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THE ACTIVE WORD

TITLE OF Message: "What's the Point"

MESSAGE DATE: 10-28-07 Sun: 12:30 pm TAPE NUMBER: A7013

Page 1 of 1

Scripture Reference for Message: Romans 12

Opening Prayer

Lord we read in your word, that we as your people ought to be still and know that you're God. Forgive us Lord too often we're pre-occupied with the past or we're focusing on the future and sadly we miss the now.

Right now we have the chance to hear your voice, and right now we're here in your house, right now your spirit will help us to hear what change can be made so that you are glorified.

Please God let us enjoy now in Jesus name we pray amen.

MESSAGE

So you want to give a gift to someone special, but you're really not sure, what they want what do they need, what do they like. I'll help, I'll help and I'll ask you what's the occasion? Is it a birthday, is it an anniversary, is it Christmas? And your answer yes, yes, yes its all, all?

Who is this someone special, let me ask, brother, father, friend? And you answer yes, yes all, all. Oh I know exactly what you're thinking you were wondering what to give to God. Yeah, I've wondered that, you've wondered that.

What do you want, what do you need, what do you like, your birthday's coming up, something I could do for you that would be special? You want to hear his answer? He gifts it to us right here in Romans chapter twelve in the first two verses we find out what he wants, what he likes what he needs.

I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, pause right there, did you see it?

Did I see it? Yeah, it's what he wants, what he needs, what he likes, listen one word answer, what God would like, what God wants what God needs, it's you, he wants you, he likes you, he needs you. He says hey, its you, I would love for you to be a and please note the two word phrase, a living sacrifice.

A living sacrifice, that doesn't sound like a piece or a part, no it sounds like you and it sounds like he wants all of you. So you were wondering what he wants, now you know what it is. So is everybody ready, let's give our whole life to God.

I'm not ready for that, what do you mean you're not ready for that? Well quite honestly I'm not ready for that, most of us aren't. Oh I know he wants he wants my whole life but I don't know if I'm really ready to give him my whole life you see I'd like to give him something, I don't know if I want to give him all.

I mean I was thinking I'd give up chocolate for the month of December and that he'd be touched by that. Some of you thought that way. Some of you are thinking I'll give him a special offering for Christmas, some of you are thinking that way.

Some of your are thinking well I'll open up my house and I'll be a host for a small group study, some of you are thinking like that, that's what you're going to do for God. Some of you are thinking I'll start teaching Sunday school and I'll do that for a year and that's what I'm going to do for God.

Now all of those specific something's are in fact special, but he asks for something very specific, and I think that if you did what he asked you to do that would be very special. I mean keep in mind it was just a few weeks ago he heard you sing, I surrender all, remember that?

If you don't let's take a look at the video this is you last week I surrender. Now wait a second we don't video tape your faces to play it back the following few weeks, no, no, no.

You don't want them to do that, you sing that on Sundays on Monday God says okay remember that song about try me now and see if I can be completely yours, here we go. No, it was just a song.

What happened? I surrender, that was the song, here's what I meant, I surrender most, I surrender some, I surrender what I feel like surrendering, but I don't surrender. Why, why, why don't we, why don't we just surrender all?

Why is there some hesitation even if the Pastor talks about giving, everybody always what is he saying, is he saying you can't buy a dress for the dog? What? This was the year I was going to buy the hat and slippers to go with the pajamas, our dog needs.

Let me tell you something, I am so like you - you are so like me and as human beings we resist, we hesitate, even if we know the will of God we procrastinate giving him our all why?

It's the first of three if you're a note taker, jot it down, I believe we don't surrender all, one because we fail to know his mercy, again we fail to know his mercy.

What do I mean by that? See Romans twelve the first half of the first verse? You see he says brethren by the mercies of God, by the mercies of God. Now those of you with a New International Version translation, here's the way it reads; it says in view of God mercies, in view of God's mercies, now the first time I ever read that I thought that the context was because he forgave you because he was so graceful, because he saved you, and I was thinking listen, I was thinking past tense singular. In view of the mercy, that's not the way it reads.

Please in the original language the word mercies is not only plural which obvious it is in the English but it's also present tense, present tense, in view of his mercies, the mercies that right now you are enjoying, what mercies are those mercies?

