TH160407/What Makes Jesus Sick

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions were to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org the Lord as we open your word and we hear what Jesus has to say that the churches we pray that we will well as the Scripture says have ears to hear you've told us that the person who comes in this book will be blessed if they read here and keep the words of it. So begin to read it and hopefully will get to hear it and it's really up to us if we keep it but I pray Lord that we will act on what we hear tonight. Speak to us from your word. We ask in Jesus name, amen. All right, here's a sermon title. I've never used in all the years I've been preaching title for the message tonight. What makes Jesus said that intrigue you a little bit organ to find out the answer to that in just a moment, but let me start with the question what Jesus Christ showed up in this church tonight. Now yes he is here but I'm talking if he showed up physically. I know that's not possible.

Of course we wouldn't come to us in that way, but if he were to walk into this congregation would we know who he is. Would he be the guy with the wavy brown hair with blonde streaks in it and with a lamb wrapped around his neck. Maybe a staffer good measure of wearing a white robe are woody kind of come undercover, but more importantly, would he think of what he sees in this church right now. What would his reaction would be only personalize it for you. Let's say you went home after church tonight. You're having a late night snack and there's a knock at your door and you look and asked Jesus how do you know it's Jesus because you have a glass door. You know it's kind of hard to act like you're not at home when your door is made out of glass right because you see them and they see you and so you realize it's Jesus and you don't necessarily want to be interrupted at the moment. You really don't want to share your late night snack and so you just go back to preparing it. How do you think Jesus would react to that. Hopefully we would run to the door. I mean run to the door and opened it and pulled him in, but some might leave the door closing it reminds me of a little adventure I had with James McDonald that you'll know Pastor James E spoke here recently and James is kind of a wild guy in real life, you need to know. I mean, I'm kind of a crazy guy. My friends will tell you the genes is even crazier than me because he'll just do things that you wouldn't think he would do me bad things. I mean just funny, nutty, crazy things he was in a restaurant once in someone's eating next to us. They said how much you give me if I get the person to give me a bite of what they're eating. I said then this can give you bite with three how much you giving I'll give you two dollars okay that's really starts talking with this people a dog gone it four minutes later there given the bites of the for. That's James. He's always pushing the envelope so when they were down in bubble island walking around he was in town speaking about couples conference and work somewhere on the island pretty far from the main strip.

There and James aside to go to the restroom is a will. Let's go back downtown.

There's a restaurant we can use our think in Starbucks we got on all just go to someone's house and use the restroom like no you won't just walk up and ask permission. I said look I don't know how things are in Chicago, James, but you know just walk up to homes here, especially in a place like Balboa Island and have someone let you any good.

How much you give me if I have. I use some address was all give you like 10 bucks for that is I know if I can happen and I know I just made 10 bucks okay so James walks and knocks on the door and I see a person open the door looking for a moment and shut it very quickly.

James is a big guy you know and so now he sent another door now. This is one of those Dutch doors and on talking about where the bottom is closed and the top is open so he's knocking and Kathleen are standing there watching them at a distance and suddenly James McDonald opens the little door and starts to walk and I said let's go.

He's going to be arrested to the point he never got in James, and Donald the great preacher was out the door, but nobody wanted to let one of Jesus were at the door. Would we let Jim and by the way I won the bet to but here now are some of the most familiar words and all of the Bible that will read in the few moments where Jesus says in Revelation 320 that we all know this verse.

If you do say it out loud with me, behold, I stand at the door and not if any man will hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with him will read who Jesus said that you and why he said no. As we come to the end of this section.

In Revelation were looking at the message of Christ to the seven churches. These are actual churches that existed in fact they followed a postal route, but they also represent states of the Christian life of the represent certain churches that are around today and they might even represent individual Christians. It started with the church of Ephesus will call them the loveless church. Revelation 2 verses 1 to 7.

Jesus commended them for their hard work and their discernment but a problem was developing. They were in danger of leaving their first love. This is where the breakdown began that we will see fully realized in the other churches to them.

