If Jesus Lived In My House

Notes: If Jesus Lived In My House
Mothers Day Service - May 11, 2014

Guest Lee Strobel at Harvest

Matthew 5:13

Jesus commanded Christians to be salt and light to the world. What does that look like for us in the 21st century? Does it affect the way we care for our home, kids, work?

Believers Are Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 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 lamp stand, 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.

God wants us to shine as Christians. What does that look like in the 21st century.

Lee wrote a book about this subject, he named it the “Unexpected Journey” because that is what it is like in these times.

When you live on the evangelistic edge, when you live to be the salt and the light, you don’t know where it will lead you.

When your prayer life takes a whole new dimension you don’t know where that takes you.

So what does that look like in the 21st century? What would it look like if Jesus Christ lived in my house.

1. If Jesus Christ physically lived in my house, I believe before He talked to his neighbors about His Heavenly Father, He would talk to His Heavenly Father about His neighbors. He would pray.
1. Jesus’ prayers were repeated over and over again, even from the cross.
2. We need to pray the same prayer over and over for others.
1. We seem to make the decision for others that they won’t come to Christ.
2. Who have you stopped praying for, that you used to lift up to God but have now just given up?
1. If Jesus showed up in your room and said I will answer all of your prayers from last week, would there be anyone else new in the kingdom of God? Lee finds that to be a convicting question.
2. Jesus prayed for lost people until He was physically killed.
2. If Jesus physically lived in my house He would let people know that His door is always open for any questions. Any question or doubts just come in and ask.
1. John the Baptist would be one that you think would never doubt who Jesus was.
1. When John the Baptist was thrown in prison and then sent his friends to ask Jesus if he was the One they were waiting for.
1. Jesus replied to them, to go tell John the evidence they saw that He is the Messiah. 
2. It is okay for us to have questions and occasional doubts.
1. Only though if we pursue answers. You can’t let the doubts just stop you.
1. Lee told us a story about him having a debate with an atheist. Dr. William Craig was the Christian, Professor Ziegler was the atheist.
2. Atheist commentator from another debate between atheist and Dr. Craig stated that Dr. Craig spanked the atheist in the debate.
2. Christians have an unfair advantage, because we have truth on our side.
1. For us followers, the key word is not debate, it is dialogue and friendships. Praying that God would use as salt and light.
3. Jesus would be authentic, He would not just proclaim the gospel he would live the gospel.
1. Your neighbors are scanning you with the hypocrisy radar 24/7 when you say you are a Christian.
1. Lee read a letter from a girl named Maggie, about how the bad Christians that she grew up with repelled her from wanting to be a christian.

Lee invited her to join a small group that was lead by a christian couple and she joined and then wrote him again. She said she needed to see people who’s actions match what they say. She said the christian couple in her group did those things, in fact she didn’t know why, she gave them tough questions and they were just kind to her.

Maggie's poem:
Do you know
do you understand 
that you represent Jesus to me, 

do you know 
do you understand 
that when you treat me with gentleness 
it raises the question in my mind, 
well Maybe He is gentle to, 
Maybe Hee isn’t someone who laughs when I get hurt, 

Do you know 
do you understand 
that when you listen to my questions 
and you don’t laugh 
that I think well, 
what if Jesus is interested in me too. 

Do you know 
do you understand 
that when I hear you talk honestly 
about arguments and conflicts 
and scars from your past, 
that I think well maybe I am just a regular person 
instead of a bad no good little girl who deserves abuse, 
if you care, 
then maybe I think He cares 

then there is this flame of hope 
that burns inside of me 
and for a while I’m afraid to breathe 
because it might go out, 

do you know 
do you understand 
that your words 
are His words 
that your face is His face 
to someone like me, 

please be who You say You are, 
please God 
do not let this be another trick this time. 

Do you know
do you understand 
that you represent Jesus to me.

1. That poem made Lee cry and made him think of his neighbors.
1. He called Maggie and she told him that she came to Christ
1. It wasn’t the debates of Christ and atheist it was the love of Christians that brought her to Christ.

A sinner saved by grace living your life as Christ has saved you is all you need to do to bring many to Christ. 

Are you a Maggie running the other way?

Do you need a loving God that will love and validate you. 

Christ will not only redeem your soul but also will bring you on a serious of unexpected adventures that will be the joy of your life.