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Well welcome all of you we're glad that you're here for all of those of you that are online
we're glad that you are joining us that way and other venues that we have. So welcome
this is a great day. So last week we talked about being a neighbor. Jesus said Love God;
Love your neighbor as yourself. And we concluded that we could in no way say that we love our
neighbors if we don't know their names. Right? So lots of us are trying to make sure we know
our neighbors names. Writing maybe some cards, maybe coming up with some plans to make some
cookies and do that. Lots of you are doing that right? Ok not very convincing. So you
need to make sure and do that cause we're gonna come back to this even next week a little
bit and then in other weeks so that we're be people who take that seriously. Right?
Alright if you would pull out your outlines. And we are continuing through a series in
the gospel of Luke, which is the outsider's story of Jesus' life. We've started by asking
the question where does faith begin. For lots of us we think faith begins maybe as our parents
teach about God. Maybe when you went to Sunday school, maybe when you went to church, or
temple or synagogue. You learned some basic things about God. Is that where faith begins?
And then as you got older and those were adult questions, kinda crushed your childhood beliefs.
And maybe walked away from what you believed. So did you loose your faith? Where does faith
start? Or how do you believe or how do you re-believe? Well we're discovering is the
beginning point for faith is a person of Jesus. Its what you know about Jesus and what you
believe about Jesus. That's what faith is, it's believing in Jesus. So we're going through
this account that Luke wrote that teaches us about Jesus. Now today we're gonna look
at Jesus' life. We're gonna look at a very familiar passage in Luke Chapter 2. And for
some of you who've never crossed the faith line, never begun the faith journey. Saying
I believe in Jesus we're gonna give you a chance to do that at the very end of this
service. For those of you that are Christ followers, this passage, while very familiar,
I think because its so familiar and because usually we look at it closer to Christmas
the reason that we're looking at it is because it comes up in God's word but its good to
be about this distance from Christmas. Because I want you to see this in a better more powerful
way. This passage is awesome. And it's not awesome because it reminds you of snow globes
or you know musical merry Christmas bells and stuff like that. Cause it isn't just a
Christmas message. Its way more powerful then that. So today I want to startle you with
this very familiar passage. Give you some background to it. And you'll see the power
of this passage. Alright? Alright, so you're gonna have to think with me. We're gonna do
a little history cover some things so you're gonna have to work with me.
So Luke chapter 2 all of you that brought your bibles, blessings on you, may your children
love you more and rise up and call you blessed. Those of you that didn't bring your bibles
no blessings for you. I need you to love your bibles. Alright. Very familiar passage. Put
your thinking caps on. Luke chapter 2. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree
that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census while
Carnius was governor of Syria. Remember that? Remember the big census, Luke is saying, remember
how that happened in history? And he says that everyone went to their hometown to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth and Galilee to Judea to Bethlehem to the town
of David. Because he belonged o the house in the line of David. He went there to register
with Mary who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Those two thoughts
shouldn't go together. You're pledged to be married you shouldn't be expecting a child.
So there was a scandal in this family. While they were there the time came for the baby
to be born and she gave birth to her first-born. A son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed
him in a manager because there was no guest room available for them.
Now we when we hear this we think of Linus reading it. And that's the beauty of the Christmas
story. But it's greater then that. Alright. Because what he's doing there is he's saying
first of all you need to understand this is a fact. This really happened. I'm telling
you a story and you know lots of people when they hear this they go o you know I'm not
sure if that's true its probably a legend. But it's a good legend to celebrate at least
once a year cause it captures hope and the beauty of love and the good things. So we
should celebrate it. But it's not a real story. But that's not what Luke is saying. He doesn't
start this by saying once upon a time or long long ago in a galaxy far far away. He's saying
remember the year that Caesar you know, remember that year that Caesar took a census. And the
reason he took that census and it was only 60 years ago when he did that. So it's like
when Kennedy got assonated 50 yeas ago some of you remember that, you were alive. Others
of you even if you aren't alive you know that it happens. Because it changed everything
for us. So he's saying remember when he took this census because he's gonna tax us. Remember
when that happened cause your taxes went form like 65% to 75% even up to 80% in some parts
of the world. And remember you got to keep 20 cents or 25 cents out of every dollar you
earned and you didn't schools and you didn't get roads and you didn't get medical programs
or social programs all of your money left your country and went to Rome sot he people
in Rome could live a decadent life style and support the army that would just crush you.