Jesus says, remember from where you are fallen repent and do the first works quickly, so if you find yourself leaving your first love with Christ, the 3Rs, the getting right with God. Remember, repent, and repeat that we come to the church of Smyrna. That was the persecuted church Revelation 2, 7 to 17 this church Christ brought words of encouragement as they were suffering and they were being persecuted for their faith.

Yet no critical words for the church of Smyrna. In fact, he promised them a crown for their faithfulness and if you are suffering for your fate. Jesus promises you to will be blessed and you will receive a reward. The third church was purged a mess. Now this is work compromise enters into the church.

Revelation 2 verses 12 to 17. The devil is not stupid please know that he's evil. He's wicked.

He's also very smart and he's been honing this crap for a long time and I think the devil operates by the old adage if you can't beat them join them. So with the church of progress in a sense, Satan joins the church. This is a church that is compromising. This is the church that's being infiltrated. This is a church that is turning to sin. So things are getting bad, bringing us to the church of fire tire of the fourth one Revelation 218 to 29. We could call them the corrupt church now compromises run its full course in immorality is rampant. What was winked out of the church or program, as is fully tolerated in many ways embraced in the church of Thyatira and that's always how sin works. It starts small, and then it gets big. It starts with a little issue and then metastasize is and spreads to the system much like cancer and shows itself in so many ways and Jesus warned them that they don't repent the growth of the tribulation. Then we come to the church of Sardis will call them the dead church.

Revelation 31 to 6 that which was sick and fire tire is pretty much dead in Sardis and out of this church come to strings and we could call this the church of the last days and we have the stream of Philadelphia and we have the church of Laodicea. Philadelphia is a church that is going through open doors of opportunity.

This is a church that is full of passion and fire and they're coming back to life. And then we have Laodicea, which is a church that is in full compromise and vector so messed up.

Jesus is on the outside trying to get back in and this is the church that Jesus actually says in so many words, you make me sick. So Revelation chapter 3 starting in verse 14. Let's read together to the angel of the church of Laodicea right these things saith the amen the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

I know your works in your neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So the because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot.

I want to vomit you out of my mouth though you may have a King James version and it does spew that sounds very polite but the word is vomit regurgitate is wanted understand what Jesus is all vomit you out of my mouth because you say verse 17 oh I'm rich and I become wealthy, and I have need of nothing, don't you know your wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich and white garments, that you may be clothed at the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see as many as I love I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore, and repent numbers 20 very familiar verse. I mentioned behold, I stand at the door might not. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will commended him and dine with him, and he with me to him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, and as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne.

He that is in there to hear living here with the spirit says to the churches. There I Laodicea just a little background. This is an actual place with an actual church. Laodicea was noted Laodicea rather was noted throughout the Roman province of Asia for its great wealth was also known for its commercial life and medical practice. It was the baking center of Asia. It was a most prosperous of the seven cities that the churches were located. In fact, many large, beautiful homes were built in the city and the ruins of those are in some cases still visible and some are probably owned by Christians. Laodicea also had a flourishing clothing industry.

There was a particular breed of black sheep that were raised around this area and the glossy black wool was woven with the special close there were only sold in Laodicea. The city was also known for its medical practice and specifically for its ISAF is Jesus mentions that they should anoint their own eyes and that was exported all around the Greco Roman world. Laodicea was sort of like the Bank of America, Gucci, and the Mayo Clinic all in one location.

So it was a destination for many people, and here's what Jesus has to say. You know what because you guys are lukewarm I want to vomit you out of my mouth. You know some churches make Jesus sad. Some churches make Jesus angry and some become sick and this is one of those you know that that's pretty harsh thing to say to someone you can see all men you broke my heart or I'm really upset with you but if you say to someone you know what when I see you I want to vomit. While that's pretty harsh right knee doesn't get any worse and that and that is exactly what Christ says but why does he say this right. Let's look in his assessment. His diagnosis of the real problem and understand. Don't disconnect and singled out some churches existed 2000 years ago. This is his assessment of a certain person is not only a lukewarm church there can be a lukewarm person you are. I can be that person.

