Easter Applied

Evanglism Part 2
Andrew K. Fox
Year of alignment

I am not going to tell you the story of Christ crucified. It is unavoidable especially today. I am not going to tell you that after three days Christ was raised from the dead. If that was not true we would not be here today. I am not going to tell you about the blood he shed and his body that was broken for you. I will leave that to the Holy Spirit because he does a much better job. I want to challenge your world today on how the Easter story is applied. At the close of this message I will be calling you to the altar. It was twelve years after the resurrection that believers were called Christian as a mocking nickname. Not even Christians called themselves 'Christians' in the New Testament. But now it is a sophisticated brand name and adjective. Before the name Christian we were called Christ followers.

In the movie Rocky III Micky confronts his prize fighter with a classic line: 'The worst thing that can happen to a fighter has happened, you got civilized!' Since Christ shed his blood on the cross Christianity has become very civilized moving from fighters of the faith to mass religious conformity. The invitation of Christ was very simple 'Come, follow me!' The most dangerous agenda on this planet today is not the rise of the Muslim world or the veiled threats of Iran but making Christianity a world religion. It is no different from the twelve world religions today. A world religion focuses on what God wants from you instead of what God has done for you. Human beings create world religion to control other human beings through their guilt and shame. Why would God send his only begotten Son to suffer the horror of the cross to keep us all in line? Many come into Christianity to fight the good fight of faith but at some point lose the plot and get civilized and domesticated. (Revelation 2:4) "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." The fight of faith has nothing to do with a militant call but the weapons of faith, hope and love. You used to love to live and live to love but now you're just nice and compliant.

Many are in their own private Shawshank in a prison of their own making and desperately needing redemption. How did the Christian become so domesticated? You were taught to pray - you talking to God. But you were never taught to hear the inaudible or see the invisible - God talking back to you. We leave that for the ADHD or the bipolar and mentally ill because we are civilized. Christ is lost is a world religion that bears his name but has forgotten to listen to what he is saying making a Sunday gathering look like a docile and domesticated group. (1 Samuel 3:1) "In those days the Word of the Lord was rare…" But God found a young man who refused to be domesticated. One night he heard the inaudible. (v10) "Speak Lord, your servant is listening!" Who did Christ chose to represent him? Even before that, who did he chose to prepare the way for him? An unusual dresser called John who had strange eating habits who frequently used the nickname 'viper' for religious conformists and it was not a term of endearment. When John was in his mothers womb be came within six feet of Christ in Mary's womb and from the fetal position let his mom know that his life was not going to be domesticated. While baptizing in the Jordan River he identified Christ as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. He even told some of his own disciples to follow him. But John found himself in his own Shawshank needing redemption asking "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" If it can happen to John it can happen to you. The worst thing that can happen to a Christian has happened; you got domesticated and civilized about Jesus Christ.

We are the most prosperous and blessed nation on the planet but the most popular ministry, literature, worship songs and preaching is about how to be more blessed. Following Christ is more powerful and fulfilling than having everything you want without him. The benefits of Christianity are not the point but the benefactor is the point. (Illustrate with boxes)

Let's go back to John the Baptist. He sent some of his own disciples to Jesus with a pertinent question. (Matthew 11:3) "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" The reply Christ gave made complete sense. (v4-5) "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." At first glance it seems like Jesus was trying to inspire John in his tough situation. But then he makes a statement that does not seem to fit the question and even sounds insulting. (v6) "Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." How would all these miracles cause John to fall away? People do not lose sight of their faith through good things. Christ was saying, 'John, I'm not coming for you to get you out of prison. I'm not going to rescue you from a tough situation and spare your feelings or even your life. I have done all this good for these people but the path I have chosen for you is different from them. You will be blessed if this does not cause you to fall away saying it is just not fair. I don't want to save you from suffering, pain, worry and concern but I am desperate to save you from a meaningless life.' We present a message that Christ rose from the dead so we can live an endless life of comfort and security. On the other hand we get people to confess they are a sinner so they will not go to hell. The first is a mockery of life and the second tells you life does not begin until eternity. Christianity is nor fair or equitable. It was no fair when one of the closest mentors I ever had died at the age of 57 of cancer, or that Joshua was born to a family I pastored desperate for a baby but he only lived 56 days, or the pastor who called me out and laid his hands on me as a teenager prophetically speaking about God's call on my life screwed his own life up running away from his wife and church, or that my own two brothers are so lukewarm about Christianity. One day Peter was walking the shoreline of Galilee with Jesus who told him to feed his lambs and sheep. He said it would be a challenging life and that he would have to lay down his life for that cause. What Peter did next is what you do. He turned around and pointed to John asking, 'what about him?' he was saying, 'I don't mind devoting my life to you as long as everyone else does, especially him.' But Christianity does not work on mass like a world religion but intensely personal. God does not have a group plan negotiated with mankind where everyone gets the premium package. Every life does not end with 'happy ever after' because sometimes good people die. Time has run out for them to tell their story so they rely on others to tell it but don't fall away on account of it. I cannot tell you what is in the box because it is unique and intensely between you and God.

Would you put your child in harms way? Of course you would not. Do you think God your Father would put you in harms way? You have not asked him that question because you have already answered it for him - he would never do that, or would he? (Romans 8:5) "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God wanted to demonstrate how much he loves you so he allowed his only son to be in harms way. But then Christ turned to those who would follow him. (John 15:9) "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you." If God allowed his son to be in harms way that humankind be redeemed then his son will allow you to be in harms way for a great cause. That cause is in the box. Do not confuse the Kingdom of God with the tranquil perfection of paradise. To be born of God is not about reentry into the Garden of Eden but to enter the Kingdom of God that advances with weapons of faith, hope and love. But we spend our energies in the wrong places of self-development and spiritual well-being using secular vehicles to advance cultural values believing that this touches the sacred leaving men crying out 'what must I do to be born again?' It has become all too civilized and domesticated. The first miracle Christ performed was to increase the alcohol content at a wedding party. We have built buildings as hiding places on a Sunday while putting on our Sunday best pretending that our praise and worship, our prayer and fellowship are somehow pleasing to God. Do you treasure your church and its civilized people while secretly despising the very roots of faith that birthed it into existence? Do you prefer going to church rather than running to God?

God will give you the box. The cross is the place where you will find the box. I want you to see yourself with Christ on the cross. (Galatians 2:20) "I have been crucified with Christ." As in the natural so it is in the spiritual. When a life has died only a doctor can pronounce a person dead. (Colossians 3:3) "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." God himself will pronounce that the life you used to live is dead. Then there needs to be a witness to the death. (Romans 8:16) "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." The Holy Spirit in you knows the time and place where you died and at the same time was born again. Finally there needs to be an identification of the body. You cannot fool your own family. They will know if you have really been born of God. I want to challenge you to be born again in your spirit and receive the box.

Open the box. Many people who attend church have received what God has for them but have never opened the box and lived out what they now have. (Romans 3:20) "…able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…" This is not Pandora's Box of chaos but of purpose.

If you would like to see previous transcripts you can find them here.: