Messages with Meaning


Sermons delivered at Sanlando Springs by Pastor Jack Parrott

Whose Side Are You On Anyway?

Exodus 32:26
Presented June 1, 2008, © Dr. Jack Parrott
I. Introduction

  1. Throughout the Bible, the scriptures call us to make a choice: see Deuteronomy 30:19, Joshua 24.5, 1 Kings 18:21, and 1 Corinthians 10:21
  2. The Bible challenges us to get on God's side: whether it is Moses in the camp saying, 'Who is on the Lord's side. Let him come to me." or Pastor James writing (James 4:8), "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." The point is clear: God wants to know where you stand with Christ. Whose side are you on?
II. We win when we choose Christ. (Luke 11:23)
  1. In the conflict between God and evil, we cannot be neutral. We must choose sides. (compare Matthew 12:30)
        There is no neutral ground in the battle between good and evil, between God and Satan. We are in a battle for the souls of humanity. God has defeated Satan in Christ on the cross. But each one of us must make a decision: will we stand together with Christ, or we will continue to side with Satan.
  2. In our society, where claims of Christ and Christianity are ridiculed and marginalized, we must take a stand for Christ. Silence is a vote against Jesus.
    1. Where do you stand on the issues of the day?
    2. What are your principles of personal morality? Social morality?
    3. Are we (you) being salt and light in our homes, communities, schools and workplaces?
    4. They said of the early believers, 'they have turned the world upside down?' Are we making a difference in our city?
  3. If you are not with Jesus, whatever you do amounts to nothing in the end ... Jesus says "its scattered" (see v. 23). Remember the teaching of Jesus: He who gains the whole world but loses his soul, loses it all.
III. We win when we work together as partners. (Mark 9:38-40)
  1. Here's the problem according to the disciples: The man is "not one of our group" [NLT]. He's not our brand! There is an 'us' and 'them' mentality in this story. Do you hear it?
  2. What does Jesus say to that? What does Jesus think about it when we cut up the body of Christ? Do you think Jesus divided his followers up into "red robes," "white robes," "green robes"?
    1. If we do something in the name of Jesus, no matter what group we are part of, we are on God's side (see also Luke 9.50) churches are not cliques. we do not have insiders and outsiders. the key is fellowship (it is not what separates us, but what unites us, that is central.)
  3. What unites us? Christ Jesus. In the New Testament, Jews and Gentiles bridged cultures in working together. Churches in Judea and Asia and Macedonia worked together. Paul's image of the church as a body with many parts is a graphic illustration that all believers don't have to be alike to work together. Jesus says it plainly, "if he's not an enemy, he's an ally." (The Message)
  4. We are called to be a missional people. Let's look at this story through 'missional eyes'. (A story from Boston.)
IV. We win when we work according to God's priorities. (Mark 8:31-33)
  1. When we do our work, either alone or with partners, who sets the agenda? Who determines the priorities?
        Do we look at something and ask, 'What would Jesus have me do in this situation?'
        Too often we hurry into it with what's in our own mind instead of seeing the mind of Christ.
  2. If we divert people from doing the will of God we are a hindrance (stumbling-block) to the cause of Christ whether we do it intentionally or not, and we are not on God's side but men's. (see verse 33)
        Jesus tells Peter to 'get back in line' with God's priorities instead of allowing Satan to tempt him with lesser priorities. (This is similar to the temptation Jesus himself had faced in the wilderness and the response he gave to Satan in Matthew 4.)
  3. Evil is always seeking to divert the work of God. If possible, evil will pervert the minds of God's people with anti-Christ-like priorities. We see how Satan is at work behind the scenes in The Message translation of Mark 8:33: "Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. 'Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.'"
  4. There is a difference between choosing to serve and being a servant. Richard Foster says, "When I choose to serve, I retain control about whom I serve and when I serve. But when I choose to be a servant, I have given up all rights and all control." When I retain control I am much more likely to act according to my priorities. I get on the winning side when I yield control to the Holy Spirit and follow the priorities of Christ.
V. Conclusion
In our world there are winners and losers. I think Christ sees a world where everyone's a winner.

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