Sunday Sermon
ANALYZE THAT, THIS AND NO OTHER
Date: May 18, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: PHILIPPIANS 3:12; EPHESIANS 3:8-19; 1 CORINTHIANS 3:11
Listen to Audio Sermon

WE WANT TO LOOK AT THESE 3 SCRIPTURES ONE AT A TIME. BEFORE WE DO, I WANT TO SAY THAT SEVERAL YEARS BACK THERE WERE SEVERAL MOVIES THAT CAME OUT, THE FIRST WAS CALLED “ANALYZE THAT” AND LATER ONE CALLED “ANALYZE THIS” CAME OUT.
TODAY WE WANT TO MINISTER ON THE TITLE “ANALYZE THAT, THIS AND NO OTHER”
WHAT IS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THIS CHURCH

LET’S LOOK AT PHILIPPIANS 3:12 12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, THAT for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.

THE WORD ANALYZE MEANS: SEPARATION OR BREAKING UP OF ANYTHING INTO IT’S ELEMENTS OR COMPONENT PARTS.

PAUL IS SAYING THAT I WANT TO COMPREHEND OR UNDERSTAND WHY GOD CALLED ME. WHAT WAS“THAT.” REASON. I’M NOT GOING TO REST UNTIL I UNDERSTAND “THAT”
REASON? WHAT WAS HE WANTING TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN HE CAPTURED ME?
THE LIFE THAT I WAS LIVING HAS BEEN TOTALLY CHANGED. WHY DID GOD DO THIS?

WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES THAT SAME QUESTION, WHY DID YOU SAVE ME LORD? WHAT PURPOSE DID YOU HAVE TO BRING ME INTO YOUR KINGDOM? DID HE HAVE TO HAVE A PURPOSE? AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION MIGHT BE, TO SERVE HIM. WAS IT JUST SO THAT WE COULD COME TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND WARM A SEAT?

REALLY GOD IS THE ONLY PERSON WORTH LIVING FOR. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT HE WANTED TO CHANGE US FROM SINNERS TO SAINTS FOR HIS PURPOSE.

WE NEED TO ASK HIM SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO. HE WILL ANSWER IF WE JUST ASK.

WHEN OUR EYES ARE OPENED WE CAN SEE THAT GOD DOES NOT ONLY HAVE LOVE, HE IS LOVE AND HE WANTS US TO BECOME JUST LIKE HIS SON WHO IS THE EPITOME OF LOVE. HE WANTS TO BRING US OUT OF SIN (DARKNESS) AND INTO THE LIGHT.

IF HE GOT A HOLD OF ME ONLY TO SAVE ME, THEN AFTER SAVING ME HE COULD HAVE JUST TAKEN ME UP INTO THE HEAVENS. BUT HE DIDN’T. NO, HE JUST LEFT ME ON EARTH TO SUFFER, NO! NOT REALLY, HE LEAVES US ON EARTH BECAUSE HE WANTS TO FORM US INTO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON JESUS. AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, HE WANTS TO USE US TO REACH OTHERS. WITH THE GOOD NEWS THAT GOD IS GREAT AND LOOK WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME.

WHEN PAUL WAS APPREHENDED, HE CHANGED RADICALLY. HE WENT FROM PERSECUTOR OF CHRISTIANS TO ONE THAT PREACHED THE GOSPEL WITH A PASSION. WE NEED TO SEE RADICAL CHANGES IN OUR LIVES ALSO. WHEN WE TUNE INTO GOD, HIS LOVE COMPELS US TO SURRENDER EVERYTHING IN OUR LIVES. HAS THAT HAPPENED TO YOU YET? HAS A RADICAL CHANGE TAKEN PLACE IN YOUR LIFE? OR ARE YOU STILL ENTERTAINING THE SINS OF THE PAST?

