A young soldier ....and his commanding officer... boarded a train.
The only available seats.... were directly across from ... a very attractive young women .... who was traveling ...with her elderly ... grandmother.
As they engaged in pleasant conversation, ...the soldier and the young woman ... kept eyeing one another, ... the attraction ... was obviously mutual.
Suddenly... the train went into a tunnel .... And the car became ...pitch black.
Immediately ...two sounds were heard ... the "smack" of a kiss, .... Followed by the "whack" ...of a slap ...across the face.
The grandmother thought ... "I can't believe he kissed my granddaughter .... but I'm glad she gave him ... A slap.... That he deserved." (Pause)
The commanding officer thought, .... "I don't blame the boy for kissing girl, ... but it's a shame ... that she missed his face... and hit me instead."
The young girl thought, ... "I'm glad he kissed me, ... but I wish my grandmother... hadn't slapped him ... for doing it."
As the train broke into the sunlight ... the soldier could not wipe the smile.... off his face.
He had just seized the opportunity .... to kiss a pretty girl ...and slap his commanding officer.
(Slow) Now, ... that young soldier ...knew how to seize an opportunity.
He knew how to ... Seize the Day! (Pause)
Beloved ... Much In the same way .... we too must take advantage.... of every opportunity ... that comes our way ... to seize the day.
Unfortunately, .... Often ... we get.... so, caught up in the details ... of day to day living ... that we just do not seem to have the time ...or make the time... to seize the day.
We have deadlines and commitments, .... problems, and priorities, ... distractions and obstacles.
And though ...we really want greater fulfillment in life....... it just seems...... to be just outside ... of our grasp.
No one ... wants life ...to be ......just average.
By nature, ... we want our lives ....to be full.... Full and prosperous.
Paul shares these words with the Believers gathered in Ephesus ....and to us ... this day:
BIBLE "15 Look carefully then ... how you walk, ... not as unwise ... but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, ...because the days are evil. 17 Therefore ... do not be foolish, ...but understand ... what the will of the Lord is." END Ephesians 5:15-17
We have been given a mission.... and that mission ... could easily be "code named": ...... 24/7!
We are to be reflections of Jesus ....... 24/7
We are to shine His light ... the light of The Gospel ...... 24/7
Our lives ...are to be a testimony...... to His light within us. ...24/7
Throughout history, ......God has shown himself ... in and through relationship ... relationship ...with His people.
And ...In the incarnation, ...God became... more than words.
The Word himself ... Jesus Christ... The Word made Flesh ... entered this world. (John 1:14)
And Jesus ... The Word made flesh ... gave His disciples ... and us today ... both power ......and a vision.
In a way it is a picture ... A picture to help us live this glorious life .... 24/7.
Jesus could have simply given His disciples power from on high ... yet He spent ...three years ... ... doing what ... "disciplining" them.
Modeling ... the life... that He intended them... to live.
Jesus actions ... were the example.
Jesus ...is the picture ... for us to model.
Many have rejected the church ......because of the actions ...of those ... who claim ...to be followers ...of this Jesus.
It is.... Very sad... very painful .... but true.
Much of the world... is not interested in Christianity ...rejects Christianity ...because far too many ......who call themselves Christians ......are not known as ......a people who live ... what they say.
Hear me on this ......Until we move beyond superficial faith, .... we will not experience .... Supernatural... living. REPEAT (Pause)
What picture does Jesus give us... as we look at his life?
As we listen to...... his words?
Beloved ... Jesus loved ...the unlovable.
Jesus forgave ...the unforgivable.
Jesus reached out ...to the untouchable. REPEAT (Long Pause)
Across the street ...from the bombed out Federal Building... in Oklahoma City, .... where 168 people died... there stands.... a memorial.
And At the heart of that memorial... is a nine-foot statue ...of Jesus.
A statue of Jesus ... with his face in his hands, ... turned slightly away ... from where the acts of terror took place, ...and the plaque simply reads, ... "And Jesus Wept." (Pause)
How do you picture Jesus...... in your life?
How do you picture... in your heart ... all that Jesus ......has done for you?
Can you begin to comprehend ... his love for you? (Pause)
Maybe this story .... shared by a young father...will help you to capture ... what Jesus ... has done.
He said ... When I was A small boy .... I was consistently late... for dinner.
One particular day he said ... my parents sternly warned me ... to be on time, .... yet I arrived.... later ...than ever.
I found my parents ... already seated at the table, ......just about to begin eating.
Quickly I sat at my place, ....and then noticed what was set before him...... a slice of bread... and a glass of water.
There was silence ...as I sat ....and stared ....at the plate.
