Sermon Central
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What's The Point Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Mar 13, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: This is the 5th sermon in the series "Moving With God".
Sunday Morning January 27, 2009 Bel Aire Baptist Church
Series: “Moving With God (Exodus)” [#5]
WHAT’S THE POINT?
Introduction:
Why do we bother reading our Bibles, praying, giving, attending, witnessing, serving, etc…? What’s the point to all of this?
There is a cost to following Christ. The idea that we get saved and then just do whatever we want is a cancer within the body of Christ. We as Baptist have been fighting people for years about the concept of once saved always saved; and while I do believe that a saved person cannot lose their salvation, we use it as an excuse for bad living. We want assurance of our salvation while we live like lost people. Instead of trying to defend our bad behavior, why don’t we bear fruit of Christians?
Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
In order for Moses to follow God, it cost him some things, and it will cost us these same things. Jesus said that we need to count the cost before we follow Him.
To follow God we must…
1. Leave our comfort zone. You can’t be comfortable and obedient to the will of God at the same time. God usually has to make us uncomfortable so that we will trust in Him and not ourselves.
2. Leave our fears behind. No one likes rejection, and we are told over and over again that not all people will accept what God is doing. God wants us to trust His plan even though it is not easy.
3. Leave our pride behind. We can’t be stubborn and do it our way and be obedient at the same time. You must choose. God was going to kill Moses because Moses had not circumcised his son as he was supposed to do. You must get right with God before you can move forward with Him.
So why would anyone go to all of this trouble in order to follow God? Wouldn’t it be easier just to do your own thing? What’s the point?
Moses and Aaron went and told the people what God said. Here are the results of their faithfulness:
1. The people heard and saw.
2. The people believed.
3. The people worshipped.
Conclusion:
John 3:14-18 (NIV)
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 12:32 (NIV)
“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
When we are obedient:
1. People will hear about Jesus and see Him in our lives.
2. People will believe and be saved.
3. People will worship Him.
It’s not about us, it’s about Jesus!
