THE CALL TO ACTION - PART III

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We are at part III of this sermon.   Part I covered the message plan, the general call to action, and what God wanted the Israelites to do in preparation for freedom.  Part II focused on being warned, saved, and getting these things done today. 

And here we are now bringing home this notion of the call to action.  And after a word about the Israelites following God’s instructions about what would be called the Passover Meal, we are faced with the task of discovering what this message has for Christians who have the life of Jesus Christ as a living example.

Let me tell you about the power of the voice.  Somebody started a chant about my Lord and Savior – about your Lord and Savior.  Someone started with “Crucify Him. Crucify Him.  And the crowd picked up that chant, and it grew louder, CRUCIFY HIM. CRUCIFY HIM!  And they carried Him to the cross based on that minuscule, misleading victory that began in a chant.  And they crucified Him and put Him in the grave.  But here’s the thing, they thought He would stay there.  They thought they had Him.  They thought there would be no witnesses.  They thought He would die and there would be no more.  Can you imagine that they thought they had Jesus beat?  But there’s something about the Name of Jesus that says His love will never die.  That He reigns supreme even today is a testament to that fact.  With all that plagues this world, He’s still here.  Even after his resurrection, some folk thought He was done.  Oh, they thought it for 100 years, 500 years, 1000 years.  Here it is today, over 2,500 years later, and we are still witnesses to His life, His resurrection, His power, and His grace.  He’s the Call to Action.

Jesus is the call to action.  In the street, at work, at school, at home.  Jesus is the call to action.  At church, Lord, have mercy at church.  Jesus is the call to action. 

Are you acting out your faith?  Did you come here today, after all you have accomplished over the past week?  I’m not talking about the hurt.  Cause we’re good at bringing the hurt.  I’m talking about the action that took place this week in the name of Jesus.  On behalf of worshipping God.  Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Only what you do for Christ will last.  Show it all week.

When I was working at the church…  While I was writing my paper...  While I was talking with my children...  Spending time with my husband. Heeding the Call to Action.  Look, I said I wasn’t going to tell nobody, but…  I said I wasn’t going to tell nobody.  I said I wasn’t going to tell nobody….

Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody

Like the song says:

I said I wasn’t gonna tell nobody, but I couldn’t keep it to myself what the Lord has done for me.  I said I wasn’t going to testify, sing for joy, sing for Jesus, run for Jesus.  You ought to been there when He saved my soul and put my name on the roll.  That’s when I started walking, talking, singing, shouting about what the Lord has done for me.

What is Jesus calling you to do today?  Do you hear the Call to Action?  You see, one day He washed me white as snow. Didn’t He wash you?   Do you hear the Call to Action?  I acted on God’s call all week.  Did you?  And, because of His goodness, I’m here on this and every Sunday to worship him.  There’s something about His spirit.  There is something about the name of Jesus that should propel you to this place on Sunday.  I pray that for many the call of Jesus on your soul calls you other days of the week as well.  You want to thank and worship Him.  Was it the way he ordered your steps last week?  Is that why you decided to come?  Was it your clinging to the Holy Spirit on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday that makes you bow on your knees and cry out in joy asking for the ability to worship God that got you in this place?

How in the world can Maundy Thursday stop us, when there’s a Hallelujah Sunday just three days away?  They cried crucify Him; crucify Him.  But today, we shout He Lives.  He Lives.  Answer the Call to Action by doing God’s work throughout the week.  Oh, but then come Sunday morning, heed the Call to Action by bringing yourself and your family and your friends to this place and let’s worship Him together.  The Call to Action is Jesus, but while you’re waiting, all the days of your life do worship Him.  He told his disciples to take and eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of Him.  While you are waiting, do this.  Jesus said feed and clothe the needy and take care of the widows and orphans.  While you are waiting, do this.  Jesus said when you do this unto the least of these, you do it also to me.  While you are waiting, do this.  He said love God and then love thy neighbor.  While you are waiting do this.

But be warned that if you do not heed the Call, your life will be in danger.  There is eternal life or eternal burning.  Be warned that the consequences affect everyone.  Choose to be warned.

God gave Moses a plan of action that was to be shared with and adhered to by the Israelites.  Years later, John the Baptist would carry a message warning the people to repent, for the greatest call to action was about to arrive.  Ever since the day Jesus was born, there has been a call to action on each and every person on earth.  The call is as strong now as it was then.  Moses may have brought the message to the Israelites and Egyptians, but Jesus brings the message to each of us today. 

While you wait for His return, do this, be warned, and for heaven’s sake be saved.  Most importantly, be saved!  Choose life today.  Choose Jesus this day.  As for me and my household, we will worship the Lord.  For in this house or out in the community, Jesus is indeed my call to action!