Christ Is Precious
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· 123 viewsWe are going to talk about how "Precious Christ Is"
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Christ is Precious
Christ is Precious
Lord of the Rings – Golam
Lord of the Rings – Golam
(Found a ring so special that it consumed him to the point that nothing else mattered, when he lost it he searched for it many years and would stop at nothing to get his precious back.)
Or
Justin Time – Jupiter Galaxy Marble
Justin Time – Jupiter Galaxy Marble
(How Justin learned the value of trading and in the end traded all of his marbles to obtain one so precious)
Transition – Today we are going to talk about someone who is far more precious than a (marble or ring). We are going to talk about how “Precious Christ Is” but first time to hand out some blocks.
Blocks of Sin
- Hand out the blocks with the tags: Trust Issues, Abuse, Revenge Fear, Drinking, Drugs, Anxiety, Stress, Gambling, Love for Money, Religion, Good Works, Plans, Motivations, Worldly Wants
Open Prayer
Alright, now that we all have some form of sin in our lives lets open up the word of God to
Therefore, it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
and
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
They stumble (who? sinners. That’s who), being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Christ is Precious – Main Point
Christ is Precious – Main Point
Christ is precious; He is so precious but why? What makes Jesus Christ so precious?
- I am not just saying that because my training tells me that. I don’t say that because Oral Roberts said it once a tent meeting, I’m not saying that because David Wilkerson had a message on it or even Charles Spurgeon.
- I am saying Christ is precious because I learned the value of Christ, the cost for following Him and how to build on that precious foundation known as the Corner stone and I am here to day to show you these things so that by the end of this message you too can say “Christ is Precious”.
Learning the Value
Learning the Value
- As I started working on this message almost two weeks ago, I could not help but get lost. I read the passage a number of times trying so hard to figure out what the point is? Why should this simple passage be preached on Sunday? I struggled very hard with this message and by Friday of the first week I had managed to get all of 30 words of my message printed out.
- It was hopeless. Then I realized that yes hopelessness is part of the message. So I hit the prayer closet again and came out with the message.
- Learning the value of Christ and how Precious he really is one needs to first understand Hopelessness.
o Poor
§ The hopeless feeling of being spiritually bankrupt is one that is very cold. It’s a feeling that wont let us sleep at night. That voice in our head that screams that we are useless, broken, lost, and hurt by others. Its that moment after you wake up from sleep disoriented and wondering why you even got out of bed.
o Broken
§ The hopeless feeling of being spiritually broken can look like rejection from others, guilt, unnecessary anger, shame, fear, and depression. These can and most of the time become gateways to an escape such as drugs, alcohol, smoking, cussing, gambling, various means of entertainment, the list goes on. Spiritual brokenness makes us look for ways to fill that void within us to make us happy again.
o Prisoners
§ And finally, being a spiritual prisoner in the prison of hopelessness.
· Now Being a spiritual prisoner is not any less than being spiritually poor or broken but most people are affected by it. Especially in our country, most people prisoners in some shape or form. We have become prisoners to the brokenness of our lives or the fact that we are spiritually starved. We become prisoners of things we can afford, we are led straight into the prison of hopelessness by the world around us. The “American Dream” the instant gratification, our “rights”, the advertisements that arrest us and toss us into the darkest prison. Being Told that we will never see the light of hope again.
- Hope
o How’s this for hope: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
§ When we hear these words, we start to see a light in the distance, through the bars of our prison cells we can see that the clouds have broken up and the light of day is shining. We hear the call of a familiar voice shouting louder than any prison guard trying to regain your attention. You hear the voice of the Christ. “I Am the way, the truth, and the life”
§ In that moment you realize how precious Christ is. He is the one who brings good news to the poor, He is the One who sets the captives free, and He is the One who binds up the brokenhearted.
Transition – But how many of us knew that there is a cost involved?
The cost of the precious free gift
The cost of the precious free gift
- Many evangelists have preached Jesus Christ the “Free gift of salvation” many times. I agree with them that Jesus Christ has purchased a debt we could never pay and in doing so has made salvation free for all who are willing.
- But its going to cost you. Jesus said in Luke at least 4 times the cost of being a disciple is not an easy one. We will be hated by others, We will not have a lavish lifestyle, we will not rich with worldly possessions. we must pick up our cross daily, we must put aside your own personal gains, and plans, we must be willing to make peace with others who hate us if at all possible.