Christian listen, right now he's gifting you life, breath, every time it goes inhale, exhale that's a gift from God. Now I say so fully aware that there are probably a few folks in a room this size that whatever reason your physical condition, whether it's extra oxygen whether it's actual medication but to actual breathe in strong and breathe out healthy, you can't right now. And deep within you there's that longing desire to have your lungs expand and contract and enjoy a full breath.

Those of you who can again that's the grace of God, you see every single day I have a chance to live and work and play and every single day I have a chance to earn and then spend and spend. Every single day I have this thing called life given to me, and that if you don't know it is the mercies of God.

If I take that mercy if I take that grace for granted, oh let me say that God is able to teach us the lesson of the value of life, for he is the God who gives and takes away, what do I mean?

Keep your place in Romans chapter twelve make your way to Daniel chapter four you'll see a circumstance where sadly this lesson had to be learned. Now before we go to our specific verse in Daniel chapter four I'll set the stage and say that Danielle as a prophet is now prepared to interpret for king Nebuchadnezzar the dream that became the nightmare.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, in his dream all kinds of crazy strange unusual things happened, he's asked every one of his prophet's soothe Sayers and psychic friends to help him.

Nobody can, nobody does, Daniel da, da, da, da, da, da shows up with an interpretation of that dream.

Now within the dream there's a word of warning, the warning comes in verse twenty seven in Daniel chapter four we read; therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.

Now before we go into verse twenty eight please note this is a king whose got a lot of stuff, a lot of stash, he's become so self centered so self absorbed that the consideration of someone in need he basically continues to blow off.

So he has this hellish kind of a nightmarish kind of a dream, Daniel comes and says, hey, hey, hey, here's the deal, you're so self absorbed, you're so self focused your so self centered, you want to lengthen your life, there's some changes that need to be made. But if you reject the word of the Lord you'll pay the price, there will be a clear consequence, what happens?

Verse twenty eight choosing not to head the word of the Lord we read; all this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, "Is this not the great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?

And while the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beast of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until (and please underline from until forward) you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hear had grown like eagles feathers and his nails like birds' claws, your attention please.

Wow, let me say that again backwards, wow, what's that? I can see this in my mind's eye, I can see this guy in his royal array coming out of his balcony looking upon all of his landscape and land and in a very pompous and prideful way is this not my kingdom that I have made for me?

And the word says while those words were still in his mouth, moooo. E ah, e ah, what's happening? And within that day he is now in the back forty on all fours looking at his servants from a distance trying to figure out what in the world has happened to his life.

And there's the servants, ha, ha, remember when the prophet came told him to help the poor, he goes ah the poor, sorry ah can we get you a bowl of water?

Now please it's not so funny, what's that? What happened was it you, you go from man to beast, because you failed to give God glory, why would you fail to give God glory, here's why. You actually think it's you, you think it's you, you actually think you're a self man man, ever hear that phrase? I'm a self mad man; I've always wondered what part did you make? You make brains, you make kidneys, I don't understand what part did you actually make?

Well of course you didn't make anything and please keep in mind before you came here it belonged to him, after you leave it will be his and in between the time while you're here he lends you his stuff.

There was a poignant picture it was the day after Jim Moran passed, if you live here in South Florida you know the name, billionaire business man, and the day after he passed I'm driving A1A I know where his house is, and here's what I noted The Yacht was still in the inter coastal, the mansion was still facing the ocean, I'm sure the cards are all nestled in the garages. He's gone and his stuff stayed, do you understand your stuff stays, it all stays.

So if in fact you enjoy the luxury of ownership while you're here, please don't make the mistake of assuming it's really yours and it's really because of you, why? Failing to give God glory, I don't want to live life like Nebuchadnezzar did for seven years, seven times must pass before you finally get it.

It's going to take you that long to truly comprehend that God rules, that the kingdom is his and everything that happens on planet earth to people is by the graceful hand of the almighty, it's going to take you that long to figure it out?

Please don't make the mistake, don't make the mistake that Nebuchadnezzar made, please don't make the mistake that Herod made, Herod?

You don't need to turn there but please just give careful ear to Acts chapter 12, listen to verse twenty one.

So on a day set Herod arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne he gave oration to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god not a man!"

Now keep in mind back in Acts chapter twelve verse one this is the same Herrod that was stretching out his hand to harass the church. He was always bugged by believers, and finally one day he comes out in royal robe, very similar to Nebuchadnezzar starts his speech and his communication skill is just so wow, that the people begin to shout that's not a man that's a god, and here's what the scripture says.

Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

But the word of the Lord grew and multiplied.

But the word of the Lord grew and multiplied, but the word of the lord, you see the word of the Lord lasts forever, but my life it doesn't. AT some point in time the worms, the worms crawl in the worms crawl out, oh Bob don't sing that song that's so juvenile of you.

No, it's reality it bugs kids when we sing that song about the worms and about our bodies and about our passing and us going to the grave, but quite honestly that's reality. When you understand that reality suddenly you look at life and you know what, I have life today right now by the mercy and grace of God you are right now in his house.

The lights have been adjusted for your reading pleasure, the temperature and thermostat been adjusted to try and make you feel comfortable if you didn't have a bible somebody put it in your hand. I don't know how you got here transportation, if you have a car you have gas you have an apartment all those things God says hey, hey I'm going to give you all this.

What are you going to do?

If in fact he knocks he says living sacrifice, oh no, no I'm not going to do that, well then obviously you've missed the mercy and that's why we don't, we fail to see the mercy of God.

What other mistake do we make? Back to Romans chapter twelve, drawing your attention to the second half of that same first verse we read; that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your (and please take note of this word) which is your reasonable service.

If you have a pencil handy circle the word for reasonable service, in the Greek language that's actually two words so it's a compound word, on one side we have an emphasis of the logic of laying your life down as a living sacrifice.

But know this, in some translations and you might have a translation that says which is your spiritual service, what do we mean it's your spiritual service? Well if you're spiritual you understand it's reasonable. But if you're not spiritual you'll look on from a distance and think, wait a second, this hot winded passionate preacher is telling people to laying their lives down before God, that makes no sense, it makes no sense to you.

If you don't know the reasonableness of God, you see I think we don't surrender all number two if you're a note taker, because we fail to reason his reasonableness.

Again we fail to reason his reasonableness, you know how reasonable God has been with me? Do you know how reasonable he is with you? Here's what the Bible says in Isaiah one and eighteen; come let's reason together, though your sins be red as scarlet I'll make them white as snow, that's pretty reasonable.

Although you are destined for damnation, I'll send you to heaven, is that reasonable? Oh reasonable, that sounds more than reasonable, that sounds like a great deal. Exactly it's what I like to call listen, a natural get, a natural get, you get it naturally if in fact you've been touched by the spirit because spiritually speaking this is such a I get it kind of thing to understand.

Natural gift, let me illustrate it to you this way, you've ever been driving I95 and you're going the same speed everybody else is going but it's not the speed limit, why? Nobody does. So you look down at your speedometer you're going eighty miles an hour, and you start to slow down and you realize if you do somebody's going to cram in the back of you because everybody's going eighty.

And then everybody's driving really fast and then suddenly everybody starts slowing down suddenly it's like woe, woe, everybody puts on their break and you go must be an accident. It's not an accident it's a cop, you come over the hill and you see everybody slow down, and there's a police car right there and everybody's now driving very, very slowly, everybody's doing the speed limit, hands at the ten and two position checking your rear view mirror, every three seconds you see the police officer, say hi I'm not going to go any faster than you because you're watching me.

And you must be going the right speed so I'm going to do it, it's like that. That my friend is a natural get, nobody's going to just rip right past the guy, hey come bah, you go the speed limit, I was doing eighty before you I'm going to keep on doing eighty I'll try ninety.

Nobody does that, nobody does that, listen in view of God's mercies he says give me your life, give me your heart, give me your living sacrifice, give me this.

Do you know how reasonable it is, do you know how logical it is do you know how spiritual it is, do you know how smart it is, do you understand this? Do you know the rate of exchange; do you understand the cost of the consequence?

You see you can't miss this, I'm going to heaven most of you are going to heaven, now that happens to be what we call the good news, the gospel, gospel means good news, the reason the good news is good news is because the bad news is bad news. There's heaven and then there's hell, now I realize there are some of you right now that are thinking, I thought this was a contemporary church I didn't think you guys believed in hell here.

Excuse me; yeah you know I thought you were a little bit more casual and little bit more relevant and culturally relatable. I don't believe in hell. You don't, why not? Well come on the whole idea of judgment, punishment. What if the bible teaches it?

Now I understand how hard it is for some of us to actually comprehend that God could be so right that in his righteousness be judgmental, and in his judgment actually decree that there's a place where people pay a penalty for their sinfulness.

