Take it with you (Part 2)
The Grocery Store Shopper
What do you think of someone going grocery shopping, carefully picking out their meats, their vegetables, their fruits, and everything else they needed and then taking it to the cashier to pay for it. The person then takes the loaded cart to the door, pushes it to the side of the car and leaves it there, while they go home.
At home they wonder why there’s never much to eat, no toilet paper, and no deodorant. The person begins to say, “Every week I go shopping and it’s the same thing when I get home. Maybe I ought to try that big new store that just opened up across town. Maybe then I will have something.”
No, what they need to do is “Take it with you.”
E) What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
1) There is a phrase “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”
And this is how people feel about church. What is taught in the church stays in the church.
You have got to TAKE IT WITH YOU.
You see most people don’t evaluate if you are a Christian by your attendance on Sunday morning. They look at your life style once you leave the Church.
2) Church is like a mirror
When coming to church, it should be like looking in a mirror, examining yourself against the Word of God.
3) Attendance is not a free pass
We do not come to church to get attendance records and brownie points with God. We come to church to learn how to change. It’s not enough to just sit here and agree by saying Amen.
James 1:22 (NLTse)
[22] But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. [23] For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. [24] You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
4) Get to Church and I’m good
James is clearly speaking to those who think; if I just get to church, then I’ve got it in good with God for the rest of the week. That’s what James calls deceiving yourself. God is not standing and clapping because you came to Church.
James 2:17 (NLTse)
[17] So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
5) Child at the breakfast table
Suppose your child came to the breakfast table with a booger in his nose, slob on his mouth, and junk in his eyes, saying; “I’m ready for school.”
You would probably say, “you’re not going anywhere looking like that.”
If the child says, “but I looked in the mirror.” How many of you would say “Oh, that’s ok, you can go to school.”
You see there are no points for looking in the mirror, you must take the knowledge you got from looking in the mirror and make a change.
6) Key to a blessed life
Going to church, feeling good in church, meeting wonderful people, and having a good time, are all great, but the power in the church is in the power of Jesus Christ to change lives.
The key to having a blessed life with God’s favor upon it is in, taking the church mirror with you into all areas of your life.
7) Check the mirror and change
Look in the mirror when you want to tell somebody off. Look into that mirror when you have hurt someone’s feelings. Look into that mirror when you’re ready to get revenge. Look into that mirror when you want to gossip about someone. Look into that mirror when you know that your next action is wrong.
F) How do you compare with Jesus?
1) Can I endure church?
Church is not something to endure to make God happy. It’s not something to do to get your parents off your back. It’s not something to use as you try to ease your conscience for ungodly behavior all week long. It is God’s plan to give you the richest life you can possibly have.
But if you don’t TAKE IT WITH YOU, it will not do you any better than the person shopping at the grocery store and leaving everything behind.
2) How should I look intently?
James 1:25 (NLTse)
[25] But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Not everyone who comes to church is going to be rewarded for it. It is those who make the choice to really engage themselves in the study of the Word of God and allow it to change their lives will be blessed.
G) Satan encourages Church attendance
1) Go ahead and have a great time
Satan does not mind us going to church, as long as he can keep us thinking, what really matters is whether you make it to church on Sunday. He doesn’t mind if you dance up and down the aisle or sing until your heart is content. As long as you don’t TAKE IT WITH YOU!
2) No Change
We are living a life that’s no different than the lives of our family and friends who do not know the Lord. Some of us are trying to be more like them, then we are trying to persuade them to be more like Christ.
H) We become who we hang with
1) TikTok, YouTube, Facebook.
Sunday morning will not have as much effect on your life as who you are Monday-Saturday. Some of us would be embarrassed if the church could see your text messages or see your Facebook profile.
Yet, you come asking for prayer in your time of need, knowing that you have rejected God all week long.
2) Does God know about the internet?
Do we really think our God is so small, that he can be so easily deceived and tricked just by us coming to church?
Do we really think God can’t read emails, text messages, or see the web sites we visit?
I) We shall all meet Jesus
1) Church attendance has little weight
One day we will stand and give an account of our lives before God. The number of times we attended church is not going to have an effect on whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell. It is all going to boil down to our love for Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
2) Evaluating your love for Christ
When the Holy Spirit and/or a message convicts you that a change needs to occur, and you don’t do what the Word of God says, what does that say about your love for Jesus?
When your lifestyle conflicts with the word of God, what does it say about your love for God?
When you make up your mind, “I am not going to do what it takes to get away from this sin” What does it say about your love for Christ?
J) God’s desire for us
1) Genuine light
God is trying to do something in you so that you will become a genuine light to a dying world. Not only that, He made you, so He knows what you need to have a fulfilling life!!!
In other words, take the Word of God to become a disciple of Christ. Striving to be more like Jesus.
Let’s stop simply listening to the instructions. TAKE IT WITH YOU when you leave this place.
Let’s make a difference in our lives and others!