Understanding in Christ Part 3 "Turn, Receive and be the Light"

The Great Commission
UNDERSTANDING IN CHRIST
Part 3: Turn, Receive & Be the Light
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org


ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”

WHERE WE ARE AT

† Maturing in Christ


This Series: Understanding in Christ

Previously:
Part 1: The Personality of God
Part 2: Signs of the End



TODAY’S SERMON: The Great Commission
UNDERSTANDING IN CHRIST
Part 3: Turn, Receive & Be the Light






OPEN IN PRAYER





WHAT IS REVIVAL?

Turn to God, Receive Salvation and Be the Light

I. TURN TO GOD

† Psalm 22:27-31

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

Revival is Not
A good music service
Great worship
Singing, dancing, praying in tongues…
A great sermon
A good turn-out
A large meeting


Revival is
True revival is the salvation of many people.

In the scriptures we read of 1,000’s turning to Christ at one time…today, we are lucky to see a handful a year.

† Matthew 24:12-14 In the last days…revival

12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

To being revivals, the Gospel must be preached.

As the scriptures say…”How are they to be saved if they do not know what name to be saved by? How will they know that name unless they hear? How will they hear unless someone bring it to them? How will someone bring it, if no one goes? Blessed are the feet of the one who brings the good news.”



II. RECEIVE SALVATION

† II Peter 3:9
9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.


God’s first will for you is SALVATION!


† James 5:7-12

7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10Brothers, be an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

We are ambassadors who represent Christ.

Does God waver?

Does He not say yes and mean it, or say no and mean it?

Is your Salvation and the promise of the New Heaven and New Earth a “maybe”?

Do not give people the impression that God says one thing and does another.

Keep your commitments, whether yes or no, as if condemnation awaits you if you do not…because it does.



† Ezekiel 34:16-22

16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

17 " 'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.

The judgment, the last day, the final and great day, is not just for those who have not accepted the Lord as their savior.

It is for all of us.

We will first be sorted out (the sheep and the goats),

And then judged for our behavior to each other!

If you are one who pushes the weaker sheep around, I warn you.

If you are one who is selfish and getting fat with your greed, I warn you.

If you are one who’s arrogance and pride causes you to make the truth of the Lord’s Holy Spirit which is clear and perfect as water to appear as mud to the weaker sheep, I warn you.

Our judge is watching, and we will have to give an account for every idle word on that day.

Bind your tongues, lay hold your feelings, and take every thought into captivity in the name of Jesus Christ, so on that day, you will only be held accountable for a little, as opposed to much.


III. BE THE LIGHT

† Isaiah 60:1-3

1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Don’t forget who is watching, not just our judge, but the world…this is why He judges us.

We sing praises with our lips, but our hearts are far from Him, as Isaiah and Jesus say in the Word.

He does not hear our prayers, because we do not honor our wives.

Our healings go unanswered because we are unworthy of redemption, and have not repented of our sins.

We are a weak and watered down, mere shadow of the Truth, yet claim victory over the evil one.

REPENT

† Isaiah 43:19

19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

Do not miss God’s spirit and work.

Do not miss what He is doing, even now.

Repent, submit to the Lord and His Holy Spirit.

Turn to the Lord, receive your salvation, and be the Light of this dark world.


CLOSE WITH PRAYER