Rejoice In Jesus
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We’ve talked about standing for Jesus and moving for Jesus. But we need to understand that there is a goal. There is a reason for us doing these things. We are called to stand and move for Christ so that God is glorified, but there is much more to it than that. When God is glorified through our obedience, faith, courage, humility, hearts for His people, then we are also glorified in Him. We are blessed in and by Him. We are not merely robots created to follow orders, we are children who the Father loves and wants to bless with much more than we could ever imagine.
Today’s sermon is entitled ‘Rejoice In Jesus’
47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.
47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
NKJVFor so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.
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.
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.
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. It is for us to share. We are surrounded by people every day at every moment who are hungry and searching for truth, purpose.
As happy as God is when you and I read our bibles, pray, sing songs, spend time with Him, getting to know Him, it is nothing compared to the joy He feels when we share Jesus with someone.
I 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.
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.
Do you understand what that means? If we needed no repentance, we would be living perfect lives, which is impossible for us. But even if we could, it still wouldn’t bring about as much joy in heaven as when a lost person repents. Church, that’s huge! This should change your entire view of what it means to be a Christian!
This truth should make us reprioritize our lives and restructure the time we spend doing these things. As much time as we spend praying, reading, worshipping, teaching, learning, we should be spending even MORE time sharing His love with other people!
Scripture say that the people who believed were glad and glorified the Lord.
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.
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.
Look at what happens next:
But 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. It’s like having super powers. With great power comes great responsibility.
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!
If you woke up tomorrow with the ability of mind control, what would you do with it? Would you use it for good or evil? Would we use it for ourselves or for the benefit of others? We must choose wisely how we utilize our power and influence over others.
The world will always use it's most powerful weapon against you. It will use the things that hold the most sway over you. Those things are not always bad things, like addiction and sin. Sometimes those things come in the form of:
Family, money, success, goals, 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.
“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 and on what is against you rather than on what Jesus promises you will gain.
That’s what they were trying to do here to Paul and Barnabas. Look at all the famous, powerful, important people that disagree with you. Look at all the people that will talk about you at school and not be your friends. Look at everyone who will make fun of you and not hang out with you or invite you to be a part of their circles. Look at all the parties you will miss out on. Look at the promotions at work that you won’t get because of your beliefs. There will always be things and opportunities that being a follower of Jesus Christ will cause you to miss out on. But none of them will outlast the promises of our Lord and Savior.
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.
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.
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 people make attempts to hide or change it.
Following Jesus will cost us. Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the region, but look at how they react.
But 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.
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. A little bit of dust is easy to clean, but 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 and it renders us unable to stand, unable to move and we become ineffective in what we are called to do.
Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off of them. They said, we will not allow your dust to follow us to the next place. We will not allow your dust to weigh us down. We will not allow your dust to cloud our vision. We will not allow your dust to distort who we are and what we are called to do.
There will always be opposition. The enemy will never give up trying to stop us. Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust and went their way filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. The disciple were not happy because they got kicked out, they were joyful because of what they had seen the Lord do in their lives and the lives of the people around them. They were joyful because they knew that they were fulfilling the purpose that was given to them. They were joyful because they knew that Jesus had died for this very reason, so that ALL would have the opportunity to hear and respond to the mercy, grace, hope and love of God given to us through Jesus Christ. They were joyful because they had been chosen to play a part in God’s will and design. God has part for you to play as well. You will never see the Lord work in and through your life if you are not willing to step out of your life and into His.
But we have to make the choice, here and now. As we have a moment of response after the prayer.
Surrender to Jesus today,
Join this family of believers today,
Recommit to following Jesus today,
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
Rejoice in who God is, how much He loves you, the purpose which He has chosen for you.
Stand for Jesus, Move for Jesus, do that you may Rejoice in Jesus.
Prayer