Sermon Central
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A Radical New Life
Contributed by Greg Johnson on Apr 20, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Following Jesus gives a person a radical new life that brings about a radical new way of living, a way that calls us to follow the footsteps of Jesus and a way that changes us forever while impacting our city.
This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2008 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . Click to have messages emailed to you as they are made available. You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.
A Radical New Life
By Rev. Greg Johnson
People that want a new car go to the new car dealership. People that want a new house connect with a builder. People that want a new relationship go online with eHarmony.com. People that want a new look go to a hair stylist and some that need more help go to a plastic surgeon. All of this new stuff has one thing; none of it will last forever. Over time, it will need replaced or it will need to be redone.
Jesus gives his followers something new that lasts forever. Jesus gives his followers a radical new life!
One of the best pictures of this radical new life in Scripture takes place after the death and resurrection of Christ. Peter delivers a simple and short but powerful Christ centric message to those attending Pentecost (Acts 2). The day of Pentecost was the 50th day after the Sabbath of the Passover week. People traveled from other cities to Jerusalem for this Jewish holiday. On this particular Pentecost, they heard Peter talk about the death and the resurrection of Jesus. There were about three thousand who accepted his message and were baptized in water that day.
What followed the people’s faith in Jesus was radical, self-denying action. Check it out in this paragraph of Scripture. (Acts 2:42-47 NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. {43} Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. {44} All the believers were together and had everything in common. {45} Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. {46} Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, {47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Notice some things with me today concerning this paragraph of Scripture.
There is a hunger for the Word, fellowship and prayer. They got together daily to hear the teaching of the apostles which is now found in written form in our New Testament. They fellowshipped together and ate together in each others homes. They prayed together. And every time they prayed together there would be powerful results.
No one is in need. There were many that filled Jerusalem from different cities for Pentecost. Many had traveled far and at least 3,000 stayed in Jerusalem after Peter’s message. No one wanted to leave and go home, so the visitors were accommodated even after their money ran out. Those that lived in Jerusalem sold what was needed to make sure everyone had what was needed so they would not have to leave and travel home.
There is joy. The atmosphere is electrifying. They were meeting together daily and were soaking up the Word of God like sponges. Miracles take place. The joy in the hearts of these followers kept them praising God continually.
The result is city impacting. They found favor with all the people of Jerusalem. At this point there was no opposition and no persecution. There was no high pressure methods used to persuade people to come and join. And the people of the city saw the joy of the new followers of Christ. They saw the power. They saw the results of radical new lives and, longing for the same, they opened their hearts to Jesus Christ.
Following Jesus gives a person a radical new life that brings about a radical new way of living, a way that calls us to follow the footsteps of Jesus and a way that changes us forever. Others see the results of this radical new life and they open their hearts to Jesus Christ.
Beloved, continue moving forward in your radical new life that Jesus has given you. Allow the hunger for the Word, fellowship and prayer to intensify in your being in ways that will bring it to fruition. The result will be city impacting.
Know that you are loved,
Greg Johnson, www.GAJohnson.org
Founding Pastor, www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Loving God Fellowship is an interdenominational Christ following fellowship with a revolutionary new church plant in Salem, Oregon, and a worldwide Internet church community @ http://www.LGFinternetChurch.org .
