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January 19, 2020 8:00 am
A bonus message for this week! Mike brings us a message to inspire listeners to further their relationship with Christ.
Stories of turn to host like this is Michael's with if not for God and as we always wake up in the morning that this is the day that the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it were just glad to be here this morning.
A lot of people work here about God has given us another day of work grateful for that.
And you know everything that they do everything that the Lord makes is good and us are just glad to be here this morning and we hope to share a word of inspiration with you.
We hope to share something that could lead somebody to salvation and we just hope that God blesses this broadcast because as we know it says in Psalms 127 unless the Lord build the house, laborers, labor in vain is matter fact you are one of the things I was thinking about was when I went to a Duke basketball game when they played against Wofford and I remember the day that I went and I was all excited about it before I left for the day to go work in. My wife gave the ticket and she goes here take the ticket so we go to the game tonight, you'll know where you're going in this are you have, you'll you'll know where you're going, you won't nothing you won't miss out on anything or anything like that and I put it in my car and all I would've had to do was look at the ticket but I start walking up to the games. The game was at 9 o'clock and all of a sudden nobody was there and I walk up closer to the stadium and when I walked up closer to the stadium. People actually started to come towards me with their Duke jerseys on and I said oh no don't tell me and I looked and I googled the Duke game and it said the game was almost over.
Well, that is our hope in our prayer for you today listening out there and radio world that you do not miss the call for salvation from Jesus Christ as we know it says in Scripture it says in John 316 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life, and also says in John 336 whoever believes in the son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them friends. We don't want.
We don't want God's wrath to be on you today. We want you to live your life and live an abundant life live a good life. But when you pass away that when you pass away, and you go you get to see Jesus in glory in heaven. That is our prayer for you today. You know God is so good I went woke up today in and II just started jumping up and down and I said you know what, this is a guess is going to be a great day and I heard somebody say one time. They said that one man wakes up in the morning and he says oh God, it's another day, another man wakes up in the morning and says thank God for another day.
Which one are you get a beer. You can be that first man who wakes up and says, oh God. Just another day.
Thank God it's Friday. Another week is over.
Wishing your wife where you wake up every day and say I am just thankful for this gift of an extra day friends. We hope you do the latter, and we know that God is good.
So Matthew chapter 25 Matthew chapter 25 you start in verse 31 and we can go all the way to verse 46 and it talks about the sheep and the goats and it says when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left, then the King will say to those on the right, you who are blessed by my father take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world fry was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me I was in prison and you came to visit me then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you are 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.
Truly I tell you, whatsoever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it on to me.
Then he will say to those on his left. Apart from me you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels fry was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you didn't. You did not clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
They will answer. Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or second person and did not help you. He will reply, truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me. Then they will go to way to eternal punishment with the righteous into eternal life, and when I think about the site, you know, I know a lot of people in the church today are a lot of people who they they want to be holier they want to be righteous and they want to do all these good things they want to do the big things and the big things that they think about as they stay say you know I want to be able to speak in tongues and in people are able to interpret it and understand what I'm saying and I want to be able to you know go up to somebody and say not even knowing that person say you were diagnosed with cancer last Thursday. And God wants to heal your right now on to pray for you and they pray for that person.
The person is healed and you know what when I think about this. Matthew chapter 25 and I also look at Luke chapter 10 verses 19 through 20 where he says see I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over the over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. But in verse 20 of Luke Turney says nevertheless do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven and is in Matthew chapter 25 you know that the interesting thing is to be able to give money to the poor. Whether it's you know organizations that I try to help out like compassion international or world vision or whatever it is you know it's not really flashy to do that stuff you know you're not walking up the side of the wall. You know you're not speaking a word to somebody and saying I know I I I know what you did last week. And God wants to heal you. It's it's it's nothing fancy. It's nothing special that we think, but the end of the time when it comes to the end of the days in in in Matthew chapter 25 he's gonna come down.
He's good at it. He's gonna say Jesus, he says there's the sheep and the goats and Mr. Rogers. The guy admitted beautiful day in the neighborhood.
