world to ponder upon..... including myself. Just yesterday, I was challenged by my girlfriend on how much time I spend on my phone Facebooking, Sports-tapping, ebaying, texting, and emailing instead of engaging with her in conversation, reading, or just being in the moment with her. I have found myself on more than one occasion being defensive of my socialistic nature and being "in the know". Little did I realize that being on my phone so much could be part of my "comfortable" existence. During today's sermon, I realized that my girlfriend is right. God showed me alot of things in Pastor Shante's sermon today about being "comfortable" that challenged me.

Pastor Shante' said that the word "comfort" is described as a state of ease and quiet enjoyment free from worry or trouble. We all strive to be comfortable, but there is a danger on being too comfortable as a Christian. She talked about how we like to come to church, sit in our normal comfortable seat, get our donuts and coffee, and we are "comfortable". Even the Pastor's sometimes make the sermons comfortable.

The part of Luke 9:23 this week that is emphasized is "TAKE UP YOUR CROSS".

Followers:
1 Deny Self- as followers, we must deny ourself and put others needs and the cause of Christ before our own needs.
2. Die to Self- Following Jesus MUST be a priority. Where does following Jesus rank in your life? Fans occasionally root for another team. A follower never gives up, even when times are tough.
3. Follow Jesus.

The cross, prior to Jesus' death and Resurrection, has been the symbol of weakness and death. It was something people looked upon with fear and gloom. Jesus' death and resurrection transformed the symbol of the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:18 says "The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God."

God takes what is foolish and demeaning, and uses it to show the power of salvation! It became a symbol of grace. What once was felt as condemnation, pain and death, now has hope and healing.

This is the part of the message that got to my heart, and I hope it does to yours. What God did for the cross, God can do for YOU! God took a symbol of weakness and gave it strength.

1 Corinthians 1:27 says "Instead God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful."

He chose the cross BECAUSE of it's weakness! God uses the weak all through the Bible. Pastor Shante' used a great term for these people, and for all of us that are used by Him: Imperfect misfits. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 says "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." Verse 10, Paul speaking, continues to say "That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Our culture today does not like weakness. But Followers know there is no forgiveness without repentance...... no life without death......

This leaves us with just one thing to ask our Creator: Do for me Lord, what you did for the cross.

Father-God, thank you for showing us the true meaning of being a follower of your Son Jesus. Thank you for this revealing message on what the cross truly means and how it is the symbol of what was weak used to show Your power of salvation. Teach us how to take up our cross daily and follow you and not be a fan just through the comfortable times in life. Through our weakness, your strength be evident.

Amen