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First Responders – Run toward the danger
Hello
all you beautiful people. Greetings to everyone online and everyone
in the room. My name is Chris Fluitt and I am so blessed to be the
lead pastor here at Redemption Church in Plano Tx.
We
are in the 4th
week of our First Responder message series.
First
Responder Title
I
really feel like God has been speaking to us over this series. If
you missed any of the previous weeks or would like to revisit them,
they can be found on our website, redemptionplano.com or even
Youtube.
I
want to remind you that a First Responder is someone who is
designated & trained to respond to an emergency. This world is
full of emergencies and God has called us to respond.
We
are going to start today by telling you… God only wants what is
best for you.
God
only wants what is best for you
You
may have been told this before. You may have told someone else this
before. After tonight I hope we never say it again.
God
sent Noah into a situation where he would be ridiculed and rejected.
God
sent Abraham into the unknown and had him bring his family amongst
ruthless men. God had Abraham settle in the very part of the world
that every world power would try to take… the armies of Babylon,
Persia, Greece, Rome all would trample upon this land.
God
sent Joseph into a situation where he could have been murdered but
instead was sold into slavery, wrongly accused and imprisoned, left
for dead, and to later face his murderous brothers face to face.
God
sent Moses into the same land that he ran for his life from because
he had killed a man. God sent Moses to confront the powerful
Pharaoh.
God
sent Joshua, Caleb, and the rest of Israel into a promised land
filled with Giants, large fortified cities, and trained armies. God
sent them to take this land.
God
sent a shepherd boy named David to face a mad rebellious king and a
blood thirsty giant.
God
sent young Israel boys like Daniel, Azariah, Hananiah, and Mishael
into a dangerous exile where they would confront a pagan king, face a
lion’s den, and a fiery furnace.
God
sent prophets before men who would deny the prophet’s message and
seek to kill the prophet.
God
sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord and it put him
in harm’s way. He was imprisoned and beheaded.
God
sent His son Jesus into a world where he would be despised, rejected,
beaten, stripped, and crucified.
God
sent his disciples into a world where all of them faced violence.
Only John died of old age… and that is after he was boiled in oil
and left to die on a deserted island.
I
want to tell you today that God does NOT only want what is best for
you.
God
does NOT only want what is best for you
Now
don’t throw chairs at me yet. Let me explain.
God
loves you. God cares for you. God is concerned with your well-being…
but there are times when God calls us to sacrifice. There are times
when God wants us to do what is best for others instead of what is
best for our self.
Matthew 16:24 (NIV2011) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:25 (NIV2011) For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:26 (NIV2011) What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Jesus
says you must deny yourself, you must take up your cross… This may
not feel good. This may not be what is best for my physical health.
Jesus says whoever wants to save their life will lose it… Whoever loses their life will find it… There are times when you may lose.
Jesus
says it may not best for you to gain the whole world… It may not be
best for you to have that relationship, that job, buy that house…
Are you willing to deny yourself and take up your cross?
Do
we have a “what’s in it for me” mentality when it comes to
Jesus? Are we willing to follow Jesus even if he asks us to do
something uncomfortable… even dangerous?
First
Responders run towards danger
Firefighters
get the call. They jump up and jump into their gear. They slide
down the pole. They run to a fire truck and speed to the scene. And
once there, they run into buildings that are on fire.
Right
now there is a commercial out that features smokejumpers.
Smokejumpers are firefighters who parachute into the middle of forest
fires. You know it takes guts to parachute into the middle of the
fire.
First
responders are often called into situations with a lot of unknowns.
There was a report of shots fired,,, but how many shooters are there?
Where are the shooters? Which one of these people is the shooter.
You
have probably witnessed our policemen eating in a restaurant. There
they are trying to eat when they get the call… They quickly get up
and head out… they leave their food behind… they leave their
comfort behind… and they run toward the danger.
In
2016 there was a protest against police violence. There had been some
police related deaths against black men in our nation. These stories
were very high profile at the time and it brought about this peaceful
protest in downtown Dallas.
Our
Police officers gathered to protect the very group that it seemed
were protesting them. These first responders laid aside their
emotions to guard the lives of people who might not like them very
much at the moment.
You
probably remember that this peaceful protest turned violent when a
gunman starting shooting at officers.
The
protesters ran from the danger. The policemen, the first responders,
ran towards the danger. ‘
At
the end of the day it doesn’t matter what disagreements there are,
what is being thought and said… A first responder lays all of that
aside and runs toward danger.