There was a movie that just came out about them, but on his deathbed. One of the things that he said Mr. Rogers was actually a Presbyterian minister and on his deathbed, he said to his wife was I sheep and I think we can try to do all this other cool stuff that's out there all the stuff that we see. You know whether it's you know like he said in in in chapter and in verse 19 of Luke 10 he says you can try to on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.
Nothing will harm you. We think that stuff is cool and that's great. Jesus says we can have those powers but the biggest thing is is just is. According to Matthew chapter 25 is one of the biggest things is is what did you do for the least of the least of these for the people who were poor, the people who didn't have anything, and it may not seem flashy, it may not seem great, but according to God. It's great you know the Scripture talks a lot about helping the poor a lot about helping those who are in need and then one of the reasons I'm talking about this this morning is because around Christmas time. Everybody wants to give to the needy in and help the shelters in the Salvation Army and stuff like that but I think it's important that we do that all year-round. So that was the first thing that I was in a talk about this morning and then as we kind of move over little bit that that is good news that we can help fatherless widows. We can help. We can go visit the prisoners we can do the stuff. The simple stuff that Jesus asked us to do. I think a lot of times we all want to be Billy Graham's. We all want to you know how the camera interface will want to do great things, but a lot of times God works in a little ways we may not think that what were doing is great or spectacular. Whatever but I can tell you today listener that if you're doing what God has asked you to do your on the right path. The world may not love what you're doing. It may not like what you're doing and may think what you're doing is cheesy, but who cares what the world says is matter fact it says in in this world it says you will suffer persecution.
I don't know if you heard about Mike pence but they had on the on the on the view they had some it was Joy Behar I believe in one of the things that she said about Mike pence was.
She said that Mike pence thinks that Jesus talks to him. She said it's one thing to talk to Jesus. She says but if you think that Jesus is talking to you will. That's what they call mental illness. Well, that's just one of the things were, you know, as as a Christian as a believer in Jesus that you will suffer persecution and and it's not a matter of whether or not or if you will suffer persecution. But at some point you know you're you're to say something you're gonna stand for Christ and people are gonna laugh at you. People are going to think that man you just lost your mind.
You don't know what you talking about you don't know what you do as a personal example, I remember when I became a Christian. It was in the mid to thousands in there about two or three or two or three of my friends around and one of them was an atheist from college in the other two guys on anything believed in God and one of them said something about something about out something about believing in Jesus and they kinda made fun of it and I remember I looked over and I said why believe in Jesus and they died laughing.
You know was kind of funny because I you know sometimes you're so afraid of persecution, but it's like when that happens instead of me being upset about her and said to me getting really down about it. It was it was almost like that's it, is that the worst that they can do is that the worst that the devil can do you know sometimes maybe we just need to realize that things aren't as bad as we think they are and that we just have to make a stand for Christ is matter fact when and in the New Testament in the book of acts.
I believe it said that they were flogged for the name of Christ and said when they left the Christians left after being beaten, flogged for the name of Christ. One of the things that they did was they rejoiced because they were they had suffered persecution for the name so I think a lot of times people are embarrassed or they want to be politically correct or this or that, but we have to realize that sometimes number one we need to take a stand for Christ. We need to take a stand for Christ. Number two. We have to realize that sometimes we take a stand for Christ, people are just going to applaud us and tell us how great we are. The world is not gonna is not to say yes to Jesus we have to be the light in the world.
People don't look to us and whether we know whether whether we think we know what were doing or not. If we claim to be a Christian people at what we do in their gonna watch what they don't care what we say there to watch her in action. What watch what we do to help out one Charlie watched the rings in the stuff that goes in her mouth.
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That's usually not how God works. One of times God works with just the simple things he uses a teacher to speak to somebody in their lives. He uses a mother to just give her her son and her daughters. The word of God. And when that person grows up. A lot of times they do great things for the for the fervor of the kingdom of God.