Remember that? See and all of you would say if you lived in 60 ad. That wasn't a good
day, right? It wasn't a good day. And so he goes yeah I remember that and the point of
it is, it's a fact of history that it happened. Remember when Luke started the book eh said
I studied things I researched it so that I could tell you exactly what happened. I talked
to eyewitnesses so that you could know for certain the facts about Jesus' life.
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Now why is it so important that this really happened? Why is that so important? Because
this world is broken and we are broken and we know that. The world isn't the way it should
be. Every week, we don't like to face it, but every week the headlines and newspapers
or news there's violence, there's shootings, there's oppression and justice and cruelty
and it just overwhelms us and it breaks our heart and we think things shouldn't be this
way. And it's not right. And aren't things getting better. Can't things get better? And
immediately our minds rush and we think things are getting better right? Mean look at medicine,
look at technology, science and medicine. I mean I wouldn't even want to go back 10
years, 10 years ago medicine didn't even have some of the things they have now. I wouldn't
even want to go back 10 years in technology. Would you want to go back 10 years and loose
your smart phone? We couldn't even function. Alright. But even in that at the same time
even those we have these medical advances and science advances are we truly better off?
I mean in some ways yes. But yet there's you know we live in real fear. I mean very smart
people all the time. Are saying somebody could take down the grid and trillions of dollars
could be lost from the economy. Boom. Just like that. I mean we could go in a worldwide
depression. There's medical advances and yet there's biological weapons and they could
just wipe it out. You know we have nuclear power and weapons. But all of the sudden if
there's a nuclear winter we're gone. And we lived with a terrified life.
And why? Because the source of you know darkness is in our hearts. And even though technology
takes a new shape. It doesn't' save us it just becomes a new shape of evil. In that
sense and so we're afraid. And we're afraid because it isn't just a darkness out there.
There's a darkness in our heart. And so we lived frightened. Marriages don't work. Jobs
are oppressive and we know there's something deep inside of us. And we see it for the earliest
parts of our life. I have 4 children and every one of them came out as a little broken sinner
without any private sinning lessons. They had it down pat. They could lie, cheat, and
steal, and no body had to teach them how to do it. Why? Because we are broke and the problem
is in our hearts. And see we don't need a sweet story. Or a legend that tell us we need
to be inspired to think better. We need a real story about God coming to this earth.
Coming to our rescue and saving us form the darkness in our own hearts. The darkness of
this world. That's what we need. And so Luke is saying this is a real story that really
happened. And it happened in this time in history.
Now the second thing I want you to see is when you read this story, there's titles that
pop out and these titles that we read are titles that we think about as Christmas. And
so we can't help but think that these titles always went with Jesus. Son of God, Prince
of Peace, Savior, Lord, these are Jesus' titles. But when Luke is writing this, Luke is writing
to an audience that would not have thought of those titles related to Jesus those were
titles that were given to Caesar Augustus. And everyone in the known world would have
know that those titles belonged to Caesar. So I'm gonna give you a little history lesson
that you should have learned when you did world civilization in high school or college.
And you probably know it. But I'm gonna give you just to remind you. Ok? Cause it gives
you a context for what Luke is saying. Cause we he's saying here is awesome. He's taking
language that belongs to Caesar and he's applying to Jesus. This baby that's born in Bethlehem.
So why is he doing that?
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Now in 60 BC Octavian was born. And he was a nephew of Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was
you know the empire of the roman world. And Julius Caesar adopted him as his adopted son.
So Julius died in when? Every other service got this, Julius Caesar died in the? Anyone?
Anyone? Buller? Buller? Really? Eyes of March, you've never heard that? Remember Julius Ceaser
died in the eyes of March. Ok I'll just go through we'll pretend like you did. And Julius
Caesar died in the eyes of March the roman was into a big civil war it lasted for 14
years but Octavian destroyed the competition. Remember that? He killed Mark Anthony. You
see the movie Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, battle of Actium. You see the movie at all?