On
July 7, 2016, 6 officers lost their life that night and there were 11
others injured.
Those
that run towards danger ought to have our respect. Make sure you
honor and respect a first responder when you see them. Because at
any moment you could be running away from danger and they are running
toward it.
Redemption
Church, God has called us to run towards danger.
Danger
There
are all kinds of dangers… These dangers range from small to severe
and all of them kind of affect us differently.
The
danger of looking like a fool… what will people think if I offer to
pray with them out loud? What if I offer to help but they were just
taking advantage of me.
The
danger of failure… What if I try and fail?
The
danger of loss… I could lose a relationship over this… I could
lose my job or position…
The
danger of death… All of the first century Christians dealt with the
danger of death. For simply being a believer they faced this danger.
We are blessed in the USA not to face this very often, but there are
Christians in the world right now that are facing the danger of death
for simply believing in Jesus.
These
dangers affect us differently… For some of you in this room… the
idea of you opening your mouth and speaking is a very dangerous idea.
For others the thought of opening up yourself to help someone else
seems so risky that you don’t see how you could ever do it. Others,
the idea of you sharing your faith to your friends at school seems
like social suicide. Does it seem dangerous to share your testimony
that includes a past failure in your life? There are different
dangers that cause us to freeze up…
If
you are suffering from freeze up today let me help you.
#1
It is dangerous. You are not just imagining it. God is absolutely
calling you into a situation that will cause sacrifice. God is
absolutely calling you into a situation where you place His will
above your own, and you place the safety of others above your own.
#2
This danger is not new. You have faced this danger before. You who
are saved have been in danger before, so don’t act like this is
brand new.
2 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV2011) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
God has delivered you out of
deadly peril before. This is not your first dangerous rodeo… this
danger is not new. When he saved you he ripped you away from a
dangerous place called hell. God has sent people into your life to
help you.
God
has delivered you before and he will deliver you again! This is how
you should respond to danger. Instead of freezing up we declare that
God is going to deliver again. We will run towards danger to help
others.
“On
him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.” It
says he will continue to deliver us… this means that we should
understand that the danger we are facing now is not the first time we
have faced it… but it is not the last time we face it either.
There will be other dangers but God will continue to deliver.
Psalm 68:19-20 (NIV2011) Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
Our
God is a God who saves. He continually saves. No one likes to face
danger, but I can face it because I know I have a God who continually
saves me!
First
responders, do not freeze up,. They understand the danger is real,
but that the danger is not new and God will ultimately deliver them…
and there is another reason… First responders don’t freeze up
because there is someone who needs saving.
Someone
needs saving
Nehemiah 4:14 (NIV2011) After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Jerusalem
was a defenseless city with enemies ready to attack. Nehemiah
instructed the people to maintain their area of the city. The people
would be first responders for their own city. He tells them “DON’T
BE AFRAID… Remember the Lord! …and fight for your families,
sons, daughters, wives, and your home.”
Remember
the Lord! And Remember who you are fighting for!
Church
we are fighting for your family… your sons & daughters, your
spouse, your home! We are fighting for each other. We are fighting
for our community and our city. Plano we are fighting for you.
When
you see the latest tragedy on the news you need to be reminded that
we are fighting for those people. We are willing to run toward the
danger for those people.
As
you run towards danger you need to remember the Lord and remember who
you are fighting for. Just as those Israelites were responsible for
their area of the city, we too need to be responsible for our area of
influence. You are responsible for your school. You are responsible
for your neighborhood… workplace… family…
You
are called to save others
Jesus
saves! Of course that is true, but through Jesus you also save
others.
Jude 1:23 (NIV2011) save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear…
Have
you saved someone? Is someone going to heaven because of you?
You
know the action movies with the shirtless muscular guy with 8 guns
and limitless ammunition strapped to him. He is facing impossible
odds and looks at the camera and says “they may kill me but I am
going to take as many of them with me as possible.”
When
they say that I am always like “uhoh look out bad guys.” Because
there is no doubt that by the end of the movie they are going to do
just that. Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Keanu Reeves, is
going to kick some bad guy butt.
In
a non-violent way, and preferably with our shirts on… we need to
have that kind of boldness and courage. We need to look at the
danger and say “I am going to take as many of them with me as
possible.” Before I step into eternity I want to save as many
people as possible. I want to share the gospel with as many people as
possible. I want to feed and clothe as many people as possible. I
want to shelter as many people as possible. I want to share my
testimony with as many people as possible. I want to pray with as
many people as possible. I want to baptize as many people as
possible. I want to see as many people as possible healed, delivered,
and filled with the Spirit. AND I WILL! “Uh oh… Look out bad
guys…” Look out hell!