I know how that sounds to you because we as a people have grown to be so much more tolerant of everything that now we've decided to not tolerate God if in fact he's going to be exacting saying this is right and this is wrong, why?

Well because we live in a world that fails to see right and wrong, and if we actually get to so gray a lifestyle when God says that's wrong and you'll have to pay a price for that. Wait a second you're not very fair, if I was God I wouldn't send anyone to hell.

Well aren't glad you're not, what do you mean? If you take away hell let me tell you something, you've now reduced the value of heaven, heaven is more heavenly because hell is more horrific. Part of the reason I'm excited I know God is I don't have to go to hell.

Now if you take away hell the excitement heaven, now I had a High School student just ask me recently, "Bob, you really think it's fair for God to send people to help, I mean that's eternal, you make one bad decision, they don't accept Christ and then they're there forever and ever and ever?"

I think it's true I can see how you'd think that was unfair, but God in his word teaches us how fair he is so I'm going to trust in the equity and fairness of God. Do you think now stay with me on this and don't misunderstand because you're going to e mail me and go this is heretical, no it's not.

Do you think we could get to heaven and God could say tell you what that thing I said about hell, I changed my mind. We're going to have everybody stay there for a week after they felt bad I'm going to get them, could God do that?

Well of course God could do that, you ever had your parents say, you're going to be grounded for a year, did they mean a year, you mean God's a lot more gracious. Here's what I know, the bible says this about God, his mercy triumphs over his judgment, but in his word he tells us there's a place where you go where there's ever lasting punishment.

Now what is more important him being true to his word or him suddenly being made after my understanding in an image I have a much more graceful God than he is in his word? Do you know that nobody deserves heaven, so there's this exchange that takes place and you can't miss this exchange.

It's 2nd Corinthians chapter five drawing your attention to verse seventeen we read; therefore is anyone is in Christ he's a new creation, old things have passed away behold all things have become new.

All this is from God who's reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing their trespasses to them, but has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us, we implore you in Christ's behalf be reconciled to God and here's the verse, for he that's God made him, that's Jesus, who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him, come on back.

That's the exchange, the exchange, God says you give me that and here's what I'll do I'll trade you your physical, temporal, material body for an everlasting spiritual mighty body, is that a deal? Is that a deal? You think there'd be people standing in line for the change, oh man you mean I get a new body, get to live forever, get to enjoy the presence of God and if I don't do this you mean I go to hell and I stay in torment and torture forever.

Instead I don't see people standing in line for this, I see them standing in line for an IPod phone, an I phone? You know it was fascinating to me, and here's what's fascinating to me, Apple comes out with a new phone, and some of you stood in line, some of you spent the night, you got there the night before and there you are your in line to spend five hundred dollars.

Now you already have a phone, this is not your first, this won't be, you're going to actually change one phone to another phone, you're going to stand in line and spend the night to be able to spend five hundred bucks and give somebody five hundred bucks and here's why. Because you want to show up at work the next day and go hey see what I got, got that, got that.

Here's the crazy thing about it, a week later they have to recall their not, not only that now it's even a few months later, they say, it's a little too expensive we're going to cut the price.

And then yesterday I read their adding 'Y Fy" to the new ones, so they actually have a better one than the one you stood in line for and spent the night waiting to spend five hundred dollars on.

So you think I think that you spending the night was really a cool move. You don't know how I think, I think there's some things I see the world do and sometimes I look on and go I don't get it, I think that's true even in my own life.

You see the Bible says and I think that if we really knew the reason for his reasonableness that there's this great exchange that when it comes to a living sacrifice I'd be much more ready.

Oh you want me, you want me right now okay living sacrifice, it's that living thing that bothers so many of us though.

You want me now while I'm here, I was thinking I'd give you me when I'm dead. You know what I'm talking about? It's like when I die I'm going to go to heaven and it's a really cool thing, so let me pray a prayer so when I die I belong to God, he wants me now for what? He wants you to love him and worship him and follow him right now while I'm alive.

Now here's my own confession, I have a last will and testament, and I'm convinced that it needs to be that way, last will and testament, it testifies to where my values are at. I don't mind telling you I've got a good life insurance policy so when I die Dianne get's the money, I know she's listening I'm not going to tell you how much you get.

Um, don't want there to be an incentive program there but when I die my wife, my wife, everything's going to be fine, and my kids everything's going to be fine, so what do I do with the rest of my stuff, my house, car, you know that kind of thing what do I do?