What is it mean to be lukewarm. Verse 15 he says your neither cold nor hot. Another church of Sardis was a cold church a dead church and contrast the church of Philadelphia was hot alive and vital, but here in Laodicea we have a church that is neither hot nor cold. It's merely lukewarm about the way archaeologists have discovered a fascinating fact about the city that no local water supply but obtain their water through an aqueduct from the hot Springs that hierarchal is some 6 miles away. So if you are staying in a hotel in Laodicea and you turn on the tap to get a cold drink of water.

Are you probably spit it out because it was always tepid lukewarm, because traveling that distance. The hot water had partially cooled down and he became nauseating and repulsive. Okay so things are not good lukewarm. There's very few food dishes you would serve lukewarm there either hot or cold to coffee copies great hot cappuccino latte espresso copies could cold iced coffee.

Coffee are dishes good hot off the grill fish is good, cold sushi right but if this is been cooked and is been laying around for a few hours and gets must-see. While that's not very appealing. And Jesus is saying lukewarm. This makes me want to throw up Outlook. I don't know about you but I hate to throw up. It's just I fight it up.

I'm feeling nauseated and I do not want that to happen.

My wife, she is like one of the best buffers I ever met and I don't watch her when she does, but Josette don't feel well overruling the jewel disappears.

You come back. I'm good with up and I threw up I got drop in good me it's like to throw up with ropes are you throwing a photo if I go back and afterwards I look like a mentor war you know it's awful you know some people are better at this, and others are yes but here's what Jesus is saying that this ruling nauseated me. So here's my question to you. What is your spiritual temperature right now. According to the Bible. There's only three options you can either be boiling hot, you can be icy cold. You can be miserably lukewarm again boiling hot, icy cold miserably lukewarm. What is it mean to be called. He says because you're hot or cold. It means frozen or IC cold. This is pretty much a description of a nonbeliever with no interest in God. They have no interest in spiritual things are just colder cold as ice right.

The heart is like a rock.

They don't want to hear about godly things they want to hear about what Jesus has to say there just cold. In fact, the Bible tells us in Matthew 2412 one of the signs of the last days is the love of many will grow cold and believe it or not it's better to be cold then it is to be Luke warm not explain why in a moment the word hot comes from a word that starts in the Greek we get our English word zest from it.

It means boiling hot.

The Bible tells us in Romans 1210 to be fervent or hot in spirit.

Another translation says we should maintain that spiritual glow. A preacher in the New Testament name Apollo's is mentioned as one who was fervent in spirit, and when were starting to cool down. The Bible says that we should stand in the flame the gift that God is given to us in first Timothy 16 10 in the flames a spiritual gift that God is giving you. We all know people that are on fire for God is no other way to describe just on fire in their faith and how does one stay on fire while you feed the fire. If you have a fire at home. I don't mean a dural flame log or a gas fireplace.

But if you have an actual fire you build with actual logs and such. You feed the fire to keep it going right in the same is true in our spiritual life. When we find ourselves cooling down. We feed the fire and how do we feed the fire using the giver that applies to we feed the fire while you're doing that right now by sitting here and watching me choke know by hearing the word of God means you're in a midweek Bible study.

This isn't Sunday morning this is Thursday night and you said tonight I'm in a go and hear the word of God. Most of you work and you're busy and you have a lot going on but you made a choice to be here tonight and I commend you for that because you're feeding the fire right when you open up the word of God. Every morning you're feeding the fire.

When you listen to music that honors the Lord your feeding the fire. When you have fellowship with fellow Christians you're feeding the fire. Remember those two discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus after Christ is been crucified. They thought he was dead and gone forever. But of course he was alive and he met them, but he was incognito.

They did know it was Jesus didn't have a lamb wrapped around his neck and the staff are some like that. They just thought he was a stranger, but he happened to be a stranger that knew the word of God very well. As they walked along the open to them.

The Scriptures and their hearts headed cool down begin to burn again and at the end of their journey they said after he left did not. Our hearts burn within us while he opened up the word of God to us on the way you want to keep your heart hot you want to stay on fire for God, you fill it with the word of God every single day and night, so that's hot. But what about lukewarm well that's a whole another condition know some people a civil grade. I'm a Christian and I am a believer but I don't want to be perceived as fanatical. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable with what I believe. I don't want to come up to extreme, or overboard. You know the reaction of Christ is to that kind of thinking.

