Believe

This brief lesson on salvation is quite encouraging. It makes excellent
Biblical points.

May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/

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Believe
by Henry Shellman

Acts 4:12
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to men by which we must be saved."

Intoduction

I. Man is searching in all the wrong places for salvation.

Illustration: There is an old story about an old man who was out walking one
night, and saw another man under a lamp post. Approaching, he asked the man
what he was looking for, and the man, without looking up,replied,"My watch."
The first man asked, "Well precisely where were you standing when you
dropped it?" Continuing his search, the man pointed a finger in the distance
and said, "Over there somewhere." "Well then sir, why are you looking for it
here?" Finally looking up in frustration and meeting the first man's gaze,
the searcher replied testily, "Because sir, the light is better here!"
A. We live in a world that teaches self sufficiency, you won't find
salvation in yourself.
B. This world is one of self gratification, you won't find peace in the
things of the world
C. This world teaches that if you gain positon(power) you will be happy,
happiness comes from peace and peace comes from Jesus.

John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the father except through me."

II. You must believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Illustration: One size fits all

As you can see I am a pretty big man. I have always been quite tall but now
I am as big around as I am tall. Now I have been to by a new bath robe and
find out that you have to be careful of what you buy. In the men's
department at the store in the mal they had a nice assortment of robes. They
had plaids, solids, flannel, terry,and even silk. All these robes were
different except for one thing, on the tag it says one size fits all. I
thought, "Boy that is great I get to pick whatever one that I want and don't
have to hunt for a particular size. So I picked out this pretty plaid one
that looked like it would be quite comfortable, paid for it and took it
home. When I got home I took it out of the bag removed the tags and hung it
up. When evening came and it came time to relax I got my bath and got
dressed for bed, but decided to stay up for a while and watch the football
game on TV. Well you never know when someone will drop by so I went and got
my new robe. As I took it off the rack I anticipated many nights of comfort
that it was going to bring me. I slipped on arm in and threw it over my
shoulders, slid the other are in and low and behold my "One Size fits All"
robe looked like a mini skirt on an elephant. I learned qute fast why some
stores have a big and tall department. That robe did not fit but I will tell
you about a gift that is given that is large enough and that one size truly
fits all it is the gift of God's grace. Salvation through belief in Jesus
Christ.

A. Before belief there has to be repentence.

2nd Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some
understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentence.

B. From Repentence comes submission.

When I was young I used to love to play out doors. Any of you that are
around my age will probably Amen that. I really don't understand the youth
of today. I did not want to sit under momma and daddy, there I would have to
behave, it was more fun outside. I would play everything, sitting in the
sand and building dirt cities, football, my favorite was rassllin with the
boy next door. We would wallow all over the yard getting dirty. Now sometime
near the end of the day I would hear a shrill whistle, that was how daddy
called us, that was an indication to come in. Now when I came in they would
have me remove my dirty clothes and take a bath and the I would be clean and
fresh. Note one thing that took place befor I received that refreshing
cleansing, I had to submit my will to daddy's will. I would not have been in
the right place at the right time had I not submitted myself to his will.
When we realize that our life is dirty with the dregs of this world called
sin then we have to hear the Word of God and bring ourselves to Him and
totally surrender our will.

C. Repent,submit, then believe and receive, the gift is yours.

Belief is essential. The great missionary D.T. Niles said, "Jesus Christ is
not a value that we can negotiate, nor is he a preference that we can
reject. He is the truth, and the truth cannot be changed." The Word of God
says, "Sirs what must I do to be saved?" "They replied' "Believe on the Lord
Jesus and you will be saved.."Acts 16:30B-31A. Now this is not talking about
intellectual belief for the bible tells us in James that even the demons
believe. What we are talking about when we sa "believe" we are talking about
totally surrendering to the point of trust. Let me try to show you what I am
trying to say: I once heard a story of an event that took place years ago,
before great sporting events and concerts, there were men called daredevils
that would do perilous tricks to gain fame. It was told of a tightrope
walker that decided to walk the tightrope over Niagra Falls The rope was
stretched, the platform was built, and finally the big day came. This fellow
was a bit of a show man and liked to tease the audience. As he ascended the
steps to the platform he turned and yelled to the crowd, "Do you believe
that I can wlk this rope across the falls." Slowly one after another of the
people answered, "WE believe!" The walker got on the rope and slowly made
his way across the gourge. After successfully crossing to the other side he
called out to the people, "Who believes that I can cross the Falls blind
folded? Again, but with more confidence because they had witnessed him
successfully going across the first time, the yell "We believe!" He was
blindfolded and began his journey across the Falls. As he got to the center
of the rope it began to sway and he began to stumble, then he slipped and
fell, but caught the rope. He slowly pulled himself back on the rope and
step by step he made it safely made it across .

God's desire is that all people are saved.

Conclusion

You won't find peace and deliverance from the things of this world. Riches
and power do not bring joy, instead they usually bring more problems and
grief. The true source of life, not only eternal life but victorius life in
this world, is Jesus. If we hearken to the voice of the Holy Spirit, as it
speaks to our heart, and repent of our sins, submit ourselves to God's will
we will find true joy,peace, and victory for life's trials.