Move For Jesus

When we Stand For Jesus, there will be opposition.

Acts 13:45 NKJV

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

NKJVBut when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

Here we see the reaction. Again, the Jews opposed the risen Savior because it meant that salvation no longer came by way of laws and works, but by grace through faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

They were angry and jealous because of the crowds and attention that were being taken away from them, so they began to contradict and go against what was preached. The truth that Paul was preaching was taking away their power, influence and lifestyle and they were jealous and angry.

I’m very selfish when it comes to certain things. I’m not jealous when I see someone with something nicer than I have.....car, house, etc. I get jealous when I see something that is mine being given to someone else. My wife’s time and attention. Why don’t you love me!!!! It’s the end of the world for me, but my wife has a servant’s heart and will always do what she can to help someone out. That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with her. Also, because she lets me kiss her sometimes.

But in that same way, God is jealous when we give what belongs to Him away to other things.

Exodus 20:5 NKJV

you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Our worship belongs to Him and Him alone. Which means we have to make the choice daily of what or who we will follow, where will our time, attention and worship be focused.

When we choose to follow Jesus, we must sacrifice time for other things:

Playing sports, watching sports

watching sports

boyfriends, girlfriends

sleeping in, taking a nap

playing video games,

watching netflix or youtube

The world will always be jealous and attempt to contradict and go against your decision to follow Christ? It will continue to lie to us about what is important and what can wait. What lies do you believe?

You don’t have time during the week.

Going to church on Sundays and Wednesdays is enough.

Unhealthy relationships are more important.

You don’t need Jesus, He can’t help you with this.

There will always be time for that later.

You’ve been saved, now you are finished.

All of these things are a lie!

Are we judging truth by the Word of God or are we judging it by how it affects the lifestyle we want to live? If I do that, I can’t do what I want to do!

Truth should always make us uncomfortable, it should step on toes and make us evaluate ourselves and be honest about where we are and what we are doing. When we say something is true, it has to be true for everyone at all times or it’s not true. When the truth is not pleasant, we sometimes choose to ignore it, but ignoring the truth doesn’t make it any less true.

The truth is this:

Gospel Presentation

Jesus is the only way to salvation, there is no other

Any time we make excuses, we are opposing Christ

God chooses us but does not need us

Acts 13:46 NKJV

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

Paul said, I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, but I’m about to burst some of your bubbles. The world does not revolve around us. We are not necessary for God's will to be done. If we are unwilling to be a part of the kingdom of God, there will be others who are. When we reject the Word, Truth and Life of God, we are judging ourselves as unworthy.

NKJV“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

Matthew 21:43 NKJV

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

It’s a choice only we can make for ourselves. No one can give us their salvation and no one can take it away from us. We cannot blame God or anyone else for our own rejection of Him! Though we try! It's my parents fault that I turned out this way, it's society's fault I am not a millionaire, it's the church's fault I am not maturing in my faith, it's the teacher's fault I did not pass my class, it's my wife's fault I cheated, it's my husband's fault I drink. It’s my kids fault I have grey hair! (that one may be true).

Maybe the reason we are in some of the situations we are in is because we are selfish and lazy have and made some stupid decisions. I know what you're thinking, how can you say that? You don't know my situation. And you're right, I don't! But I know that God didn't create you to be a slave to sin, caught in addiction, controlled by hatred, depressed, disconnected, hopeless, or lost. He created you with a purpose to live a life abundant! To glorify Him in all things, to shine a light in the darkness and be the love of Jesus in this broken world.

Are you approaching God as though He needs you, or do approach Him with humility and fear, knowing it is you who need Him? Knowing He didn’t need you but He chose you anyway, and loved you anyway, sent Jesus for you anyway, even though you didn’t believe and were living selfishly and even though there was nothing you could ever do to deserve or earn it, He still chose to give Himself for us!

We were created for Him! To live for Him, to love Him, to glorify Him, to lift His name, to take His truth to the world. Regardless of opposition, from us or from others, God’s purpose is accomplished. But i ask you this morning, are you going to be a part of it? Will you surrender to Him to be included in His purpose? His purpose should be our purpose! Are you willing to move for Jesus?

Are you willing to move for Jesus today? Are you willing to move through opposition? Are you willing to move through the lies that try to keep you from Him? Are you willing to move past your own decisions and failures and into His will, His love , grace, mercy so that He glorified through your life?

If you are here this morning and have never surrendered your life to Jesus, then I ask you: Are you willing to move out of your oppression and move TO Jesus so that you can STAND for Jesus and move FOR Jesus?

prayer

Invitation

We should be for salvation. It should be the purpose of our lives. Everything we do should revolve around our call to share the Gospel with the world. We have been given the free gift of salvation. What are you doing with yours? It is not for us to keep to ourselves.

NKJVI say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

It is the people who WILL respond to the Gospel that we should look forward to encountering. We cannot allow those that reject His Word to influence our confidence or our determination to do what we have been called and ordained to do. Just know that the enemy will never stop attacking us.

NKJVBut the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

I find it interesting that the Jews went to the women first, but it makes sense when we think about it. Women, you hold strong influence over men whether it’s for the truth or against the truth. It’s like having super powers. If you woke up tomorrow with the ability of mind control, what would you do with it? Use it wisely!

The world will always use it's most powerful weapon against you. It will use the things that hold the most sway over you. Family, money, success, power, relationships, security. The enemy will constantly try to make you think that these things are or will be in danger if you follow Jesus. Which is not completely untrue.

NKJV“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

This doesn’t mean that you have to hate your family in order to follow Jesus. It means that following Jesus in the way that He asks us to follow Him (fully committed, all in, thick or thin, rain or shine) is gonna cost you certain things and people in your life. And the world will try to convince you that it’s not worth it. It’s not worth the sacrifice, it’s not worth the effort, it’s not worth the struggle. The world will try to keep you focused on what you will lose rather on what Jesus promises you will gain.

But notice that these people could not deter Paul and Barnabas from preaching Jesus. No matter the people they stirred up, the threats, the negativity, the only thing they could do was expel them from the area. What do you do with something that you cannot defeat or undermine? You put it out of sight. When there was no fault found in Jesus and He could not be discredited, He was murdered. The truth and power of the Gospel cannot be denied! Which is why we attempts to hide or change it.

The devil does not have to get you to follow him, he just has to get you to stop following Christ. We must keep walking for Jesus.

NKJVBut they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Every single day, the enemy throws a little bit of dust on us. Every attempt to slow us down, a little dust. Every distraction from spending time with God, a little dust. Every situation that comes up at the last minute, a little dust. We must not allow the 'dust' of sin, rejection and unbelief to cling to us as we move through the world. Anyone who’s lived in Midland for any amount of time knows what built up dirt can do. If we do not shake it off, if we don’t keep ourselves clean,if we don’t maintain ourselves in the word and truth of God, the dust will build up in our minds, hearts and spirits as it attempts to knock us off of our mission.

There will always be opposition. The enemy will never give up trying to stop us.The disciple were not happy because they got kicked out, they were joyful because of what they had seen the Lord do. We will never see the Lord work in and through our lives if we are not willing to step out of our lives and into His.

But we have to make the choice, here and now, to:

Be clear about who we are: not ashamed, know the cost

Be excited about what we do: not needed but chosen and loved, knowing what Jesus has done for you

Be intentional about Jesus in your life: no excuses, Jesus 1st and on purpose

Prayer