He says it makes me sick makes him sick because he says he doesn't want us to be crazy or fanatical, but he wants us to be on fire and committed and you can do that in a relatively sane way and by that I mean you don't have to become a weird person, but you can become a very dedicated person a very committed person and sometimes we might think will okay lukewarm isn't as good as hot but it's better than cold. No, it's actually not a G. Campbell Morgan is a British a Bible commentator. He made this statement in one of his books and I quote there is more hope for the men outside the church and all of its coldness, then for the men with in the church who is near enough. It's warm to appreciated and far enough from its burning heat to be both useless to God and man. There is a greater chance for the nonbeliever was not heard the gospel them for the man who has become and evangelize non-believer" sent out a great quote because it Caesar someone sit in a bar right now their nursing therefore bear their miserable they don't know what direction their life is taking. I suggest that person could be potentially closer to the kingdom of God than someone sitting in this church right now so we you lost me there are using we should all go out and get beers after church. No, I'm not. But here's what I am saying that person in the bar they're looking at their life there assessing that nursing my life. It sucks. I've made so many bad decisions. I need to do something drastic I need to get right with God. There contemplating their state, but there's someone sitting in church right now and you're completely bored. In fact, you're updating your Facebook page you know who you are you. You're totally distracted. You're texting a friend you're daydreaming. Not nothing that's a bad thing to daydream, but maybe you're here because someone pressured you to be here.

You don't really want to be here for you. Looking forward to this getting over with. There's a problem to be in evangelize nonbeliever all will I go to church so I'm good.

Well maybe if you're listening and if you're putting into practice what you're hearing, but if you're going to church and not putting in the practice.

This can turn you listen to me into a lukewarm person. Don't forget this is the shirts of Leo to see you and don't forget that contextually when Jesus says behold I stand at the door knocking up you'll hear my voice, and open the door. Yes, speaking to people in the church, not necessarily Christians but people in the church. Just because your name is on the church membership roll doesn't mean it's necessarily in the book of life right so this is a self deceived person, a lukewarm people are often the last to know that there lukewarm. They think they're good the giver. 17 because you say I'm rich I become wealthy in need of nothing, don't you know that your red, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked there blind to their own spiritual condition. They don't even see their own state giver heard of Hans Christian Anderson wrote many stories and one of his most well-known is called the Emperor's new clothes, and in this particular story. There was a very veiny Emperor who only cared about his appearance and he hired two tailors. He wanted them to make him a beautiful robe to wear and these guys were slackers and they didn't do the job and in the king came in for his robe and they realize you know they're in trouble and maybe would even be beheaded and so they said all okay and we made. You are beautiful robe. In fact, this is different than anything we've ever made because this is a special material that is invisible, they cannot see this garment if they're unfit for office or of their stupid so only those who are good people will see this beautiful garment and they pretended they were holding the garment when they really will do nothing and they began to cut it in and for the king. In reality they were doing nothing they were making gestures and they said where this king, and so the king walks out of the palace completely naked thinking he's in this beautiful garment because he himself did not want to admit he was stupid or unfit for office. And as he was walking through his kingdom all the people are bowing down before the naked king but nobody wants to state the obvious, except one little kid who pointed the king assist. The Emperor has no clothes. Then the king knew he was busted. That's what a lukewarm person is because you say I'm rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Jesus says actually, you're in big trouble. Verse 18 you of the shame of your own nakedness, so he tells them to buy gold refined in the fire. In other words using you guys think about your soul. Think about your spiritual life is a very important point. Why does he say this to this church because he loves him effectively. Jesus is your poor, your miserable your blinding your naked and you make me want to throw up but I love you. It's true he loves him because look at what he says in verse 19 as many as I love I rebuke and chasten as many as I dearly tenderly love you know there's a lot of ways we can express our love, the most obvious is saying to someone you love.

I love you that's are important to do a snack. I don't forget to say that to your husband or your wife for your mom or your dad or your son or your daughter, just tell them you love them, say those words to them. That's important. It really means a lot but there's other ways to show love to. I mean, if someone I love, may be child or grandchild was running toward the street and I saw a car coming and I ran maybe I even yelled at them to stop and I grab them and yank them back. I might seem a little abrupt, but that was love to. I'm trying to protect them from harm.

