The willingness to risk ourselves on the rescue path of others Our Theme Our Goal To demonstrate that the highest act of love and the greatest sign of obedience Our Goal is the willingness ID: 764326
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The willingness to risk ourselves on the rescue path of others. Our Theme:
Our Goal: To demonstrate that the highest act of love and the greatest sign of obedience…
Our Goal: …is the willingness to take on great risk, in order to rescue others.
The highest act of love and the greatest sign of obedience; is the willingness to take on great risk, in order to rescue others.
Theme Verses: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus … he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant …
Theme Verses: … he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross ! Philippians 2:5,7,8
The first aspect of risk & recue that we want to look at is… First.
Soldier
Theme Quote: Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you – Jesus Christ & the American Soldier one died for your soul and the other for your freedom.
Today is Veterans day.
Veterans Day is a national holiday, honoring all military veterans; all of those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Thank you.
This national recognition of Veterans was first instituted by President Woodrow Wilson on November 11, 1919… Which marked one year to the day of the end of World War I
T oday marks 100 years to the day, that World War I ended.
The day was known as Armistice Day
In 1938, under President Franklin Roosevelt, the United States Congress made November 11 th an annual national holiday.
It wasn’t until 1954, under President Dwight Eisenhower, that it was named Veterans Day
The Christian and the secular both recognize that the willingness to risk oneself, even to the point of death, for the life of another, is one of the greatest estimable acts.
The primary task of the Armed Forces is not only to defend national values & interests…
But also to protect American soil & American souls.
At all costs, in a moment’s notice, our Armed Forces are ready , willing and able to protect American property & American people.
On Veterans Day, we honor all those who are and were willing to serve and risk , even to the point of death… to keep us safe & secure.
T he US Armed Forces g ives us a small glimpse of what God wants us to be;
Willing to serve and risk, even to the point of death, to rescue those who are perishing .
John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends .
T he US Armed Forces g ives us a small glimpse of the best way to live a life;
William James The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it .
We honor our military because they spent their lives on more than luxury, comfort and material goods…
They spent their lives sacrificially, in order to keep many, for generations to come; free, safe & secure.
They spent their lives, willingly & sacrificially on something…
...that would greatly outlast it.
The second aspect of risk & recue that we want to look at is… Second.
Savoir
Theme Quote: Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you – Jesus Christ & the American Soldier one died for your soul and the other for your freedom.
On Veterans Day we can’t help but honor Christ...who came to serve and who sacrificially gave H is life for us.
Matthew 20:28 …the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many .
In Christ’s willingness to come, serve and sacrifice in this way… we see the pinnacle of true love.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In Christ’s willingness to come, serve and sacrifice in this way… we also see the pinnacle of true obedience.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
We see that at the core of true love and true obedience...
…is a willingness to serve and risk, even to the point of death, to rescue those who are perishing .
This is a major theme in the gospel & the rest of scripture.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God .
Romans 9:2-3 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart . For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race , the people of Israel.
Paul wished that it were possible that he could exchange his own salvation for the salvation of all of Israel.
O ne of the main reasons why we culturally value the soldier’s sacrifice…
O ne of the main reasons why we value the firefighter who rushes into a fire…
Is because it is faint echo of the spiritual realities of Christ and Him crucified.
That is; we culturally assign great value and great honor to those who are willing to risk and die in the place of others…
Because we have a God-written code in our hearts which cries out…
“ Giving yourself unto death in the place of another is valuable & worthy.”
There is a God-written code in our hearts that faintly echoes that this is a picture of love in it’s truest form…
There is a God-written code in our hearts that faintly echoes that this is what Christ was willing to do for you…
Today we want to remember and honor those who have been and are willing to sacrifice in order to purchase and protect our national freedom…
W e also want to remember and honor the One who was willing to sacrifice & die in order to purchase and protect our spiritual freedom…
But we also want to acknowledge that we are called to do the same…
But we also want to acknowledge that we are called to do the same…
That is; the core display of true love & true obedience remains...
A willingness to serve and risk, even to the point of death, to rescue those who are perishing .
The third aspect of risk & recue that we want to look at is… T hird.
Self
Philippians 2:5,7,8 In your relationships with one another , have the same mindset as Christ Jesus … he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant …
… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross ! Philippians 2:5,7,8
John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world .
On this Veterans Day we want to remember that the Calvary road that Jesus walked was not just something accomplished for us…
But that the Calvary road that Jesus walked was also to become a style of life to be e mbraced by His followers.
2 Timothy 2:4 Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “ If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me .”
2 Corinthians 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him . And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “ Come back to God!”
As believers…
W e are called to willingly serve and risk, even to the point of death, to rescue those who are perishing .
W e are called to spend our lives on more than luxury, comfort and material goods…
We are called to spend our lives sacrificially, in order to help many, for generations to come, receive spiritual f reedom, safety & security.
We are called to renounce mother, father and comfort for the sake of the gospel…
We are called to rush into harm’s way to rescue the perishing…
We are called to run into enemy fire in order to save those who are unsaved…
As Americans, we are doing very poorly at this…
Famous researcher George Barna has discovered that: Less than 1% of all American Christians will share their faith with one other person during their lifetime.
It appears that Christians lack the motivation and the method to share their faith.
That is, we lack incentive and we feel as though we lack ability.
We want to look at a few aspects of motivation…
And then look at a few aspects of method…
… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross ! The story doesn’t end there…
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth… Philippians 2:9-10
Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose again!
God exalted Him. God honored Him.God rewarded Him.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter… Isaiah 53:7
For he was cut off from the land of the living… it was the Lord ’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… Isaiah 53:8, 10
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants... Isaiah 53:10
After he has suffered, he will prolong his days and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many… Isaiah 53:11
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death… Isaiah 53:12
Do you want to prolong your days?
Do you want to be counted among the great?
Do you want to divide the spoils among the strong?
Do you want spiritual descedants ?
Do you want to be satisfied?
Pour out your life for the sake of sinners.
Be oppressed and afflicted for the sake of the gospel.
Be willing to suffer for the sake of the lost.
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus told his disciples, “ If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me . For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it…”
Do you want to gain your life?
Be willing to lose your life for C hrist.
Can we risk ourselves on the rescue path of others? How:
Get God’s glasses. See your neighbor as helpless and lost. See your friend as drowning.
Genuinely love others. Our neighbors and friends are souls, God’s creation, not tasks. Love the lost.
Pray for power. For the Father’s wisdom, the Son’s strength and the Spirit’s guidance.
Lord… Open a door… Open their heart… Open my mouth…
Select someone. Focus on one person. Pour into one main person this month, this year.
Start somewhere. Be kind, be loving, be thoughtful. Be a friend. Be there. Show genuine interest in them.
Take them. Wherever you are going… Whatever you are doing… Take them along.
Push for personal. Always go deeper. Always nudge the relationship.
Plan on purpose. Don’t just wing it. Know where you are and where you are trying to go.
Share your story. Tell them what Jesus has done for you.
Rush into risk. Clean up the spill. Pay their bill. Go the extra mile.
Check the clock. When illness strikes, When loss occurs, It’s time to go for broke.
Get to the Gospel. At some point, the Gospel must be shared.
Get to the Gospel. It’s a great tragedy when we spend years talking to someone about football, finances & family… but never about Jesus.
Don’t despair. Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep praying. Keep hoping.
Remember the reward. It will always be worth it. God said so.
The ultimate question regarding risk is not; How much do I s tand to lose if I attempt to rescue this lost soul?
The ultimate question for us is; How much does this lost sinner stand to lose if I do not attempt this rescue?
Another question is; How much eternal reward do I stand to lose if I do nothing to rescue this lost soul?
Quietly ponder this quote…
We can rest content in casual, convenient, cozy, comfortable Christian lives…
…as we cling to the safety and security this world offers.
We can coast through a cultural landscape marked by materialism, characterized by consumerism...
…and engulfed in individualism.
We can assent to the spirit of this age and choose to spend our lives seeking worldly pleasures…
…acquiring worldly possessions, and pursuing worldly ambitions—all under the banner of cultural Christianity.
Or we can decide that Jesus is worth more than this.
We can recognize that he has created us, saved us and called us for a much greater purpose than anything this world could ever offer us.
We can die to ourselves, our hopes, our dreams, our ambitions, our priorities and our plans.
We can do all of this because we believe…
David Platt …that the person and the plan of Christ bring reward that makes any risk more than worth it.
Let us pray now, that the Lord would guide us and empower us to live obediently & sacrificially on the rescue path.