Ok. But, ok, so Octavian conquers the world and he brings peace to Rome. He brings what
is called Pacts Ramona. And he brings peace to the world. In fact he takes the title form
that prince of peace. And his empire was the largest empire in the world. It went from
Spain to India. As far north as you can go and as far down into Africa. I mean he ruled
the knows world in the time. So he took on the name Caesar Augustus. The illustrious
one. We have our English word, August. August comes form Augustus.
So he also took the term Son of God because one day he was, he had games going on in Rome.
Cause he was entertaining the roman citizens. Kinda the precursor to our Olympic games.
And there was meteor that shot across the sky to which e said that is proof that my
father Julius Caesar has ascended and become a God. And so if my father is a God I am Son
of God. So literally Julius Caesar. I mean Caesar Augusts printed coins. And on every
roman coin it said Caesar Augustus Prince of peace son of God. So every time you bought
or sold something there was a coin and it said Caesar Augustus prince of peace son of
God. Everybody in the known world knew those are Caesar titles. Then he was called Savior
because he brought peace to the world. And literally his birthday September 23 became
the first day of the year. Time was told by Caesar Augustus own life. And the took the
title Lord. Which is an awesome term. Curious is the Greek term. And it was this idea that
he was the sovereign ruler, the supreme God, the supreme Lord who ruled over everything.
He had a right to the economy. He owned everything. He owned you. He owned your life. And so he
was Lord.
And so you would have to, if there was good news there would be Harold that would come
to your town and everybody would have to gather in the time square or the town square and
they would say good news you in Gillian. And the good news had nothing to do with you it
always had something to do with Caesar. Good news Caesar has conquered another land. Good
news Caesar is gonna tax you even higher. Good news Caesar had a child. Good news and
it wasn't good news for you. It was good news for Caesar. So celebrate good news alright?
Now the values of Caesars kingdom was oppression it was might make right. It was injustice.
They would take all the money. It was for the Rome. It was for the elite. And so it
was privilege and position. And everyone in the world knew that these were the titles.
So you can imagine.
60 AD. 30 years after Jesus died on the cross rose from the dead. Christian faith is growing
but it isn't the majority it's a very small group of people. And Luke writes a story with
these words in it. Where he says Jesus this baby born in Bethlehem. He's the Son of God.
He's the prince of peace. He is savior. He is lord. What do you think people did in response
to this? Luke you better slow down a little bit here because this is sub verse this is
a message of insurrection. This is a rebellion. You are, do you know what you're doing here?
Do you think Luke knew what he was doing when he choose those titles? Yes he did. Because
this is an in your face kind of a deal. Even though Rome is the dominating world power
this is 60AD. Rome doesn't look like its ever going anywhere. It is awesome. Luke stands
and says no that's not true. He says I bring you good news that is of great joy that is
for all the people. Tat would have startled everyone. Good news for everyone? Not just
for Caesar, not just for the roman citizens, but for all of us? The broken, the marginalized,
the forgotten, this is a good news of great joy for all of us? And then he says that Jesus
is the Son of God born of a ***. That he is a savior. That he is the prince of peace.
That he is Lord. I mean he is ascribing to this baby born in Bethlehem in a manager middle
of nowhere, in the outskirts all of these powerful titles that belong to Caesar alone.
And as we go along he's gonna shock us. Cause the values of this kingdom is humility. And
serventhood, and grace and mercy and forgiveness. That this king is born to very poor parents
in a nowhere town. To nobody's. Is starling? It's startling. And who can imagine? Now from
our vantage point we see it really different; but in 60Ad do you think that anybody could
have imagined that in 2000 years from this point that Rome would be nowhere. That there
would be 1. 5 billion people that claimed the name of Jesus. That every year people
all around the world would celebrate Jesus' birth. That we would tell time our calendars
would be defined by Jesus' birth? And Caesar would be a salad? Right?
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So what's the whole point of everything that he's saying? He's saying to him, he goes there's
two kings. There are two kingdoms. And there's two ways to live. And you've got to make a
choice. You can believe that Caesar is Lord. They're the world's power. They are dominating.
Everything is there. Remember 60AD they're in control. Or you can believe that Jesus
is the prince of peace. He is the savior. He is God in the flesh and he is lord. Now
people would say. You can applaud that, Go ahead. So people would say. But if Jesus came
to break the power of sin to break the power of death, I mean why didn't he do it. I mean
if Jesus came to rule the world and to destroy the darkness of this world why didn't he do
destroy the darkness? And the answer is because if Jesus destroyed the darkness all of the
evil he would of destroyed you. He would have destroyed me. None of us would have made it.
The world is broken but we're broken to. You see the real issue when you read the story
of Jesus is, how can Jesus rescue us from the darkness and destroy the darkness without
destroying us? And that's the story of Jesus. That's what he did. You see Jesus didn't come
to bring Judgment. Jesus came to bare our judgment. So Jesus destroys death by dieing.
He destroyed sin by taking our sin upon him. And taking it the cross. He died in our place.
He died the death that we already dieing. He took our judgment and he died on the cross.
He destroyed sin by submitting to it. He destroyed death by dieing for us. And how do we know
that he really did that? Because Jesus in an awesome display of power he died our death
that we were already dieing. But because he's God he is able to say I don't feel like staying
dead anymore. And so he conquered death and he rose form the dead. And because he rose
from the dead. People were just struck by that. That was an awesome proof. And because
it was an awesome proof they would say. They would refuse to say Caesar is Lord. They would
say Jesus is Lord. In fact Rome was incredibly tolerant. You could believe in 60Ad anything
as long as you said Caesar is Lord. That he is the sovereign; he has the right to rule.
He owns me, he owns everything. As long as you said that you could believe whatever you
want. But if you refused to say Caesar is Lord they would put you to death. And in 60AD
when Luke wrote these words. There were many Christ followers that were being fed to lions.
Being put on cross. Being burned at the steak. That were loosing their property, separated
from families because they would literally stand with their fists clenched in defiance
and refuse to say Caesar is Lord. And they would say NO Jesus is lord. In fact Jesus
is Lord is the most simple, most powerful statement of faith that's recorded in the
bible. When you say Jesus is Lord you are summarizing everything.
The term Lord was not only a powerful term for Caesar. It's a powerful term for those
that read the bible. Its used like 9000 times in the Old Testament. It's used 700 in the
New Testament. Jesus talked to his followers and he said you call me teacher and Lord and
you are right and Jesus took that term and he embraced it. Which meant I am the sovereign
Lord. The creator of the universe. The one who sustains it? I own everything I own you.
Thomas you know he couldn't believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. The other apostles
had seen Jesus. The resurrected Jesus but he hadn't and so he said I just can't believe
it until I see it. And you know he's a skeptic and I appreciate that cause I'm a skeptic.
Mostly I don't believe anything you say unless I see it myself. And so I would have been
just like him. And until I see him and Thomas said until I put my hand in his side, put
my hand in his wounds I'm not gonna believe it and so when he saw the resurrected Jesus.
What did he say? He dropped to his knees and he said My Lord and My God.
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See understood how powerful that title was. In fact in Romans we'll see in a second. It
is Paul declaring, he says what does it mean to be a Christian. And he goes if you declare
with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart. You'll be saved. Philippians
2 captures it in the most powerful way. Philippians 2 is the grand story arch of all of creation.
Everything start to finish it says this way. Jesus, starting from the very beginning, even
though he was equal with God did not hold onto equality with God. But he surrendered
that, stepped down, and he became human. The incarnation. Jesus came, was born in a manager.
And not only was he human and came to be like us, but he came to be with us. And not only
that but he was a servant. And not only was he a servant but he submitted himself to death.
He died in our place on a cross for sin. And because he died in our place. Because he was
willing to humble himself become human, be a servant, die on the cross, it says that
God exalted him to the highest place. So that at the name of Jesus every, this is where
history's headed. Want to know where its all gonna end? Here's where history's going. At
the name of Jesus every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is
Lord. To the Glory of the Father. So the ultimate statement of faith is when you say Jesus is
Lord. Say it with me. Jesus is Lord. That's the most powerful statement that you can make
in faith. And so that's what they said.
Now today it'd be crazy for anybody to say that Caesar is lord. No body would die for
that right? Any of you, if you don't Caesar is lord, we are gonna shoot you, not even
possible, because Caesar is dead and the Roman world is gone. But there is a bunch of a little
Caesars in the world today. Right. And you know what is sad. These little Caesars we
give them our allegiance and we say they are the price of peace. They are our savior. And
they are lord. And we live our lives following them. And what a fool's game.