(Slow) Slowly.... he saw his father's hand reach over, ......pick up his plate ...and set it ... before himself.
Then his dad placed his own full plate ...in front of his son, .... smiling warmly ... as he made ... the exchange.
(Pause)
When the young boy became a man .... he said:
"All my life ... I've known what God was like... by what my father did .... that night." (Pause)
O' Beloved ... We are to emulate Jesus.
We are to emulate ... the one we call Savior ... the one we call the Lord ... of our lives.
We are called ...to be conformed.... into his image.
Yes .... A great assignment ... But Jesus also promised us......the power......to do it.
Remember Jesus Words to his disciples: BIBLE " Do not to leave Jerusalem, ...but to wait there.... for the promise of the Father. ... "This," he said, ... "is what you have heard from me ... 5for John baptized with water .... but you will be baptized ... with the Holy Spirit ......not many days from now." END Acts 1:4-5
He went on to say BIBLE "......you will receive power ...when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; ...and you will be my witnesses... in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." END (Acts 1:8-9)
Jesus promised us... the power ....to fulfill ...His mission.
You Will receive power ...and you Will be ...my witnesses. REPEAT
Beloved......We are Christ followers ... We are not ......Christ fans.
Fans sit on the sidelines ... followers get out ... on the field of play.
Followers are in the midst ...of the action.
We must be men and women of action.
We must be ... Men and Women of the Cross... ready 24/7.
Ready to seize each opportunity ... to seize each and every day.
We are called to men and women of Faith ... Action Faith. (Long Pause)
A man once told his wife ... that he never wanted to live ...in a vegetative state .... dependent upon a machine.
He said, ... "If that ever happens to me, ... I want you... to pull the plug." (Pause)
So, ... she immediately got up .......and unplugged ... the television. (Long Pause)
Are you in a vegetative state ......or are you in the field of play?
Are you ... experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit ... Are you Experiencing His power..... 24/7?
We are ....to pick up this book life, (Lift the Bible) and live .......and live....as Jesus lived.
We are to evaluate our lives, ......our relationships ... our actions and reactions, ...our priorities and resources .... in the light of our relationship ... to God ......and His Word.
For all the busyness in your life life .... "Are you getting ......anywhere?"
"Are you going ......anywhere?"
"Is there a purpose ...for it all?" (Pause)
Beloved...Purpose ...gives meaning to our lives.
It gives one ...the ability to say, .... "I know why I am doing ... what I am doing!"
And ... the Question needs to be asked: Are you living ...... or are you just... existing?
There is a difference; ...... there is a tremendous difference ... Beloved ... there is an eternal difference.
Sadly ... far too many... are just existing ...they are not truly ...living life.
So many wake-up, ... and follow the same routine every day.
They go about their busyness, .... Yet they have no real sense of purpose ......no real sense of value.
Their happiness ... their fulfillment of life ...depends largely .... On others ...On circumstances.
If they were completely honest, ... they would admit.... that inside, ...they are empty ... they are not filled to the brim ... with life.
(Slow) Now.... I am not saying ...that we all need to live lives of liberality, ... with a new, .... wild change ...every day.
However, ... we can learn ....to live lives ...that are full of vigor and livelihood ... rather than being content ...with just .... "being."
Of just .... "existing."
Of living ... in a vegetative state.
We can learn from our short falls...... and from our failures ......but do not let them become ... a yoke ...around your neck.
"My yoke is easy ....and my burden is light... says the Lord." (Pause) (Matthew 11:28-30)
Beloved ...(Slow) Live in love, ....and love to live! REPEAT
Live in God's Love... live in his Agape love.
Beloved ... experience ... his Phileo Love.
Make the most out of this one life ... he has given you.
It is time to stop telling God.... how big your problems are ... and to start telling your problems ... how big ... your God.... is.
We can learn ... we must learn ... to stop existing .... and to start living.
To Seize the Day....24/7.
Beloved ... We are called ...to Deny self ...and follow to Jesus.
We are to make Jesus ......our life song. (Pause)
We are to Seize every opportunity ... To Seize each and every Day.
We are called not to be fans ...but to be followers ...of the Christ.
To Be filled to the brim .... TO Be filled to overflowing ... with life.
It is time ... It is time ......to get off the sideline.
It is time to Seize the Day and let Jesus be Lord ... Lord ... of every aspect.... of your life.
To Seize it ... 24/7
It is time to Seize ... each and every moment.
It is time to Seize ... each and every opportunity.
Beloved ... Carpe (Car-pa) Diem ... Carpe (Car-pa) Diem
It's time ... to seize ... the Day.
Amen and Amen!
I received much insight from a sermon by Wess Humble titled "24/7" and I commend it to you.
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