Another way I might express my love is up I see a person doing something that destructive to themselves. I might bring it to their attention and try to get them to stop doing that thing that's a form of love. And if you're a parent you don't just indulge your children and give them whatever they want to give them candy that's the job of the grandparent. But if your parents you have to be responsible you up to teach the manners you teach them to have respect and when they do something wrong. You may discipline the more God does the same thing.

Hebrews 12 says the Lord disciplines those he loves.

He punishes those that he accepts as his own children. If you endure this divine discipline, remember God is treating you as his own children who ever heard of a child that was never discipline. Listen to this. If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children. It means your illegitimate you're not really his children at all. See only discipline your own children. You know, discipline, someone else's children. There were times you would like to but you better not. You might get arrested know you discipline your own children because you are a child of God, he will discipline you know, let me explain what that means if you're a Christian, God is giving you a conscience. The Holy Spirit will speak to you through your conscience and when you start to do something wrong, the Lord will say don't do that or apologize for that, or don't cross that line, and so forth. He's there helping you he he deals with the ones he loves and that way know if you can go out on life and say you're a Christian and go have sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend and feel no remorse for bin Laden party and get drunk with your friends and feel great about it that you had a great time even pray before you went out. Lord bless us as we go get drunk and fornicate and stuff you know probably didn't see it that way that I mean if you're comfortable with that. You know what that says to me you're not a Christian and Judge not lest you be judged by direct diverse up the word means condemn knowledge should be condemned, I can say who is or who is in the Christian but I'll save that of a person can live in sin without any pang of conscience that is an indication to me. They are not a Christian Civil War you get that from from what I just read as many as I love I rebuke and chasten. And if you're without discipline then you are a fatherless child. God doesn't discipline someone that doesn't belong to him, but he does discipline those whom he loves of you send me Greg every time I cross the line every time I start a compromised the Lord just nails me. God bless you God just said in so many words I love you. It's a good thing to say it's a good thing. So he loves these people. That's why he's telling them the truth about the real condition and I've told you this before we have an overly sensitive smoke alarm in our house and I have had to pull it off the wall a couple of times a key put them back. You know better to have an overly sensitive smoke alarm than one that doesn't work right. And if you conscience is tender and responsive.

That is a very good thing. So here's what he says to this church. Verse 19. You need to repent, be zealous therefore, and repent interesting phrasing. There can literally be translated. Let them repent at once and irrevocably let them continue always to be fired with zeal. If you're in this state, no listening if I'm talking to you right now and you're saying well I'm actually the person you just described on the person living in two worlds doing the things you said a Christian should not do and I don't feel that bad about it. There's a got a St. quickly repent white quickly can I do it in a week or month.

Don't do it immediately. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

Why, because a lukewarm person is seriously ill and may need to take action now and if you continue in the state get a hard heart. I just read this sad story of far comedian and actor Gary Shandling, who died of a heart attack and he was a relatively young man in his early 60s, and that that's young to me. Now of course. And you know he was saying to his friends.

He didn't feel well and he actually called his doctor and said you know I'm I'm I don't feel well, like I feel like like there's almost pressure in my heart and the doctor said will Gary do you know if you feel that way tomorrow morning call me or call the hospital while he woke up the next morning, still feeling this and he called 911, but by the time I got there he had already died. See this man was sick and he needed to be taken care of if you need to be taken to a hospital immediately. If you're having chest pains. Call 911. It's okay.

Better safe than sorry, right.

So the same ideas communicated here with this church.

If you see these symptoms act on it. Don't put it off all do it tomorrow to do and we go do it now let you get and irreparably hardened heart Hebrews 12 address to believers says this, but where brothers speaking, the believers, lest any of you have an evil heart of unbelief and departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it's called a day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin we become partakers of Christ that we hold the beginning of our competent, steadfast to the ends of the ideas act on this now. And here's the most important thing we need to enter into a relationship with Christ. I say Greg and Marty Christian.