He he likes to use us in small ways or things that we think of is in the small ways whether it's just, you know, doing a prison ministry or whether it's just donating donating your close to the to the local shelter or just prayer. Prayer is so important in the Bible you know is interesting that there was a time where if I wanted to be able to tell you that God was good. I would have to walk up to you and say God is good if I wanted to tell 10 people I have to tell 10 people that God is good and still I think it's important that we do that stuff, you realize that now with social media and with us being able to use avenues like Facebook or Instagram or twitter that we could make a tweet or we could we could put a post up and we could say that God is good and then all of a sudden 500,000 or thousands of people or millions of people can see that God is good, I thought. I think a lot of times we don't realize how much of influence we have now you know hundred years ago somebody wanted to be able to do stuff. It was really hard for them to get the word out when they have to go one person at a time and that's important.
But now we can reach a lot of people through avenues like you know the social media not only that but you know Jesus talks about helping out the poor, helping out the underprivileged. There was a time where if we wanted to be able to give somebody some money.
We actually have to find people in and find out if it was a scam or whatever it was. Now we have great organizations out there like compassion international or world vision or the Salvation Army or whatever it is we can just donate to them and they do the work for us. So it's pretty easy and it's pretty simple to do things to help the poor and the underprivileged, but is also pretty easy not to do it is also easy to say I'll do that later.
I'll let somebody else do that. But as we can remember in Matthew chapter 25 were Jesus said he will let you know what we want to be the sheep we want to be the ones word were Jesus comes up to us and he says you know what you did for the least of these, he says, and you did it on to me. So that's important. Also, in addition to that, I believe that much of the fruits of our labors that were knocking to see until we get to heaven. There can be many people that we may have said something to said something to them about Jesus right now and later on in their lives or whatever it was that they may not even realize or meet we know it may not even realize that it was us who had spoken a word or so to see into them in God waters the seeds we don't want the God water succeeds.
But, but simply by maybe telling somebody that Jesus loves you.
It could be something that so important actually went to go see Lee Strobel in person at Providence Baptist Church. And if you're not familiar with Lee Strobel. He did the was the case for Christ and there was a movie that that came out about him and it was I think it was the case for Christ or something like that where he was an atheist and he ended up coming to Christ later on and he worked. I think it was for a newspaper right around Chicago and he when he became a Christian he told us the story said sometimes God uses us uses a ricochet know the words were will will be telling somebody about something and will think that were supposed to be talking to them. But God is actually using a different way. One of the things that he told us he says that one day he went up to his boss and he felt that God had wanted to tell his boss about God had wanted him to tell his boss about Jesus and he started talking to his boss.
He said he said Sir I've got to tell you about. Geez, you need to start going to church you need it. You need to get your family in the church and in his boss just looked at him like he was an idiot. He says Lee what are you talking about. He says I'm an atheist I don't believe any of that stuff and so Lee Strobel went away that day, thinking it was just a complete waste of time until years later, a man came up to him and he said Haley I want to thank thank you for bringing you for for helping bring me to Christ in Lee was kind of a dumbfounded he says what you talking about. He says I don't know if you remember this several years ago but you were talking to your boss about Jesus and telling him that he needed to go to church while was actually outside of your off outside of your bosses office that day when I was outside of his office, I heard you saying that that he needed to go to church and that he needed to give his life to Christ and I was just the Holy Spirit. He said convicted me and I realize that I needed to take my family to church. It's funny that we we think that God has to use us in way in a way that we think he wants us to use us in way a little lot. A lot of times God is taking us to option B and a lot of times God has a funny Avenue were different direction than we would ever go to reach people for Christ. We just we just want people we want to be easy wanted to be simple, but God doesn't ask us to get the results God God acts asks us just that we tell people that we go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel we make disciples and we help others and really that's that's why I'm on here talking to you today. Friends is because you know if there's something that I could do today or something that I could say that would inspire you. Maybe just to tell somebody about Jesus that it would all be worth it.
