"Let's Get Back To The Basics"

A friend of mine I have known since he was a high school student is Evangelist David Dunn. He has his own blog which I highly recommend- http://pastorddunn.blogspot.com/ . He recently published a great message which I liked it so much, I adapted it to my style (right back at you Brother David- he's preached at least one of mine) and preached it today at my church. Rather than give you my version I am reproducing his from his blog.

"Let's Get Back To The Basics"

We seriously need a simplified outlook on the Christian Life as we know it. We are guilty of making the Christian Walk so complicated that it has become something that "No One", not even Christians who have been saved for many years could live. We made a simple "Daily Walk" into a "Difficult Hill Climb"!

Notice I said "WE"! We did it ... NOT God! God did NOT create this complicated thing that we have put in front of New Converts and then said... "Ok, Go live it now!"We need a Serious "Wake Up Call" in all of Christianity!

Take a look at this:

Race car driver Bill Vukovich won the famed Indianapolis 500 race in 1953 and 1954, a record of success few other drivers had matched. When asked what was the secret of his success in Indianapolis, Vukovich replied, "There's no secret. You just press the accelerator to the floor and steer left."

Now many Racing fans would argue with me saying that this really simplifies what Racing truly is. Well I am not a professional race car driver, However, I do believe that when you sit down and watch Racing on TV, you will indeed find that most racing involves just that... drive fast and turn left!

I want to talk about 3 points concerning the Basics of Christianity. These are not "NEW", this is NOT "Rocket Science". It is just a basic, simple observation of Christianity, Christians and Churches. Please take it for what it is intended... to point out the "800 Pound Gorilla" in the room!

I. The Need to Preach

Acts 8:5 - "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them."In preaching Christ to them what did he preach?

A. He preached the Resurrection

B. He preached Redemption

C. He preached Repentance

Someone once made this comment about Preachers:

"Some pastors preach 'Longhorn Sermons'... a point here, a point there, and a lot of Bull in between!"

We don't need Longer Sermons... We need Preachers who will spend "Longer Time" in the Bible and "Hours On Their Knees" in Prayer.

II. The Need of the People

Frederick The Great said this about People:"The more I get to know people, the more I love my dog!"

The great need of people has always been the same... We need Christ!

Acts 8:6 - "And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did."

What was the great need of the people of Philip's day?

A. To Hear God's Word

B. To Hold to God's Word

C. To Heed to God's Word

The Great Need for us today is exactly the same! (*HEAR, HOLD & HEED!)

III. The Need of Power

There is no way in this world that we could do justice to really how "Big" of a problem this business is of "NOT HAVING THE POWER OF GOD" is in our lives, homes, preaching, prayer, Bible study, ministries and Churches!

The writer of Acts shows us that in his day there was power available and power needed!

This is still true for us today... Power IS Available, and it IS Needed!

Acts 8:7-8 - (7) "For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed." (8) " And there was great joy in that city."

A. To Deliver the lost

B. To Defeat the devil

C. To Delight God's people

Look at this simple illustration:

In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

We need desperately to have Spirit Filled preaching and times of Prayer where the Holy Spirit's presence is so real that there is no way to deny He was there.

Preacher... Sunday School Teacher... Church Ministry Worker... Christian... This is our Great Need!