Jesus has earned heaven 4 U & 4 me (CC)

LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US IN THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 3: [HEBREWS 3:1-6] THEREFORE, HOLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHO SHARE IN THE HEAVENLY CALLING, FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON JESUS, WHOM WE ACKNOWLEDGE AS OUR APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST. HE WAS FAITHFUL TO THE ONE WHO APPOINTED HIM, JUST AS MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL GOD'S HOUSE. JESUS HAS BEEN FOUND WORTHY OF GREATER HONOR THAN MOSES, JUST AS THE BUILDER OF A HOUSE HAS GREATER HONOR THAN THE HOUSE ITSELF. FOR EVERY HOUSE IS BUILT BY SOMEONE, BUT GOD IS THE BUILDER OF EVERYTHING. "MOSES WAS FAITHFUL AS A SERVANT IN ALL GOD'S HOUSE," BEARING WITNESS TO WHAT WOULD BE SPOKEN BY GOD IN THE FUTURE. BUT CHRIST IS FAITHFUL AS THE SON OVER GOD'S HOUSE. AND WE ARE HIS HOUSE, IF INDEED WE HOLD FIRMLY TO OUR CONFIDENCE AND THE HOPE IN WHICH WE GLORY. THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD. LET US PRAY: GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN. [TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA, INC.] DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST: IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA HAS A VERY ROMANTICIZED OR IDEALIZED PICTURE OF CHRISTIAN MARTYRDOM. WE LOOK BACK ON THOSE SAINTS WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US WHO HAVE FACED THE BITTERNESS OF TRIALS IN THEIR LIFE CULMINATING THEM IN GIVING THEIR OWN DEATH, RATHER THAN DENY THEIR FAITH. RATHER THAN DENY THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF ALL THEY WILLINGLY SUBMITTED TO DEATH. AND I THINK WE, AS MODERN-DAY CHRISTIANS, LIKE THAT PICTURE - SOME REASON - FOR SOME REASON. WE LIKE THAT IDEA IN OUR HEAD WHEN WE SING: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. WE'RE ALL READY TO PICK UP OUR SWORD AND TO GO FORWARD WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD. BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN SAID THAT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA HAS NOT BEEN SILENCED BY MARTYRDOM, BUT BY THE FEAR OF BEING CALLED UNLOVING. UNLOVING. BUT IT HAS SILENCED THOSE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST TO NO LONGER DEFEND THEIR FAITH. TO NO LONGER STAND UP FOR NOT WHAT WE THINK BUT WHAT GOD'S WORD STATES AND WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS. BECAUSE THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO US IS THAT SOMEONE WOULD LOOK AT US AND SAY: YOU ARE UNLOVING. YOU ARE HATEFUL. YOU ARE FILLED WITH HATE. YOU ARE UNCARING. AND WE, AS THE MODERN-DAY SOLDIERS OF CHRIST, WILLINGLY FADE INTO THE BACKGROUND. DO WE WANT TO FIGHT? DO WE WANT TO HOLD TO THE TRUTH? OR DO WE JUST WANT TO GIVE IT AWAY? I MEAN IT IS A QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY ASK OURSELVES. AND LOOK AT IN OUR OWN VERY LIVES. TO SAY: WHAT REALLY IS OUR GOAL? IS IT OUR GOAL IN THIS LIFE TO SAY: JESUS IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR AND JUST SNEAK BY UNDER THE WIRE UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN I GET TO GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE THAT'S A GREAT AND WONDERFUL THING. OR ARE WE AS THE HOUSE OF GOD, MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY, TO STAND AS THOSE WHO TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH? AS THOSE WHO HOLD OUT THE HOPE TO THE WORLD! AS THOSE WHO HAVE THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION AND WE ARE THE ONES TO PROCLAIM IT. AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY MESSAGE. AND SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE IT AS UNLOVING. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE HATEFUL. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE OPPOSED TO EVERYTHING. LOOK AT OUR GOSPEL LESSON FOR A MOMENT. GO BACK TO JESUS AND THAT MAN WHO CAME TO HIM WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT HE MUST DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE. JESUS SAID: YOU KNOW THE COMMANDMENTS. KEEP THEM. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. DO IT. AND THAT MAN RESPONDED WITH: THESE I HAVE DONE. I'VE KEPT THEM. AND THEN JESUS, IN LOVE, IN LOVE, SAID TO HIM: TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SELL IT AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR. THAT WAS A LOVING STATEMENT BECAUSE JESUS IS GETTING TO THE POINT OF THAT MAN'S HEART. HE WENT AWAY DEJECTED HE WENT AWAY SAD BECAUSE HIS WEALTH WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO HIM. AND BEFORE WE ALL SAY: WELL THANK GOD, I'M NOT RICH. THANK GOD I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO'S GOT SO MUCH MONEY THAT THAT'S ALL I TRUST IN. HEAR JESUS SAY THAT SAME PHRASE TO YOU THIS MORNING. TAKE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND SELL IT. GIVE IT TO THE POOR. GIVE IT TO THE POOR. GIVE IT TO THE POOR. THINK THAT WOULD BE HARD? THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF CHURCH TODAY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO. OR YOU'RE GONNA FIND ALL KINDS OF REASONS WHY YOU CAN'T. I'LL DO IT NEXT MONTH. LISTEN, AFTER I GET MY CHECK FOR THE WEEK I'LL HAVE MORE MONEY TO GIVE TO GOD AND GIVE TO THE POOR. OR I'M GONNA HAVE TO REALLY RESEARCH WHICH POOR DESERVE MY HARD-EARNED MONEY. YOU EXPECT ME TO GET RID OF EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE WORKED HARD FOR ALL OF MY LIFE AND SAVED FOR ALL OF MY LIFE TO TAKE CARE OF ME? IT'S A LOVING REMINDER FROM JESUS TO THAT MAN, AND TO US, IS TO FIX OUR EYES ON HIM. TO TRUST HIM IN THIS LIFE. TO PUT ALL OF OUR FAITH AND ALL OF OUR TRUST IN GOD'S SON WHO CAME INTO THIS WORLD TO SAVE US. WHEN LOVE CAME IN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR GREATEST NEED. AND THAT WAS THE NEED THAT WE COULDN'T SAVE OURSELVES. BECAUSE JUST LIKE THAT MAN, WE KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS. WE KNOW WHAT THE LAW SAYS. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER. DON'T COMMIT MURDER. DON'T COMMIT SEXUAL [ADULTERY]. IDOLATRY. DON'T STEAL. DON'T BEAR FALSE WITNESS. DON'T COVET. GOD SAYS: DO IT. DO IT PERFECTLY. AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T. IN OUR HEARTS, WE HARBOR HATE SOMETIMES FOR WHAT OUR PARENTS MIGHT HAVE DONE. OR NOT DONE FOR US. WE CAN BE SO ANGRY WITH SOMEONE ELSE THAT WE WISH THEM HARM. WE HAVEN'T LED PURE LIVES AND THOUGHTS ABOUT EACH OTHER. WE'VE TAKEN THINGS THAT AREN'T OURS. THINKING: OH, NO ONE'S GONNA NOTICE. WE HAVEN'T PUT EVERYONE'S GOOD NAME FIRST AND FOREMOST IN OUR MIND. AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE WANT THAT WE'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET. AND THAT MEANS - THAT WE'RE CONDEMNED TO HELL BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT! WE CAN'T KEEP THAT LAW BUT GOD SENT HIS SON TO DO IT. GOD SENT HIS SON TO BUILD THE HOUSE ON THE BACK OF JESUS CHRIST; THAT HE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CHURCH FOR HE IS THE ONE WHO SAVES THE MEMBERS FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION. HE IS THE ONE WHO CAME AND KEPT THAT LAW PERFECTLY. WHILE HE CONTINUES TO TEACH PEOPLE AND ENCOURAGE THEM AND REACH OUT IN LOVE TO THEM WITH THE MESSAGE THAT THEY NEEDED TO HEAR. A MESSAGE TO PUT CHRIST FIRST! A MESSAGE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE MESSIAH; ON THE SAVIOR! TO REALIZE THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO IS THE LORD OF THEIR LIFE; AND HE IS THE LORD OF OUR LIFE. BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT VIE FOR OUR ATTENTION. AND BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THIS WORLD, WE THINK THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO BEFORE WE GET AROUND TO DOING THE THINGS THAT GOD WANTS US TO DO. WE MAKE TO-DO LISTS OF THINGS THAT NEED TO GET DONE. TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T FORGET ANYTHING. AND I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES WE PUT GOD ON THAT LIST. KEEPING HIS WILL. STUDYING HIS WORD. GOING TO CHURCH. DOING CHARITY WORK. IS OUR TO-DO LIST, ONCE AGAIN, ALL ABOUT ME? WE'VE LOST TRACK SOMETIMES OF PUTTING CHRIST FIRST AS THE LORD OF OUR LIFE. AS THE ONE WHO LOVED US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US UNTO A HORRIBLE DEATH. ROSE AGAIN SO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH HIM FOR ALL ETERNITY. TO SHARE THAT JOY AND THAT GLORY WITH HIM. THAT HE GIVES US SO