Sunday, August 17, 2008

 

Announcements -- Anthony
1 Chr 16:23-29
Rob Wiegel - father surgery on Tuesday, pinched nerve in back, pray for him that the pain is relieved and the hand of the surgeon is guided
missions contribution Sept 28
middle school ministry - Kablaam - 9/6-7    need chaperones - in Raleigh
Rick's preaching in Asheville today

 

Communion -- Bruno
Do you ever wonder who you are before God?
1 Peter 2:4-5
this is who we are before the cross
God is building me up into a spiritual house - not the abandoned, condemned broken shack that I am
I am a living stone in  God's house
How does Satan tempt you and lie to you about who you are before God?
Peter had his own conviction, even with how he had hurt Jesus
Which of our sacrifices are acceptable to God?
We shouldn't be looking for praise from people, but sacrificing to God
We always read 1 Peter 2:9 -- we are all that because of the cross
God is still working to build us up because of the cross

 

Ron Drabot -  "DEAD MEN WALKING"
fellowship with Marc Ottenweiller on Thursday, Sept 4th, 7:00 pm church office- he was a missionary with HOPE worldwide, established AIDS clinics, served 20 years in Africa
Diane Davis-Bond was baptized last Thursday, co-worker of Julie Westhofen

 

Julie Westhofen taking notes every Sunday, baptizing Diane
Linda Robinson battling cancer, beating it, see her joy and her smiles, she says to use her house, her yard
See people that love God and love the fellowship
Tim Loren - he met Tim in South Africa, Sally has had 10-12 brain tumor surgeries
Tim calls and texts everyone, inspires people
What a privilege to be related in Christ to people like this
Kelly Green - in a very serious car accident, she has a lot of energy, always has friends coming to church
People going through challenges in life and keeping focused
Bernardo and Minerva with the Latino ministry
Dave Sanchez - leading the ushering
Kids Kingdom

 

Mt 27:50-51  the curtain torn;  the curtain that separated the holy of holies, a priest could go in there once a year, sent in by man, put a rope around his leg with a bell, if he was a hypocrite, God would strike him down, they could pull him out
The God of the Holy of Holies, that God lives in you
Mt 27:52-53  holy people who had died were raised to life;   they were dead, now alive and walking around - they were alive all weekend at least, were seen after Jesus' resurrection
Mt 27:54   "Surely He was the Son of  God"
What do dead men love and therefore we should love because we died to self?
Rom 6   buried with Christ in Baptism
Col 3:1  
Gal 2:20  I no longer live, Christ lives in me

 

1)   Dead Men Love Life
2)   Dead Men Love Lives (people)
3)  Dead Men Obviously Love the Lord

 

Jesus was crucified as the Lamb of God
he died for you and me, for the entire world, so everyone can have a relationship with God
God had all those people come out of the tombs

 

1)  Dead men love life
they loved life, they didn't stay in the tomb
if you were in the coffin, and Jesus brought you back, you wouldn't just lay there, you'd come out because you love life, the most important gift
we don't know anything about these guys - we don't know their struggles or challenges
we only know they were Holy men, set apart by God
They were going to live life to the full
John  10
Jesus wasn't lying and he wasn't naive about the challenges we would face
He was the same man in Gethsemane, on the cross
Heb 12  he could endure the cross
when you know that your sins are forgiven
2 Peter 1:5
when you are cleared, you are joyful
Are you loving life like the people mentioned in the beginning of my sermon in the Charlotte Church? 
John & Donna B -- moving here from the Midwest;  4 wonderful children - all disciples -- Taylor at CPCC and Heather at Mallard Creek High School
They know them from their days in Chicago
Donna knows sign language - Ron has a dream for that ministry too
The campus helped them move in  - we are the Christian moving service
Rick & Michelle just moved here -- they didn't have much help - they prayed God would send them people to help them move, Disciples saw the stuff in their truck and knocked on their door, offered to help them move
They have come to church the last two weeks because of answered prayers

 

You are going to have hardships
It's up to you to choose to enjoy life
Waking up this morning is a gift itself
You want to love life and enjoy it to the hilt
Ron has had a lot of suffering and has had a lot of joy
Jonathan is a blessing, now six foot, three inches, born in South Africa (Ron can still take him)
Justin born in Chicago - Ron was pulled over on the way to the hospital when Lavonia was in labor because he was speeding, the cop let him go
What a joy these two boys have been to his life
His two daughters - he's a softie now
He thanks God for butterfly kisses
    "I thank God for all the joy in my life
    Oh, but most of all
    For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer;
    In all that I've done wrong I know I must
    have done something right to deserve a hug
    every morning and butterfly kisses at night."
It's a great joy to give your daughters a hug and kiss every night

