This is an election year, and we all know that there are certain areas that should be left alone. I remember talking with a neighbor once who was telling me about another neighbor. He said, "She is a nice lady, but one thing you really need to know…don't talk to her about religion or politics!" Those were two areas that were off limits.
There are many folks today who believe this same way. I have even had a few folks here at church get upset with me because I made voting records available. I explained that I wasn't trying to influence them to vote for any particular candidate, I just wanted to inform them to the record of how individuals had responded to some pro-family and pro-Christian issues.
So occasionally you may find some brochures in the foyer, don't get upset with me. But there are many, including some Christians, who believe that Christians should get out of politics.
Once in a while I hear someone say concerning another individual... (This is usually following some sort of embarrassing behavior) …they don't get out much! That is the title of the message this morning. "Christians Don't Get Out Much." Now I say that not just as an observation, but as a criticism. We don't get out enough. I am not advocating getting out of politics, education, etc. But we need to get out of the salt-shaker!
Last week I passed a church named the 'Salt-Shaker Community Church'. What is that all about? Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth" But salt that stays in the shaker has no influence. We need to get out of the salt-shaker! We need to influence this world for Christ. Consider this morning three reasons that we need to get out more.
I. We need to get out, because we have been called out.
(1 Pet 2:9) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
A. Out of Darkness and Into Light
1. This text tells us we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light.
2. The word 'church' in the Greek language is EKKLESIA and means "called out ones."
3. It had an early use signifying any assembly where the people were called to that gathering for a specific purpose.
4. So, the church is a local assembly of believers called out of the world to live for Jesus.
5. We need to get out because the very meaning of our name is the called out ones.
B. Consider the contrast.
1. Darkness is Satan's domain.
2. The Lord commissioned Paul to:
(Acts 26:18) "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
3. Paul tells us that when a person comes to Christ, they move from darkness to light.
(Col 1:13) "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"
4. Darkness is Satan's domain, and we have been called out of darkness.
C. Darkness relates to a sinful lifestyle.
1. Paul admonished the believers in Ephesus to watch how they walked.
2. Our walk is our lifestyle.
3. Note: Eph 4:17-18
(Eph 4:17-18) "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, {18} Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:"
4. We have been called out of darkness and into His light.
5. We need to get out of the darkness!
(John 8:12) "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
II. We need to get out, because we have been sent out.
(John 20:21) "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
(Mark 16:15) "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
A. We Are Sent Out To Proclaim The Gospel.
1. Why the Gospel? Why not to feed and clothe the hungry and helpless?
2. Nothing wrong with humanitarian help offered to those who need it…but that is not what we were sent to do.
3. The Lord sent us out with specific instructions as to what we were to do.
4. Any physical need may last for a lifetime, but a spiritual need may last for eternity.
5. A person without Christ will go to hell. Therefore, we are sent to proclaim good news.
6. The Gospel = the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
B. The Message Is Simple, But The Task Is Not Easy.
1. Many will reject the message…but our task remains the same.
2. Some may ridicule us…but our task remains the same.
3. We may grow weary and discouraged in the work...but the task remains the same.
(John 15:18) "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
(Gal 6:9) "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
III. We need to get out, because we will be taken out.
(1 Th 4:17) "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
A. The Rapture.
1. One day the trumpet will sound and all who are 'in Christ' will be 'caught up' out of this world.
2. This is what is referred to as 'The Rapture'.
3. It reminds us that we don't have forever.
4. What we do for Christ, we must do quickly…we cannot put it off.
5. Our time of influence is limited.
B. We are called out for a meeting.
1. Note the phrase that says, "…to meet the Lord in the air…"
2. What a wonderful and sobering thought.
3. Wonderful, because it will mean that all of the struggles and trials of this life will be over.
4. We will see our Savior face to face!
5. But it is a sobering thought as well.
6. We will stand before Him and give an account of our lives.
C. When we are called out of this world, there will be no more time.
1. No more time to witness to that friend about the saving grace of Jesus…
2. No more time to talk with that loved one that we meant to tell about the Lord…
3. No more time to serve the Lord with our lives…
4. No more time to be faithful to Him in everything…
5. No more time … no second chances …
We don't get out much…but we need to get out:
Christian, we need to get out more. Will we come today and commit ourselves to being the influence that God meant for us to be?
Perhaps there is one here today who has never trusted Christ as Savior, the invitation is for you to come and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved today. Whatever the need the invitation is to come.