Zero to Hero

[This is the introductory message to a series which will look at some Old Testament Heroes, and perhaps some zeroes, too.  Notes on the sermon.]

The Scripture lesson is from Genesis chapter three, verses one through sixteen wherein we find the woman tempted of the Serpent, succumbs and shares of the forbidden fruit with the man.  God finds them naked in the Garden.

Verse fifteen is crucial in which the victims of the Serpent's wiles are told by God, "I will put separation between you and sin."

Serpent = villain
Plan: to topple everything which God made and pronounced "Good."  It worked.
God = Hero: He saves (v. 15).

What does it mean to us?

Adam and Eve were victims, but God is Good.  There are no victims in God's Kingdom.  God does not allow us to be victims.  He saves us. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly,"  --Romans 5:6

God through Christ removed victimization from our lives.

We are to live our lives as He modeled for us.  God helps the helpless, and we are responsible for assisting in His plan.

[Pastor cited several examples of hurting people and need in the world, places where we might make a difference.  For example, he stated that it is estimated that there are thirty-five million people in the world today who are enslaved.]

If every decision we made impacted someone, could we give up our desire to benefit the someone?

It is easy to say what we can do to "save the world" but can we do what needs to be done?
Are you willing to do what is hard, to let go of control to help the helpless?

Are we willing to do all we can in order to meet the convictions God places in our lives?

Characteristic of a Hero:  One who goes the distance.  God did.  Shouldn't we?

We can make a difference through every decision we make.

Pastor Joe Deckard

Sunday morning