We
are literally snatching people from the fire of hell!
Then
the last part of this verse says to show mercy mixed with fear.
Mercy
mixed with fear
I
want to give you the 2 motivations we need to have as we run towards
danger.
We
need a motivation of mercy. We need a love motivation, a motivation
that seeks to help.
Christians,
sometimes we have not had the motivation of love. Sometimes we have
the motivation of I am right and you are wrong. We have had the
motivation of pride. We have sometimes spoken to people in anger .
Christian
we are not called to ridicule but to save. We aren’t called to
judge but to save. We aren’t called to beat people down but to
save.
Do
not run towards the danger unless you are running in mercy, love, and
a willingness to help.
But
the scripture says mercy mixed with fear. What is that about?
Scripture says that God has not given us a spirit of fear… why
should we mix mercy with fear.
First
Responders have a fearful urgency. They do not slowly mosey to the
danger. They run.
Sometimes
we have the mercy… the heart to help, but we lack the urgency.
When
emergencies happen, every second matters. Any delay could cost
lives.
Have you been delaying? Are you urgent? There are people who need your help TODAY…
Someone
needs saving
You
know someone who is a heartbeat away from the fire. Will you run
towards the danger?
Are
mixing mercy with fear? Are you urgently sharing your faith?
Are you willing to face danger for the sake of the gospel?
Philippians 1:12 (NIV2011) Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
Are
you only interested in what is best for you, or are you willing to
sacrifice so that others can be saved?
Are
you willing to face discomfort…? are you willing to face danger?
Are you willing to set aside your “what is in it for me”
mentality? Are you willing lay aside the differences you have with
others?
It
may be awkward… but will you do it anyway?
It
may cost you time and money… but will you do it anyway?
People
may make fun of you and reject you… but will you do it anyway?
Your
friends and family may not approve… they may not join you on the
endeavor… but will you do it anyway.
You
may not always be successful… but will you do it anyway?
View all episodes
By Redemption Church Plano Texas
5
11 ratings
Hello
all you beautiful people. Greetings to everyone online and everyone
in the room. My name is Chris Fluitt and I am so blessed to be the
lead pastor here at Redemption Church in Plano Tx.
We
are in the 4th
week of our First Responder message series.
First
Responder Title
I
really feel like God has been speaking to us over this series. If
you missed any of the previous weeks or would like to revisit them,
they can be found on our website, redemptionplano.com or even
Youtube.
I
want to remind you that a First Responder is someone who is
designated & trained to respond to an emergency. This world is
full of emergencies and God has called us to respond.
We
are going to start today by telling you… God only wants what is
best for you.
God
only wants what is best for you
You
may have been told this before. You may have told someone else this
before. After tonight I hope we never say it again.
God
sent Noah into a situation where he would be ridiculed and rejected.
God
sent Abraham into the unknown and had him bring his family amongst
ruthless men. God had Abraham settle in the very part of the world
that every world power would try to take… the armies of Babylon,
Persia, Greece, Rome all would trample upon this land.
God
sent Joseph into a situation where he could have been murdered but
instead was sold into slavery, wrongly accused and imprisoned, left
for dead, and to later face his murderous brothers face to face.
God
sent Moses into the same land that he ran for his life from because
he had killed a man. God sent Moses to confront the powerful
Pharaoh.
God
sent Joshua, Caleb, and the rest of Israel into a promised land
filled with Giants, large fortified cities, and trained armies. God
sent them to take this land.
God
sent a shepherd boy named David to face a mad rebellious king and a
blood thirsty giant.
God
sent young Israel boys like Daniel, Azariah, Hananiah, and Mishael
into a dangerous exile where they would confront a pagan king, face a
lion’s den, and a fiery furnace.
God
sent prophets before men who would deny the prophet’s message and
seek to kill the prophet.
God
sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord and it put him
in harm’s way. He was imprisoned and beheaded.
God
sent His son Jesus into a world where he would be despised, rejected,
beaten, stripped, and crucified.
God
sent his disciples into a world where all of them faced violence.
Only John died of old age… and that is after he was boiled in oil
and left to die on a deserted island.
I
want to tell you today that God does NOT only want what is best for
you.
God
does NOT only want what is best for you
Now
don’t throw chairs at me yet. Let me explain.
God
loves you. God cares for you. God is concerned with your well-being…
but there are times when God calls us to sacrifice. There are times
when God wants us to do what is best for others instead of what is
best for our self.
Matthew 16:24 (NIV2011) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Matthew 16:25 (NIV2011) For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:26 (NIV2011) What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Jesus
says you must deny yourself, you must take up your cross… This may
not feel good. This may not be what is best for my physical health.
Jesus says whoever wants to save their life will lose it… Whoever loses their life will find it… There are times when you may lose.
Jesus
says it may not best for you to gain the whole world… It may not be
best for you to have that relationship, that job, buy that house…
Are you willing to deny yourself and take up your cross?
Do
we have a “what’s in it for me” mentality when it comes to
Jesus? Are we willing to follow Jesus even if he asks us to do
something uncomfortable… even dangerous?
First
Responders run towards danger
Firefighters
get the call. They jump up and jump into their gear. They slide
down the pole. They run to a fire truck and speed to the scene. And
once there, they run into buildings that are on fire.
Right
now there is a commercial out that features smokejumpers.
Smokejumpers are firefighters who parachute into the middle of forest
fires. You know it takes guts to parachute into the middle of the
fire.
First
responders are often called into situations with a lot of unknowns.
There was a report of shots fired,,, but how many shooters are there?
Where are the shooters? Which one of these people is the shooter.
You
have probably witnessed our policemen eating in a restaurant. There
they are trying to eat when they get the call… They quickly get up
and head out… they leave their food behind… they leave their
comfort behind… and they run toward the danger.
In
2016 there was a protest against police violence. There had been some
police related deaths against black men in our nation. These stories
were very high profile at the time and it brought about this peaceful
protest in downtown Dallas.
Our
Police officers gathered to protect the very group that it seemed
were protesting them. These first responders laid aside their
emotions to guard the lives of people who might not like them very
much at the moment.
You
probably remember that this peaceful protest turned violent when a
gunman starting shooting at officers.
The
protesters ran from the danger. The policemen, the first responders,
ran towards the danger. ‘
At
the end of the day it doesn’t matter what disagreements there are,
what is being thought and said… A first responder lays all of that
aside and runs toward danger.
On
July 7, 2016, 6 officers lost their life that night and there were 11
others injured.
Those
that run towards danger ought to have our respect. Make sure you
honor and respect a first responder when you see them. Because at
any moment you could be running away from danger and they are running
toward it.
Redemption
Church, God has called us to run towards danger.
Danger
There
are all kinds of dangers… These dangers range from small to severe
and all of them kind of affect us differently.
The
danger of looking like a fool… what will people think if I offer to
pray with them out loud? What if I offer to help but they were just
taking advantage of me.
The
danger of failure… What if I try and fail?
The
danger of loss… I could lose a relationship over this… I could
lose my job or position…
The
danger of death… All of the first century Christians dealt with the
danger of death. For simply being a believer they faced this danger.
We are blessed in the USA not to face this very often, but there are
Christians in the world right now that are facing the danger of death
for simply believing in Jesus.
These
dangers affect us differently… For some of you in this room… the
idea of you opening your mouth and speaking is a very dangerous idea.
For others the thought of opening up yourself to help someone else
seems so risky that you don’t see how you could ever do it. Others,
the idea of you sharing your faith to your friends at school seems
like social suicide. Does it seem dangerous to share your testimony
that includes a past failure in your life? There are different
dangers that cause us to freeze up…
If
you are suffering from freeze up today let me help you.
#1
It is dangerous. You are not just imagining it. God is absolutely
calling you into a situation that will cause sacrifice. God is
absolutely calling you into a situation where you place His will
above your own, and you place the safety of others above your own.
#2
This danger is not new. You have faced this danger before. You who
are saved have been in danger before, so don’t act like this is
brand new.
2 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV2011) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
God has delivered you out of
deadly peril before. This is not your first dangerous rodeo… this
danger is not new. When he saved you he ripped you away from a
dangerous place called hell. God has sent people into your life to
help you.
God
has delivered you before and he will deliver you again! This is how
you should respond to danger. Instead of freezing up we declare that
God is going to deliver again. We will run towards danger to help
others.
“On
him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.” It
says he will continue to deliver us… this means that we should
understand that the danger we are facing now is not the first time we
have faced it… but it is not the last time we face it either.
There will be other dangers but God will continue to deliver.
Psalm 68:19-20 (NIV2011) Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
Our
God is a God who saves. He continually saves. No one likes to face
danger, but I can face it because I know I have a God who continually
saves me!
First
responders, do not freeze up,. They understand the danger is real,
but that the danger is not new and God will ultimately deliver them…
and there is another reason… First responders don’t freeze up
because there is someone who needs saving.
Someone
needs saving
Nehemiah 4:14 (NIV2011) After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Jerusalem
was a defenseless city with enemies ready to attack. Nehemiah
instructed the people to maintain their area of the city. The people
would be first responders for their own city. He tells them “DON’T
BE AFRAID… Remember the Lord! …and fight for your families,
sons, daughters, wives, and your home.”
Remember
the Lord! And Remember who you are fighting for!
Church
we are fighting for your family… your sons & daughters, your
spouse, your home! We are fighting for each other. We are fighting
for our community and our city. Plano we are fighting for you.
When
you see the latest tragedy on the news you need to be reminded that
we are fighting for those people. We are willing to run toward the
danger for those people.
As
you run towards danger you need to remember the Lord and remember who
you are fighting for. Just as those Israelites were responsible for
their area of the city, we too need to be responsible for our area of
influence. You are responsible for your school. You are responsible
for your neighborhood… workplace… family…
You
are called to save others
Jesus
saves! Of course that is true, but through Jesus you also save
others.
Jude 1:23 (NIV2011) save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear…
Have
you saved someone? Is someone going to heaven because of you?
You
know the action movies with the shirtless muscular guy with 8 guns
and limitless ammunition strapped to him. He is facing impossible
odds and looks at the camera and says “they may kill me but I am
going to take as many of them with me as possible.”
When
they say that I am always like “uhoh look out bad guys.” Because
there is no doubt that by the end of the movie they are going to do
just that. Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Keanu Reeves, is
going to kick some bad guy butt.
In
a non-violent way, and preferably with our shirts on… we need to
have that kind of boldness and courage. We need to look at the
danger and say “I am going to take as many of them with me as
possible.” Before I step into eternity I want to save as many
people as possible. I want to share the gospel with as many people as
possible. I want to feed and clothe as many people as possible. I
want to shelter as many people as possible. I want to share my
testimony with as many people as possible. I want to pray with as
many people as possible. I want to baptize as many people as
possible. I want to see as many people as possible healed, delivered,
and filled with the Spirit. AND I WILL! “Uh oh… Look out bad
guys…” Look out hell!
We
are literally snatching people from the fire of hell!
Then
the last part of this verse says to show mercy mixed with fear.
Mercy
mixed with fear
I
want to give you the 2 motivations we need to have as we run towards
danger.
We
need a motivation of mercy. We need a love motivation, a motivation
that seeks to help.
Christians,
sometimes we have not had the motivation of love. Sometimes we have
the motivation of I am right and you are wrong. We have had the
motivation of pride. We have sometimes spoken to people in anger .
Christian
we are not called to ridicule but to save. We aren’t called to
judge but to save. We aren’t called to beat people down but to
save.
Do
not run towards the danger unless you are running in mercy, love, and
a willingness to help.
But
the scripture says mercy mixed with fear. What is that about?
Scripture says that God has not given us a spirit of fear… why
should we mix mercy with fear.
First
Responders have a fearful urgency. They do not slowly mosey to the
danger. They run.
Sometimes
we have the mercy… the heart to help, but we lack the urgency.
When
emergencies happen, every second matters. Any delay could cost
lives.
Have you been delaying? Are you urgent? There are people who need your help TODAY…
Someone
needs saving
You
know someone who is a heartbeat away from the fire. Will you run
towards the danger?
Are
mixing mercy with fear? Are you urgently sharing your faith?
Are you willing to face danger for the sake of the gospel?
Philippians 1:12 (NIV2011) Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
Are
you only interested in what is best for you, or are you willing to
sacrifice so that others can be saved?
Are
you willing to face discomfort…? are you willing to face danger?
Are you willing to set aside your “what is in it for me”
mentality? Are you willing lay aside the differences you have with
others?
It
may be awkward… but will you do it anyway?
It
may cost you time and money… but will you do it anyway?
People
may make fun of you and reject you… but will you do it anyway?
Your
friends and family may not approve… they may not join you on the
endeavor… but will you do it anyway.
You
may not always be successful… but will you do it anyway?