Powerball

Mark 16:15-20

What would you do if you won $550,000,000? That’s how much the Power-ball jackpot was scheduled to be at the time of this writing. Would you buy a new luxury home or car? Or would you set aside a trust to pay for your grand children’s college? Or would you donate 10% to your church or a ministry or charity?

If you are a believer and follower of Christ, in a way, you’ve already won the lottery because you know that eternal winnings are available now, and waiting for you in Heaven. The things of this world will perish, but Heaven is for eternity. It’s priceless. So what will you do with your priceless gift?

When Jesus was crucified, the disciples had lost all hope. They were sitting around feeling sorry for themselves, “mourning and weeping”. Even after Mary Magdalene and two other followers had seen the resurrected Christ, the disciples refused to believe; refused to act. They preferred to mope and do nothing. Then this happened.

¹⁴ Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.        ESV

 Jesus called them to action. He called them to “proclaim the gospel”. Basically, he gave them a swift kick in the pants with the following result.

²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.          ESV

 

Jesus is still calling his disciples across the millennia to action. He’s calling you and me to be his hands and his feet. He’s calling us to touch the lepers of this world. He’s calling us to bring a message of hope to the hopeless; to the addicted; to the imprisoned. He’s calling us to share his love, grace and forgiveness with people at work, at school, in our neighborhood and in our family.

We’ve already won a bigger jackpot than Powerball. Let’s share it with those that God brings into our life. Let’s get up off the couch and do something. We don’t have to go around the world… just next door.

Jesus Has Overcome the World

Our world has changed dramatically in the last few years and not necessarily towards the direction God intended.

No longer is there prayer in public schools. We not only allow abortions, but taxpayer dollars pay for them. Organs of aborted fetuses are harvested for sale on the black market. We have a new secular definition of marriage. Regulations, not free markets, are driving business decisions. Our world is beginning to despise the rich, even when they use their money for God’s purposes.

Some have opined that the end must be near.

 Well … maybe …  but history has heard this refrain before.

 Consider the plight of Europe during World War I and especially World War II. There was almost total devastation in many areas. Consider  Germany during the 30 Years War (1618-1648). Many southern German villages were wiped out, and the population of many German Duchies was cut to a third.

 The plague that began in 1346 reduced Europe’s population by over 30%. St. Augustine wrote that the end might be near as civilization collapsed along with the Roman Empire.

 It is true our world is changing and not for the better. History, however, has seen millions, perhaps billions, of people fear for their lives as their world changed. We are not close to that point yet.

 Today’s reading is John 16:19-33. Jesus told his disciples that he would soon die, and what to expect. He also gave them words of encouragement, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 The Prince of the World is Satan (Rev 12:3,9). Satan was expelled from heaven and he wreaks havoc on the earth (Rev 12:9-12) today.

 It should come as no surprise that our lives, our way of life, and yes, our world, will be impacted by Satan from time to time. In fact, the world is driven – significantly -- by Satan.

 As Jesus said, he has overcome the world, that is, Satan. He also tells us that Satan will be condemned (John 16:11) and driven out (John 12:31).

 In spite of Satan's impact, Christ’s Church has proclaimed the Gospel for almost 2,000 years.

 We are being impacted again. Something tells me that Christ’s Church will continue to proclaim the Gospel.

 The world has changed, but we should take heart. After all, Jesus has overcome the world!