Everyone who begins the journey with Christ, ask!
Matthew 21:22 “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
John 15:7 “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Let’s ask God that many this coming week would join the journey and may in weeks to come would ask to be on Journey with Jesus!
Acknowledge His Gifts for the Journey v.9-11
1) Forgiveness of Sin (Cleansed, Isaiah 1:18 ““Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.)
2) Adoption (God’s Child, John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”)
3) The Holy Spirit (Guide, Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”)
The greatest gift we can ever share is Jesus!
Attract Others with His Goodness on the Journey v.12
It is easy to tell someone about the love of Jesus Christ, but it requires the power of the Holy Spirit to show someone the love of Jesus Christ!
The greatest sermon we can ever preach is with our sacrifice and service in showing a lost world the true love of Jesus Christ!
We serve because we’re saved!
We’re on a rescue operation according to Isaiah 42:6-8 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”
While on Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road, she helped each team member accomplish something great!
Tin man got a heart, the lion got courage, the scarecrow got a brain, Toto got a muzzle, Gilligan got an island, and the list goes on!
Apprehend His Gate for the Eternal Journey v.13-14
Apprehend- that sounds aggressive! It is! It’s an assault against yourself and Satan! We saw it a few weeks ago in the “Death of the Seed” Die to self to become alive in Christ! Run to Jesus!
Jesus spoke about Hell more than anyone! “out darkness” Matt 8:12, gnashing of teeth” Matt 22:13, “eternal punishment” Matthew 25:46, Unquenchable Fire” Mark 9:45, “Torment” Luke 16:23
Why do you think He is so passionate that you apprehend the gate of Heaven instead of the gate of Hell? Because His love you is so great, that He has provided a way through living for Him!
Jesus comforts the disciples before the cross in John 14:1-6 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
So tonight for VBS and for the rest of our lives, let’s help others apprehend the gate of Jesus Christ for eternity.
We’ll pray, we’ll serve, we’ll teach, we’ll love, we’ll go, we’ll do whatever we need to do!