There is a legend about a king who decided to set aside a special day to honor his greatest subject. When the big day arrived, there was a large gathering in the palace courtyard. Four finalists were brought forward, and from these four, the king would select the winner. The first person presented was a wealthy philanthropist. The king was told that this man was highly deserving of the honor because of his humanitarian efforts. He had given much of his wealth to the poor. The second person was a celebrated physician. The king was told that this doctor was highly deserving of the honor because he had rendered faithful and dedicated service to the sick for many years. The third person was a distinguished judge. The king was told that the judge was worthy because he was noted for his wisdom, his fairness, and his brilliant decisions. The fourth person presented was an elderly woman. Everyone was quite surprised to see her there, because her manner was quite humble, as was her dress. She hardly looked the part of someone who would be honored as the greatest subject in the kingdom. What chance could she possibly have, when compared to the other three, who had accomplished so much? Even so, there was something about her the look of love in her face, the understanding in her eyes, her quiet confidence. The king was intrigued, to say the least, and somewhat puzzled by her presence. He asked who she was. The answer came: "You see the philanthropist, the doctor, and the judge? Well, she was their teacher!" That woman had no wealth, no fortune, and no title, but she had unselfishly given her life to produce great people. There is nothing more powerful or more Christlike than sacrificial love. The king could not see the value in the humble lady. He missed the significance of the teacher. Often we miss the value of those around us. I think it would surprise us to know how often we miss the presence of Christ in the lives of those around us – and in ourselves! -Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 The Peter said, "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Easter had not gone away when these verses were written! Although it had been 50 days since the Resurrection, these people were still on fire for God! Why? They had been filled to overflowing with the power and presence of God the Holy Spirit!

They were on fire for God! Their story has all the ingredients for godly success.

1. They had the resurrection on their mind.

2. People were inquiring as to how they could be saved.

3. Peter preached a powerful sermon proclaiming the risen Lord

4. His message appealed to their hearts

5. He gave a powerful invitation and a way to respond.

What were the results? Peter and the disciples baptized new converts and 3,000 people were added to the church that day.

Today we want to look at what you and I can do to reach out to people that are lost in sin.

What would need to be changed in this church to fill the pews with people that want to know God and to serve him with all their hearts, soul, mind and strength? It boggles the mind! What will it look and sound like? It may not be Pentecost Sunday, but every Sunday ought to be a little Pentecost, as well as a little Easter.  Pentecost Sunday was a long time ago – almost 2,000 years ago. But the effects of that wonderful day still affect us today, for it was the birthday of the church. But somehow many Christians do not experience that joy and power today. This morning we will spend a few minutes at looking at ways to get revived.

"If you will return, O Israel, return to Me," declares the LORD. "If you put your detestable idols out of My sight and no longer go astray, and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' then the nations will be blessed by Him and in Him they will glory."  Jeremiah 4:1, 2

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  Revelation 2:1-4

We share what we are excited about. If you are not excited about God’s work at Calvary, then think about it. That one act of love – an act that ultimately cost Jesus’ life – made it possible for us to have a daily walk with God.

In Deuteronomy 4:30 Moses stated, “When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him.” Simply put, we return to God when we are in distress. Simple logic will tell us that if that is the only way God can get us fired up about His work in our lives He will allow – or even send – hard times! If you want to avoid those hard times, get serious about your walk with God!

God does run out of patience. He does set limits. As believers we have an assigned task. Matthew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

All authority… ALL AUTHORITY… has been given to Jesus by the Father. Therefore, any instructions Jesus gives us are to be considered instructions from Almighty God! And what does He tell us?

1. Go!

2. Make disciples!

3. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!

4. Teach them to observe everything I have commanded you.

We know the rules. If we can’t go ourselves we send those that can go. However, there is a work to do here. We have empty pews and almost empty classrooms. There is a work here yet to do.

I recently read of a man that worked in the coal mines in West Virginia. As the mines were being shut down businesses closed and church attendance dropped off dramatically. The man often worked all night in the mines, cleaned up as best he could and then went to church where he was the Sunday School superintendent.  As he prayed one day the Holy Spirit spoke to him and asked, “Are you satisfied with the way things are at church?” He said that such a heavy burden for the work of the Lord came on him that he prayed, “Lord, I am not going to ask you to send one more person our way until I find out what you want me to do and get it done.”  Because he listened to the Holy Spirit, they made a number of changes. Today the Sunday School and Church are booming… all because one man listened to the Lord.

God said, “Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of the men who saw My glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times--not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated Me with contempt will ever see it.”  Numbers 14:21-32

Why?  God ran out of patience!  Think about this!  The generation of Jewish men and women that lived in slavery in Egypt, who saw God deliver them through the plagues that Moses called down from heaven, that walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, did not get to enter the Promised Land!

They saw the Egyptian army drown in the Red Sea, they saw water gush from a rock – enough water to satisfy 1 million people and their animals, that had clothes and shoes that never wore out, that ate manna that fell from heaven, could not believe God.

At night they were protected from the cold by fire, during the day they were protected from the sun by a cloud covering… yet they never learned to trust God.

Have you? Have I?

Why could they not trust God? I believe that they refused to! So in the verses we read, God simply says, “I give up!”
 

Only 2 men of that generation of men that left Egypt made it into the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb. When they saw the problems in Canaan they said, “Yes, there are giants, but we serve the living God!”

This morning God is asking us to make a commitment to Him – a total and commitment – to do whatever He asks.

One day a denominational leader asked the field director of the African missionary endeavor about his call to the ministry. His response was very interesting. He said, “Actually, I did not receive a call. I just saw in the Bible that God accepted volunteers, so I volunteered!” He then explained that as time went on God opened doors and gifted him so that he could do the work that he saw needed to be done.

God is looking for volunteers today.

It does not have to be an emotional event. Simply say, “Here am I Lord, send me.” That is what Isaiah told the Lord when the Lord asked, “Who shall I send – who will go for Me?”

When Fanny Brice, the renowned comedienne, was first offered a job from the much-acclaimed Florenz Ziegfeld, she accepted the job very quietly without much show of emotion. She thanked his secretary and his doorman very politely.  As soon as she was out of the building, though, she raced down to the theater where she would be performing. All afternoon, she stood in front of the Broadway Theater and grabbed people off the sidewalk to tell them that she would soon be working there.

Wouldn't it be great to leave church this morning with that kind of excitement, that kind of enthusiasm--so that no matter how calm and sophisticated we look while we are inside these walls, we couldn't wait to get outside to share Christ's love with somebody else?

Pretend for a moment that you are the athletic director at OSU, and are looking for a basketball coach. Would you get excited about a coach that said, “My goal is to win at least 50% of the games?” Or would you give a scholarship to a high school senior whose stated goal was to win at least 60% of the games? I’m guessing not! 

 

According to an article, “What do Americans Believe” by Lillian Kwon of the Christian Post Reporter dated Fri, Oct. 27 2006 09:17 AM ET, there are 300 million Americans. 86% claim to follow some form of Christian belief. That means that there 45,000,000 Americans that do not have a daily relationship with God – and that have no hope of heaven! 

We should be concerned! As Evangelicals we are part of the fastest growing segment of Christianity in America… I like that! But there is much more to do!

As we pray let’s do a spiritual checkup. What is our relationship with the Lord? Is it casual, or is it a powerful relationship? Secondly, is there anyone you or I know that needs to have a spiritual renewal?