Inside Out

March 11, 2009

Superficiality occurs when what’s on the outside contradicts what’s on the inside. Another word for this might be hypocrisy.

Hello, I’m Clifton LeJeune, pastor of the Jesus Worship Center in Jennings, and this week we are going to talk about living for God from the ‘Inside Out’.

When someone has a virus, they are not required to take a course labeled ‘throw up 101'. I know it sounds gross but it makes the point quite clearly . . . if it is in there, it’s coming out!
Christians don’t need more bumper stickers, tattoos, or crosses hung around their necks. What Christianity needs is a good old baptism of ‘Inside Out’.

In Psalms, David said, Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts.

Truth contained in the inward parts will be manifest on the outward parts. When our walk matches our talk, true Christianity is on display. You’ve heard it said, “practice what you preach.” What if we were to reverse this . . . what if we were allowed only to ‘preach what we practiced?!’

What would we preach?

What could we preach?

Living ‘inside out’ is exactly what Jesus did.The damage done by Superficial Christianity is deeper and more and does more harm than outright Hinduism and atheism.The Church’s biggest enemy is not satan, is not Hollywood, the media, MTV, or Celebrity worship.

The Church’s biggest enemy is Superficial Christianity . . . which is simply Christianity that is only Skin-Deep!

Is your Christianity bone-deep?

To know something ‘inside out’ is to know it completely, thoroughly.
Do you know God . . . or do you simply know about God?

To truly know Him, you must know what makes Him tick AND what ticks Him off! Nothing offended Christ more than religious people who were one thing on the outside while being another on the inside!

Let’s serve Him in deepest sincerity . . . inside out!

Return To Sender

October 16, 2008

Elvis Presley has permanently marked his generation as well as many that have followed. Inscribed within the lyrics of that mental tattoo are the words of a spurned lover in the song . . . 'Return To Sender'.

Think about that . . .Return to Sender - the restoration process begins when we return to the One that sent us to this planet. Your life is no accident. Your purpose is not arbitrary. You were made on purpose with a purpose.

To restore something is to return the object back to its former condition. In the book of Luke Chapter 15 Jesus tells the story of three lost items: a lost son, a lost coin, and a lost sheep. In all three stories, each item was recovered. Here’s the point - Jesus never told the story of something lost that could not be found. I don’t care how bad off you think you are . . . there is a God on this earth desperately working to reconcile you back to Himself.

Here’s a verse you ought to have framed and hung in the walls of your mind:
NIV 2 Sam 14:14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

Wow! That verse erupts with vivid imagery of a God extending Himself to restore broken relationships. It’s time to renew your hope and refurbish your faith . . . it’s time to Return to Sender!