Well it all goes to Calvary Chapel, now some of you go now that's. No, no, no it's what you'd expect of the Pastor that founded the church it's going to come here. But listen here's the rub, it all comes here once I'm dead, once I'll never use it again or never want it again or never need it again as long as I live, that's when I'm giving it to you, you get everything when I'm dead.

Doesn't that sound strange to you when you think about it? That somebody who's that generous to say, God you get it all, when I'll never use it ever again. So he knocks on your heart and says, I guess I get it all when you're dead, why don't you do something right now just too. Now?

So you don't want me to buy another dress for the dog? See the problem? Living sacrifice, living sacrifice, why don't we surrender all? Fail to know his mercy, fail to reason his reasonableness, third and finally back with me Romans chapter twelve verse two; do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that terrible and heartbreaking, and silly will of God, that's not what it says.

Can I ask you to write down reason number three, we fail to believe it's smart to surrender, there are those of you in this room right now that are convinced that if you give your all to God, if you surrender all to God the minute you say all right I'm not withholding anything back, I belong to you. That God's going to go ah, ah, I was waiting for you to give me your life here's what I want you to do, go sell all your possessions, give the money to the poor.

Then I'm going to take you and put you on the other side of the planet in a tribal community where there's no food and you're going to have to eat worms, ha, ha,

Do you know how many people actually think that. They think if they give their life to God God's going to make them do something they'd never want to do. They'll eat worms, I know you your going to have me eat worms; I don't want to eat worms.

It's not what it says, it says his will for you please note it's going to be good, will you circle the word for good, another translation reads this word, this is a better Greek word, benefit, his will for you will actually benefit you.

He says not only will it benefit you he says it will also be acceptable. Now some of your translations read pleasing some of your translations read agreeable, it's going to be agreeable.

You ever eat something that doesn't agree with you and it's like ah it hurts, I ate something that doesn't agree, ah it hurts, that's not God's will.

You'll never come here digest his word and find out, oh man I've got spiritual heart burn, I just ate a bible verse that just does not agree with me.

No, no, no, hand in there it's good for you, it's acceptable to you, because it will perfect you, it's perfect will.

Now please circle the word for perfect close by you could write this word complete, and here's another bible reference, its Matthew five and forty eight, Jesus said, be ye perfect even as your father in heaven is perfect. And that's that same Greek word be complete even as your father in heaven is complete.

Complete, do you think God needs anything? Do you know that there's a point of maturity where you can grow where you can say with the Psalmist in Psalm twenty three the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not be in want.

What do I need? I don't need as much as I used to think I need, why? I've continued to mature and as I laid my life down as a living sacrifice rather than being watch this, conformed by this world, the word conformed you have a picture of hands this is the way the world does what it drinks, what it wears, what it eats and everyone feels bound to do what the world says we have to do.

So when it comes to clothes it's the world's fashions, when it comes to music it's the lyrics of the world and it's the drinks of the world. WE all feel like, don't be conformed to the pattern of this world, no be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

You see that word transformed, circle it, listen the Greek word is metamorphu; it's where we get our English word for metamorphous.

Metamorphous? You know what a metamorphous is? Scientifically speaking it's the transformation where the same elements are still enjoyed but it's as if its, it's very different.

Wait a minute that was a caterpillar and now it's a butterfly? Honestly if you never knew that happened you wouldn't believe it. In other words if you never had third grade science and took home a cocoon and put it up on the window sill and made sure it waited.

If you saw a little caterpillar crawling across the ground and never was in third grace science, and there it is a hot summer day in South Florida and it's making its way across the asphalt and you just know its owe, owe, owe, all those little feet, owe, owe, owe, owe. And you feel back for the little caterpillar you want to pick him up off the hot asphalt and put him on the tree. And I say hey, hey you know that caterpillar leave it alone it will crawl tree.

And some day there's the butterfly, very cool, laying down in a flower. See that's the caterpillar it changed, that's the word they used metamorphous.

It's the same thing you see a little tad pole swimming around in circles I a pond he's just going everywhere. Next thing you know he changes he gets legs, he drops the tail next thing you know he's a frog, it's metamorphous.

Well the bible says if you're willing to and it's your responsibility there's an obligations attached to your heart. Because if you're willing to not be conformed to the pattern of this world but be metamorphosed by the renewing of your mind by allowing the word of God to come in he says you know what's going to happen?