I don't need here this hold on. You actually need to hear this. Even Christians need to enter in to our relationship with Christ and the deeper fellowship with Jesus now look again at verse 20 B whole life out of the doorknob any man hears my voice and opens the door of commending him and dine with him, and he with me. By the way, there's something wrong in quoting this to nonbelievers. I do it all the time for be quoted.

The Bible says, for as many as received him, he give them the power to become sons of God. So when you become a Christian, you really do invite Jesus to come into your life. Heard about a mother that was telling her daughter you know Jesus comes in lives in our heart. The little girl took it literally and put her ear up against her mommy's chest and listen for mom and her mom had a little heartburn. Her stomach was gurgling the little grosses mom right now.

I think he's in there making coffee so he really does come and live inside of us that a tiny little Jesus living in us. But Christ lives in me. Christ lives in you.

Christ lives in us.

So it's true for nonbelievers but yet these words are contextually as I said to the church. Now let's understand what Jesus means when he says have a meal with you. If you have a King James Bible.

He says I will come and sup with you. By the way, in the South they call dinner supper right my aunt Willie is here and you all know how Willie from the Frederick mission and her parents are Charles and Stella McDaniel came from French of Arkansas and she along with my mom and her other siblings were raised in a home where my grandmother made everything from scratch. The best fried chicken you've ever had in your life even better than babes in Texas love you saw the little video we did.

But babes was quite good.

I must say she made this amazing biscuit I've never had one as good.

First thing I want to get to heaven is one of mama Stella's biscuits. That's what we used to call them but in the South and in and mama Stella's own. They would call dinner supper now. We may not use that word supper.

It's the main event in in biblical times. Dinner was the big event didn't come home and watch you know Netflix okay there.

They didn't play video games. They didn't update their social media not the big event was coming home and being with family and friends. This was the thing so when Jesus uses the verbiage I want to come and have a meal with you the idea that it's been communicated. If I want to take time with you. I want to hang out with you. I want to have long moments with you. I want you to open your heart to me and I'm an open my heart to you right so this is very important for us to understand is in our fast food culture. We don't do this, like maybe we did and another generation nor a rush from the road were eating a burrito on the road. Sometimes we ship your burrito meter stick shift. We get confused so the idea of a long meal may be lost in us, so understand that was the culture of the time and you know sometimes people say you want to go out to dinner a lot of people I don't even know say I like to take you to dinner sometime. Thank you very much for the invitation, but chances are I don't know the name of the Glock to dinner with a complete stranger and I definitely not to go out to dinner. Was someone making a sales pitch. Your red sometimes you don't talk to about this little deal you can invest the money to get to dinner. I never do that because as long as I'm with them in the restaurant I'm stuck until we're done.

And then they order. You know their appetizer and then there meal then their dessert and their coffee, and they're still talking and I just want to escape okay. I like to eat with people that I like to be with family, friends, so I'm very that's something I'm selective about so Jersey I did. It's been communicated here it is.

Jesus is saying I want to have this relationship with you and I heard about a dating service are not used. Of course I married now for 42 years, but that I read about it is called just coffee the ideas instead of having to go out with someone on the date of full date. You just go for coffee after the screen you in the screen the person is a know you mean them just for copies of them like they got good demagogues nearby might do that in a minute.

Who knows Michael Monger, and sometimes without wayward Jesus, a just coffee get a quick job mounting alerts as I don't have just coffee with you.

I want to have a lot of time with you. I want to have intimacy with you. So that's been communicated, and you remember how Jesus would meet with his disciples and they would have meals together and how he would share important shrews with them over those meals.

And so he says that's what I want. I want to come in and have fellowship with you and others a very interesting verse in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 17 we looked at this in our live love fight series, but I it says that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, to an interesting passage because to Christians. Paul says my prayer for you is that Christ would dwell in your heart by faith. Now why would you pray that a Christian whatever Christ dwell in the heart. When Christ already dwells in their heart a better understanding of the word gives the answer. It's a compound word which basically means to live in a house but it's risk given with the prefix so it could be put together same Jesus speaking he wants to settle down and be at home in our heart Paula St. I pray that Christ settles down Ms. at home in your heart, not just there but really there as not just a guest but as a person who lives in that place and did the geese settled down in your heart right now is an interesting little book written years ago by a man named Robert Boyd Monger, the title of the book is my heart Christ so and he uses the idea of Christ coming to his actual house to illustrate this, and I this is been a long time ago when Holmes had what was called the study or the library. Not many homes have a study or library anymore. They have a family room or maybe a TV room or game room virtue homes of a study or a library, but he talks about Jesus coming to this room and he writes these words about Jesus.