FREELY. WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND IT IS CHRIST WHO IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE WHO GIVES US THE HOPE. HE'S THE ONE WHO GIVES US THE CONFIDENCE OF LIVING IN THIS WORLD THAT IS NOT FRIENDLY TO GOD'S PEOPLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN GOD'S PEOPLE ARE DOING GOD'S WILL. BUT THINK FOR A MOMENT EVEN AT OUR OLD TESTAMENT LESSON. AMOS CAME TO GOD'S PEOPLE WITH A VERY STRONG MESSAGE: YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT GOD HAS ASKED OF YOU. YOU'RE CHEATING THE POOR. YOU'RE LYING. YOU ARE NOT LOOKING FOR JUSTICE IN THE COURT. RETURN TO GOD. SEEK HIM. FIX YOUR EYES ON HIM. BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BIG HOUSES THAT YOU HAVE BUILT, BUT GOD HAS SAID YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE IN 'EM. YOU CAN HAVE THAT BIG LUSH VINEYARD IN YOUR BACKYARD FILLED WITH ALL OF THOSE GRAPES JUST RIPENING IN THE SUN AND GOD SAYS: YOU'RE NOT GONNA DRINK IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE ABANDONED THE LORD. YOU'VE NOT GOTTEN YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT. PUT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD. PUT YOUR STRENGTH IN HIM. PUT YOUR HOPE IN HIM. STAY FOCUSED ON HIM! THE LORD IS SERIOUS ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS FROM YOU IN YOUR LIFE. HE IS SERIOUS THAT HE WANTS YOU TO CONFESS YOUR FAITH AND IT IS GOING TO BRING YOU RIDICULE. IT'S GOING TO BRING YOU DIFFICULTIES. AND IT IS GOING TO PUT ANGRY PEOPLE IN YOUR FACE. BUT IT IS THE LORD WHO GIVES US THE STRENGTH AND HE UNDERSTANDS THAT STRUGGLE. DO YOU THINK HE DOESN'T? DO YOU THINK THAT JESUS CHRIST, YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK AGAINST THE TRUTH? LOOK AT HIS LIFE! TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PEOPLE CAME TO HIM TO DO WHAT? TO TRIP HIM UP! TO CATCH HIM IN SAYING SOMETHING WRONG. TO TRY TO TRICK HIM TO GET SOMETHING ON HIM. HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LIVES OF HIS FOLLOWERS. YOU THINK HE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE MOCKED? TO BE RIDICULED? SPIT ON? HAVING HIS BEARD PULLED OUT? BEING WHIPPED? FLOGGED? TREATED HORRIBLY! HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THOSE WHO STAND UP TO THE TRUTH, ARE GOING TO SUFFER. BUT OUR STRENGTH IS IN HIM. WHO ENDURED ALL OF THAT BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US. IN WANTING TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS. OUR PROCLAIMING THE TRUTH IS NOT TO BE STANDING OUT THERE SAYING: WE'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE WRONG. WE'RE NOT THE ONES SAYING: I'M GOING TO HEAVEN. YOU'RE GOING TO HELL. BUT WE'RE THE ONES PROCLAIMING THE LOVE OF CHRIST. HE DIED FOR SINNERS. I AM A SINNER AND CHRIST DIED FOR ME. YOU ARE A SINNER. AND CHRIST DIED FOR YOU. HE'S GIVEN ME HEAVEN. HEAVEN IS THERE FOR YOU AS WELL AND THAT IS THE LOVING MESSAGE. THAT'S THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE. AND OUR STRENGTH TO PROCLAIM IT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIFE, HEAVEN IS OURS. NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE CALL ME, I CALL MYSELF A REDEEMED CHILD OF GOD. NO MATTER HOW MUCH PEOPLE WANNA SAY THAT I AM FILLED WITH HATE I KNOW THAT I HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD COURSING THROUGH MY VEINS. AND I STAND WITH HIM. I STAND IN THAT HOUSEHOLD OF GOD STRONG IN KNOWING THE TRUTH, STRONG IN KNOWING THAT GOD WILL KEEP ME AND PROTECT ME AND IF IT IS BY CHANCE THAT I DIE IN THIS LIFE AS A MARTYR FOR THE TRUTH, HEAVEN IS STILL MINE. NOT BECAUSE OF ME. NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAVE DONE. BUT BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST. AND THEREFORE, I FIX MY EYES ON HIM. I REMEMBER THE TRUTH. I LOOK TO THE GOAL. I KNOW WHERE I'M HEADED. AND I HAVE MY PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH IN THIS WORLD THAT WANTS TO TAKE US OFF THAT TRACK. TO SILENCE US. TO SHAKE US. TO RATTLE US. AND WHEN THOSE TIMES COME IN YOUR LIFE, HEAR THESE WORDS. REMEMBER THESE THOUGHTS THAT STAND FOR THE CHURCH OF ALL TIME. FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS. AMEN. LET US RISE. NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.