You're going to change, and those of you that have been crawling owe, owe, owe, owe, owe he says guess what spiritually you're going to be soaring, it's an amazing thing.

Now some of you have seen some of the folks in the fellowship fly, you come in and you somebody who's really in their groove, you know Pastor Fidel when he preaches, that's this, there he is he's flying, he's flying.

You know whatever it is that you do you do in the Lord when you're doing it your flying.

But for those of you who won't be renewed by your mind you go oh I'm just doing the world thing man, just letting the world, it's don't let that grab hold of your heart, why?

If you let the Lord's spirit work his word into you and you are transformed you are you know have the metamorphous experience what happens?

Crawling, flying, swimming in circles, jumping, do you understand one's good one's perfect one's pleasing and anything less than that you're not going to be satisfied.

So if in fact there's nothing lacking in God and he wants us to be perfect as he is perfect I'll close with this thought. The God you serve is a perfectionist, now that's heavy for some, how many of you are married to a, don't raise your hand or you'll get in trouble.

But just answer in your faith, your married to a perfectionist, what does it mean to be married to a perfectionist? It means everything has a place, socks go there, underwear goes there, there's a sock near an underwear, sorry. Those forks go there, not those forks those forks go in a different drawer, those are the forks that go there, those forks go in that drawer.

And now I just told you guys I'm a perfectionist so there you go no I don't need a perfectionist God I want a real casual God I want a God I can just hand with, hey can everything go.

No, no, no, no, your heart belongs one place; it doesn't belong in other places. Now you say, but I'm so imperfect, that's the beauty of your perfectionist God, you see he's not just the perfectionist he's the perfector.

He's in the business of perfecting his people, and the way that he does it is if you won't be conformed but you'll be transformed he's working his word in your heart and after a while you just look on at your life and go, I'm changing, I'm changing, I'm becoming a better dad, I'm becoming a better Pastor, I'm becoming a better employer.

Now listen, my wife already thinks I'm perfect, she does, and my kids, they think I'm really perfect, I have them all snowed now here's the point.

Honestly know my kids and my wife know that I'm not perfect but here's what they do know, I'm better, I'm better, and every year I purpose to be a better dad a better pastor a better husband, every year I purpose to do that.

And because I'm hanging out with God and that's his same objective, every year that goes by I watch my life I see your lives.

People who send me these letters tell me what you were tell me what you are, I look on I go how did that happen? You were crawling for so long and now you're flying, you were swimming for so long and now you're jumping, how did that happen?

Metamorphosis, it's what he has for us and let me tell you something you wouldn't expect anything less from God because God's not going to let you get away with less.

God's like the perfectionist perfector that says, if I said settle at mediocrity, you would never discover my purpose for your life, but if instead I say be perfect even as I am perfect you'll know you're never done but will continue to grow, amen?

Closing Prayer:

Father we thank you for your time together and your word, and we thank you for the hope and the promise that is hidden in every heart here. Lord you know our desires you know that we'd love to be more perfect, we'd love to be more complete, and yet we're honest enough to admit that we're so far from it.

So please and God once again we say please, may your spirit continue to have the freedom to work deep within us all and as we acknowledge our need to totally and wholly surrender, God grant us the wisdom and grace to do so.

In Jesus name we pray.

Hey before I say amen, I don't know where you're at specifically right now in y our journey, but I do know this, I know with a bible study like those two verses they would be a natural get for you to say, I haven't done that yet, I've not yet surrendered my life to God.

So we at Calvary Chapel will pray a prayer at the close of a study the prayer sounds like this today God I give you my life, today God I open my heart, I invite you inside, I want to follow you.

And if that's your desire if you want to follow God through his son Jesus Christ, Pastor Clay is going to close us in song and as he does, that's your queue.

What I'll ask you to do the moment we start singing is get up out of your seat come forward and stand right here at the base of this platform. And when the group whoever you are gather's I'll pray that prayer.

God forgive me, God change me, God I want to follow you, this is the opportunity he provides and we pray that you act on it.

Now time doesn't permit me to say much more and I don't think I need to, I think most of you have truly heard the heart of God's word today and you know what he needs what he wants what he likes, you all, not a piece not a part all.