 

In the first century, it wasn't just Jesus who died, the apostles all died as martyrs (all but John)
thousands of disciples died as martyrs in the first century
That was 2000 years ago -- in the 21st century we don't have Martyrs
Ron read "The Cross of the Savior" by Mark Templer (DPI) - that book inspired this message
He's serving in India now, a sacrificed and loving man.   He has had kidnapping attempts, his home has been surrounded by people stoning it, he's been taken to the police station in the middle of the night with false accusations because of preaching Jesus. 
Gladys & Graham Staines left the United States, and went to serve the poor and lepers in India. Graham went into a village, Philip & Timothy, their sons, were with him. 
In 1999, they were surrounded by an angry mob of Hindu extremists - they surrounded the car.   The lit the car on fire because of their hatred for his love for the poor.
(see http://www.charismamag.com/display.php?id=9602 for more information)
That's today in the kingdom of God. 
How would you deal with that, Moms, if your husband and only two sons were treated like that?

“Looking back, I believe God very specially spoke to me on January 14, during my morning quiet time.  I use a particular daily Bible reading book as help.  The story for that day’s reading ran like this:  There was a young 12-year-old girl in hospital that was losing her sight.  Her pastor came to visit her and she told him, “Pastor, God is taking away my sight.”  For a long time, the pastor kept silent and then said, “Jessie, don’t let Him.”  The girl was puzzled, and then the wise pastor said, “Give it to Him”.  As I meditated upon this story, an inner voice asked me whether I was also willing to give all that I love – my husband, children, and possessions for Him.  I spent much time on this.  Tears began to roll down my cheeks.  Then I told Him, “Lord Jesus, yes, I am willing.  Take all that have, for your use – my husband, children and everything that I have.  I surrender them all to You…The Lord comforted me by saying, “don’t you know that Abraham pleased me by sacrificing his only son, Isaac….” These days, our blessed Lord has been strengthening me in very unusual ways.”

She further said, “The Lord has called each one of His workers to serve Him wholly and live a life that would be a ‘sweet-smelling sacrifice unto God’.  Be faithful to whatever you are called to do.  Never yield to the temptation to “go back”; never say “quit”, even if there is persecution or threat…. keep ‘looking unto Jesus who has gone before….’ I have only one message for the people of India.  I am not bitter.  Neither am I angry.  I can forgive their (killers’) deeds.  Only Jesus can forgive their sins.  But they will have to ask.  I have one great desire: that each citizen of this country should establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gave His life for his or her sins. Every Indian should know that Jesus loves him or her, and in turn they should trust Him and endeavor to love one another.  Let us burn hatred…and spread the flame of Christ’s love”.

http://gloryofhiscross.org/apostle5.htm

 

It is an honor to be part of God's kingdom.   Stop worrying about the things of this earth.   When those dead men were walking, they didn't check their stock portfolios.   We let the news tell us what we should be worrying about.

 

2)  Dead Men Love Lives
They loved people
John 13:34-35
The world will know that you are his disciple by your love for one another
The world will not know by your prayer list or your love for God
The world will know because you love people
How are you doing in telling the world that you love Jesus?
tolerating people is not enough
If you don't love the people in your small groups enough to go, what are you telling them?
1 John 4   Do not say I love God and hate your brother
We need to love those people who are most difficult
1 John 3  give to them, serve them
Rom 12  love them
You try to love and then someone irritates you
I'm still going to love them
Are you talking about people in a loving way?
Ron loves to brag about us -- the disciples of the Charlotte Church
Story -- a man had a lustful relationship, they got married, he abused her in many ways, he met a woman from work and brought her to meet his wife.
He said "if you don't do what I say, I am going with her".   He got his wife pregnant, and forced her to have an abortion.   She was so discouraged,  she doused herself with kerosene and lit herself on fire.   He took her to the hospital and she died there.   He was put in prison, for murdering her (he knew his actions led to her murder, even if he didn't light the match).  A disciple met him in jail.   He got out, studied, became a disciple.  He went to the family, humbled himself and begged for their forgiveness.   He served them until he proved that he had changed.   Now he devotes his life to loving people.   He can never bring back his former wife, but he can love lives now.   He can accept God's grace and make a difference in a hurting world.  
Disciples, I challenge you to love life, love lives and love the Lord.

 

No time for the third point
3)  Dead Men  Love the Lord
praying specific prayers, not just "if it's your will, God"
General prayers, generally nothing happens
specific prayers, God can make things happen
A Quote from Joan of Arc:   "One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.”
Live out your belief.
Our God is an awesome God, he reigns forever and ever.
The church says Amen.