28
May '20
Greater Love in Action
28
May '20
John 15:13
Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Introduction: Are you ready to go? Ready to serve? Will you answer God’s CALL? “He that loses his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt 10:39). “When He was on the cross, you (I) were on His mind.” Just as men and women down through the ages have answered the CALL to serve our country, AMERICA – even to the point of death – may we STEP up and say, “Yes to Jesus”!
Think about (3) reasons to answer God’s CALL:
1. Answering Jesus CALL is our HIGHEST DUTY! (John 15:13)
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
• Ready to SERVE our Lord…..Isaiah answered, “Here am I, send me” (Isa 6:8)
• Life service…over Lip service
2. Jesus answered His Father’s CALL! (Phil 2:5-11)
“Let this mind be in you, which as also in ChristJesus: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:….took upon Him the form of a servant…and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…wherefore God….highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name.”
• Substitutionary LOVE
• Servanthood LOVE
3. CHRISTians need to answer the CALL because we are in a war! (John 15:13)
“Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for a friend.”
• War on your house
• War on the Church house
• War on the schoolhouse
• War on the courthouse
• War on the White House
Conclusion: You probably would not be reading this, if you didn’t answer God’s CALL. The stakes are high! The cost is great! The battle is relentless! But the purpose is justifying…. In a culture that thrives on SELF – preserving, may we be FAITHFUL to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we answer His CALL!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
20
May '20
Saved to Serve
20
May '20
Text: Acts 18:2, 26; Romans 16:3-5
-Acts 18:2 “And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.”
-Acts 18:26 “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
-Romans 16:3-5 ” Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.”
Introduction: Did you know that God’s got a CALL on your life? What is it? Maybe not a full time ministry call but nevertheless, the Lord has CALLED us to FOLLOW Him! How are we doing? Have you ever heard of Aquila & Priscilla in the Bible? Both Luke in the book of Acts and Paul in the book of Romans reveal (4) key ways to check up & see if we are really fulfilling our CALLING:
1. If we are going to fulfill our CALLING, we’ve got to MAKE time with our Lord DAILY! (Acts 18:2)
“Paul departed…and came to Corinth: And found a certain Jew named Aquila…from Italy, with his wife Priscilla…they were tentmakers.”
• Time management
• Spiritual disciplines
“Paul departed…and came to Corinth: And found a certain Jew named Aquila…from Italy, with his wife Priscilla…they were tentmakers.”
• Time management
• Spiritual disciplines
2. If we are going to fulfill our CALLING, we’ve got to be AVAILABLE for our Lord REGULARLY! (Acts 18:26)
“A certain Jew named Apollos…an eloquent man, mighty in Scriptures…fervent in the spirit…knowing only of the baptism of John…Aquila and Priscilla had heard, took him..and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
We all need to remain TEACHABLE!
• Discipleship
• Mentoring
• Discipleship
• Mentoring
3. If we are going to fulfill our CALLING, we’ve got to put to death the “OLD MAN” and put on the “NEW MAN” DELIBERATELY! (Rom 16:3-4)
“Greet Priscilla and Aquila….who have for my life laid down their own necks.”
• Death to SELF
• LIFE to Holy Spirit Power
• Death to SELF
• LIFE to Holy Spirit Power
4. If we are going to fulfill our CALLING, we’ve got to SERVE the Lord with a good ATTITUDE PURPOSEFULLY! (2 Tim 4:19) “Salute Prisca and Aquila.”
• Paul is in prison
• Priscilla & Aquila – TEAM PLAYERS in the work of God
• Paul is in prison
• Priscilla & Aquila – TEAM PLAYERS in the work of God
Conclusion: Are we answering the Lord’s call today? These (4) keys: spending devotional time daily, being available regularly, putting off the flesh but putting on the new man deliberately, and serving the Lord purposefully, will make a difference as we answer God’s CALL and FOLLOW JESUS!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese