August 18, 2008

  • 10 LIFECHANGING CHOICES [#3]



    Based on an outline by James MacDonald.


    Choose Jesus as Lord
    taught 6/25/08 to Jr & Sr High
    Matthew 7:21-24; Colossians 1:15-18
    Eric Fehrman


    INTRO
    • Review... the Two IDENTITY Choices
        >  Choose God's Love  John 3:16
        >  Choose God's Forgiveness  Matthew 9:2-8
        >  these are FOUNDATIONAL truths

    • Today we look at choices pertaining to what your "AUTHORITY" is in life...

    • Authority has become kind of a bad word in modern times... some abuse their authority... but being under a proper biblical authority is a both healthy and helpful.  The primary authority we must recognize is the authority of Jesus and we must embrace Him as LORD.

    • Bob Dylon "...You're gonna have to serve somebody, Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody.  You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage, You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage, You may be a business man or some high degree thief, They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed You're gonna have to serve somebody"


    1.  EVERYONE serves somebody
      • ... the only question becomes WHO are you going to serve?
      • by "serve" we mean, who/what is your FINAL AUTHORITY?
      • Some common choices...
        >  an esteemed person... a pastor, politician, leader
        >  a close relationship...
        >  an organization, an institution... company, kiwani, salvation army, even the church
        >  a mission or a cause... feed the poor, save trees, elect candidates
        >  an agenda... finish a degree, reach a milestone, achieve a goal
        >  MY SELF... my authority is me, I'm in charge


    2.  You CHOOSE who you will serve
      • Joshua 24:15  "But if it doesn't please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord."
      • This is YOUR choice... NO ONE else can choose this for you... not your mom, your friends, your pastor
      • read "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley
      • compare to "My Captain" by Dorothea Day


    3.  Jesus Christ is LORD
      • read Matt 7:21-23;  Rev. 19:11-16
      • You cannot be saved without recognizing TO SOME DEGREE that Jesus Christ is the Lord.
      • Don't fall for a FALSE JESUS.  Don't embrace a CARICATURE of Jesus...
      • 5 Caricatures of Jesus you MUST REJECT
        >  Jesus is my "buddy"
        >  Jesus is my "good luck charm" (safety net)
        >  Jesus is my "religious relic"
        >  Jesus is my "meal ticket" (healthy, wealth, prosperity)
        >  "Liberal" Jesus (he's a nice guy who did nice things)
      • Jesus IS Lord... Colossians 1:15-18
        >  Jesus is UNIQUE vs 15
        >  Jesus is the CREATOR vs 16
        >  Jesus is our GOAL vs 16
        >  Jesus is the SOURCE vs 17
        >  Jesus is the HEAD vs 18
        >  Jesus is the PREEMINENT vs 18


    CONCLUSION:
      So where does this leave you in your life?  Who is the boss? Who is your untlimatge authority?  When faced with a difficult choice, a tough circumstance, or even a choice you make when no one is looking... whatever you choose to follow in that moment of choice is your functional "lord".  Is it the advice of a respected person?... is it following a cause or agenda?... or is it simply following my own selfish wants and desires?.. or is it choosing tro follow Jessus no matter where it leads?  If your life isn't focused on Christ then you need a change of priorities.  Follow Jesus as Lord, today!  (lookup Luke 9:23-24)