- Jesus gives this parable of a builder who builds a tower.
o He says that we must first calculate the cost.
o How can we say we will build a tower if we only have enough to build the foundation and never finish it.
o We would be mocked for not being able to build it the full way.
- Lets take a look at the Parable of the Pearl:
o “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
- The Cost of following Christ Chart:
o Past Events
§ Trust Issues
§ Abuse
§ Revenge
o Problems
§ Fear
§ Drinking
§ Drugs
§ Anxiety
§ Stress
§ Gambling
o Actions
§ Love for Money
§ Religion
§ Good Works
§ Plans
§ Motivations
§ Worldly Wants
- Walk around picking up the junk… and head to the cross.
- We carry this burden around collection junk that becomes heavy and burdensome.
- All this junk I just picked up from each of you is required of you.
- When we see the hope in Jesus Christ we also see that there is a cost involved to follow Christ.
- When we see Hope in Jesus we see a path that leads to: Forgiveness, Deliverance, and a life with a purpose.
- Have a backpack with junk and then when Christ takes it toss it behind (baptism tank)
- Jesus said to take his load (pick up a bible and carry it away)
Transition – When we finally realize how precious Hope (Being Christ) is and the cost of following Jesus by taking all the garbage in our lives that makes us prisoners, broken hearted, and poor. And we surrender everything to Christ we become free. Free to build our lives upon that precious foundation known as the Chief Corner Stone.
Build our lives upon the precious foundation of Christ
Build our lives upon the precious foundation of Christ
- Difficult is the path to salvation and few find it.
o We have heard and seen the hope of Jesus Christ, we understand that Jesus Christ is precious to us, He has freed us from our bondages, has bandaged us up, all through the richness of His Word.
- Narrow is the gate and few who pass through.
o We understand and have calculated the cost of following Jesus. Its not an easy task, some find Jesus but don’t like the cost of following Him but those who find Christ are willing to give up everything to follow Him. They are willing to let go of the guilt, shame, hard times, anger, frustration, worldly plans, and possessions.
- Once we are free and willing to follow Christ we see that He is a precious corner stone to build from. We no longer have our lives built on beach sand. We now build our lives on the Chief Corner Stone.
- When we build our lives on Christ, the rains of hard times are going to fall, the floods of disaster will come rushing toward us, the winds of persecution are going to come. All of these things are going to hit us the storm will rage all around us… but we will not fall, because we have built our lives or homes on the foundation of Christ.
- The question now is How?
o We must build with what Jesus has given us to build with. We cannot build our own homes with or own motivations, plans, and wills. No we must build our lives with the teachings that Jesus gives us.
o Jesus Christ is God, who has come to recuse people from sin. He is the long-awaited Messiah that was promised to Abraham and David.
o Jesus is our King, the importance of baptism, how to fight temptations by the examples that Jesus has given us.
o We learn and build our lives from the commands that Christ has given us, He demands our obedience in areas such as anger, sexual ethics, privet prayer, daily trust, financial investment in eternity, and love.
o We learn and build our lives around the authority of Jesus Christ. We learn that He has the power to save, to heal diseases, the power to calm storms, and command demonic spirits to leave. He even has power over death by brining others back to life. Most of all His power points back to the fact that Jesus has authority to forgive sin.
o As we learn and build on Christ we understand the importance and difficulties of disciples who make disciples. We must learn not to fear rejection or opposition because God loves us and cares for us.
o We learn why people hate Jesus Christ. We learn how the kingdom of God grows slowly through the proclamation of the Gospel.
o We learn how to follow Jesus even though it will involve suffering, and learn why humility, accountability, and forgiveness is crucial to church relationships.
o We also learn what devotion to Christ looks like in marriage, politics, and other major areas in life. We even learn how to be ready for the return of the King and why it is so important to keep the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ together as one message.
Transition - This is the heart beat of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Is Jesus Christ Precious To You?
Is Jesus Christ Precious To You?
- Who is Jesus Christ to you?
- Is He the son of God?
- Is He the savior of the world?
- Is He some cool guy who did some cool things back in the day?
- Or is He so precious to you that you have given up everything to call Him Lord?
- My challenge to you today is simple. Ask yourself this one question every time you wake up each day. Who is Jesus Christ to me?
- Is He just some name? or Is He so precious to you that nothing can ever shake you from your foundations?
Lets pray.