God's Calling Card

Welcome to the radio ministry ethically returns in Henderson. Margo is to make Christ visible Clearview is a place of genuine worship with ministries for all age groups and all people. For more information, visit us at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online at Clearview B. See.org now join us for this week's message by Pastor Otto is the outward message in the series called believing is seeing now sounds awkward when you say that believing is seeing because you always think about seeing is believing. When you believe in Jesus Christ, his only then that he comes alive. You begin to see him everywhere. Whether it's in history or Scripture or in your own life believing in him, you begin to see him in this morning's message is called God's calling card. It will make more sense as we walked to this message.

What that exactly means. But if you have your Bibles with you turn to John chapter 1 starting in verse 10. In a saucepan together for the reading of God's word. He, meaning Jesus was in the world and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own did not receive him, but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, but keep those words that I emphasize in your mind, who believe in his name who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth. Many of you carry calling cards or business cards and a calling card or business card usually has the name of the person on it.

The contact information and something about your position, your stature or your capacity in your organization and your institution. Those three things are essential. Usually hand out the business card calling card at a social event or you know you're in the airport or are you visiting someone in and there is a genuine connection you feel like hey here's my card.

Call me know what happens to those cards. Typically, if the person has a genuine connection with you or if they need a favor, or there is a need for your services, they will keep that car. What happens when they don't make the connection. What happens if they don't see the need, usually for a way God also has a calling card. It also has his name on it is contact information in his capacity, his stature and every person who comes into this world. Every human being who has ever come into this world at some point in time God says call me, they may be in a hospital room they may be in a foxhole, they may be going through a financial crisis. Their marriage is on the rocks, they are struggling with relationships some point in time God says call me. Unfortunately, many people look at the card and say I don't think I need these.

I don't think I need your services and they junket away in the series were going through this Christmas season. The unusual series were examining what Jesus meant when he told his opponents, the Jewish religious leaders Moses wrote about me the question were seeking to answer is where and when did Moses write about Jesus. If you were here last weekend we learned that when grace and truth are mentioned together. Jesus is there, we found them in the book of Genesis chapter 3 when Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus came and spoke to them the truth. All of them are under the curse, but he also offered grace to them that one day the seed of the serpent will strike the seed of the woman, but he will crush his head. That was the grace the gospel grace and truth together is Jesus Christ and you can find him throughout the writings of Moses throughout the Old Testament this weekend. We were going to learn is that when Jesus came into this world he gave his calling card to people and when you take his calling card and examine a calling card in Exodus chapter 33 and 34 where God gave his calling card to Moses on Mount Sinai.

When you compare those two calling cards. Guess what you find there identical. Now the font on the old record with Moses maybe a little older.

The information may be in a different order. It may have a few smudges because of time.

But when you compare the calling card that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai.

And what Jesus gave when he came in this world. They are exactly the same, same name, same contact information and same capacity. What is the point.

The point is this Jesus when he came in this world and he gave his contact information. What he was saying is I am God, and guess what the church may not understand it, but the Jewish religious people surely did and said wait a minute, this looks too much like a father. Are you making yourself equal to the father and would the try to do to Jesus are killing is there's only one God and you're not. It is, and of course I am. I am the father and one so when we read that Moses wrote about him. Jesus said that what we need to understand is that he was making himself equal with the father that he was part of the triune God father son and Spirit before we go any further mask this morning. What have you done with God's calling card. More specifically, what have you done with the calling card of Jesus Christ, someone will say I really don't remember.

I mean I don't get it.

I don't get how you deserve heavens open in a car drops down know at some point in the time in your life. Maybe you were going through a crisis, maybe right this moment. You are at the end of your rope. Maybe you are going through some addiction, family problems, financial related, you know what that issue is there's a knock on your door and the card is given to you. Call me call me what have you done with the calling card of Jesus Christ. To most people when they come to church with the looking for some trite phrase some anecdote, some three-point outline change me preacher change made to give me something that will help me in my marriage give me something that would change the way I look at life and give me encouragement change me both. I can change you. Even if I tried. No doctrine in this world can change. You know, principal in this world can change you. A person can change you and the person is not me. The person is Jesus Christ, which he had to take the carton calling this morning.

I hope if you've never made that call that you will in the first call that you make the Jesus is save me to become demons, they will make my marriage better. Of course he can. He will help me with my financial problems help me with this or that need my physical problems and he will answer your prayers for the first prayer that you need to pray the prayer that says I'm a sinner you are the Savior I need you to save me. That's when his services really begin you so I am saved on the Christian.

Let me ask you this question what's keeping you from calling him to want to bother him about all the things I need. Do you know that he is God and that he can do anything and everything in your life.

The problem with the church today is this, it may shock some of you.

We believe in a lot of truth, we just don't believe in the person of truth. We have a lot of knowledge. We just don't believe that Jesus is God word made flesh, who dwelt among us. We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth.

What you and I desperately need in this world are those two things, grace and truth, and the one who can give it to you is Jesus this morning as we walked to this let the Holy Spirit guide you were going to look at the card that Jesus gave when he came to recognize the pattern of the calling card.

