JESUS COUNTRY

LUKE 4:16-30

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

As you drive around you may see bumper stickers, tags or signs that say, "This is FORD country", or "This is GATOR country." You might even see "This is NOLE country." My question is, is this Jesus Country? Is your heart Jesus Country? How about your work? Is your home Jesus Country? In the Bible we find several  areas that had problems being "Jesus Country." Let's look because we might encounter the same problems.

 

 I. FEAR GIVES WAY TO FAITH IN JESUS COUNTRY [LUKE 8:26-36]

1. Misplaced Fear [v. 26-37]

2. Mission Followed [v. 38-39]

3. Marvel Focused [Mark 5:20, 7:31-37]

-And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

-And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

 

II. POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH JESUS COUNTRY [LUKE 9:51-56]

1. Their Perception [v. 51-53] earthly misunderstanding of a Heavenly mission

2. Their Prejudice [v. 52-53]

3. His Purpose [v. 54-56] better to be Biblical correct than politically correct

 

III. PRIORITIES ARE DIFFERENT IN JESUS COUNTRY [LUKE 10:1-20]

1. The Hopeless Sin of Not Receiving Christ [v. 1-12, Heb. 10:26-29]

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

2. The Horrible Sin of Not Responding Correctly [v. 13-14]

3. The Heavenly Satisfaction of Receiving & Representing Christ [v. 15-20]

-It is better to be laughed at on your way to Heaven than cheered on your way to Hell.