He interviewed me and looked around at all the books in the bookcase, the magazines on the table. The pictures on the wall as I followed his gaze. I became uncomfortable. Strangely enough I did not feel badly about this room before. But now that he was there with me. Looking at these things I was embarrassed so let's go back to the idea of Jesus actually showing up at your house so your lettermen and you're watching TV. Jesus says what you want when I'm not watching the novelist turned back on. I don't know if you want to watch with edges watching my what the problem yeah I need to go over and send of a quick email Lord Dylan the my computer right now. Do you mind if I look at your browser's history on your search engine rather you didn't modify look over your email, no doubt look over my emails see the point is with therapy and discomfort in your life. If Jesus knew your personal history with there be a discomfort in your life. If Jesus knew what movies you were just watching them.

By the way, that's all recorded. It's documented their people can look at histories of things wouldn't bother you will. Maybe you should rethink those things because that's the idea of Christ settling down in your heart. These in control.

He is the Lord, he is ruling there you're having fellowship with their he's welcome there. But this is not the lukewarm person they don't want Jesus in that kind of way or the story of a pastor went to a families home one day he knocked on the door but no one answered. He knocked again, still no answer.

He thought he heard someone inside, so he expected them to answer.

But no one did.

So he wrote a little note slip it under the door and it said hi and I'll pastor Joe came by today and anyone in Scripture.

Revelation 320 behold, I stand at the doorknob. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will command so couple days go by and he gets a note from the lady that lived in the house and she just wrote down.

Genesis 316, Tuesday, Genesis 310 so the pastor one with I don't know what that passage is so he looked it up and it says these words I heard the sound of you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I get myself has nothing to do with anything, it's just so to the person who quickly repents and opens his heart to Christ. This promise. Verse 21 to him who overcomes I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne. Nonscriptural throne is a symbol of authority and conquest as Christ conquered the world and the devil was exalted at the father's right hand. So the conquering Christian will be honored as well, as Christ shares the father's throne. The Christian will share Christ's throne.

I don't know what this means exactly, but I do know that when we leave this world and we go to the afterlife. We go to heaven one day heaven will come to earth and the Bible says that we who have served the Lord. We will rule and reign with him will have responsibilities will have things that will do. I will have rewards given to us for our faithful service to him.

So it's an amazing thing is we let him rule in our life. Now you let us rule with him one day. So let's lend this plane and bring this message to a close with this verse that we've looked at a little bit of Jesus standing at the door and knocking you know, I became a Christian at age 17, but there were moments in my life that I can reflect back upon word Jesus was knocking.

I can go back to my childhood member certain experiences where I sensed God, I sensed my need for God, but I didn't know how to get into this relationship with him until it was explained to me. Maybe you can look back at your life and think at times, a Christ is not. Maybe it was that close brush with death that you narrowly escaped.

Maybe it was the unexpected death of a loved one that was sort of your wake-up call. Maybe it was a call from the doctor when you thought your life is coming to an end soon but then they told you the test came back negative, and you were okay but you were alarm therefore a time or maybe it was just hearing the gospel and you came so close to committing your life to Jesus Christ. But you didn't take that next step will you see here's the thing. If someone is knocking and you don't answer the door. That's a way of saying go away when I came over to your house after church and I'm knocking at your door and I know you're inside and you're not naked and you're not hiding yourself like the one woman you know I'm there. I know you're there and you don't answer your door.

You know, I will interpret that. I don't think they want me to come in, so maybe I'll be really patient and all not for you know in our I doubt I would but let's just say I would look for the singular point J not for four hours continuously promise it will then want me and I leave.

So when Jesus is knocking and were not answering.

