06/12/11 - The Point - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore teaches on "The Point" in this vision Sunday morning celebration.

The Point
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, June 12, 2011

www.mylifegatechurch.com


Sermon Notes:

Jeremiah18:11-13 MESSAGE "So, tell the people…my Message: 'Danger…Turn back from your doomed way of life. Straighten out your lives.' "But they'll just say, 'Why should we? What's the point? We'll live just the way we've always lived, doom or no doom.'"

What’s the Point?  (turn to 1 Corinthians 2:14, mark it, and start with 1 Corinthians 3:18)
1 Corinthians 3:18 “Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God…”

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But people who aren’t spiritual*can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means."  (*Or who don’t have the Spirit; or who have only physical life)

*    What’s the point of religion? Why bring all that into our lives?  Wouldn’t we be better off without this religion stuff?  Man is created in the image of God.  Deny that and we “devolve, not evolve.”  We become part of the animal kingdom instead of being human.  Animal kingdom rules begin to order our worldview—strongest survive creating a society of takers who prey on those weaker or more vulnerable, mate because it feels good and we are driven by instinct rather than love or purpose, value of life is degraded.  We are created in God’s image—we are not just body, not even just body and soul, we are body, soul and spirit.  We are spiritual beings.  In fact, our spirit is our defining attribute.  Without spiritual food, we devolve into soulish beings who devolve into beings driven by our bodies.  (Genesis 1:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 4:24)

*    What’s the point of trying to sell everyone on Christianity?  Ok, I get the religion thing.  It’s good to have a “spiritual focus” in our lives.  But there are many ways to satisfy that spiritual itch—lots of paths, lots of choices.  Isn’t it kind of pushy, arrogant, and exclusive to say Christianity is not just the best choice, but the only choice?  There are 2 reasons Christianity is the only choice:
    -    Man cannot produce anything spiritual, we can only reproduce human effort and thinking.  Therefore, anything that does not come from Heaven, from God himself, will not satisfy the spiritual longing and needs we experience.  Only God can fill the God hole in each of us.  Any other “way” will only feed the soul, which may slow the devolving process, but does not stop it.  Jesus is The Way, The Truth, The Life because He came from Heaven.  He is God and Christianity is His way to fill our spiritual being.  (John 3:6; John 6:63; John 3:31)
    -    The other reason is the universe was created by God, with laws that keep order.  Laws like gravity, relativity, speed of light and sound.  Laws that govern our body, like we must breathe, eat, drink and exercise.  That life is in our blood.  Laws like reaping and sowing—you must plant a seed to get a harvest.  Adam (humanity) planted sin—seperation from God—and we reaped death.  The law had to be satisfied but there had to be a sinless human to satisfy it—Jesus.  There had never been a sinless human, and there will never be another.  He is the only one—therefore He is the only Way. (John 14:6)

*    What’s the point of taking church so seriously? Why not just have a good church, go more than I don’t, and not be so involved and driven?  I work hard, I play hard, I am a good family person.  When I do come to church I want to experience God’s presence, I don’t want it to be boring, and I want to interact with some nice people.  It would be good if the message was practical and inspiring.  I want my kids to have a good experience, I don’t want to have to drag them here, and as they get older I want a strong youth program to help keep them from getting into trouble.  I think the grounds should look nice, I want the bathrooms to be clean, I like the bonus of free coffee and even a café.  I think it would be nice if the music is good and I think we ought to help people out when we can.  But what’s the point of joining this “Dream Team” and getting involved.  I’m busy enough as it is.  What’s the point of these Connect Groups?  I don’t need any more friends.  The Church, the local church, is God’s plan for the world.  It is the hope of the world.  It is the only institution on this planet empowered by God with the ability to transform lives and bring hope.  And our participation in it and with it is the way the world--our friends, neighbors, relatives and associates—will see Jesus in action.  Our being the church, not just going to it, is the way Jesus is lifted up so that men are drawn to Him.  Our “marriage” to the church is the way Jesus is presented to a world so desperately hungry for “spiritual” satisfaction.  Our own lives find fulfillment when we find our place in ministry, and the whole church—the worldwide body of Christ—is made stronger when each of us take our place in that Body.  When we connect to each other we find our destiny, our purpose and our fulfillment.  We each become stronger.  Our connections empower our future.  Healthy, life-giving connections empower healthy, life-giving futures.  Our church, like our marriage, cannot be our hobby. Great, fun, life-giving marriages that everybody wants don’t just happen.  They are the result of serious investment, continually growing and always connecting.  Ephesians 3:8 Message: “Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!”

*    What’s the point of living righteously?  Ok, I get the Christianity thing and I get the church thing.  But if Jesus’ sacrifice, His life, His performance is what makes me right with God—if my performance, if “doing good” is not what makes me right with Him, What’s the point of studying the Word, praying, fasting, and giving?  Why not just do my best and not be “so different”?  Again, 2 reasons: you and the rest of the world. 
It’s different because it’s an “inside out life” rather than an “outside in life”.  It’s a life being changed from the inside out by the person of Jesus.  The more I know Him, the more I am around Him, the more I behold Him, the more I become like Him.  The more room I give Him on the inside, the more I look like Him on the outside.  The things that rock us, that shake up our world, are outside things—economy, relationships, etc.  If I am bigger and better on the inside than I am on the outside, then the things on the outside do not rock my world.  I am more peaceful and full of joy because I know where I stand with God and I am letting that right standing permeate my entire being.  On top of that, when I put His priorities first, when I put His Kingdom first, I don’t have to worry about my well-being—inside or outside.  He has it handled.

As I become an inside out person, my influence for the Kingdom (the real reason I am still on this planet anyway) increases.  One person can make a difference.  One light shining can penetrate the thickest darkness.  “This little light of mine” can be the lighthouse somebody needs on their darkest day.  Numbers 16:47-48 “Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down the people, but Aaron burned the incense and purified the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped.”  Aaron stopped the plague by being a worshipper.  We can change our world by doing the same.  (2 Corinthians 3:18; Matthew 6:31-33; Matthew 24:12)

*    What’s the point of being baptized? Ok, I want to stand between the living and the dead, I want to be a light that shines for others trapped in darkness, I want to make a difference.  But what’s the big deal about baptism?  It’s a “public profession” of your choice to follow Jesus.  It’s a statement to yourself, those you lead (family, friends, etc), and to those around you that you have chosen the ABC’s of salvation and want to follow Jesus in your life.  It’s is one thing we know for sure we are doing just like Him.  And it is a spiritual empowerment—back to that first point.  We are spiritual beings and the Trinity blesses baptism.  It’s not just a religious ritual or tradition—it is an empowering of the Holy Spirit.  Jump in the water and go to an HNL!  (Matthew 3:15-16)
Altar Call and end with The Point video.