What are some of them? I've listed some on your outline on the back. The first one is
materialism, and consumerism. I mean good news, I bring you good news of great joy,
Christmas is coming, and we can consume and buy because if you have enough you will be
enough. And ultimately if you have enough and you be enough then you will experience
happiness. And isn't happiness peace? I mean peace on earth aren't you just one possession
away from peace? Mean look at the illusion of Christmas. If you can buy the perfect gift
for the person on your list that you love. You will bring them happiness and joy. Peace
on earth. That's what. And we crazily, we think if I can just find the right. People
who love would give me the right gift, then I will experience joy, happiness, and peace.
But if its not you think no I'll tell you what will bring me peace. If I would just
have enough money in the bank. If I have enough money in the bank so I can say, you can take
this job and shove it. That's peace. Or if I have enough money so that I can retire that's
peace isn't it? That's what peace is? Come on is it? It promises peace, salvation, it
promises to protect you, to provide for you, which is another way of saying Lord, Curios,
but does it? Didn't we all live through 2008? All of you that were so secure and then (swipe
sound)? It went away? Cause money so reliable? And yet it promises everything. And so it's
a little Caesar that is saying I am Lord, I am Savior, I am the Prince of Peace.
But we know Jesus says it's a fool's game. Come to me I will give you rest. And he provides.
And he goes I am lord so I will protect you. I will watch over you. I will give you what
you need. And the greatest way that you can break the power of Caesar materialism in your
life is to be? Content is good. By the way we're gonna talk about that next week, right?
You know if you've been around our church, next week is the week before thanksgiving.
And I'm gonna give a message that week; I've given every year for like 30 years. It's the
only message I repeat. Have you ever been here for this message? It's like so much fun.
Its illegal how much we'll have next week. And you got to be here. Cause next week we
are gonna talk about contentment and we are gonna talk about this. And the reason why
I think it's the most important weekend of he year to be in church is because it's right
before the fast and furious days of the holiday and it will help you get through the season.
Next week but the answer to the question is not contentment. The answer is? What was the
question? Does anybody know where we are? What is the thing that protects us from materialism?
Generosity. It is us being Generous, giving. Jesus tell us you know the way to break the
power of money in your life is to give it away. And when you give. You're saying, it
is the rebels yell that I will not trust in the materialism of this world. The money of
this world. The things of this world. If I have enough it doesn't mean that I will be
enough. I am going to give. Because when I give it breaks the power of money and materialism.
That's why God calls us to give and he says you're trusting that I am lord. Because I
will protect you. I am greater then the economy. I am greater then money. I am greater then
your job, I will protect you, I will provide for you.
What do you believe is Lord? Well I can tell you, just look at your bank account. You just
see where you go. Do you give? Percentage, regularly, consistently? Or do you just feel
a little touch of compassion and you throw a few bucks? That's not giving. So what is
it? And you can look at your own life and you can say, what do I believe is Lord? Pleasure?
Doesn't pleasure promise all sorts of good things? A feel good hit, a fun fix, and if
you go do this or have this. If you go out and you have enough fun then you'll find peace
and happiness. Doesn't it promise that? It absolutely does. Now anybody looks honestly
at it. You look at these people who pursue all out noting but pleasure. They fry their
life and their brains, and they get addicted to all sorts of stuff. And they spin out of
control. But still you know pleasure for a season is a good time. But the problem is
that it demands that we serve it. It demands that it becomes Lord of our life. It doesn't
promise just peace and happiness it wants us to serve it.
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And then the other god's relativism, universalism, tolerance, is basically saying. You get to
decide what's truth; you are Lord of your life. So truth is truth to you. So you get
to decide. There's no objective truth. You get to decide what truth is. Because you are
Lord. Or individualism where you are gonna make yourself. Where you are going to find
your purpose and your meaning and significance in your life. Because ultimately if you make
yourself somebody, you are Lord.
Or religion. That's a great one. Isn't that a great Caesar of your life? What does religion
say? Or moralism? If you're good enough, then you're acceptable to God and you've earned
your way. And if I ask you, how many of you are good enough? Anybody raise your hand would
be crazy. If I said how many of you are as good as you even think you should be? Nobody.
