A Message by Pastor Michael Palmer

Given to Green Ridge Baptist Church

February 7, 2010

 

ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD –

FOLLOW JESUS WITH A CLEAN HEART

Matthew 14:22 – 15:20

 

1.      JESUS PUT HIS DISCIPLES IN A POSITION IN WHICH THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TRUST HIM

 

“Jesus made His disciples get into the boat” vs 22

 

We are often in a position in life where we are brought to the place (because of trials, circumstances, or our own sin) in which we must CRY OUT – hopefully our cry will be to Jesus.

 

2.      PETER DEMONSTRATED GREAT FAITH WHEN HE ASKED JESUS TO COMMAND PETER TO COME TO HIM

 

THE NATURE OF BIBLICAL FAITH

Ø      It is always toward Jesus.

Ø      It requires a willingness of one’s heart to obey – a complete admission of total need.

Ø      It is demonstrated by a radical obedience to Jesus – “Peter came down out of the boat and walked on water.”

Ø      It requires a release of control of one’s life and personal safety to Jesus.

 

3.      WE MUST EXPECT THE REBUKES AND REPROOFS OF LIFE TO HAPPEN – WHEN OUR FAITH FALTERS (AS IT WILL) WE MUST CRY OUT TO JESUS

 

It is the desire of the Lord Jesus for us to repeatedly extend ourselves in faith and overcome the trials before us by crying to Him as a way of life.

Ø      Difficulties and trials will come.

Ø      We will be challenged and sometimes we will come to a place of fear.

Ø      As this happens throughout life, we learn to cry out earlier rather than later!

Ø      Comfort zone religion, which does not require an obedience that is sometimes uncomfortable, is dead and self righteous.

Ø      As Christians, we learn how to follow Jesus only as we extend ourselves for Him.

Ø      Jesus stands ready to rescue all who cry out to Him.

 

4.      THE RESULT OF THE DISCIPLES’ DELIVERANCE WAS THAT THEY WORSHIPPED HIM

 

Ø      Jesus was glorified.

Ø      There was a deep inner awareness of Jesus’ Person, His love and compassion, and most of all HIS COMPLETE AUTHORITY over all things – the universe.

Ø      The understanding of Jesus personally (mind and heart) was deepened – “truly you are the Son of God.”

 

5.      THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF JESUS’ AUTHORITY AND POWER WAS FURTHER DEMONSTRATED BY THOSE WHO CAME TO “TOUCH” HIM FOR HEALING  (14:34-36)

 

6.      THE TRADITION OF MEN CAUSES PEOPLE (AND CHURCHES) TO MISS THEIR NEED FOR HEART BROKENNESS  (15:1-20)

 

Ø      Tradition or man’s habits or customs can supplant a vital heart relationship with Jesus.

Ø      A person can know the Bible, but be far from God in their heart.

Ø      The Pharisees even used the vow concept in scripture to nullify the fifth commandment: “Honor your father and mother . . .”

Ø      A Christian can be so “in the flesh” and can press a doctrinal point to excuse their heart disobedience – or excuse their disobedience on another clear scriptural directive.

 

7.      WE CAN ALL SLIP INTO A ROUTINE – EVEN A GOOD ROUTINE – AND TRY TO SERVE GOD WITH AN UNCLEAN HEART

 

Ø      We need to have the wonder and joy of following Jesus daily.

Ø      We need clean hearts.

Ø      We need brokenness.

Ø      We need a radical obedience.

 

8.      THE LIFE WE NEED IS A LIFE THAT CONTINUALLY EXTENDS ITSELF FOR JESUS AND HIS GOSPEL CALL

 

Ø      Jesus is calling Green Ridge (all of us) to extend ourselves for His great gospel mission.

Ø      He is calling us to obey and CHANGE OUR ROUTINE.

Ø      He is calling us to have a burden for Roanoke – for people to see, know, and worship Jesus – that begins when we truly worship Him.

Ø      That will happen as we have clean hearts and step out of our personal boat of comfort.

Ø      Let’s obey His call.

 

Will you join in this gospel call?  Do you dare get out of the boat of your “routine” and follow Jesus?  I believe Jesus is calling us at Green Ridge to Himself and then to obey Him in doing all we can to MAKE DISCIPLES here and around the world.  He is calling us to do church in a way where we can “deposit the gospel” in hearts all over our valley.  He is calling us all to a new level of personal discipline and to make adjustments in our life based on a clean heart and a love for the Savior.  The key to a clean heart is following the call of Jesus.  We cannot truly follow Christ and make a difference for the gospel with unclean hearts.  We can do church that way…!  But we cannot make a difference for Jesus that way.  The only way we will see the supernatural hand of God at work in and around us is to OBEY HIS CALL TO MAKE DISCIPLES and follow Him.   These two are integrally connected: FOLLOWING IN FAITH AND HAVING A CLEAN HEART.  You can’t have one without the other.  Lord Jesus would You get hold of us here at Green Ridge this day and motivate us to do whatever it takes to obey You personally and be on mission with You.  Do it Lord, do it in our hearts and lives …right here, right now.