Religion or Jesus? You Choose!

When I meet someone for the first time and they find out that I'm a Pastor, one of two things will happen. Sometimes they're a Christian and we will have a great discussion about the Lord and today's church. But to often, they're not a Christian and at that point the conversation is over. They will usually say "I'm not a religious person" which I then say, "Nor am I" I don't believe in religion, I believe in having a relationship with Jesus Christ. But either way, they're done talking now. 

RELIGION FOCUSES ON THE EXTERNAL RATHER THAN ON THE INTERNAL.

It's all about the rules. It looks at actions and not the heart of a person. The Pharisees had 613 commandments they followed and they had them memorized as well. they felt, that if hey could just follow these rules, they would be right with God. Let's look at what Jesus thought about this.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:25

For them it was all about the show. They made sure that everyone knew that they had payed their tithes. They would worship and pray on street corners, just to ensure that folks knew that they were praying. They wore just the right clothes. They had it all figured out.

RELIGION PROMOTES SPIRITUAL PRIDE.

It'll make ya feel like you're better than everyone else and this is NOT a good thing.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get’.” Luke 18:9-12

I have it all figured out. I’m going in the right direction, others should do things the way I do or they will end up in hell.

Here's the Good News!

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known…This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…  Romans 3:20-22

Let's look at three very important things about this scripture.

1)    YOU CANNOT EARN GOD’S ACCEPTANCE BY OBSERVING THE LAW.

You can’t follow rules to be right with God. “I don’t drink, smoke, or chew and don’t hang out with those who do. I read my Bible and pray, 4 hours every day. I give lots of money on a regular basis. I don’t swear, I never do. It makes it very clear that this will not save you.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law…Romans 3:20

NO ONE! That means you too. No matter how many rules you follow, it wont work.

2)   THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS TO SHOW YOU YOUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR.

…no one will be declared righteous…by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans. 3:20

The Ten Commandments are for sinners to see they need Jesus. Ever broke any of those? Hmm, I know I have broke a lot of them, we’re all sinners. All rules will do is let you know that you aren't right.

3)    RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH GOD COMES BY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to ALL who believe… Romans 3:22

It is Christ plus nothing. 
Not Christ plus circumcision, 
Not Christ plus a tithe. 
Not Christ plus a pretty dress. 
Not Christ plus a lot of prayer. 
Not Christ plus a lot of reading. 
Not Christ plus the right church membership.

It Is Christ Alone, Just Him, Nothing Else, Just Jesus!

Let's finish the scripture from earlier and see how Jesus looked at the Pharisee and the tax collector.

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God…” Luke 18:13-14

None of us are worthy and only Jesus can fix it. There are no rules or perfect religion to make you right. Jesus is the only answer you have. The only true thing that matters in life, is will you accept Him or not?

Stop Living In Fear

Stop Living In Fear!

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

Many of us live our lives living in something that God did not give us!

Some say that fear is the opposite of faith.

I believe that living in fear is just having faith in the wrong thing!

 FEAR IS PLACING FAITH IN THE “­­­­­What if’s?”

And it’s always the bad! People never say good what if’s, except the lottery! lol

Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?" Exodus 4:1

What if – loose job, kid gets hurt, spouse cheats, wreck, marry or marry a jerk, can’t have kids, have another kid! They're are many what if's out there!

WHY DO YOUR “WHAT IFS” MATTER?

WHAT YOU FEAR REVEALS WHAT YOU VALUE THE MOST.

Fear of a failing marriage, just means you value your marriage.

Fear of some bad thing happening to your kid, just shows how much you love them.

Fear of losing your job, would mean you value your job. Some don't like their job, but they understand the value of having it.

WHAT YOU FEAR ALSO REVEALS WHERE YOU TRUST GOD THE LEAST.

You don’t trust God in your marriage, kids, job, etc…

WHAT ARE YOU NOT TRUSTING GOD WITH?   You need to own that Fear!

HOW TO FACE THE “WHAT IFS” OF FEAR

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEAR AND CHOOSE TO TRUST GOD.

I’m talking about truly trusting in God! Not brush your fear off, TRUST!

My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:2-4

We need to shift from earthly thinking to the eternal thinking! Man cannot hurt me! What’s the worse that can happen to me in this world?

SEEK HIM UNTIL HE TAKES AWAY YOUR FEARS.

Seek Him at home, at small group study, at work, at the altar, in prayer!

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

"I have never known more than fifteen minutes of anxiety or fear. Whenever I feel fearful emotions overtaking me I just close my eyes and thank God that he is still on the throne reigning over everything and I take comfort in His control over all the affairs of my life.” -John Wesley

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

God is on the thrown! If you put your trust in Him. He will NOT let you down! 

Want that perfect peace? Then you need to get your mind on Jesus!

Not the what if, but trust in Jesus!

Jesus wants to set you free of your fears!

What if, God has the greatest miracle for you today? 

Go and get it, with No fear!!!

Life Missions 2015

Let's make our live's in 2015 all about Jesus' mission.

Colossians 1:16 tells us that everything was created by Jesus and for Him.

Does your life show proof to that?

If we could play a video of your life or even just the last few weeks. Would we truly see a life that was created for Him and would you want anyone to watch it?

Would it even be worth watching?

It's hard for us to come to the realization that it's not about us, it's all about Him! Paul said it best in Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…

Paul was passionate about the life he lived for Christ, many of us get it messed up because we don't have purpose or passion, and if we do, it's not for the right things.

What are you passionate about?

We could start by living a life of example and be a witness for Him.

Many say it's hard to live such a way, but it's really not that hard if we just grasp hold of it correctly. Genesis 1:27 reads
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Now knowing this should make it easier.

We are His image, so shouldn't people be seeing Him through us?

We were designed to make a difference, that's why He created us in His Image.

We do this by living our lives reaching out to those around us. Like the story Jesus told of the good Samaritan. Recognize that all those who cross your path are your neighbors and they have been placed there by God to help you grow. Yes, I said, to help YOU grow. So you could learn how to become a better follower of Jesus Christ.

Let me put it another way. As Christians we always say Christ lives in us, but do we really understand what we are saying?

If He lives in me, and I was created in His image, then His purpose and my purpose should be the same?

Luke 19:10 says

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Luke 4:18 Jesus said:

…he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free.

According to scripture, Jesus had a passion for the lost.

Many of us can't stand the lost. We don't even get near those who aren't members of our church! Hey, don't get mad at me, I'm just calling it like I see it.

When we realize the true reason we are here, is the same reason that Jesus came. Life all around us will take a different form.

We don't need to wait til Sunday morning for the perfect song.

We don't need a preacher to lay hands on us to get us in the mood to reach out to the hurting and broken.

We have Christ in us.

His Will, needs to be our will.

Let us take on His mission to reach the lost, hurt and broken in 2015!

Happy New Year!