How many as good as you try to be? Nobody. How many as good. Nobody is even as good as
they want to be. So how good is good enough? The problem is God's good is a perfect good;
none of us can be good like that. And so when we think about it. Religion is just a treadmill
of us trying harder and harder. And only getting further behind. There's no good news. But
you see when Luke gives this gospel message. This good news. Mean it's awesome.
Look at what he says I bring you good news and it's a great Joy, because it's to? All
the people. You see how that would have startled them? Good news was good for Caesar. But Luke
is saying no no this good news, I'm telling you this story its good news for all the people.
Born to you this day, in the city of David, he is Christ the Lord. Luke would go on to
say, that it is god in the flesh that comes to save us. And this message is still radical.
That it is god who comes in the person of Jesus. And he dies in our place. He destroys
the power of sin and death. Without destroying us. And how did he do it? He went to the cross
and he died in our place. And so he is savior, he is the Son of God, he is Prince of Peace,
and he is Lord. He brings forgiveness for our sins. And he proclaims that broken relationships
can be healed. That our broken relationship with God and our father can be restored. Broken
relationships with each other can be healed. And that we can't save ourselves. But that
God when we cry out to him, we say, I believe. He comes into our life and he gives us the
power to become the very people that we want to become. He starts this transformation process
in our hearts. Its form inside out. And he makes us so that we can be the people that
we want to be. And today God is working the world to bring love and joy and peace and
patience and kindness and goodness. Not only in the lives in his people but through the
lives of his people to this world. And his values are not oppression and injustice. And
his people getting their way and forcing their opinions on other people. But the values of
God's kingdom, of Jesus' kingdom is love and humility and kindness and graciousness and
we become servants.
And so Jesus is Lord is the most profound proclamation hat you can make. And so if you're
gonna say Jesus is Lord; I mean that is a rebels yell. Mean we are coming into a season
where I think it's the hardest thing to say. Jesus is Lord. And if you are really gonna
say Jesus is Lord, wouldn't it mean that we would have to be people who celebrated Christmas
different. I mean doesn't it necessitate that? I mean we can't, we can't look the same as
other people. Because we are saying I'm not gonna get caught up in that. I'm not gonna
be the grinch that steals your Christmas. I think giving gifts is a wonderful thing.
And it's a beautiful expression of what Christmas is. That God gave us a gift. Giving gifts.
But just being caught up in the materialism, the consumerism, there's noting beautiful
about that. That's not saying Jesus is Lord. That is saying Materialism is Lord. Stuff
is lord. Things are Lord. But if we're gonna do that. I mean to celebrate Christmas different.
To be generous, to be kind, to be giving, to do things that are radically different
then someone else. That's the message that Luke is writing in this book. And in a world
that is dominated, more dominated then anything you can imagine, where Rome dominated the
world and everybody had to say Caesar is Lord. Christians would clinch their fists and say
no. And literally go to their death. Because they would refuse to say that. And they'd
say, no Jesus is Lord. Don't you think we could celebrate Christmas a little different?
Then the people in our neighborhoods and the world to say, no I'm not gonna do that. And
to live different. And he calls us to live different. Jesus if the model is that Jesus
is equal to God but he gave up his position and he stepped down, and became like us. And
he didn't just become like us but he became a servant. And not just a servant but he gave
his life up for us. That Jesus is Life is about stepping down and being humble. Do you
think that if we're followers, that our lives can be marked by stepping up and stepping
over and oppression and injustice and intolerance because we want to move forward, we want our
own way? Jesus didn't step down so we could step up. He really expects us to be humble
in the life that we live. I mean this message is radical. And it is just as radical as when
he wrote it for us today. So if you are going to say as a follower of Jesus, Jesus is lord,
it has huge implications for your life. Luke writes in the first century a totally subversive,
rebellious message, that says no. I'm not gonna believe what the world says. I stand
in defiance of what the world says. And it is a challenge to us as we look at it and
say. If we say Jesus is Lord we stand in defiance of what the world says, and the things of
this world. Because we're going to say Jesus is lord.
