Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
January 26, 2003 - W0304

Weíre all faced with different options and choices in life. In each case, you can take a neutral stance or a resistant one. Or you can ask the Lord for His strength and choose to take a position of involvement. When that happens youíll hear the Lord say, ìWhen I was sick you visited me, when I was hungry you gave me food; when I was in prison you came to see me. For that which you do to the least of these my brethren, you do unto Meî (Matt. 25:35-40). Regardless of what role you choose, the bottom line remains: You choose what role you will play in the kingdom.

There is so much to learn. A lot of times we miss the important things because they are so simple. For example, here are things some children were learning. These are the top five lessons they wanted to pass on to us: 

1. ìWhen your dad is mad and asks you, ëDo I look stupid?í Donít answer him.î

2. Philip (age 13): ìNever dare your little brother to paint the family car.î

3. Stephanie (age 8): ìSleep in your clothes. That way youíll be dressed in the morning.î

4. Michael (age 14): ìNever tell your mom that her diet isnít working.î 

And last is the warmest one of allÖ

5. Joanne (age 11): ìThere are two places that youíre always welcome: Church & Grandmaís house.î

These lessons are so precious and the reminder to each of us is that all of us are learning, no matter what age or what station in life. And as we learn different things about the world we live in, weíre learning about different roles. What role will you choose in this life?

My calling to be pastor of this church is no greater of a calling than yours. For God has called you just as He called me. No calling is lesser or greater than the other. Weíve all been called with the same calling and by the same Lord. Which means every single one of us has a very important part to play in Godís Kingdom.  

The Bible says that we are a part of Godís kingdom while weíre right here on earth. But it isn't something to be watched at a distance. Matt Williams (third base player for the Giants) once said: ìI love baseball; but frankly, if I didnít play it, I wouldnít watch it, because it is too boring.î Thatís true because baseball is a game that was meant and designed to be played, not watched.

Thatís true even of the Church. The Kingdom of God was designed not to be watched but for us to be a part of! When people say that church is boring, I know theyíre not involved. Itís your choice as to how much you will be involved in what God is doing. You can be involved in a little or big part, a negative or positive partñitís up to you. Godís Kingdom is moving forward and God asks you to be a part of it. Your choice is simple: What part do you want to play? 

The kind of choice youíll make will say a lot about you and who you are.

Like a certain woman who was married to a horrible husband. They were walking along the Ala Wai Canal in Waikiki and arguing all the way. The woman sees this bottle floating in the water (among other questionable items). She picks it up and this genie comes out. Poof! The genie said, ìI will give you three wishes. One catch: Whatever you wish for, remember this, your husband will get two times as much.î 

The wife sighed and said, ìThatís fine, we need some money, so I wish for a million dollars.î All of a sudden she gets a million and the husband gets two million. The husband laughed, ìHA HA!!! Good for you! I got twice as much as youÖ hahahaha!î

The genie said, ìYou should be thankful. She got one million and you got two.î ìThatís right,î said her terribly mean husband, ìand it serves her right! I should have twice as much!î The genie shook his head and told the woman she had two more choices.  

ìWell, we need a new car,î she said pondering her choices, ìso I wish for a new Rolls Royce.î Out pops a brand new RollsÖ one for her and two for her husband.  Again, the husband cackled, ìHaaaah! Oh yeah, I love this!î

The genie shook his head and said, ìYou should be thankful for that.î

ìFor what? I got two million dollars and two Rolls Royces. Now I can divorce her and get a younger wife. Ha-ha!î

The genie looked at the lady and said, ìYou do have a terrible husband. I canít believe it. Even when he gets twice as much as you do he still isnít grateful.î

ìThatís okay,î she said quietly. ìDo I get another wish?î

The genie answered, ìYes, you do.î

ìOkay then,î she said thoughtfully, ìWith my last wish, I want you to scare me half to death!î 

Thatís a great reminder of a key point: Be careful what you choose! What you choose will say a lot about who you are. Remember, God invites all of us into His Kingdom. The Bible says that whosoever will may come and drink freely from the water of life (Rev. 22:17). Jesus says, ìI am the door,î (John 10:7) it is through Him that we enter into Godís embrace, plan, will and purpose for our lives. Jesus also says, ìI am the way the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Meî (John 14:6).  

