MINI-SERMON #2 Series # 1 MEET YOUR TEAM LEADERS

Before you decide which team you want to be on, you should know a little about the captains you have to choose between. We will start with Jesus in front of the good team. Isaiah 53:21: “He has no form or beauty that we should desire him.”
When humans picture Jesus, we make him look like our idea of a super he-man and good looking but that is not how the Bible describes him. Isaiah 53:21: “He has no form or beauty that we should desire him.”

A woman was in shock when I quoted that. She insisted he was beautiful. I couldn’t convince her of what Isaiah said. Maybe you will argue too. Jesus’ beauty is not portrayed in his human body but in his beautiful spirit, speech and actions. If we are really tuned into Jesus, we look past his unspectacular appearance.

Peter, James and John in Matthew 17:1-2 were the first to see him in his true glorified form. And after six days Jesus takes Peter, James and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment (clothes) was white as the light.” Transfigure means to change the figure, form or outward appearance. If Jesus was already handsome or beautiful, he wouldn’t need to be changed.
If the Bible description of him is what we go by, we wouldn’t pick him if we go strictly by build and looks. We are breaking one rule already. I Samuel 16:7 “For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. “Be careful of what you are looking for and be sure you are judging by God’s standards.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Man changes from day to day and not always dependable. He causes confusion. Jesus keeps a steady pace and can always be depended on. He is always on time; never too early or too late---God’s timing, not ours. He is humble. He does not brag about what he can do and not follow through. If he says it; he’ll do it! He is helpful. He will be there to help us through our toughest battle.

We can do all we can to solve our problems but there is a limit to what we can do on our own. Jesus will back us up when we can’t do any more. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens us.”

To show you what I mean---I was trying to change a simple light bulb that was out of my reach on a high telephone pole. To make it harder, I am short. How hard could that simple chore be? I was getting frustrated and I cried out to Jesus to help me. I took a little leap and the job was done!!! I tried to do it again but couldn’t get anywhere near it. I knew it wasn’t under my power to be able to do it.

So far Jesus is dependable, humble and helpful. He is also loving and kind. He loves the unlovable such as we are at times. He is kind to us even when no one else is. We are often kind only to those who are good to us. That isn’t the way of Jesus. We should treat all people equally. Jesus is kind to us even when we don’t treat him right. The qualities of Jesus could cover many books (look in the Bible and see how many attributes you can find) We still couldn’t get the whole picture. Would you like a man like this to be your Captain? One who always keeps your best interests at heart?

Or would you choose Satan? We picture him as sneaky looking, red with pointed ears and a tail. Whoever started this idea of what the devil looked like? Nothing from what the Bible depicted him as. His character makes him look like that but not his outward appearance. !! Corinthians 11:14 “For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” Did you ever hear of an ugly angel? They are usually depicted as beautiful and innocent looking. You ladies, don’t you tend to look for a good looking guy. You get him but he turns inside out and he shows you his true ugly character.

Satan is so tricky that he makes things “look” good even himself so you will accept him and the sins he has to offer to turn you away from God. Would you buy his tricks and death deserving ideas if they weren’t attractive? He even had the nerve to try to trick Jesus, the Son of God, with the very things he tricks us with. (Matthew 4:1-10.

Sinful things may look good on the outside but inside when we get a good look at them, they are really ugly. Did you ever buy an apple that looked so bright and shiny and delicious on the outside but when you bit into it, it was brown spotted, wormy and sour? You had to throw it away. It wasn’t worth what you paid for it. Sins are like that , too. They don’t look so bad. In fact they might look pretty good .

After committing them time after time, they finally show up for what they are really are. Jesus had the same temptation we know so knows how to help us. 11:25 “submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

You say everyone must die. Physically, yes, but our real life begins AFTER death. Where we spend eternity is decided by whom we allow to be Captain of our soul.

And also by how we live this life given to us. We are tested to see if we are fit to be in God’s Spiritual Kingdom. Those who choose Jesus will have a new body instead of this one with all its imperfections. I John 3:2 “beloved now are we the sons of God; and it does not yet appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Peter, James and John were given the privilege to be the first to see Jesus as he really will be in his heavenly kingdom. They were instructed not to tell anyone what they saw. What a tremendous secret you have to keep!

Matthew 17:9 “And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them,
saying, “Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.” Jesus with a physical body like us wasn’t considered beautiful under any man’s standard. But when he shed that mortal body and put on his immortal body, he had a great make-over---a brand new look! He shone like a bright light.
What would Satan offer that we would want for all eternity? That is misery forever and no reprieve; no let up. Are the pleasures that lead to a burning hell worth it? Maybe only one minute of sinful pleasures to be paid forever and ever?

We can have enjoyments that God offers us now as long as we know who our Captain is and stick to his rules. 1 Timothy 6:17 “Trust in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. “ We have no idea just what the pleasures will be in our new home. We should be looking forward to them. Christians shouldn’t go around with a long sour face. Many think that is the look of piety. Far cry from the way God wants us to act.

When we smile easily and are happy most of the time, it is the best witness of the rewards for being a child of God. Proverbs: 16:20. “And who so trusts in the Lord, happy is he.” The happiness we should seek is the one that gives us peace of mind and contentment with what we have even in the midst of trials. We can look forward to what lies ahead; if not in this life but in the future when Jesus reigns on earth. Our life is short even though we sometimes think it is a long, hard haul.

Satan’s followers don’t have anything to look forward to but misery and pain in a burning hell. Revelation 20:11-15 is about the final judgment day. Verse 15 “And whosoever was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
A terrible thing to look forward to for those who don’t believe there is a hell.
WHO IS YOUR LEADER?