A report came out a little over a month ago that said Springfield, Missouri is the fourth most Bible minded city in America. Let’s pat ourselves on the back fellow Springfieldians. That’s really something isn’t it; number four in the nation? Let’s celebrate our achievement. Wait a minute. What does Bible minded even mean? The report didn’t say Bible believing or God fearing; it said Bible minded. So does that mean most of our homes have four or five Bibles in it? Probably so. But it doesn’t matter how many Bibles you own if you never open one up. It doesn’t matter how Bible minded you are, if you never read God’s Word.
Many people in Springfield, MO say that they believe in God. This shouldn’t be surprising because after all, we live in the Bible Belt. But how many people really believe God? How many people really have a biblical world view? You know that number drops dramatically. Unfortunately we see it all the time when we are out street witnessing. Professing Christians are some of the ones that get the maddest about us lifting up the name of Jesus on the street in downtown Springfield. Too many people claim Jesus Christ as their Savior, but they don’t claim Him as their Lord. They still want to be in control of their own life. They have never surrendered their life to Jesus.
If you are a professing Christian, I want to ask you if you have really submitted your life to Jesus Christ our Lord? Do you wake up in the morning and cry out “Your will be done today Lord, not mine”? Do you desire to live a godly life? Does your heart grieve when you commit a sin? Or do you sin at will because you think Jesus has you covered because you uttered the sinner’s prayer as a child? Jesus said why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46). Are you just Bible minded or are you a Bible believer? Do you just claim Christ as Savior or are you truly a Christ follower? Do your sins burden you – do they truly grieve you?
Read the words of David in Psalm 38. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
If you are not saved, you need to recognize that you are a sinner. Are you truly sorry for your sins? Do you have godly sorrow over your sins like David did in Psalm 38? You need to cry out to God to save you. Jesus is the only way of salvation (Acts 4:12). Recognize that you have sinned against almighty God and that there is nothing you can do to save yourself. Only the shed blood of Jesus can wash you clean. You must be born again. If you claim Christ as Savior and you are living for the devil, you are deceiving yourself. The Bible says in many places, Be not deceived!
I could be work minded and still be a lousy employee. I could be wife minded and still be a horrible husband. I could be children minded and be a pathetic father. Being the fourth most Bible minded city in America really doesn’t mean much. I would much rather be known as being Bible believing or God fearing or as a Christ follower – a true disciple of Jesus Christ our Lord. What do you want to be known as? Is being Bible minded good enough for you?
Are you saved tonight? Have you truly turned away from your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ our Lord? We are to have repentance toward God and faith toward Our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Have you been born again? (John 3:3). Your old nature has passed away and behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17) – does this describe you? Have you truly surrendered your life to the Master? When Jesus Christ is truly your Lord, you desire a godly life. God is continually sanctifying you. Sure we still mess up, but He convicts us of our sins. You repent from those sins and you want to please God. You want to be more and more like Christ every day. You want a pure heart and clean hands. Does this describe you?
Are you Jesus’ disciple or are you still just Bible minded? Are you saved? If not, tonight is the night to get right with God. Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Do not put this off. You don’t know if you will even see tomorrow. There was a tragic accident the first weekend in March and three people were killed in a car wreck on Highway 13 North of Clinton; including a 19 year old young lady from Springfield. You are not guaranteed your next breath, let alone tomorrow or next week.
Don’t just remain Bible minded; lost and on the broad road to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). Become a God fearing, Christ follower. Surrender you life to Jesus; right here right now. Please, tonight, Repent and put your faith in Jesus. Turn away from your sins and put your trust in Jesus. Don’t foolishly reject salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Be saved from your sins. Be saved from eternal damnation (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus. Trust Jesus tonight and receive eternal life.
(This message was lifted up on the square in downtown Springfield, MO on March 7, 2014)