Entering through the Lord gets you into the kingdom. If you never made that decision, you will have a chance to do so later at the end of this service. Receive the Lord and enter into the plans he has for you. Unless you do this first step, you will not enter into the plans God has for you.

Entering the kingdom is like entering a baseball arena. You get into the grandstand but you have a choice to make: The spectator seats or the playing field? That is up to you.

One of the greatest leaders in the Bible tells us this and examples it in his own life. His name is Joshua. ìIf it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORDî (Josh. 24:15). Joshua made a decisive action to serve the Lord and called us to do the same. 

I donít know about you, but I am going to choose to be on Godís side. Hereís a hint: I read already the end of this Bible and do you know what it says? ìGOD WINS!î So I think it would be wise to choose Godís side.  

Here are three key considerations as you think about what role you will choose to play in Godís Kingdom:

1.     Godís plan will come to pass.

Hereís one of those things the Bible repeats over and over again, ìGodís plan will still come to pass.î What God sets in motion will occur whether I choose to be a part of it or not. It doesnít matter what we think about it, for in the end, God wins. Whatever part I play is up to me, however, Godís plan will come to pass.

Itís like the principle of true north. It doesnít matter where you think true north is, there is only one true north. And it doesnít matter if you canít point to true north, true north still exists at exactly true north. ìThough everyone else in the world is a liar, God is notî (Rom. 3:4 TLB). God's Words will always prove to be true and right no matter who questions them. When we violate Godís principles, what happens is that we start to lose our direction.  

As was this one man who wrote to Dear Abby: ìDear Abby, I got this problem. I hope you can solve it for me. Iím a married man but we are separated right now. But thatís not by problem. Iím in love with a third woman. I am confused and do not know what to do at this point. So please answer me and give me some advice. And when you do, donít give me some of that old fashioned morality. Signed, ëConfused.íî

Abby wrote back and said, ìDear Confused, The only difference between humans and animals is morality. Please write to a veterinarian.î 

We can easily loose direction. So remember this second key in determining your role in life:

2. God designed us, and Jesus paved the way through the Cross.  

Jesus paved the way to the fulfillment of Godís design for our lives. You see, before the beginning of time, God designed you in His design room. Just like He did Jeremiah, of whom God said, ìWhile you were yet in your motherís womb I knew your name and I had called you to be a prophet unto the nationsî (Jer. 1:5).

God has a plan for your life. Then He made a promise and put that promise into a seedóyouóand had you born. Now, we may disqualify ourselves from Godís plan through sin and other unwise decisions, but that still doesnít mean He didnít have a plan to start with. ìFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in themî (Eph. 2:10). God wants the best for you and me. He even designed us for good works. All we have to do is ìwalk in themî! 

ìDo not be afraid little flock, for your father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdomî (Luke 12:32). The Lord is saying, ìI want the best for you. I have designed you. However, I will allow you to choose if you want to be part of My masterplan.î

God makes no mistakes. God has a plan and purpose for us. The fact that you are born shows this, that he has a future and hope for you. Now again you can reject Godís plan and many have. This is why Jesus came to pay the price so that anytime along the way you can come back into His Kingdom through repentance. God wants to take you back.  

I think God wrote my name in his book when I was conceived. He has a plan for me. Now I can choose to disqualify myself from that plan by not wanting to be part of His Kingdom. Why do people go to hell? Remember this: God doesnít send anyone to hell: ìThen I will turn to those on my left hand and say, ëAway with you, you cursed ones into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demonsíî (Matt. 25:41 TLB). Who did God prepare hell for, people? ìThe devil and his demons.î What did God prepare people for? HEAVEN! (John 14:3).

