Message Outline -

Introduction:

What is the 2009 theme at Lake Country Christian Church?

• Is it to step out of your comfort zone or box?  No!
• Personal Spiritual Growth
• That is to say you will end 2009 in better Spiritual health that when you started the year
• We are coming up on the end of April.  1/3 of 2009 is now behind us.  Can you honestly say you have taken a forward Spiritual step?

I have heard it said “The problem with Steve’s messages is they are so serious”.

• To me eternal life, and where you are to spend it, is very serious
• Don’t shoot the messenger - do you think Jesus would be any less aggressive in pushing you along in your Spiritual walk?

Some people might leave their eternity to chance, I’m pretty lucky . . .

• The question is “How much luck will it take?”  This much?  (show first picture)
• Describe accident.  “Truly this is a lot of luck.”  But was it enough?
• In fact no!  If you bet this much luck you would have lost. (Show second picture)
• Don’t gamble on where you will be spending eternity!
• Nowhere in the Bible does it say you can get into heaven even with all the luck of the world

At the beginning of the year I stated “Leaders lead through example”.

• Today I will change from a leading position to a pushing position
• Leading a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.  I’m going to push the horse into the pond.  I may still not get you to drink but you will either swim or drown!

I am about to make a statement that may shock most long time Christians and sound at first like it flies against everything Pastor Don has been teaching.

• This statement should cause you to think seriously about your spiritual position and where you are going to spend eternity.
• And if you heed its intent you may find yourself taking a spiritual step forward today.

If you believe that all you have to do is claim Jesus as your savior, and ask for forgiveness of your sins to have eternal life, you are most likely on a fast highway to eternal life in hell! 

There is a third leg, if you will – Repentance!  Having faith only in Jesus and not be willing to sacrifice through repentance is like having faith with no deeds.
It takes more than claiming Jesus and asking for forgiveness, you must also repent!

• Definition of repent:  (American Heritage® Dictionary)

1.      To feel remorse, contrition, or self-reproach for what one has done or failed to do; be contrite. (Contrite - Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses)

2.      To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it: repented of intemperate behavior.

3.      To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.

• You can not claim Jesus as your savior, ask for forgiveness and continue to do the same sin!
• This is best explained in I John 3: 6-9
• Example - Your child steels candy – ask for forgiveness and does it again . . .

Truly this is what John the Baptist was saying in Matthew 3:2 when he said . . .

• (In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.")

An elderly woman returned to her home from an evening of Church services when she was startled by an intruder. She had caught a man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables. “Stop!” she yelled, “Acts 2:38!” (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven).

The burglar stopped dead in his tracks and froze while the woman calmly called the police and explained the situation. As the officer was cuffing him, he asked the burglar, “Just out of curiosity, why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture at you.” “Scripture?!” gasped the burglar. “She said she had an ax… and two 38’s!!”

Jesus who is the greatest authority stated . . .

• Matthew 4:17 - . . . "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
• Luke 13 - ¹Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ²Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

And the thing about this is that it is equality.

• Rich or poor – no matter wealth
• Black, white, yellow - no matter what race
• Smart or stupid – no matter education
• Experienced Christian or beginning Christian – Spiritual walk aside
• No one escapes this requirement, you will answer for your sins

How embarrassing it will be to stand in review of your sin because you would not repent.

• Here is how it might go (and men I know you can envision this)
• Your standing next to Jesus, side by side, perhaps hand in hand
• God has a high definition jumbotron screen, 100 feet by 60 feet tall, complete with Dolby human sound
• And God does a review of your life
• It starts as you claim to be a Christian
• You give your life to Jesus and become baptized
• You learn about repentance, and that is where your walk becomes harder for you
• Scenes of repeated sin, sins you asked forgiveness for but refused repentance on
• You are embarrassed and can’t look at Jesus
• Because you know He suffered, bled and endured death on the cross for you
• But you muster the strength to look up to Jesus
• Tears are streaming down His face because you denied repentance
• You thought you finished the race first but all you really did was snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

You see - today you learned that repentance should be your next Spiritual step.

• It’s too late to ignore it
• There is no turning back
• You can’t claim you didn’t know about it
• Today you must decide to repent of you sins and not repeat them, or decide eternal life with Jesus is not worth it
• In a sense, to repent from a sin is to step into the light of Jesus.
• To not accept repentance as a way in your Christian walk is to remain in darkness.

Don’t shoot the messenger today – the requirements are clear.

The joy is that God has provided the path to eternal salvation and asks that you accept and Spiritually grow.

• John 3:16 –

Conclusion:

• Daily envision that big jumbotron experience and how you want it to go
  • Especially when you have that urge to sin
• Take that next big step in your Spiritual walk – the alters are open – make repentance the next step in Your Spiritual Growth plan.