Pastor Wayne Cordeiro & Pastor John Tilton
August 2, 2020 - W2031

"Draw Close to Jesus and Be Transformed" 

What to Do? Draw Me Close!

Pastor Wayne Cordeiro & Pastor John Tilton

August 1 & 2, 2020

PASTOR JOHN TILTON:  Aloha, New Hope--Anywhere and Everywhere! Our new series, "What to Do? Draw Me Close!" is about taking everything that we're going through (pandemic, civil unrest, storms, earthquakes, pestilences, rising crime rates) and applying God's word to each topic and seeing what He is saying about the times that we are living in. The title of today's message is "Draw Close to Jesus and Be Transformed."

[Video from Oregon]

PASTOR WAYNE: Have you ever looked into a mirror only to see a big piece of spinach stuck in your teeth?!  Wouldn’t you want to remove it and correct any other flaw that you saw?  God says, “My word is like a mirror;” but if we don’t apply the word, we will only hear wonderful stories that stir our hearts, but we will not enjoy the complete life that God designed for us.

James 1:22-24 NIV says: "²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

We could say if God wants to change us, then He could do that without any effort on our part and be like a man who sees himself in the mirror and immediately forgets the kind of person he is and confuses inspiration for transformation.

James 1:26-27 NASB says: "²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

James says "religion" is about a deep and pure faith tied to action.  Unless what you hear is put into your walk, you will be deceived, confusing agreement for obedience; inspiration for transformation; and knowledge for maturity. 

(1)  PURE FAITH IS WALK, NOT JUST TALK 

James 2:14 NLT says: "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?"

Faith not combined with action does not bring salvation or wholeness.  The word "salvation" in Greek is "sozo," which actually means "whole" or "complete."  

Matthew 5:48 NIV says: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Perfect doesn't mean to never make mistakes--it is "teleios," or "whole."  Unless we apply action to what we hear, we're not a whole being, and hypocrisy comes in, living incongruently to what we believe--living one way but believing a different way!  The word "believe," actually means “to be” and “live.”  In other words, the way we live is our identity--it’s who we've become; who we are equals how we live; meaning we believe so, we live a certain way--that's who we are!

James says that without action, there is no faith!  We’re not saved by good works, but for good works; we're saved by Jesus' work on the cross--that's complete atonement! When we receive Christ and He transforms us, His work can continue through us.  God wants to change the world through us, so who we are in Christ has to be what we become by how we live--that's belief!  Turn to Jesus and be a better version of yourself!

[End Video] 

PASTOR JOHN:  On Wednesday, Pastor Wayne shared from his journal 2 Peter 3, about the Last Days. He said that with everything that's going on now, we should be about our Father's business with a sense of urgency! Are the special events pointing to the Last Days--Jesus' return? If Jesus were to come today, are you prepared?  We don't know the day Jesus is returning, but the Bible says that He is coming and one of the signs of the times is in... 

2 Timothy 4:3 NASB says: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." 

People have a tendency to fall into that trap. If we are not careful, we will hear, enjoy, and let the words tickle our ears. By not seriously applying what we hear we never grow! There's a lot to contend with, but we must be careful not to be distracted or caught up in the things that can weigh us down and we miss the signs of The Lord’s return! 

Luke 21:34-36 NIV says: "³⁴Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

When Hurricane Douglas was approaching our islands last week, I was pretty skeptical about the hurricane’s path because, in the past, when other hurricanes came close to our islands, either a wind shear or the cold waters of the Pacific would diminish it; so I didn’t think it would come close to hurt us--but when I saw the signs of its direction, I started to perk up! The radar imaging showed that it was coming right for me in Waimanalo, and I got serious!  I took inventory of my home and yard and created a plan of action: (1) I packed everything that was loose that could be wind-blown. (2) I strapped down my car and tied anything that could blow away, (3) I boarded the windows, and bought some gas and started the generator.  I had to do something and be prepared for the coming hurricane--there was effort behind what I was doing!  

The point is that when Hurricane Douglas was approaching, I actually started looking at the signs, took inventory of what I had to do, and prepared for what was coming! After I finished making everything really safe and secure for my family, I felt at peace because I did what I had to do.  God spoke to me and said: “In these times when the storms of life appear (COVID, the civil unrest, unemployment, over-due bills) is when you need to take inventory of where you are.”  What must I do to feel safe, secure, and prepared for Jesus’ coming?  Be ready!

The hurricane came as close as 19 miles from where I live--we were all praying! And it went north just as it approached Waimanalo! Hallelujah. God gave us a miracle and saved our islands!  Thank you, Jesus! As with Hurricane Douglas, we clearly don't know when Jesus is coming, but the Bible says only the Father knows.  Listen very carefully: Never in our history has there been so many things happening as stated in Bible prophecies as now! The key is be prepared!  

When the Lord comes, we don't want to be distracted--We want to draw close to Jesus and know Him as Savior. This is the first and most important step to being ready for Jesus coming:

Romans 10:9-10 NCV says: "⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved." 

(2) TURN TO JESUS AND BE TRANSFORMED

Romans 12:2 NKJV says: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Being transformed means renewing of your mind in the Word.  Scripture says that when we renew our minds in the Word and know the word, then we will understand what God is calling us to do, and we will have peace and hope. Transformation comes by three things:

a. Seek Jesus Daily. Being in the word through daily devotions and journaling; you are closest to God while spending time with Him in the Word and in prayer.  Let Him transform you--He can speak to you and change your heart. 

b. Make Jesus Number One. Give God your day: pray and talk to him throughout your day; include Him in the things you're going through; ask The Lord for His help and guidance; and when He answers and your request comes to fruition, be grateful!

c. Cooperate with God. Be in your obedience to His business--His word, will, and plan.

As we renew our minds and make God Number One in our lives, cooperate with Him, actively watch for Him, and we will be ready for what is called the Rapture.  A lot of people look at the word "rapture" with fear because they aren’t ready; some don't believe in the Rapture, others don't know what it is, and some are just skeptical, saying, "I've heard that these things have been going on for hundreds of years."

2 Peter 3:3-4 NIV says: "³Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

Luke 21:11 NKJV says: "And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven."

There were 46 earthquakes from July 13-23 worldwide??five this week alone on the Big Island; famine, scarcity of resources, lack of food since March, people not having enough money to make a living; about viruses, pestilences, and diseases--the COVID pandemic, terrorism, riots, protests, and murders in some of our biggest cities.   

(3) BE CAREFUL OF DISTRACTIONS AND DECEPTIONS

There are many distractions that happen every day that can drain you.  What to do?  Draw close to Jesus and be transformed, not distracted! Don’t get caught up in the extraneous things:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV says: "¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Very clearly, we don't know when the Lord will return; only the Father knows.  Matthew 24:42 ESV says: "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." Matthew 24:44 ESV says: "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Although we don't know the timing of when God will come again, His plan is for us to turn to Him.  This is our hope and destiny. Pastor Wayne says, “Be doers of the word and follow through with what you know; even though there's so much that's coming at you to distract you, stick to the promise that the Lord is coming. Jesus will come for His church, and we are called to be prepared!"

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION: 

1. If Jesus came back today, how can you be sure you are ready to meet Him?

2. What are the things that you need to tie down and get secure in your life?

3. What are some things you can clean out of your heart to get ready to receive Jesus?

4. What steps can you take to make Jesus #1 in your life?