In The Garden
Sunday Message

"Come On Jesus - Light My Fire!"
Pastor Wayne Clabaugh

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Scripture text: "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1Thessalonians 5:1-5 (KJV)

SO WHAT HAPPENED CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT? WHERE ARE YOU? I CAN'T SEE YOU! WHERE IS YOUR TESTIMONY? WHERE IS YOUR EXAMPLE?

Who was Paul speaking to here in these verses in 1 Thessalonians? It was obviously not the church of today! The Church he was speaking to was the Church at Thessalonica. She was a working church - a church that was ALIVE IN CHRIST! Look at what he says about her there in 1Thessaloninas 1:2,3. He says:

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;"

Who were they? Converts! But look at what Paul says about them...

"For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." 1Thessalonica 1:8 -10 (KJV)

The church at Thessalonica was the EVANGELICALS of Paul's day - spreading the WORD about Jesus everywhere they went. They had turned from Idol worship to serve the one true and living God - and were earnestly living in the EXPECTATION of HIS RETURN - with the promise of raising the dead and living with Him in Heaven forever.

AGAIN! LET ME ASK THE QUESTION!

SO WHAT HAPPENED CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT? WHERE ARE YOU? I CAN'T SEE YOU! WHERE IS YOUR TESTIMONY? WHERE IS YOUR EXAMPLE?

When Jesus, "... he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the  midst of the seven golden candlesticks;" comes to walk amongst the church of today - what does He see? He sees a body of people whining and crying because they're going through
such a rough time and yet what did He say to the Church of Ladocea?

"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." Rev 3:17,18 (KJV)

Is that not a fair assumption of who and what America thought of herself - at least before the WALL STREET DEBACLE?

"...rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;".

In our selfishness we have become wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked... and in need of more than any "bail-out" can give. 

As the Bail-out money began to flow back into this economy here in Saint Joseph, MO, several began to comment from the top of the Universities to the very smallest of businessmen... "we're starting to feel the impact of this recession let up some." "People are starting to buy things again." It doesn't matter that our children and their  children will be broke long before they even get started in life - just as long as we can raise the mighty god of "spending" from the bone- yards of Capital Hill. As long as we get ours and we are comfortable NOW, that's all that counts. We don't need to worry about the future - because we won't make the same mistakes; we'll do things right  this time.

Do you remember when the School teacher used to teach you such phrases as "A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned"? No saving pennies here. We gotta' feed the angry god of big government or we'll revert to a worse depression than ever before.

Brother Wayne... this message is sounding mighty Political? Well, would you rather I talk about Cheeseburgers? Would you rather I talk to you about the weather and how wonderful it would be to go sailing? Give me a break! That's the reason we're having all the problems we're having in our society today. It's all about entertainment and eating. What happened to being concerned about who and what we were in Christ? Where did that desire to serve Him with all of our heart, and all of our soul and all of our minds go?

Jesus told the Church of Laodicea,

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see." Rev 3:18 (KJV)

He didn't say to buy gold for Him, he said to buy it from Him. He was speaking of a genuine repentance before Him, and to be restored by His Spirit, washed in the Blood for this is no other way. What's more, to allow the Spirit of God to anoint our eyes with eye salve that we might see...Him... standing at the door of our hearts knocking... bidding us to let Him come in for He says...

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." Rev 3:19 (KJV)

Oh Friend... He could begin to cast judgments on you and I right here and now and consume us in our lust... but, As many as He loves.... He chastens and gives them time to repent.

How about you today my friend? Jesus is waiting to free you today from your recession. Oh, I'm not talking about your pocketbook sister. I'm not speaking of your wallet or your bank account brother.... I'm talking about the recession in your spirit that has robbed you of your Joy and robbed you of the Very Promises of God in your Life.

We used to sing a song years ago...

If you want Joy, Real Joy, Wonderful Joy
Let Jesus come into your heart.
Your sins He'll wash away
Your night He'll turn to day
Your life He'll make it over anew
If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy
Let Jesus come into your heart

By the way... did you forget that JOY IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF THE SPIRIT LIVING IN YOU?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22&23.

Do you want Joy today my friend? Do you NEED JOY today? Let Jesus come into your heart!

Oh come on now Brother Wayne you know I'm saved! You know I've given my heart to Jesus!

GREAT! But I didn't ask you to get saved... I asked you to let Jesus come into your heart. What's the difference? JOY! If you don't have it - Jesus isn't on the throne of your life.

Some of us try to push Jesus out or at least set Him aside while we do our own thing. Then all of the struggles of life begin to weigh heavily on us until LIFE is nothing but a STRUGGLE! There's no way we can let our light shine.

Is it time for you to say, "COME ON JESUS - LIGHT MY FIRE?"

Father... I'm tired of being all gloomy and letting all of the Life and Love pass me by! I'm ready Jesus! I'm ready to get busy for you once again and to Love you and Live for you with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my mind. I want Joy in my life again Jesus - COME NOW AND BE THE LORD OF MY LIFE ONCE AGAIN! I RECEIVE YOUR JOY ONCE AGAIN! LIGHT UP MY LIFE and SHINE IN ME OH LORD! In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.