Christ In Me (Part 6)
April 14, 2019
6th Week of Lent
Palm Sunday
Sermon Series: Christ
In Me
Inspired by:
Casting Crowns: “Only
Jesus” CD
“Only Jesus
Devotional”
by Pastor Mark Hall
With Tim Luke
Psalm 31:19-26
Mathew 28:18-22
“It’s Not Over Yet…”
Prayer of Illumination…
Please stand for the reading of the Gospel of
Matthew. We will be reading Chapter 28…verses 18-20… The Great Commission that
still applies to all who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior..
Matthew 28:18-20 Amplified
Bible (AMP)
18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All
authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to
Me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations[help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My
words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything
that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with
you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even
to the end of the age.”
In
this world in which we live it seems like everything that can go wrong does at
times. It seems as if there is no hope anywhere. People think that God has just
forgotten about those who try to follow Him. All seems dark at times. There is
no song of Hope. There is no song of peace. There is no song of joy. There only
seems to be songs of chaos and destruction. Where are the songs of Zion…where
is the Alleluia chorus…have we forgotten how to sing?
We
are continuing our journey to the cross this week. And as we journey to the
place of redemption…where God’s greatest work was done…to the place where we surrender
ourselves to the One who surrendered Himself for all of humanity, I have asked
us to ponder this, what does it look like when we begin to become the glove
that the hand of our Savior can wear for His glory? What does it look like when
we surrender ourselves, as Jesus modeled for us, and not live for Jesus but let
Jesus live through us?
One
thing we talked about as we begin to let Christ live through us the fact that
it is the legacy of Christ working through us that is seen not what we do. Also,
the legacy that we leave is the legacy of, well, being nobody as we point to
Jesus and not ourselves that is a sign of Christ living through us not us
living for Christ. But we also talked about the fact that in order to be this
kind of Glove for Jesus…for Christ to be seen in and through us…we need to come
out of the darkness into His glorious light. Our whole life is to be one that
sits on the Potters Wheel as we trust the Master to create us into that vessel
He needs. We are the bridge for others s Christ as Christ bridged the gap for
us…so we too go and do likewise… we need to take that one awkward moment and
turn it into a bridge from sin to Jesus.
Today
we are celebrating the triumphal entry of Jesus in Jerusalem. There was a song
of Hosanna…songs of joy…songs of hope that day as the ushered in the Messiah.
But by the end of this week… there was another song that was sung…one of betrayal…one
of hate…one of death… The songs we sing at time… But what are we singing today,
in our day and age? Are we even singing at all? Sometimes we focus on the chaos
so much that we forget about the song of deliverance we once knew.
Jesus’
whole life was a love song. It was a song that sang of mercy grace and healing.
Now here he was, getting ready to sing His greatest, most powerful song to
humanity. I have really been thinking about this week. I mean think about it.
Jesus had been preaching, teaching. I am sure He was tired from all the curing.
But He triumphed into Jerusalem, strengthened by God for that one more song,
one more lesson, one more example. Even
from the cross He was still singing for you and me…Father forgive them for they
know not what they are doing. Still singing the love of God to and for those
around Him at His darkest moment. Jesus had one more sing but it wasn’t His
last…remember Sunday morning?
So, pastor Ruth…what does
that have to do with us? What does this have to do with being the glove for
Jesus’ hand…? I am so glad you asked… Her is my theory…
Matthew 28:18-20 that I read this morning…sums it all up. We are called to the
Great Commission, to make disciples. Discipleship is one of God’s gifts to us.
We actually grow when we spiritually matter to someone else. (8 AM) We are that one more song for
someone else. The song of hope…the song of love…the song of mercy…the song of
joy.
We
live in a word that has lost its heart song because of sin…it’s heart of God
song. WE ARE THE SONG. Even though there is chaos and depravity all around us
singing at the top of its lungs, it is never too late…it’s never to soon. We
need to endure and sing Christ’s song as we become His instrument…the glove of His
hand.
My
question to you is this…are you still singing? Are you just too darn tired…weary
because of life? We always have one more song…one more step out of the boat, one
more share of the gospel…one more life to touch…if we choose. Are you willing
to sing just one more time?
We
need to help others become bridge builders. We need to take that one awkward
moment to be a bridge for someone. Like with Paul…there is a Timothy wait for
you and for me. When we are tired…God
will fill us up as we go forward with a new song. Don’t give up. Just try one
more time. It’s truly not over until the trumpet sounds. There is always room
at the table for one more. People have asked me as of late, are you all done in
ministry and serving God. My answer is this. Not on your life. I am not done
singing yet. I will sing until my last breath. It’s just I am now singing a new
chorus of the song I began 22 years ago that’s all. How about you?
AMEN
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