First Baptist Church of El Dorado - Sermons

Today we are beginning a new sermon series called Life Hacks. In this series, we will search the ancient wisdom of God’s Word to uncover CHRIST-CENTERED SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS. These Christ-Centered Solutions for Everyday Problems will address some of the core problems each of us faces. And these Christ-Centered Solutions will invite us to travel the journey of sanctification. We become more like our Savior when we apply his solutions!

Today we are putting a bow on our current series that’s called Following Jesus. In this series, as we get up close and personal with Jesus we are understanding who he is in light of the three anointed offices of the Old Testament—prophet, king, and priest. 

As our prophet, JESUS SPEAKS TRUTH. A truth that is both hard and hope-filled. 

As our king, JESUS LEADS US TO TRUE GREATNESS. This is a greatness that calls us to get lower and give more.  

And today in our final week we will get up close and personal with Jesus and see him as our priest. The one who BRIDGES THE GAP.

A life and world that is empty finds itself caught in this nonstop cycle frustration, anxiety, disappointment and even despair. When it comes to the human condition, here’s the fact of the matter, We’re Empty and We Need an Answer. And, there is only one answer for a soul and a world wracked with frustration, anxiety, disappointment and even despair. His name is Jesus Christ. All because An Empty Life Needs The Empty Tomb.

In this message we are continuing our current series. It’s called Following Jesus. In this series we are getting up close and personal with Jesus (shape your opinions, transform your behavior, give you new attitude, and give you a full biblical worldview). In week one God’s Word reminded us that Following Jesus isn’t a game. When comes it Following Jesus: Your Life Depends on Him. Then in week two we got up and personal with Jesus and we understood his life and ministry through Old Testament office of the prophet. Remember what we said last the prophet speaks for God. And, if a prophet speaks for God then that he means every word that comes out of his mouth is truth. The prophet speaks truth. It’s hard truth that calls us to repentance and hope-filled truth that directs our attention to the cross and resurrection of Jesus.  And, now in week in three, as we get up and close and personal with Jesus  let’s understand his life and ministry through the Old Testament office of the King. The King Leads Us to True Greatness.

In this sermon we are continuing our current series. It’s called Following Jesus. This series which will take us to Easter Sunday is inviting each of us to get up and to follow Jesus. The main reason you and I don’t answer this call is because too often in life we’ve forgotten that lesson from childhood, Be Careful Who You Follow.

For far too long we have allowed ourselves to believe the lie that we can have it all, let our feelings drive our actions, we can do whatever we want and still follow Jesus. That lie is the wide road that leads to destruction. Following Jesus is a narrow road. A road where we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. 

And, the only antidote to the lie is to hear truth spoken by a prophet. That’s why in week of 2 of our series as we get up close and personal with Jesus we are going to meet Jesus the Prophet. 

Now listen closely Jesus isn’t just a prophet as religions may teach. Jesus is more than a prophet. He is the Son of God and Savior of the World. But, if you want to follow Jesus and understand who he is and why he does what he does then you need to realize that Jesus speaks and acts as a prophet. 

Today we are starting a new series called Following Jesus. This is a series for folks who’ve made a decision for Jesus at some point in the past or maybe you’ve never made a decision and said “yes” to Jesus. This is a series for each of these groups, because this is a decision that is calling you to become a disciple. It’s a series that calling you to start following Jesus. To let Jesus shape your opinions, transform your behavior, give you new attitude, and give you a full biblical worldview. 

And, here’s my promise to you if you will get up and follow Jesus. If will get up close and personal with him, he won’t lead you to pain instead he will give you purpose. He won’t bring you hurt no, no, no he will lead to healing. He won’t lead you to be a person who harms others, but instead one who offers hope to others. Are you read to follow Jesus? To leave behind your life as you know and truly follow him. 

Today we are concluding our current series. It’s called One Word Prayers. As the series title suggests, each week we have focused on a one word prayer. These one word prayers create foundation on which all other prayers stand. These are accessible to the person who just began to follow Jesus and they provide depth for the person who has followed Jesus for decades. So far we have learned to pray “Father,” “Thanks,” and “Help.” And, today we will conclude our series by learning to pray the word “Yes!” 

By letter count “Yes” is the shortest of our one-word prayers, but it’s the most difficult to pray. It’s the most difficult to pray because “YES” is the prayer of surrender. 

Surrender requires me to admit my life, my abilities, and resources are not my own. All that I have is a gift given by God. So when I pray “yes” I offer God all that I am, all that I have, and all I that I hope for and dream of. And, offer to God without qualification. 

This final one-word prayer “YES” is the most powerful, because everything I know about starting a personal relationship with Jesus, growing in that relationship, and finding my God-ordained purpose in this world begins and ends with surrender—it begins and ends with saying “YES” to God. 

Praying “Yes” to God is most difficult and most powerful prayer, because it is the boldest and riskiest pray you can offer. But, if you desire to know God in an increasingly deeper way and you desire to find his greatest purpose for your life, it’s a one-word prayer you must learn to pray without reservation and without qualification.  

A couple weeks back as a companion to our season of 21 Days of Prayer we began a four-week series called One Word Prayers. It’s my belief that simple, one-word prayers allow us to draw closer to God, because they strip away all those meaningless words. These one-word prayers allow us to focus on the most basic and fundamental aspects of our relationship with God, which in turn allow us to draw closer and be more too connected to God. In week 1 it was the word “Father.” In week two the word was “Thanks.” And, in week 3 our word is “Help.”

From the moment of birth and throughout every stage of life a child says “Help Me!” because it’s God’s will that a child look to, depend upon, and need his parents. And, what’s true of human development is also true of spiritual development. From the moment a person is born again then throughout every stage of life as their faith grows and matures a child of God cries “Help Me!” We cry out “Help Me” as a verbal admission that I look to, depend upon and need my Heavenly Father. When is the last time you cried out to God and asked for  “Help”?