You are very wicked

You are very wicked

You are not very important

You are not very important

GROWING UP

I. The BAD news A.Mankind is much worse than you think B.Life is much shorter than you think C.You are much less important than you think

A. People (and you) are much more evil than you think MAN IS BASICALLY GOOD True or False?

Auschwitz Prison Camp, Poland

School shootings

A. People (and you) are much more evil than you think MAN IS BASICALLY GOOD True or False? Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; Romans 3:23 ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out.... I could have got more. Oskar Schindler Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are 1100 people who are alive because of you. Look at them. Itzhak Stern Oskar: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just... Stern: There will be generations because of what you did. Stern Oskar: : I didn't do enough! Stern: You did so much. Stern [Schindler looks at his car] Oskar: This car… Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people. [removing Nazi pin from lapel] Oskar: This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me 2 for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this. [sobbing] Oskar : I could have gotten one more person... and I didn't! And I... I didn't! Last Minutes B. Life is much shorter than you think

James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Job 14:1-2 “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

C. You are much less important than you think John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Job 22:2-3 “Can a man be profitable to God, …? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless? Luke 17:10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” Martyrs in the early church, Chinese martyrs, Jim Eliott, …

II. The GOOD news A.You are more wicked than you admit BUT 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. B.Life is shorter than you think BUT Joel 2:25 “So I will restore to you the years that the … locust has eaten… 26. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you… C.You are less important than you think BUT Mat 10:31 “…you are of more value than many sparrows.

III. The Challenge A. The world is like this because of sin but the church is responsible to do its part to bring the world back to God by building his kingdom here. Ephesians 4: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Ezekiel 22:26 “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. YOU ARE A PRIEST! I Peter 2:9

III. The Challenge B. You MUST redeem the time. Don’t waste your life Ephesians 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Rev 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Mat 25:21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; … Enter into the joy of your lord.' YOU CAN INVEST OR WASTE YOUR LIFE!

III. The Challenge C. God is still looking for a man to make a wall and stand in the gap. Ezekiel 22:30 “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Ezekiel 44:23 “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

CONCLUSION Will you g row up? Growing up means becoming more like Christ. 1.Will you make a wall? Hold back the enemy 2. Will you stand in the gap? Stand up and be counted 3. Will you teach and proclaim right and wrong by God’s Word? Do your part

Question of the year: How will you be part of God’s move for GICF to be … Growing Together … in 2015?