Follow The Instructions

Follow The Instructions

I remember getting my first model for Christmas when I was 8 or 9 yrs old. On t/outside, top & all 4 sides, picture this beautiful car. Was 1967 Corvette (new at t/time). Inside box, set of instructions. #1, identify all parts - who needs to do that? I’m putting wrong pieces in the wrong places. #2, break off pieces as you use them - why wait, break em all off. Now I’ve lost 3 pieces. #3, put together with a small amount of glue - OOPS - pieces smeared with glue, my fingers are stuck to t/engine, pieces glued to the floor. #4, carefully paint the assembled car - you have seen my writing!

When I finished, my car bore no resemblance at all to t/car on the box.

WHY? Didn’t follow the instructions.

High School - 1968 Chevy Impala - losing pressure in t/cylinders, valves & valve seats needed to be ground so they there would not be a gap. Dad & I tore engine apart, took t/heads to a machine shop, had t/work done, brought home to put back together. Bought a torch wrench, so we could tighten to the specifications. Didn’t read about t/order the bolts should be tightened. Tighten them up left to right, but when started, bluish white smoke pored from the tail pipe. Radiator fluid getting in ylinders, gap between heads & block. We did not tighten bolts properly. Did all over!!!

Again, had problems because we didn’t following the instructions.

I’ve gotten better at putting things together, bikes, toys, even a home made Doll House for Mandy several years ago.

Once in awhile, I find myself trying to do something my way instead of following the instructions & it always turns out wrong.

1.000’s of High School Seniors are currently making plans to attend college. It’s hard to believe but the process probably began 2-3 years before. Which classes to take, SAT or ACT tests, campus visitation, application & enrollment deadlines, processing scholar-ships, etc. etc. ad nausea!

If you forget or do not complete one of the steps, you won’t be accepted.

WHY? Not follow the guidelines for admission.

Let me make a spiritual application:

If you want to follow God and be His disciple then the same principle applies: You must follow His instructions.

You can choose to go about it your own way, but if you do, then the promises stated are not guaranteed.

Let me mention one more thought as a prelude, there are passages in the Bible, our spiritual instruction manual which are like your VCR programming manual, they are difficult to understand.

But the passages that tells us how to become a Christian ARE NOT!

There is no difficulty or ambiguity. It is clear.

1. Hear

I’m curious: by a show of hands, how many of you who are Christians were told or heard from family (grew up)?

Person outside?

Goes without saying, yet the scriptures remind us as Christians that no one will come to know Christ, unless someone tells them.

Romans 10:14, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? How can they believe in t/one of whom they have not heard? & how can they hear w/out someone preaching to them?

Paul reminds us that God’s instructions are to given by those who have already read, understood & followed. They pass it on.

If we don’t tell others, no one will.

While we were in Illinois, I took Dad to get a prescription. I drove a road I have driven 100’s of times, yet they put a stop sign where there had not been one. In talking with Dad, I didn’t see it and ran it. Now if a policeman had pulled me over, I could’ve truthfully pleaded ignorance. It might have worked.

But, if I lived in Belleville & knowingly ran the stop sign, I would have receive no grace from t/officer, cause I was knowingly disobedient

Our duty as Christians is to tell others the spiritual stop signs.

That completes of our responsibility.

Now, the ball is in their court.

They must decide if they will respond or continue in disobedience.

I have listed four passages from the book of Acts. These are about individuals & groups of people who were presented with the information about Jesus; They heard the message of Jesus.

These passages also tell us about their reaction; what they did.

1st - Jesus had gone back to heaven, sent the Holy Spirit to empower the Apostles. No longer were they scared & timid. Peter stood before 1000s of Jews & told them about Jesus. He concluded

Acts 2:36-39, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord & Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other Apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, Repent & be baptized every one of you, in t/name of Jesus Christ for t/forgiveness of your sins. and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.”