WHAT IF WE HAD A SIN-O-METER AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CHURCH. THAT WOULD GO OFF WHEN YOU WALKED IN WITH SIN IN YOUR LIFE. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THEY HAVE IN STORES TO CATCH SHOPLIFTERS. COULD YOU WALK THROUGH THAT SIN-O-METER WITHOUT SETTING IT OFF? MANY OF US LIKE TO HOLD ON TO THE PET SINS OF OUR PRE-SAVED DAYS. YOU WOULD HEAR A VOICE SAY SOMETHING LIKE SIN, SIN, SIN PLEASE REPORT TO THE REPENTANCE ROOM BEFORE GOING INTO THE WORSHIP SERVICE. PLEASE REPORT TO THE REPENTANCE ROOM.

GOD CALLED US TO SET US FREE. IF CHRISTIANITY WAS A TEST, WOULD YOU BE GETTING A PASSING GRADE? IF YOU DON’T PASS THE TEST THAT WOULD MEAN YOU FAILED AND IN SCHOOL WHEN YOU FAIL YOU CAN’T GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HOLINESS WOULD BE A PASSING GRADE AND GOD’S WORD SAYS IN HEB 12:`4 14Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.

ANOTHER REASON HE CALLED US IS THAT HE WANTS US TO ENTER INTO A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. LOOK AT JOHN 3:16 16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
WE HAVE LOST FOCUS AS TO WHAT A LOVE RELATIONSHIP IS. HE NOT ONLY WANTS TO LOVE US, BUT HE ALSO WANTS US TO LOVE AND STAY FAITHFUL TO HIM. AND TO MANIFEST HIS LOVE TO THE WORLD.

THINK ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT PERSON YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH. YOU WANT TO BE FAITHFUL AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SHOW YOUR LOVE. YOU WANT TO BE WITH THEM ALL OF THE TIME. WELL GOD IS THE GREATEST LOVE WE COULD EVER HAVE AND YET MANY PUT HIM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE “TO DO” LIST.

WE MUST BE HUNGRY FOR GOD LIKE WE CAN BE HUNGRY FOR FOOD AND MORE SO. GOD COULD HAVE MADE US SO THAT WE WOULD NOT NEED FOOD BUT I BELIEVE HE MADE US NEED FOOD SO THAT WE COULD KNOW WHAT BEING HUNGRY FELT LIKE. WHY DID HE MAKE WATER AND BREAD? WHY DID HE CALL HIMSELF THE BREAD OF LIFE AND LIVING WATER THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND WHAT HUNGER THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS REALLY MEANS. HE IS WANTING FOR US TO WANT HIM WITH ALL THAT IS IN US, TO BE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY AND TO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT HUNGER AND THIRST REALLY MEANS.

HERE IS WHAT HAPPENS IN LIFE. GOD BLESSES US IN LIFE WITH GIFTS, LIKE FOOD, MONEY, HOUSES, CARS, FRIENDS, JOBS AND THESE BLESSINGS CAN COME AND DESTROY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. OUR BLESSINGS TAKE CONTROL OF US AND NOW WE SPEND MORE TIME LOVING THEM THEN WE SPEND LOVING GOD. BLESSINGS CAN BE YOUR WORST ENEMY IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THEM AND ESTABLISH A PRIORITY OF SEEKING FIRST THE BLESSER AND NOT THE BLESSINGS. LOOK AT LUKE 14:16-20 16But Jesus said to him, A man was once giving a great supper and invited many;17And at the hour for the supper he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, Come, for all is now ready.18But they all alike began to make excuses and to beg off. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of land, and I have to go out and see it; I beg you, have me excused.
19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine and put my approval on them; I beg you, have me excused.20And another said, I have married a wife, and because of this I am unable to come.

LOOK AT THE EXCUSES THAT THESE MEN GAVE FOR NOT GOING TO THE SUPPER. LAND, OXEN, A WIFE, ALL THESE ARE GIFTS FROM GOD AND THEY WERE STOPING THESE MEN FROM GO TO THE GREAT SUPPER. THAT IS THE WAY WITH MANY WHO WON’T SERVE GOD, THERE EXCUSES MANY TIMES ARE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM. WHAT IS KEEPNG YOU FROM RESPONDING TO HIS CALL?

WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR YOU MAY BE LOOKING AT YOUR WORST ENEMY. BECAUSE THAT PERSON THAT YOU SEE CAN BE THE ONE THAT IS PREVENTING YOU FROM REACHING “THAT” REASON WHY HE CALLED YOU.

NOW LETS ANALYZE THIS:
LOOK AT EPHESIANS 3:8-19 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14For “THIS” cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

NOW, “THIS” IS THE CAUSE PAUL TALKS ABOUT, THIS IS WHY HE BOWED HIS KNEES AND WE SHOULD DO THE SAME.

TO BE ABLE TO PROCLAIM THE WISDOM OF GOD WE ARE TO BE EVER SO GRATEFUL. THE CHURCH WAS MANIFESTED TO ENFORCE THE AUTHORITY AND VICTORY OF JESUS SO THAT THE ENEMY KNOWS THAT HE IS BROKEN AND DESTROYED FOREVER. “THIS” IS THE REASON WE BOW OUR KNEES AND SHOW REVERENCE TO GOD FOR TRUSTING US TO ENFORCE HIS WILL UPON THE EARTH. TO LET ALL HUMANITY NOW THAT THERE IS HOPE IN THIS SIN SICK WORLD.

GOD HAS PULLED THE SCALES OFF OUR EYES TO SEE THE REALITY OF “HIM.” HE IS FOR REAL AND WANTS TO BE IN ALL OUR LIVES. HE WANTS TO LIVE IN OUR HEARTS BY FAITH AND HE WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS LOVE WHICH CAN BE UNDERSTOOD ONLY BY EXPERIENCING IT. HE WANTS US TO MANIFEST THE POWER THAT HE HAS GIVEN US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. HIS PLAN IS THAT WE WOULD BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD. “THIS CAUSE” IS WHY WE BOW OUR KNEES.

NOW LET’S ANALYZE “AND NOTHING ELSE”: LOOK AT 1 COR 3:11 11For NO OTHER foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

“ NO OTHER” FOUNDATION CAN REPLACE THE FOUNDATION THAT JESUS PROVIDES. WE BOW OUR KNEES BECAUSE NOW WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE CALLED. THERE IS NOTHING, I DON’T CARE HOW FAR YOU GO, HOW HIGH YOU CLIMB OR HOW LOW YOU FALL, THERE IS NO OTHER FOUNDATION YOU CAN DEPEND ON TO GET YOU THROUGH THAN JESUS CHRIST.

THERE IS NOTHING IN LIFE THAT WE CAN PUT IN FRONT OF JESUS. THERE IS NO OTHER ONE THAT CAN MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL. HE IS THE PERFECTER.
HEB 6:9 23Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!24And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
HOLY SPIRIT WHAT IS HOLDING ME BACK, PURGE ME AND SHOW ME HOW I CAN REST ON YOUR FOUNDATION. HOW CAN I FULLY REALIZE THAT YOU ARE ON MY SIDE AND HOW MUCH YOU WANT ME TO SUCCEED. VISIT ME WITH REVIVAL AND IMPART TO ME THAT WHICH CANNOT BE TAUGHT BUT IT CAN ONLY BE CAUGHT WHEN WE IMMERSE OURSELVES IN YOUR WORD AND MAINTAINING THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP THROUGH PRAYER. WE REALLY NEED TO EXPERIENCE YOUR LOVE.

LET US SPEAK LIFE INTO EACH OTHER. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US TO MAKE US STRONG. THIS HAS TO BE A TIME OF COMMITMENT AND CONSECRATION. AS WE HAVE ANALYZED THE “THAT” AND “THIS” OF GOD AND EVEN THE “NO OTHER.”