Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Oct 15, 2006
Friend Day - Part 1 of 3
“Living Right Side Up In an Upside Down World”
There has been more information produced in the last thirty years than in the previous five thousand years. More than one-half the scientists who have ever lived are alive today. Ninety per cent of all the items in the supermarket today did not exist just ten years ago. It is estimated that 73% of college graduates are going into jobs, which did not exist when they were born – 22 short years ago.
· Our world is changing at an incredible speed... Living in a hectic, fast paced culture... suffering from information overload... knowledge is doubling every 18 months in this information computer age...
Our Beautiful World...
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
· God placed in man an eternal perspective so we can look beyond the routines of life, to “see” eternity.
· People have a longing or desire to know the meaning of life itself. What’s my Purpose for living?
· To know there is something more than what I’m presently experiencing...
· God has set eternity in the hearts of men... Ultimately how do I get in touch with my Creator!
Our Beautiful World... Slideshow
#3 – Sunrise at OBX, N.C.
#4 – Rocky Mts in Colorado
#5 – Great Smokey Mts
#6 – Glacier Natl Park, Mt. – grandeur, majestic, awesome
#7 – Shuttle View of Earth – from about 250 miles high
#8 – Earth as seen from the moon – from 240,000 miles away
#9 – Deepest View of the Universe from the Hubbel Space telescope - Picked darkest region, near handle of big dipper, width of a dime at 75feet away, In this picture there are over 1500 galaxies! Eternity / hearts!
#10 – The “Eye of God” as seen from the Hubbel – a Nebula 650 light years from earth
#11 – Among trillions of stars & galaxies...
#12 – Earth, Psalm 115:16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man.
#13 – God revealed Himself to mankind through... His Creation, His Word and His Son!
#14 – What’s Happening? Everything is being inverted. Literally our World is turning upside down...
Our Upside Down World...
· Spiritual Famine
Amos 8:11 "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land-- not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
o Spiritually dead churches, failing to proclaim God’s Word that’s why we’re seeing 85% churches in America losing members... Global numbers show Christianity at just over 2.1B in a world of 6.5B people
o There are over 4,200 religions in the world... each with their own “pathway to God...”
o In the last days before Jesus returns, “famine of hearing God’s Word”
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
o When truth of God’s Word is absent people will fall farther away from God... spiritually bankrupt they pursue their own thoughts... Idol worship, increased occultic activity... new age, tarot cards, communicating with the dead, satanic deception, demonic activity in unprecedented numbers...
· Moral Decay
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
o America & the world sliding farther from God, the people cast off restraint to pursue pleasures
o Worldwide $57B porn industry, America it’s $12B/year... more than the combined revenues of all professional football, baseball & basketball franchises... Exceeding the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, NBC Traditional marriage is under assault with alternative lifestyles... sex any way you choose is OK.
o Family breaks down, 50% divorce rate & dysfunctional families... unloved & unwanted children
o Moral relativism, no absolute truth but subjective... situation ethics... if it feels good then do it.
· Societal Trends
o Substance abuse is rising... alcohol, drugs, crack, heroin you name it... easy to get
o TV, news & movie industry promoting promiscuity, violence, sex, Christian conservative bias...
o Tragic senseless school shootings...Lancaster, Man filled with hate, lined up 10 Amish girls, 5 died+
Matthew 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
o We’re drowning in a sea of uncertainties coupled with more & more choices and less & less time...
o Humanism taught throughout our schools & higher education inst., no God - evolved from monkeys.
o Corrupt politicians, out of control judges who attempt to legislate from the bench... rewriting law
o In the fifties the major discipline problems in our public schools were cigarette smoking, skipping class, running in the halls. Today - the major problems are deadly weapons, drugs, and alcohol.
· Global Events
o Natural disasters – increased earthquakes, tsunami waves, hurricanes, fires, rain/floods, droughts, diseases...
Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
o Communist dictator in North Korea with a Nuke... An Islamic madman leading Iran out to destroy Is.
o Demonized Islamic radicals vowing to exterminate every Christian & Jew - fighting a Jihad holy war
o Individuals strapping on bombs then detonating themselves in public places (win 70 celestial virgins)
o World shaking events – terrorist flying airliners into buildings shaking the world to it’s core.
o Just before Christ’s returns we will see these things happening – as predicted in the Bible. RU ready
o Something’s going on in our world like never before... The world is being turned upside down...
BUT how about your life? How are you doing in your private personal world?
My Personal World ???
· Guilt - Maybe things you did in the past or didn’t do in the past, You can’t relate to the present, if you’re holding onto the past... you may need to let go of your past... there may be guilt because of sin you may be involved in.
· Anger – leading to violence, hurtful words, busted relationships...
· Anxiety – so busy, no time, always on the run, never enough money, living unhealthy stressed out lives
· Loneliness – More connected we become the more disconnected we actually get... all alone, no one seems to care... flamed out relationships, wayward children, busted marriage, love starved... all alone in a scary world.
· Depression – Fear creeps in, we doubt if God is real, all alone... maybe medicated up... life stinks...
· Hopelessness – No way out, no solution to your problem... addictions... my personal life is actually upside down like the worlds... Not wanting to continue on... the pain is so bad, even consider suicide...
We often attempt to try to mask out reality by a bubbly personality or being the life of the party... but deep inside you’re hurting, deep inside the pain is real it twists your heart... deep inside you know you need God
BUT THERE IS HOPE!
· There is so much beyond our small little world... God has some awesome major plans for your life!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
· God calls us to live by faith... to actually see the unseen
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
How do I get beyond my upside down world?
To Live Right Side Up...
1. Be Assured - God Exists and is in Control.
Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
· God doesn’t cause bad things to happen... it’s because of free will and the sinfulness of mankind
· Our Transcendent God... He’s entirely above His created universe... Holy, Righteous, True, Just...
Isaiah 44:6 "This is what the LORD says-- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
· All knowing, everywhere present and all powerful... He Created all things
· Our Sovereign God exists and is in control and is working toward the final events upon earth
2. Be Aware - You’ve Broken God’s Commands.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.
Understand...
· God Loves You! "For God so loved the world
· Jesus Died for You! he gave his one and only Son,
· He Seeks & Waits for You! whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
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.
3. Be Approved - Allow Christ into Your Life!
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Living Right Side Up...
· My Past Sin is Forgiven!
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
· My Present Life is Changed!
Ephesians 3:20 Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of--infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
· My Future Destiny is Assured!
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
Revelation 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
What a wondrous truth – sins forgiven, life worth living, spend eternity in heaven! What HOPE!
Begin Living Right Side Up!
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish...” ~ Jesus
My Friend, do you possess Eternal Life this morning? Some here need to open your heart door to Jesus!
You SEE what’s going on in the world; you KNOW what’s going on in your life
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...
God’s perfect will for you is to be saved... You can be sure of your salvation. Jesus invites you to open your hearts door and call upon His name and be saved from your sin... would you bow your heads?
You may be sitting here and saying I’m not ready to meet the Lord... My life is a tangled web from the consequences of my choices... I need Jesus... I’m tired of carrying my guilt and shame; I’m tired of trying to make it to heaven my own way... I’m tired of not being sure I’m saved... Would you invite Him into your life this morning?
I believe God’s knocking on someone’s heart this morning... I’ve been struggling to live right side up in an upside down world, unable to gain the victory... lacking inner peace and joy... life seems to be one big struggle... I’m not ready to meet God and I’m afraid... I’m coming home Jesus... would you come to Jesus ... believe with your whole heart and be saved... would you trust Jesus Christ this morning?
I want to trust You as my Savior, come into my life... from all across this church would you quietly slip up your hands... I want to trust Jesus Christ as my Savior... would you pray this prayer from your heart?
“Dear God, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins so I could be forgiven. I'm sorry for my sins, and I want to live the rest of my life the way you want me to. Please put your Spirit in my life to direct me. Amen.”
Prayer...
Please join us again next week for another exciting adventure in learning to live “Right Side Up”!
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