And for those of you that maybe has never really thought it through and say what does
it mean for me to really be a Christ follower. I mean this passage explains it so clearly.
On your outline, some of you would say, you know I need to know more. If I'm gonna be
a follower of Jesus I need to know more. Well you come back all through Christmas season,
we are gonna talk about who Jesus is, what does it mean, as we go through Luke. Some
of you go I am an admirer of Jesus. You know I think he's a great teacher. But that's not
really what it means. Mean to be a follower of Jesus is to say Jesus is Lord. He is the
sovereign ruler of my life. He owns everything, he owns me. He is the one who is in control.
He's the one I'm trusting to protect me, to watch out for me. It stars by believing that
when Jesus died on the cross that he died for my sins and my brokenness, to free me
from that. He died so that I didn't have to die. So that he comes into my life to bring
forgiveness and life. Look at what it says in Romans 10:9 and 10. Here it is. If you
declare with your mouth what? Read it again with me. If you declare with your mouth Jesus
is Lord. That simple. And believe in your heart tat God raised him form the dead. You
will be saved. What it means is you passed form death to life. For it is with your heart
that you believe and are justified and made right. And it was with your mouth that your
profess your faith and are saved in this passage, Paul's saying its important tat you say. I
mean you declare something to be true. And it pivotal moments of our lives, we know how
important it is to say something and it changes everything.
Marriage is the best illustration of it. Are you married because you love somebody? No.
Are you married because you move in with somebody? No. When you stand in front of your friends
and family even if you do. I mean all marriages you have to have a witness but most you stand
in front of your family and friends in a church and a pastor says do you take this woman,
do you take this man, and you say? I do. And it changes everything. You go from singleness
to married just like that. And in the same way, what Paul is saying when you confess
with your mouth Jesus is Lord, you say I believe. And you believe in your heart. You're saying
I trust that Jesus is who says he is, and he did what he said he would do. You say that
because you believe it. You pass form death. It changes everything. You go from being lost
to being found to being broken to being whole. To being person who is a spiritual orphan
to being a child of God. By just saying I do, I believe.
[00:36:21]
So what we do in our church is we give you an opportunity to stand up and say that. And
so it's a way to define. And I'm gonna give you chance to do that. If you've never done
that I'm gonna give you a chance in just a second to say I believe. And now I know you
go, "in this room? In front of everybody, like wow, why would I need to do that?" because
it's what the bible says. It says if you confess with your mouth and this is an important thing.
Because its you saying, "I'm gonna trust Jesus with my life. I believe that Jesus is lord."
He's the owner the one who rules. He's the one that I want to follow. And so if you've
never done that before and you want to become a follower of Jesus I want to give you that
chance right now. You just stand up and say, "I believe" Loud enough for I can hear it
and that's what it means to become a Christ follower. So just stand up say I believe.
[00:37:16] People standing up
and saying I believe.
[00: 39:08] It's an important moment it's a moment of surrender it's a moment of perspective,
its kind of a moment of clarity where you're saying I can't. I'm not the lord of my life
I'm not gonna let these other things be the lord of my life. Jesus is the lord of my life.
Anyone else want to stand I believe. You've never done this before here's
your chance.
[00:40:41]
It's a big day we are so proud of you we want to welcome you into the family of God. [Applauding]
and you can hear for those of you that just stood up you can feel the energy the excitement
for those of us that are congratulating, because we made that decision and we know. Two things
we know the bible tells us we've experienced. That God comes into our life immediately and
he begins to work death backwards. He begins to change everything about us. The way we
think. The way our desires, our hearts, and it is a whole adventure that you've begun.
And so I want to ask you to do one more thing. We've got some pastors and elders that are
gonna come up front, you'll see them moving to the front right. And they're gonna be up
here and all I want to ask you is that you would come down and let us pray for you. They
just want to pray a prayer of blessing over you. That helps you in that sense just to
affirm the decision that you made. And as we stand in just a second. Some of you get
afraid to walk, and it's the last thing we'll ask you do. But if there's somebody around
and they are not moving would you just say hey I'll walk down there with you. I'll go
and you'll get to pray with them to. So let's stand together those of you that stood I believe.
You come down we want to pray with you. Let's sing and celebrate together as they do that.
[00:42:06]