ìHe who overcomes will be clothed in white garments. . .and I will not erase his nameî (Rev. 3:5). In order for oneís name to be erased, it had to be in there. God loves you so much that He put your name in His book. And it is only after I reject His ways that His tears erase my name. Remember, God designed us and destined us for heaven. And even after sin, He sent His son to pave the way to His abundance once again through the Cross. Accept His invitation, your design and begin to live in His great plan!

The last key to know as you determine your role in His Kingdom is this: 

3.     We choose what part we will play in His plan!

We can enter into Godís plan, reject it or only play a small part in it. The choice is ours. And really, there are two choices we have as we enter His Kingdom:

?       We can choose poorly. 

We can make a poor choice in the Kingdom of God if we enter into the grandstand and merely spectate. Some people in the Bible made poor choicesólike Samson, Saul and David. But there was one person in the New Testament who made a very poor choice: Judas Iscariot. ìAnd he said to His disciples, ëIt is inevitable that stumbling blocks should come, but woe to him through whom they comeíî (Luke 17:1). In your efforts to be a part of the kingdom of God you will face stumbling blocks. Donít become one of them. God is saying, ìFollow Me,î say, ìYES!î 

ìThe son of man is to go just as it is written of him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been bornî (Matt. 26:24).

God plan for us is wonderful but again, the choice is ours. Hereís our second option:  

?       We can choose wisely. 

One of the greatest examples of choosing wisely is Esther. When she was faced with a part to play, she chose wisely. She was made the queen. The Jews were about to be annihilated by a man named Haman. Now, Esther could stop this, but she would have to go into the kingís court unannounced because of the urgency of the situation.

However, in those days, if you were to go into the kingís court unannounced, and the king didnít immediately raise his scepter to you (granting you entrance), the guards were ordered to kill you on the spot. So Uncle Mordecai said to Esther, ìYou have to go and plead with the king before Haman kills us all.î Esther replied, ìI donít know if I want to play that part. What if he kills me?î

ìBut Esther,î he continued to urge her, ìyou must take that risk.î And here are his own words as theyíre recorded in the Bible: ìFor if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your fatherís house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?î (Est. 4:14).

Mordecai was saying, ìGod is going to bring relief to the Jews for Heís promised to protect the Jewish people. So deliverance will come. Godís plan will win. But the choice is yours, Esther, if you remain silent, relief and deliverance will come. But God will have to circumvent you and me and bring it through some other means. But who knows that God has raised you to royalty for such a time as this so that you will play a major role in Godís plan and purpose.î

Thank God she said yes. The Jewish people were saved and even today the Jews celebrate a feast in her honor, called Purim. Therefore, they celebrate one ladyís choice in saving her people.  

What part do you want to play? Everything is ready for you. All we need to do is say, ìLord, I want to play a big part.î God has raised you up for such a time as this. We will you remain silent? Will you respond to the Holy Spiritís prompting? Say yes, it will be the most eternal decision youíll ever make.

Care Group Questions:

1. What is meant by a ìcallingî on someoneís life? Is oneís personís calling more important than another?
2. If someone is bored with church, what may be the problem? What would be the solution?
3. God told Jeremiah that He had a design for him already planned before he was born (Jer. 1:5). Think about this for a moment. What is the design that you believe God has for you? What evidence do you have to believe this?
4. Why do some people go to hell? Who was hell prepared for? What does this teach about making the right choices?
5. Give some practical examples of how someone can make poor choices once he or she has entered into Godís kingdom? In what way could a wrong choice be a disqualifier?
6. What are some practical ways we can choose ìwiselyî?
7. If you were Queen Esther, how would you respond to Mordecaiís suggestion of entering into the kingís presence unannounced? Why do you think Queen Esther decided to do it?
8. Using only two words, answer what is the most eternal decision you can ever make?

 Thanks to Rich Wilbur, our first-time volunteer! YOU DID IT!!! J