Pastor Jann Braaksma
What day do we celebrate tomorrow? Yes, Presidents Day.
Who’s two birthdays do we celebrate? Yes, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington’s.
Congratulations to those who have the day off. I pray you a productive day.
So it would make perfect sense to talk today about leaders, especially Holy Leaders. And that is what I planned to do. I had the title, had some quotes, had the scripture readings and had a list of the presidents to see how many you could remember.
Then a ray of Son-shine, S-O-N-shine entered my life and I really want to talk about Jesus and His love for us. You see since Friday, January 14th I’ve had a burden in my spirit. I blamed it on too little chocolate, too much chocolate, short hours at work, too many hours home with Curtis. I blamed it on too many book reports and exams to do, and too few book reports and exams getting done.
Then God’s grace got a hold of me yesterday and I realized I had lost sight of Jesus. And when we allow our eyes to get distracted, we can get burdened.
Remind me again, what does John 3:17 say Jesus came to do? Yes, to save the world.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17 NIV)
Not because of Him, but through Him. More specifically through His blood shed at Calvary.
Romans chapter 10, verses 9-15 is our scripture today. May we hear it please?
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
Thank you.
Trust me, my feet are not beautiful. They no longer match in length or width and my surgery scar would scare small children. But no matter, it’s not my feet that are important; it’s the good news I proclaim that matters.
Amen?
Everyone in God’s house today that believes it; please repeat after me, “Jesus is Lord.”
Can you do better than that? “Jesus is Lord!”
How about; “Jesus is my Lord.”
How about; Jesus is my Lord.”
JESUS IS MY LORD!!!
God’s holy word says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ (which you just did) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
And there is a period there. “You will be saved.”
Yes, we had a good time at our membership classes. And some good food too!
I loved getting to baptize Darlene, Josh and Cloe.
But the Holy and infallible word of God says; “It is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
And it’s another period. “And are saved” period, and “You will be saved”, period.
Believe, confess, period. Let’s not make it so complicated that we scare people off. Or allow Satan to convince a sinner it’s too hard for them to be saved.
“As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.’”
Not put to shame today, tomorrow, or on the Day of Judgment before Jesus the Christ.
Romans 14:10 tells us; “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” But we who put our trust in Jesus will never be put to shame.
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile” – young or old, color of skin, accent of speech. Remember, it’s a matter of heart faith and mouth confession.
“the same Lord is Lord of all” – Hallelujah!! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb. 13:8) Jesus, who came not to condemn the world, but to save the world, is the same Lord of all. Amen?
“and richly blesses all who call on him” – He’s not a miser, He’s not thrifty (might I say He’s not Dutch?!?!) Jesus will richly bless all who call on Him.
I am not a prosperity preacher; I don’t believe Jesus will put a million dollars in your bank account. I do believe He will bless you. Bless you because of your faith.
And this reminds me of Luke 6:37-38, may her hear it now, please.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
“for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord “– not we who are perfect, or we who think that we are, not only the Methodist, or the Catholics, or the Lutherans. God’s Holy Word says; EVERYONE.
Everyone who calls on the name of Lord -
The Lord of Lords, The King of Kings, Emmanuel, Alpha & Omega,
Bishop of our Souls, Mighty Counselor, Jehovah Jireh,
Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Shammah,
Lamb of God, Morning Star, Prince of Peace, Rabbi,
Redeemer, Savior, Shepherd, the Word.
Call on the name of the Lord!
“will be saved.” – it’s another period! Three times in five verses we hear about being saved, do you think we should get that?
Verse 9 – you will be saved, verse 10 – and are saved, verse 13 – will be saved.
And there are three periods. I have underlined them in my bible.
We believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths, and God will think about it. He will weigh our good works and our evil deeds. He’ll project our potential.
NO!!! Saved! You will be saved! And are saved! Will be saved!
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?” – If the sinner does not believe Jesus was born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, descended to the dead, and rose again, how can they call on Him?
“And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” – God’s Holy Word is not speaking of the Native in a foreign land here. He’s talking about your neighbor, co-worker, or perhaps a family member.
How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? If we don’t speak the name of Jesus to them, how can they believe? And if they can’t believe, how can they be saved? And if they are not saved, where will they spend eternity?
How do we answer Jesus when He asks us, “Why didn’t you speak My name to them?”
“And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” – I don’t believe God means soap box on the corner preaching here. I believe He means doing a kindness, offering to help, giving freely. Our good works come from the overflow of Jesus in our lives.
What does Matthew 25:37-40 tell us about the righteous standing before Jesus?
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and fee you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Whatever you did to the least of them, you did to me, Jesus. Or you didn’t do.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is _____ (love). 1 Corn. 13:13
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy.
Love does not boast. Love is not proud. Love is not rude.
Love is not self-seeking. Love is not easily angered.
Love keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil. Love rejoices with the truth.
Love always protects. Love always trusts. Love always hopes.
Love always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corn. 13:4-8)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31)
“Whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:9-10)
Dale, please read for us the Life Application Topic of Marks of a Christian from page 1382.
“Love is routinely preached. But the litmus test of this love is whether it is genuine or hypocritical, out of self-interest or putting others ‘ well-being first.
Wesley’s general rules of ‘doing no harm, avoiding evil, and doing good of every possible sort’ are ways to help us practice love in our lives. For Wesley, faith and works are two sides of the same coin.
Wesley’s ‘going on to perfection’ requires the practice of spiritual disciplines. Love is expressed in works of piety, our devotion to God, works of mercy, and our compassionate treatment of others.”
Thank you Dale.
Believe in your heart, confess with your mouth, call on the Name of Jesus, and love your neighbor as yourself. Doing this I believe we will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23)
Let us pray.
Resources: Life Application Study Bible & The Wesley Study Bible