The pattern for the calling card that Jesus gave is found in the Gospel of John chapter 1 John introduces Jesus not as the baby in the manger in Bethlehem, but as the son of God the Word who was in the beginning he says in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the word was God. Then in verse 10 it says he was in the world and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. Listen to what happens in verse 11 he came to his own.

The Jewish people going to have the writings of Moses. He came to this all in his own did not receive him his own said we know exactly what this means in the throat away. The point is this. We don't seek after God. God seeks after us.

It may seem like for some reason you're here this morning because a friend invited you. Are you going through a crisis and you felt like you needed sure no one seeks after God is God who comes down seeking after us and he gives us his calling card only every human being. At some point in time gets that call. Some never recognize some reject, but those who receive this get back to this. What does this calling card look like the Jesus gave the first thing on the calling card is the name of Jesus. Let's listen again to verse 12 as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name. Have you ever seen a calling card with no name on it. Does the contact information delivered on that he meet someone, somewhere in the give you the phone number and you find it in your coat pocket and you go, what is this number. Where did I get this number a gazillion, 10 out of 10 times.

You will not remember any third way is like man I don't know who this is. When Jesus came in this world. He also gave his calling card with his name on it and began all the way back in Isaiah chapter 9 verse six.

His name shall be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace. When he came. The angels came before him and announce they said his name shall be called Emmanuel, which means God with us.

Yellow doing so is better than the last service. His name shall be called Jesus, which means what God saves. He is the Messiah, which means what he is the anointed one and everywhere Jesus when he introduced himself sound the son of God on the Son of Man. What a John the Baptist that he is the Lamb of God who takes over this. Using his calling card was given out constantly his money.

What's next on the calling card. Listen to verse 13. His contact information who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God and the Word became flesh and my translation is, he opened his office in the midst of them.

He dwelt among us. Have you ever try to call some business. Some companies saw the ad on television or found it on the Internet.

Some recommend the column is a hey listen, we we saw this with oh where are you located what we are stuck, over only on the West Coast.

While it doesn't help over in such a such a state we just don't we don't have any offices there amazing the contact information of Jesus Christ. You don't have to go to heaven to find him. Word became flesh and he opened a branch right in your location. You can find him, call him anytime you want to do you know the Bible says Jesus said were two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am. Did you know that Jesus is right now in this place you don't need two or three, you can contact them wherever you are.

The first thing on the contact on the calling card is the capacity is the stature of Jesus not want to see does verse 14 and we beheld his glory, we heard his name. We know that he is right here. There is an office in our community that Israel but now for all of us anywhere you want to call upon him, but what is its capacity, who is a you have you ever got a calling card with just a name and phone number. What you do with this back in the 1800s in the Victorian era. They would give out calling cards of the name and a phone number or you know address they would give out to people until they realize man we got know what you do, so they started putting the business information on what does his business information look like we beheld his glory, which means what this capacity that he is not human.

Only and how is the difference, the glory as of the only begotten of the father. He is powerful.

How powerful Lizzie as powerful as God himself.

He can do anything. But that's not it. Listen to what Elsa says the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth to things that you and I desperately need. Guess what he offers his services. I have glory just as much as God and I'm here for the two things you really need grace and truth. Call me in the first sales rep for Jesus who was a John the Baptist. What did John the Baptist say in verse 15. This know what he said.

He says the same chapter focus.

He says he of whom I said, he who comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. What he is saying is throw away my business card. You don't need that anymore. The boss has come listen to verse 18 no one has seen God at any time, the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father Ms. who is close to the father. He has declared him to say what I want to meet the head honcho. I want to meet the the real deal.

Who is behind the curtains. Jesus says I'm the one and ask you this morning.

What have you done with the calling card of Jesus. Have you chunked it away.

You know what I mean by that.

I'm not talking about this physical card dropped from the clouds from the heavens. I'm talking about. At some point in time and someone told you that you need Christ in your life to save you. You need Jesus Christ to come into your life, what did you do with that car did you think I will. These Christians would've figured out I don't get it. They got faith. Now they have faith and I wish I had the think like they do, what have you done with that car you realize how much you need his services in your life you realize that you cannot circumvent him. He is not just a sales rep, the male God. He is the main guy.

He is the one and he is saying. Call me with your lost Mercedes and call me are you going to call them right now. Wherever you are for whatever you're facing in your logic is a God for my children God for my marriage God for my health God for my finances God for my addiction got I'm calling you and he will answer.

He always does so recognize the pattern of the calling card but now let's go back to the other calling card in the Old Testament.

We also located were learning right learning the truth. This compare the original calling card that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai give you little context. Moses was up on Mount Sinai getting the Commandments from God. The children of Israel were down at the foot of the mountain waiting upon him, and they were getting restless. Moses had not come down. They were wondering what happened to him did he die and so they intimidated Aaron into making a golden calf which Aaron did and they worshiped the golden calf.

What happens God knows what's going on and he is furious. What is this plan destroy them and maybe work through Moses to bring the plan of salvation what is Moses's response, if I were there I was with a got I think it's a great idea. It I was thinking just that Moses says you can do that God, you cannot destroy your own people, what will the world say he was a man of God was a name. What will people say and so he he banks God. He intercedes in God's is fine I will destroy them this time. Moses is like a war these people to do it again. I really need some assurance I need a calling card.

Is anybody a big business owner, a powerful guy, you know, given your calling card in the essay, you know. Hey listen if you ever get in trouble call me what Moses is saying is God, give me your calling card with your personal sale. I want to talk to your secretary. I want to talk to the Angels. I want you I want you to give me the assurance that you will not destroy this people. This is a conversation okay Exodus 33 verse 12 Moses said to the Lord. See you say to me bring up this people, but you have not let me know whom you will stand with me means I need you to go with me what he is saying God I don't want to be up there seeing them down here. Can you come down here. Can you open a branch in the midst of your people, and he says in verse 13 now therefore I pray if I have found grace in your side. Show me now your way, that I may know you, I need your calling card and that I may find grace in your side and consider that this nation is your people isn't making sense. What did God say to him. My presence will go with you and I will give you rest. Moses says can I ask you for another request.

I don't want just a semi-God, a demigod, I want you to show me your glory see seems odd but is was want to see God's face and people are messing up. God wants to kill them.

He says please don't then show me your glory.

Why, what, in the midst of all this you want to see God what he is saying is I want to make sure you're the real deal. Now I want you to see the calling card that God gave to Moses and see if it looks anything like this one. The first thing the order is different, but let's walk through it. Exodus 34 verse five. The first thing on the calling card is God's glory. His capacity now the Lord descended in the cloud and declare his name.

He didn't say I'm here. The first thing Moses sees is the glory of God because the cloud and the glory of the one and the same thing. Listen to Exodus 40 verse 34 and the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. The first thing God says, guess what Moses, I am the one saying that's my position I am the glorious one was the second thing on the calling card and stood with him. There who does that remind you of what it is said by Jesus.

He came and he dwelt among us is defined Moses you want me to open a branch here, you got it.

Where did God dwell for those 40 years in the wilderness right in the midst of his people if they need me come to the tent of the meeting. That's where I am.

That's why this saw the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night of the glory of God didn't have to go to the heavens didn't have to go to Israel didn't have to go to Egypt was right in the midst of them just the way Jesus came and dwelt among us. Were not done yet was the third thing on the calling card. We looked at the stature, the capacity the contact information was the third thing you need a calling card. The name right. I mean if you never seen a card with just her contact information a business know you need the name of the person. Let's see, God does that and proclaimed the name of the Lord. Just the way those who heard the name of Jesus and believed in him, so also the Moses and the people of Israel heard the name of God now want you to hear the name of God. See if it sounds familiar, the Lord passed before him and proclaim the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and talk and read it to what it essay by Jesus.

We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth. Does that name sound familiar to you. What else to say about him keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation.

What a long name. What is the point of all this. How do we know that Moses wrote about Jesus. When you take the calling card that Jesus gave to the people when he came in the calling card that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. Guess what they are same.

What is the point then the point is this Jesus Christ was not just a demigod. Jesus Christ was not just a great angel. He was not just a prophet of God.

He was the president of the company and still less. He was not an imposter.

You cannot get the guy in the mailroom to say I am the president you get in trouble for that is not the vice president goes on says I'm the boss you can get in trouble for that is on the president Reagan company and say I'm the one. And guess what, the Jewish religious leaders saw his card and said are you claiming to be the father is the father are one, killing and asking this morning the calling card is in your hand. The contact information is there.

The services are grace and truth. Are you going to make the call. Are you going to call upon Jesus Christ is not just preacher pray for me or put me on the prayer list.

Are you going to call upon Jesus when you reject him, the King of Kings has himself giving you his card that amazing the boss of the universe says call me and most of us would rather complain he would gripe you will talk about this that and the other in the other person if they were only straighten up in our marriage would be better if only people would be right if only this and that God is saying the whole time.

I have sent my son. He is God with us. Call them what more are you looking for you in the Christmas season, we are more content to have a baby in a manger than the boss of the world coming to us and saying I'm the one. If you lost: Jesus Christ right now, right this moment. I don't know of any other way.

I could've done this any better than to tell you he is right here right now waiting for you. And he has what you need: if you are saved, but you're going to a tough time or you know someone who is what is keeping you from calling on the name of Jesus. He has the two things you need grace and truth. You need someone to tell you what is sin and you need someone to tell you how you can be forgiven and on the cross he did both. Seven Jesus said Moses wrote about me what he was saying was, I am God. Don't you know is that we get it we don't like it will kill you for that. Will you do today thank you so much for joining us today. Have you received God's calling card.

More specifically, has Jesus given you his calling card calling today for more information visit us online at Clearview B. See.org and for today's sermon notes visit my blog site@avedonshaw.com