Momentous Pt.2 - "The Momentous Message" - Pastor Mark Killingsworth

MOMENTOUS “IT IS ALL ABOUT ONE MOMENT” “The Momentous Message” Dec. 8th, 2019 It is all about one message in one moment. Have you ever been in a foreign country? Have you ever overheard or watched people communicating in a language that you couldn’t understand? You watch, listen, and strain to find a sound that makes sense to you. To try hard to hear familiar words. Several years ago I went to Moldova. (Former Russian State before the fall of communism there) I went there with the Covenant Church in Mt. Vernon to speak in churches and do evangelism in the small towns. We went. We spoke. But every word we uttered had to be translated by our translator so the people could understand. After being there several days, I began to really long to hear people speak in my language. And I longed to be able to speak in their language. Because, as hard as they would try to speak to me, with tears and urgency, I could not understand them at all. Frustrating. Do you ever consider that God is speaking to humans today? Do you ever think about what God is wanting you to know from Him? There have been many moments throughout History where God spoke His desire to humans like me and you. For example… I. THE MOMENT: When God Spoke Through History 1. God sent His message through creation Rom. 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities -His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood by what has been made…” 2. God sent His message to Moses in a burning bush to lead His people out of bondage. (This Moses Call Is On The Church Today) 3. God sent His message to the Israelites through smoke and fire. (This message shows that God still leads His people but now He leads by the H.S. and His Word.) 4. God sent His message to Elijah in a still small voice (God revealed His communication is not always in the big things of life but in a voice that requires that we quiet ourselves to hear.) 5. God sent His message to Hosea through naming his family (God shows that we may not understand why He asks us to do something at the moment i.e. marrying a prostitute - but in obedience His message is being proclaimed through his life) 6. God sent His message to Isaiah through a vision in the Temple 7. God sent His message to Jeremiah through a potter 8. God sent His message through even a mule one time. Application: The apostle Paul in Rom. 1:16 said, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that bring salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Prior to the coming of JESUS - God stopped speaking thru prophets to mankind for 400 years. Historians call it the “DARK AGES”. The Catholic church was corrupted. They invented “Purgatory” so that people would pay large sums of money to the church so that Priests would promise to pray their loved ones out of this holding place. This is how the magnificent cathedrals were paid for during that time. The only ones who had copies of scripture were the Catholic priests. The common man could only believe what the Priest told them. It was dark because the Word of God was hidden in darkness. God has been speaking since the creation, but people were not listening. They never understood God’s heart. They didn’t understand God’s plan. When God has spoken to a person as recorded in scripture what have His messages been? MOSES: Lead My people out of bondage SMOKE & FIRE: Led His people through the wilderness toward the land of promise. ELIJAH: After he was threatened by Jezebel he ran away. While out on a mountain God showed Him not to be impressed with a mighty wind, or an earthquake but to listen to His still small voice. And He said, “Go anoint for me kings, leaders to do the work of God. Then through Jesus, God spoke of salvation and redemption for lost men and women. Illustration: An Historical Account of Billy Graham (Bekah show a pic of Billy Graham here pleas) In May of 1934, the Christian businessmen of Charlotte, NC, secured permission to hold an all-day prayer meeting at the Graham farm. On that day, a prayer was raised – that out of Charlotte the Lord would raise up someone to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It was in that year the previously reluctant Billy Graham gave his life to the Lord at a revival meeting led by traveling evangelist Rev. Mordecai Ham. At 16 years of age, Billy Graham was about to experience the moment of transformation from a traditional farm boy into an instrument of God. Billy Graham walked in the woods one night seeking God’s direction for his faith. The answer Billy Graham found was… “The Bible – sealed by a prayer” This is the prayer Billy prayed that day… “Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word – by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word.” Since that moment of prayer Billy wrote… “I have had the privilege of preaching the Gospel on every continent in most of the countries of the world. And I have found that when I present the simple message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ . . . He takes that message and drives it supernaturally into the human heart.” God’s word was spoken through Billy Graham in humble sincerity to millions over the decades. Of himself he admitted, “I am not a great preacher, and I don’t claim to be a great preacher . . . I’m just communicating the Gospel in the best way I know how.” T.S. The transformation that occurs in ONE MOMENT through ONE MESSAGE. Now we want to look at moments where God spoke… II. THOSE MOMENTS: NOW God Speaks Through Jesus Heb. 1:1-4 “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. After he had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs.” Explanation: *God use to speak through prophets. *But, in these last days He spoken to us by His Son *Jesus is the heir of all things *It was through Jesus that God made the universe *Jesus is the exact radiance of God’s glory & a representation of His being. *Jesus sustains all things by His powerful Word (Atom - power) *Jesus provided purification for our sins. Application: Have you ever considered the possibility that God is speaking to you most of the time? That even now, God is trying to communicate something important to you? What is He saying? Illustration: Our greatest achievement on earth is not money, education, power, or popularity. It is found in our pursuing to hear God, so that we can obey His Word with faith’s courage. It is all about one message in one moment. T.S. The transformation that occurs in ONE MOMENT through ONE MESSAGE. Now we want to look at this moment where God spoke… III. THIS MOMENT: God IS Speaking To Transform Sin Damaged Lives Christmas is the celebration of the GREATEST MESSAGE ever told. That God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. I Tim. 2:3-6 “God our Savior wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth… The man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” Why would He do this? This is the answer found in the bible… Because He wanted us to know how very much He loves us. He wanted us to know that He created us for a reason, that we might know and love Him. He came to tell us that He came to set us free. We do not have to live as prisoners of sin, guilt, fear and shame anymore. Illustration: This past year some of you have heard a word that certainly impacted your life. 1. The Doctor said, You have cancer 2. Your daughter said, I’m pregnant 3. Your boss said, You're being laid off 4. Your spouse said, “i want a divorce” Whatever you have faced in your life there is ANOTHER MESSAGE. NOTHING WHATSOEVER CAN EVER SEPARATE YOU FROM MY LOVE. Application: Jesus says, “Trust in Me with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your paths.” THE MIRACLE OF THIS CHRISTMAS MOMENT is that God loves us.