Matter fact it was that we were talking about being persecuted for Christ years ago was actually working with the Raleigh Jaycees and when I was with the Raleigh Jaycees. I we we did a Christmas thing and we were helping out kids who are underprivileged, and we picked up this one kid and he was little bit different than the other kids and in a lot of the kids said thank you. Or this or that, but this kid was precocious he was he was sort of a bundle of joy. He was a lot of fun to be around in one of the things that he said to us was this I'll never forget it. He said you know. People tell me at school. He said the other kids.
They tell me that I'm crazy and he said when they tell me I'm crazy I look at them and I say thank you. Well, like that white pen story that I told you about a little bit before, yet people are to think were different people or to even think were crazy.
I read an article years ago about how it was they think was in my psychology class and in college or associate sociology in college at Appalachian State and in the in the course. It says is a woman who was on a bus to work and if she is she's talking to God. He says is she mentally ill or is she just overly religious. I think we have to realize that the world will never understand us.
The world is going to think were crazy. The world is going to think that what were doing doesn't make any sense, but we have to remember that were not doing this for the world were not doing this for the applause of other men were doing this for Jesus. The world is going to tell you that you're being crazy for being a dedicated Christian and when and when they tell us that were crazy. We should just say thank you. Mark 1313 it says you will be hated by all for my namesake but he's one doors till the end, the same shall be saved. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Second Timothy 312.
I remember I had a boss years ago and years ago when he he went to he went to this meeting that he used to go to the men's Christian business network and had a friend of mine and in my friend was a Christian as far as I know, still isn't, but what he said to me he said Mike. He says does it bother you that your boss goes to this other meeting for the Christian business network, and I thought about it for a moment, because I said it was a good question, but I one of the things that I thought about was Philippians 115 through 18 it says it is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The water do so out of love knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel, the former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains was a matter. The important thing is that in either way, whether from false motives are true that Christ insert Christ is preached, and because of this I will rejoice. Yes, I will continue to rejoice in you know sometimes we see people maybe they're doing things that we we think are the wrong reasons. You know a lot of people say out somebody just preaching on TV because they're making a lot of money but it reminds me of this verse. It is true that some preach Christ out of different reasons. Maybe even further.
Even for their own selfish ambition, but either way Christ is being preached almost kind of sounds like you being smart Alec there. He says hey you know what he says I don't care what people are doing as long as people are talking about Jesus and people were telling people about Jesus.
And people are hearing about Jesus.
Who cares why they're doing you know it. There is, it says in Scripture that there are many different parts of the body. Just because were not the mouthpiece or just because were not the part that we think is the most important, it doesn't mean that what were doing is not important and I think a lot of times in churches today or on the radio or wherever it is a mean that the people the preacher, the guy who's up there and in front of the audience and doing all the work you know people always talk about the preacher and all the great stuff that he's doing and he's definitely one of the pieces he's an apostle. He's a preacher.
A lot of times it's the small stuff that makes a difference as well.
And if you're out there today and you know what you may be doing a lot for the kingdom of God. You know what your you may not be getting the recognition or you may not be getting the applause.
I just want you to remember this that Jesus said, he says don't do your works in front of men, to be applauded by men.
It says if you do it to be applauded by men. It says your father in heaven you've already been given your reward you not to be rewarded by your father in heaven says, but when you do your good works do them in private so that your father who sees what you do in secret will reward you openly and I think that's important since it's you know not only that were doing the good things for Jesus because it is important to do good things which is which important for us to give money. It's important for us to you. No ties to the church is important for us to know you as it says in Hebrews 1025 it says do not forsake the gathering of yourselves as some of them have done. That's important, but what's also important for what he says in Matthew chapter 6 is not to do your works in front of men, to be seen by the and sometimes that's one of the toughest things for us to do with because you know we all want to do the good things and it's important that we do the good things, but in addition to doing the good things. It's important that we keep it quiet because if we keep it quiet then were not doing it for men so that other people can see what were doing, but God will reward us openly and God loves you. If there's anybody out there today who hasn't given their life to Christ. You know it says in Scripture that today is the day of salvation. My prayer for you today is that you asked Jesus to come into your heart and live live within you ask ask you this morning to find yourself violating thank you for listening to God shows, if not God. More information online contact, not God.life