Being a Christian is Like Being a Pumpkin

Intro: I thought I would bring a message with a fall theme. It is amazing how nature presents us a picture of God's handiwork in mankind in a way we can't easily forget.

I. God picks you from the patch and brings you in. John 15:16 (NKJV)  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. We did not choose Christ. He chose us. Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) ⁴  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Christians are the chosen and ordained of Christ, and they have been given the very same purpose of Christ Himself: to go into all the world and bear fruit among men.

II. God washes all the dirt off you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Whereas we were living in sin and immorality, we now are a new creature living in righteousness and holiness. Whereas we had to face death, we are now a new creature that never has to die. Whereas we were doomed to judgment and eternal separation from God, we are now a new creature in Christ. We are destined to live eternally in the presence of God.

III. God opens you up and scoops out all the yucky stuff. Ephesians 2:1-7 (NKJV)¹  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ²  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. ⁴  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:6-8 ] (NLT) ⁶  We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. ⁷  For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. ⁸  And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. All of our sin has been removed by the blood of Jesus. We are free from our old sinful way of life. We are clean inside!

IV. God carves you a new smiling face. [Psalm 71:23; 32:11] My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed. Psalm 32:11 (NKJV) Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! The Lord gives His people much to smile about and bring about rejoicing in our hearts. Our future in heaven with God is assured because of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf on the cross. We are now children of God and joint heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ.

V. God puts His light inside you to shine for all to see. [Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) ¹⁴  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. “In the same way” that a light shines from a pumpkin, we as Christ’s disciples must let our light shine before others by letting our “good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise our heavenly Father.” Jesus made it clear that there would be no mistaking the source of a believer’s good works. Our light shines not for our self but to reflect the light back to the Father who chose us and so direct people to him.

Invitation: God has chosen for all mankind to be saved but you must respond to His invitation by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you and save your soul from hell and for heaven. If you have never done that now is the perfect time!

Soul Rest

 

 Psalm 62:5-8

Intro: King David was like us. There was bad news, situations and circumstances that surrounded him each day, but he had found the secret to finding soul rest even through all the things he had to face daily. We would be wise to follow his advice.

I. Soul Rest Comes Only From God. Psalm 62:5a (NIV) Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; Many people try to find rest for their souls in the things of the world. They put their hopes for soul rest in money, people, alcohol, entertainment, partying and the like. Davis said under the inspiration of the Spirit that he would commit his whole cause to God, and that his soul would then be calm and without apprehension. Jesus invites us to come to Him soul for rest. Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) ²⁸  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

II. Hope in God Brings Soul Rest. [Psalm 62:5b] my hope comes from him. David says that all of his hope (confident expectation) comes from God. He did not rely on his fellow man; he did not rely on himself. Often we find ourselves in such circumstances that we feel inadequate. All our strength fails; all our resources are exhausted; our fellow-men cannot or will not aid us; our own efforts seem to be vain; our money can't help us, our plans are frustrated, that's when we realize that God alone can help us. God alone can deliver us no matter the situation or circumstance, and we must confidently believe that God will do it. Our hope (confident expectation) is to be placed in the hands of a sovereign God and the whole of our lives must be left in His hands if we desire soul rest.

III. Soul Rest Comes From Remembering Who God Is. Psalm 62:6 (NIV) He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. a. David says God is our rock. The metaphor of the rock points to God being strong, steadfast, and consistent, immovable for those His people who are in need. A rock perfectly describes the nature of Our God. He is always steady, strong, consistent and immovable in our lives no matter what we may be facing. Nothing else in this world can provide this kind of help, stability and assurance when all else has failed. b. David says that God is our salvation. This includes soul salvation but it goes beyond to the things we need saving from every day. Our lives are filled with things that require God's intervention. We are a very needy people because each day brings it's own problems. The good part is God is right there for us and when we pray casting our cares on Him and then trusting Him to take care of those problems we have soul rest. c. David says God is our fortress. A fortress is any place of exceptional security; a stronghold to protect from the enemy. Our God is the place we are to go when trouble abounds on every hand and the devil is fighting and harassing us. A fortress has walls all around it and that is a perfect metaphor of God's protection that surrounds us.  Psalm 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. Ps. 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

IV. Soul Rest Comes From Depending On God. Psalm 62:7 (NIV) My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Depend on means to rely or place your trust in. We are to rely and put our trust totally in God for our soul salvation and then He honors us by forgiving us and making us a part of His family. Then We trust God daily for the salvation from all this worlds problems that come against us. David again says God is a mighty rock on whom we can depend. The largest rock in Texas is located at Fredricksburg. It's called “Enchanted Rock.” No amount of man's efforts can move that rock. It's a great metaphor of God. No amount of trouble, no amount of man's or Satan's efforts can move God from protecting and caring for His people. God is our refuge. Refuge means a place of shelter and protection. Where can you go to find a place of shelter and protection like God gives you? When we depend on God alone for our salvation and honor our soul will have rest.

V. Trusting in God At All Times Brings Soul Rest. Psalm 62:8 (NIV) Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Selah) David said because God is all these things he just mentioned, we can trust in Him at all times no matter what the situation or circumstance. We can pour out whatever is on our hearts to Him. Nothing is to big or small for Him to accomplish. Trusting in the arms of God to shelter and protect us can bring us soul rest.

Conclusion: We have a part to play in our soul rest. We must not let our souls become fretful with worry, doubt, or fear. We must find our soul rest in looking to God alone, not looking to any other source for the things we need. We must hope in Him for everything we just read about in these scriptures. According to Isaiah 26:3 NIV “When we keep our mind steadfast, trusting in God He will give us perfect peace.”

Invitation: Are you trusting completely in Jesus alone for your salvation? If not now is the time to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and come into your life and give you life eternal. Then be baptized for a public testimony of you faith in Him.