And if in fact you're in the position where you go you know what I agree, I'm ready, as Pastor Clay begins to play this song and the church sacrificially is in prayer, if you sense the Lord kind of knock on your heart, open the door let him in come on up let's prayer that prayer Pastor Clay if you'd lead us in song, church please pray.

song: you are holy ends:

Take a look at the cross, you see it's that holy healthy reminder of a love so great that he actually God did, sent his only begotten son and that as he hung on that cross and bled and died.

One of the goals and objectives was that you would not doubt or deny how great a love this is. You see he bled on the cross, he suffered on the cross, and whenever anyone's bleeding or suffering you have to wonder why.

You ever seen somebody just bleeding, it's like what happened, it's the first thing, what happened? What happened to you why are you bleeding, what you bleeding like that, why are you dying, why are you suffering?

And the answer to all those questions is simple, I'm bleeding, I'm dying, I'm suffering for your sins.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might be the righteousness of God in him. It's the exchange. So if you're sitting in your seat right now you go I know you said his will is good, perfect and pleasing, but I don't know for me.

Let me just once again say, God loves you very much, Jesus loves you very much and the Holy Spirit that right; now is touching your heart making you feel like man something is going on inside me what is that thing?

That's him drawing once again, calling you once again, giving you another opportunity. You can reject that voice you can neglect that voice, you can push that voice away, but that's not benefiting you.

So if in fact this little bit of logic causing you to see in your seat and go you know what Pastor why am I still in my seat, why would I actually still stay here?

There's only one reason your still in your seat if you should be here, there's a war going on right now in the kingdom over your soul, and there's a voice in one ear saying, stay right where you're at everything's fine you don't' want to be one of those radical fanatics.

That's one voice the other voice is saying I love you very much my plan for you is perfect today is the day and now is the time, and right now you're in that battle.

And that's why I asked the church to pray, when the church prays we then ask the power of God greater, greater, greater, and the fight that goes on we see people sitting in their seats and we pray and then suddenly it's like something happened, I have the now the strength, I have the now the faith to believe.

I'm going to pray for you one more time and let's watch God work.

Father we pray one more time for those people who are sitting in their seat there's some question, there's some doubt, there's some worry, there's some concern. Lord we ask that you use this prayer to release them from that bondage. May this be the day they truly believe.

If that's you out there and God's knocking on your heart, now is the time today is the day. Maybe it's a friend that brought you, maybe it's that friend that now turns to you and says, you want me to walk up with you? And they do.

Maybe you're in a middle seat some place and you think there's people on both sides.

Let me tell you something, they want to move for you, but wherever your at without another chorus if you know you should be standing up here and praying this prayer please, leave your seat right now, come on up, join these that are praying, and let's make sure we've made peace with God.

Anybody else at all, God bless you right there, come on up, anybody else, God bless you and you and you good move, great decision.

You're not joining our church that's not what this is about we don't even have a membership, this is about joining the family of God, this is about you making peace with God, this is about you knowing that your sins have been forgiven and that your name has been written in the lambs book of life, that's what this is about.

Anybody else at all? Amen, church would you stretch out your hands in their direction let's agree in prayer for them.

Salvation Prayer:

Father we stretch out our arms as a display and symbol of support, God we're praying for those that you love and care about, we're asking that right now God this is that day, when you forgive them and deliver them and free them, may this be the day they sense that love, that mercy, this is the day they know that grace Lord. Please pour your spirit out on this flesh, and save these souls.

Those of you that have come forward it's your turn to pray out loud after me, mean it in your heart.

.

Say Lord God I open my heart, and I invite you inside to be my God to be my savior to be my friend, forgive me of my sins, wash me clean, for I've decided this day to follow you Jesus from this day forever, I'm yours. Help me God follow you, in Jesus name I pray amen. Amen, amen, good decision outstand wonderful, very, very good. Way to go, way to go.

Hey turn around see these guys behind me see everybody behind you, we're with you on this one man, we're with you, we're with you on this great decision you won't regret this.

Now listen before you guys go anywhere we know that what happened to you just now was spiritual but we want to give you some understanding, so we have a bible and a bible study guide we want to give you, just give it to you.

You see standing close by there's Steve and there's Charlie, if you'll follow Steve and Charlie get the Bible and the bible study guide and you'll be back with your friends in a minute okay? Can you head that direction for us, church give them a hand as they go, follow Steve and Charlie just for a minute, there's a Bible and a bible study guide and you'll meet your friends in just a minute.

Pastor Clay if you'd close us in song.

END I surrender song.

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