Christ In Me (Part 5)
April 7, 2019
5th Week of Lent
Sermon Series: Christ
In Me
Inspired by:
Casting Crowns: “Only
Jesus” CD
“Only Jesus
Devotional”
by Pastor Mark Hall
With Tim Luke
Psalm 126
John 13:35
Philippians 1:27-30
“Bridge Construction…”
Prayer of Illumination…
Play “The Bridge’ by Casting Crowns
A reading from the Epistle written to the
Christians in Philippi that Paul wrote found in Philippians 1 verses 27-30.
Listen to the instruction on how to olive to honor Christ that is the same
message for Christians even today in 2019 …
Philippians 1:27-30 The
Message (MSG)
27-30 Meanwhile, live in such a way that you
are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on
whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see
things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in
vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not
flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and
unity will show them what they’re up against: defeat for them, victory for
you—and both because of God. There’s far more to this life than trusting in
Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as
the trusting. You’re involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go
through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.
Bridges
are so important. It is what helps us get over to the other side. I remember
when I first came here. When I passed over the bridge that is over the water
that brings you from New Hampshire into Maine, for me it was a bridge to a new
life. I was leaving my old life to begin my new life here…with you. It was
truly a momentous moment for me. That bridge still has meaning for me…I will
never forget the hope and newness of that day. Bridges are important to get
from one place to another… from one life to the next…
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.
Jesus is the one who bridged that gap for us
on that cross…the gap that sin created for all of humanity. We too are called
to be bridges as we “go into all the world making disciples of and for Jesus
Christ”. We are to help people find Jesus.
Truthfully, the way we live our lives either
creates a bridge or says “bridge is out” to others who may be looking for
something to bridge their lives from despair to hope…and if the bridge is out,
they more than likely will not want anything to do with Jesus because of us.
Our actions speak louder than our words. If we are not reaching…maybe, they
will not find…
We can be…we are the bridge builders for those
running away from God and in desperate need of Jesus. Before we accepted Jesus…He built the bridge over our sin so that we
could have access to God and have a relationship. Now…we are the bridge for
others…over their sin so they can have access to Jesus who has already built
their bridge to God through His sacrifice on the cross…we are that important
link that the lost needs…an access way…
Someone built that bridge for you and me so
that WE could have that relationship…It’s not just pastors…evangelist…professionals…that
become the bridge…It is you and I…right where we are meeting others where they
are… You see, we re not just leading people to church for fellowship, we are
actually leading them to Jesus…being that bridge over their sin wo bring them
to the ultimate Bridge…
The New Testament is all about bridges…leading
people to Jesus Christ. Paul no matter what his situation was always leading people
to Jesus…either in jail, shipwrecked, beaten…he always handled things to honor
Jesus. How we handle difficulties and storms can build bridges or out up road
blocks… My question is this, what would people say if you told them you were a
Christian…someone who you don’t know? Would they say, “of course you are” or
would they say, “I had no idea?”
Now you may be saying to yourself…all fine
and good pastor but I can’t do that…I can’t be out there talking about Jesus like
that. What if I mess up? I am not one who shares my faith like that…I would be
too nervous. I am here to tell you beloved this…one awkward moment of you
stepping out could save a life…
You might think that this person is not going
to listen to you and/or think you are a Holy Roller. But the thing is this, as
we step out…in all our awkwardness…God may use that moment to set this person
free. God may use that moment to make a seed that had been planted sprout that
may have been planted years ago. You never know… Believe me, as you step out of
your comfort zone more and more, it becomes easy and not awkward…it becomes a
way of life…building bridges…for and of Christ as we are His image in the
world.
We are told to go out and make disciples…that
includes our family and friends. If you care about them, it doesn’t matter
about that one awkward moment that could save their lives…their eternal life.
We are the missionary that God placed in our family and circle of friends.
So how do we do this:
© Make time to listen
© Hear what they talk
about
© Pray about it
© Ask how they are doing,
and you have been praying
© You just brought the
first beam to the bridge for Jesus
Follow through…really take it to the floor
ask God to give you that moment to share Jesus…awkward or not…know tis…GOD WILL
HONOR THAT PRAYER.
35 By this everyone will know that you are
My disciples, if you have love and unselfish
concern for one another.” (John 13:35 Amplified Bible (AMP)
God is looking for a construction crew to
build bridges to the Master Builder, Jesus Christ, to bring healing and
wholeness to a broken world. Are out willing to step out in that one awkward
moment to save a life?
Play “One Awkward Moment” by Casting Crowns
Share the awkward moment that saved my life…
AMEN
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