SERMON SUMMARY
Sunday, May 27,
2007
The Year of the Invitation : We Would See Jesus
Sermon given by Senior Pastor, Dan Tabolt
Memorial Day:
A U.S. holiday officially celebrated on the last Monday of May in honor of
our servicemen killed in war.
My first pastorate was in Beaver Falls N.Y. The parsonage was located very
close to the main graveyard in the center of town. On each year’s
memorial, we would hear the honoring of the fallen troops with a gun
salute as well as the playing of taps. For some reason, the price that the
fallen had paid in the history of our country’s freedom has always
affected me in a deep way. Many times when visiting a grave yard, I would
look for the flags that identified the places where veterans where laid to
rest. So today we stop and honor them and recognize the sacrifice they
paid for the freedom we enjoy here today. Graveyards hold a certain
expectation in them. They seem to be monuments to us with the big
question, “is there life after death”? Life and Death are two topics that
the Bible has much to say about. We are taught that we, who believe, are
not like those that have no hope.
1 Thess 4:13 The Comfort of Christ's Coming
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have
fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope . 14 For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him
those who sleep in Jesus. NKJV
I believe that hope in Jesus is intended to bring us into such a state of
hope and joy that leaves off of us the very sting of death.
1 Cor 15: 55 "O Death, where is your sting ? O Hades, where is your
victory?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But
thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain
in the Lord. NKJV
I. Let Old Things Pass Away and Get on With the New.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation ; old
things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV
A. Not the Sorrow of the World.
2 Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not
to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. NKJV
B. The Sorrow of the World, produces death….
I am just a poor old worthless sinner…
I don’t deserve the least of God’s mercy…
It is just by the mercy of God that I could ever, possibility be saved.
Who am I that I should be counted worthy of the gift or think that I could
be useful?
I have fallen and I can’t or I won’t get up.
C. Godly Sorrow Produces Victory.
2 Cor 7: 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not
to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For
observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What
diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what
indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!
In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. NKJV
Can you image a man doomed to die a terrible death? The man had within
himself a self destructive nature that made him do the very things he
never really wanted to do. It put him in a state where the longing of his
heart was always just out of his reach. Then came to him one day, a
savior, who had the sentence of a terrible death removed from him, but he
was sentenced to live on with the same bondage and miserable existence.
This would seem to be the understanding of the state of some Christians.
Never able to have all things become new.
II. He Has Turned My Morning Into Praise.
Isa 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for
ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness;
John 16:20 Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but
the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be
turned into joy. NKJV
A. He is not here; for He is risen.
Matt 28:8 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to
dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And
behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended
from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on
it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as
snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5
But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I
know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here ; for He is
risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go
quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed
He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I
have told you." 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and
great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. NKJV
1. This was the first day of the week like none other, for a new day has
dawn.
2. The Angel has come and sat enthroned on the great stone.
3. His countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow.
4. Guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead.
5. Go quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy!
B. We Wish to See Jesus.
John 12:20- The Fruitful Grain of Wheat
Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the
feast. 21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and
asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus ." 22 Philip came and told
Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. 23 But Jesus answered
them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
These could have been Greeks or men trying to approach Jesus as He moved
in His earthly ministry, but it was too late. That time had now past and
it was time for Jesus to be glorified. Jesus was about to move into the
valley of the shadow of death. To become the suffering servant, the savior
of all the world. Jesus has moved on and these Greeks missed their chance,
but a new day would come for them.
III. We Wish to See Jesus!
To my knowledge the first thing that the living Jesus spoke to me as a
lost man was, “if you seek me, you will find me”. Many people travail to
the Holy Land to see where Jesus was born, but He is not there. They seek
to be where He, the Son of God, had walked, but He is not there. They seek
to see places where He fed the five thousand and healed the sick, but he
is not there. To see the place that they laid Him to rest, but again he is
not there. To go to the mount of the ascension, but He is gone from that
place. So where is this Jesus whom you seek?
John 14:2-3 I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I
am, there you may be also. NKJV
John 20:17 go to My brethren and say to them,'I am ascending to My Father
and your Father, and to My God and your God.'" NKJV
1 Peter 3:21 Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right
hand of God , angels and authorities and powers having been made subject
to Him. NKJV
Rev 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having
turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven
lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the
feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair
were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His
voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven
stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword , and His countenance
was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at
His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not
be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was
dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of
Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the
things which are, and the things which will take place after this. NKJV
Rev 19:16 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many
crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was
clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of
God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,
followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword,
that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them
with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and
wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name
written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
A tape recording
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Ministry
Abundant Life Fellowship
P.O. Box 22
Boonville, NY 13309-0022
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