Ripple Effect by Dr. Clay and Felicia Worrell

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RIPPLE EFFECT Dr. Clay & Felicia Worrell 10/25/2020

 

This Message is dedicated to our beloved Brother in Christ, Harold Herring Sr. who at age 93 went home to be with Jesus and heard the words, “Well done thy good and faithful servant..” Brother Harold's father had the privilege of leading over 700 souls to salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

This Message is needed big time… after all we’d like to see our friends and family in Heaven right.. TODAY we'll share the keys to getting our friends and families to Heaven with us.. and our lives will also become more fulfilling, not just full along the way!

 

Let’s start w/ survey…

- How many of U came to Christ largely b/c

- U mother or father – makes U 2nd gen.

- UR mother or father parents 3rd

- Grandparents had parents… 4th? 5th?

 

- How about this: Think immediate family

i.e. Parents/ siblings / children/ grandchildren

What % would you say you are in love with/ Jesus today?

50% or more / 40, 30, 20, 10, >10%

 

I grew up in a family… Clay/Felicia..

 

I’m sure you have your own story… BUT

Bottom: We all have family members who need Jesu

- 1: Priorities must flow from inside, out.

- 2: Weaker the inside- lower potential for all other circles

- 3: If the outside circle takes priority over an inside – chaos!

- 4: When order is maintained, life becomes fulfilling!

 

 

If you don’t set YOUR priorities – Pressures will do it for you: Hobbies, work, meetings, volunteering, voluntolding..lol

 

Today: 1st ripple Jesus - Most important human Relationships we have

If you make a big splash in the center…

You get the power to make a real difference in family BUT

Not just power… you get focus on priorities that matter

 

Culture says a successful family is measured in

Trophies/ Education/ house/ social status... BUT

When you truly make Relationship w/ Jesus no. 1…

You begin to see… Our citizenship is in heaven…

We’re just passing thru: Trophies in attic / houses torn down

You begin to ask yourself the question… Why Am I here?

 

** Only 2 things you can do on Earth- U can’t do in heaven

1) Share YOUR faith w/ unbelievers

2) Sin

Which one do you think He has left you here to do!

 

Hear ME: When you make Jesus No. 1…

The most important Question: in our heart becomes

Is my family going to heaven w/ me!

More directly…

Am I the kind of Christian that makes Gospel attractive

to the people who know me best?

 

5 things must BE (not do) if hope to

Help your family have their own Relationship w/ Jesus

 

1st - (I Must) Be with Jesus.

 

One reason so important Jesus to be the center

On Negative side: You can’t give what you don't have.

On Positive: Once You've been w/ Jesus it shows!

 

Leading your family to Jesus isn’t about being perfect

I’ve got my act together – now U should to!

They know you – for real! OK!?

It’s about having been w/ Jesus

They can see that something has changed!

One of the best examples I know in the Bible…

Samaritan woman at well - Jesus came along..

They had an exchange that changed her life

 

He pointed to ancient well and said,

John 4:13-14 NIV Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

 

Then… they began to talk honestly about her life…

John 14:17-18 NIV “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

 

Understand…

- He wasn’t beating her up for those choices

- He was saying, You’ve been trying to satisfy this deep thirst w/ something that can’t quench it.

- He was saying

U can’t fill a God-shaped void w/ human Relationships OR anything else that doesn’t fit!

 

When you try… you just get emptier

You become driven for more and more AND

You get thirstier and thirstier

- He was saying,

I can fill that emptiness - forever! I can satisfy that longing!

 

How do U think she responded to that offer?

No thanks. I like the downward spiral I’m on…

 

John 4:15 NIV The woman said to [Him], “Sir, give me this water so I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming back here to draw water.”

 

And in that moment… everything changed!

She still had stuff to work on/ clean up…

Choices have consequence–work thru—BUT

Down deep -everything changed in that moment

 

Result: She bolted to town… told everyone who listen

John 4:29 MSG Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out.

 

She knew these people knew what she had done

(Small town – probably all 2nd cousins 1st removed)

She didn’t come at them with –

I got my act together. Time you got yours!

It was more like…

You guys are family –you know me, You what I’ve done BUT

I’ve met a man who helped me see why I did them AND He’s offered me a better way to live. A way that satisfies down deep!

I want you guys to meet this man too, I want you to taste it! Please come and see!

 

You see - She had been with Jesus…

She hadn’t just decided to clean up her act

She hadn’t just turn over a new leaf

She had encountered Jesus who

*Changed her from the inside out!*

Gave her a peace that surpassed all understanding and it showed on her face

 

How do you think her family/ town reacted?

John 4:39 MSG Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness.

 

I remember vividly- 1st time I encountered Jesus…. Clay/Felicia

 

Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

(That’s what drives you once you’ve been w/ Him!)

Paul answered him…

Acts 16:31 NIV They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household.”

 

I can’t guarantee YOUR whole family will come to Jesus

Bible doesn’t say everyone in Samaria came

v. 39 says, Many committed

v. 41 “a lot more became believers…

 

I can guarantee the your best hope of reaching them

Begins w/ you putting Jesus at the Center of who you are!

 

2. (I Must) Be the Real Deal.

 

I know a lot of people being a Christian - do’s & don’ts

I also know some Christians try to combat w/

I’m not perfect, I’m just forgiven.

 

TRUE–BUT it ignores another critical truth

People around us are hoping against hope

What we claim happened when met Jesus

Really happened! Void is really filled

They want to see if there real is a difference about us AND

If there is for a while… if it lasts!

 

Look at how Peter put it…

1 Peter 2:11-12 MSG Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.

 

i.e. It will be your life (after being w/ Jesus) that…

Will ultimately help others see this is real.

- Yes, they will test you.

- Yes, some will even ostracize you for faith BUT

In the dark night of the soul…

They are hoping their aching emptiness can be filled

- They don’t have to spend life trying to fill emptiness

 

FACT: In my experience…it’s often the one who fights…

Who is the one who wants it the deepest.

They are just afraid it isn’t real

Been burned before – not gonna trust quickly.

 

Again: I’m not saying you have to be perfect BUT

There ought to be a difference in your life

after Jesus fills the void in your heart

If there isn’t… I suggest you go back to the Well!

For your sake AND especially for sake of family

 

It’s important to be man of integrity, I remind myself of

Galatians 2:20 Amplified Bible 20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

If I’m going to reach my family for Jesus

I must start by Being with Jesus

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