SERMON SUMMARY
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Year of the Visitation : Having Eternal Impact
Sermon given by Senior Pastor, Dan Tabolt
Contribute to
Eternity
I had to go to the dentist this week. Have you noticed that they all wear
rubber gloves these days? I don’t particularly like the smell of the
rubber and wish that they could come up with scented gloves or just no
scent. Either one would be okay with me. The gloves serve two purposes in
our day. They protect the doctor from anything we would have, but they
also protect us from anything he would have. We want to continue our
“Having Eternal Impact” series by talking about becoming a “Contribution
to Eternity.” I see a modern day illustration in my “dentist story” and it
goes like this.
We need to
understand that we can not insulate ourselves from the world, and even
more than that we need to understand that we are divinely called to infect
or a better word would be, affect the world all around us. Jesus touched
the untouchables; the lepers, the wicked and the unsanctified. If we walk
with God, we are promised protection from the uncleanness of the lost. We
should not fear them, instead we should take off the rubber gloves of
judgments we have toward them and understand we have been infected with
the blessings of God. We have to become giving people, sense we have been
entrusted by God with the riches of the Kingdom of God. Our whole life
needs to become a “Contribution to Eternity.”
I. Principle Contributing to eternity takes effort.
Read Acts 4:32-37 Sons and Daughter of Encouragement
1. Those who believed were of one heart and one soul.
The one heart was a heart that wanted above all else to obey and love the
Lord. The soul of the people was inflamed with desire for God. We must
understand that this takes place one person at a time. How is your heart
and soul?
2. Great grace was on them.
There is grace from God to do his will. There is no need for great grace
unless we decide to do great things for Him. But make no mistake about it,
if we decide to do the perfect will of God, all the grace we will ever
need is promised to be ours.
3. Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement
You are what you are. Your name could have been a curse, but God has
gathered you into a new name. You bear the name of your God.
Barnabas was an encouragement to people. In Christ, he became what Christ
is and encouraged.
Col 4:5-6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that
you may know how you ought to answer each one. NKJV
Matt 12:34-36 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A
good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things,
and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But
I say to you NKJV
Acts 9:39-43 Peter at Joppa and Dorcas
And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments
which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all
out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha,
arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.
Contributing to
eternity? It takes effort!
Spiritual
transformation is a long-term endeavor. It involves both God and us. I
liken it to crossing an ocean. Some people try, day after day, to be good,
to become spiritually mature. That’s like taking a rowboat across the
ocean. It’s exhausting and usually unsuccessful.
Others have given up trying and throw themselves entirely on “relying on
God’s grace.” They’re like drifters on a raft. They do nothing, but hang
on and hope God gets them there.
Neither trying nor drifting is effective in bringing about spiritual
transformation. A better image is the sailboat, which if it moves at all,
it’s a gift of the wind. We can’t control the wind, but a good sailor
discerns where the wind is blowing and adjusts the sails accordingly.
Working with the Holy Spirit, which Jesus likened to the wind in John 3,
means we have a part in discerning the winds, in knowing the direction we
need to go, and in training our sails to catch the breezes that God
provides.
The early Christians were radically affected by the message of Christ. In
fact, every part of their lives were changed.
II. Contributing to eternity takes honesty with God, ourselves, and
others.
Read Acts 5:1-8
Lying to the Holy Spirit
1. Oh yes, I’m the great pretender.
These two could have been great givers, but they had not really given
their all to God. God know what we are holding back so we must be honest
with Him.
2. Premeditated Disobedience.
They had to be talking this over in a secret place. The words that were
coming out of them exposed their heart.
3. Complete surrender will receive complete grace.
III. To be a Cheerful Contributor to Eternity you will need to
understand your new Identity.
What is your new
name? It is Christian, Disciples of Jesus, Light of the world, salt of the
earth, the redeemed, the called out ones, the body of Christ, son of the
living God, children of God, I am a son of encouragement.
1. Understand the Call of being a Contributor [giver]
a. The Tithe and act of obedience or who it goes to, where it goes to, and
how much goes to.
b. The Offering. Now you’re moving out in a giving spirit understanding
you are called to be a giver. You move after obedience of tithing, not on
you own good will.
c. Alms. Deliberately looking to help people that really need your help.
Christ came to you before you could come to him so you move toward others
when they can not help themselves.
d. Giving is in Trinity. So it is that God wants all of you. Holding
nothing back of your substance so that He, the Lord would fill all things.
For you shall love the Lord with ALL…
I. Principle Contributing to eternity takes effort.
Read Acts 4:32-37 Sons and Daughter of Encouragement
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul;
neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own,
but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles
gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was
upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who
were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of
the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and
they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also
named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement),
a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought
the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
IV. Contributing to eternity takes honesty with God, ourselves, and
others.
Read Acts 5:1-8
Lying to the Holy Spirit
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a
possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being
aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the
Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4
While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not
in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You
have not lied to men but to God."
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So
great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men
arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 Now it was
about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had
happened. 8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for
so much?"She said, "Yes, for so much. "NKJV
9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test
the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your
husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 10 Then immediately
she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in
and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So
great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
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