That's our way of saying go away. I don't want to we people he could. Jesus will always be knocking below is me that opportunity. One maybe there will be, or maybe death will come suddenly you you won't even have a moment to get right with God. Or maybe your heart will get so hard by saying no to him over and over again the uterus won't care anymore. It'll end up with a cold heart. We talked about.

You don't want that to happen right now and some of your lives. Jesus is knocking and you know you know who you are.

You sense that I need. This is my moment. I need to get right with God and to not say yes is to say no to not invite him in, is to turn him away what he wanted to. Would you like him to come and forgive you of your sin.

Would you like him to come and take residence inside of you and know you'll never be alone again than what you need to do is open the door so to speak about the way the doorknob of your heart, so to speak is on the inside only he won't kick in and he won't open in a forcibly enter. Don't wait until you hear his voice and open the door. It's not even enough to hear his voice again table. Greg I know what you're saying is true and I know Jesus is calling me great night got open the door and guess what I can open that door for you. The person who maybe brought you here that I cannot open the door for you. Only you can open the door. Only you can see Jesus come in, but if you do, he will come in and you will never regret that decision. He will come to clean your life up to get rid of the junk you don't want in their will replace it with things that are far better, and best of all, he himself will live inside of you and you'll never be alone again is not good news to close now in prayer. Remember to give you an opportunity to open the door of your heart to say yes to Jesus. If you've not done that yet, so if you need to respond respond now as we pray father, thank you for your word to us. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, and then rise again from the dead and the Lord Jesus I pray for every person here that may not yet know you those that are watching those that are listening. I pray that they will see their need for you and that they will come to you and believe in you at this very moment the letterheads are proud of her eyes are closed and were all praying. Maybe some of you would say tonight. Greg, I need to open the door of my heart and life. I want Jesus to come inside. I don't want to be alone anymore. I don't want to live in sin anymore. I want my sins forgiven. I want a fresh start in life. I need and I want Jesus pray for me that your desire.

If you want Jesus to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die wherever you are, would you lift your hand up, not like to pray for you, bless you, bless you.

Anybody else with your hand up or I can see it please, but she was well anybody else you want is forgiveness, shoot here in the front. You want Christ to come in your life, bless you raise your hand accomplish you to bear in the back of buses. Well anybody else raise your hand up, let me pray for you.

Anybody else ever lifted her hand yet lifted now.

You want Jesus to come into your life and we pray for you. Lift your hand up. God bless you letterheads are still valid.

Maybe some of you would say you know what you been describing me on the lukewarm person. I know it's right but I'm not right with God. I'm living in two worlds, and I want to repent, Jesus, and repent quickly and I want to do it right here right now and recommit my life to him at that your desire. If you want to make a recommitment to Christ because you are that lukewarm person would you raise your hand up when we pray for you right bless you. Anybody else raise your hand when we pray for you. There might be a few more. Bless you. You been trying to live in two worlds you been doing things you know you should not be doing as a follower of Jesus, but he is lovingly convicted you of it by his Holy Spirit in your say Lord I heard you and I'm committing myself to you. Anybody else raise your hand publish a bless each one knob and asked that everyone of you if you would please others. Raise your hand. I want you to stand your feet nominally join a prayer of commitment to Jesus stand up, you raise your hand. Even if you did not, but you want to make this commitment, recommitment to Jesus wherever you are, stand up organa pray together. That's right, stand up, others are standing will be alone got bless you that are standing.

Stand up organa pray together maybe did not raise her hand but you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Christ tonight. Stand your feet. Pray together. Anybody else stand now. Bless you. Anybody else accomplish away one more moment. There might be a few more that want to stand. You want Jesus to come in your life you want to recommit your life to Jesus stand your feet will get a pray together a bless you bless you. Anybody else stand now.

RA publishes understanding bless you to anybody else in the spinal moment.

Stan now got bless you. Bless all of you are right you that are standing. I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me is saying the Christ are sorry for your sin, your turning from it. Your choosing to follow him again as I pray pray this out loud after me right where you stand. Pray this after me now Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead know Jesus come into my life be my Savior be my Lord be my God, and be my friend. I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward.

Thank you for calling me and accepting me for giving in Jesus name I pray.

Amen. God bless you guys this to pray about the front of