Ground Zero

Titus 2:11-14  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  (14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

INTRODUCTION:             As I was listening to talk on the TV concerning the Muslims were going to build a mosque at “GROUND ZERO” apparently on the physical grounds.   I had no problem knowing the term, GROUND ZERO meant the Towers in NYC.  Most here today who are old enough to follow the news reports of the last few years most likely knows what the term GROUND ZERO means.

              Since the event of September 11th, we have grown increasingly concerned with this “Ground Zero” it has almost become “Holy” ground.

              I would like to move the focus of GROUND ZERO from New York City and the vacant lots of the WTC towers to Wellington, Texas Allow me to make some observations and applications, which will become obvious as the message unfolds. But first, my text:

Here in Wellington

I.            THERE ARE THOSE IN NEED AND THOSE                    (v 12)

REACHING OUT TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

A.           If One Had Been On Hand That Fateful Day, In NYC,

1.           A quick observation would have revealed two groups of people.

i.            There were those RUNNING FROM the confusion.

ii.           AND there were those RUNNING INTO the confusion.

B.           A Similar Phenomenon Exists Today.

1.           There are people who desperately want to get away from the confusion of the world, but they have no idea where to turn.

2.           That's where we come in.

i.            We must be characterized as those who are RUNNING INTO THE CONFUSION.

ii.               If I am going against the general direction of the crowd, I must know something they don't know.

C.           What Do You Know That The World Doesn't Know?

1.           Someone has characterized the work of the believer today as "random rescue raids into the kingdom of darkness."

  

Here in Wellington

II.           THERE ARE SOME IN DESPERATE NEED AND SOME WHO DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE A NEED.                (v 12)

A.           Those Who Are Trapped And Know It Realize Their Desperate Situation.

1.           Many who are sinners KNOW they are sinners and want help ... but they may not know where to turn.

2.           Some who are sinners KNOW they are sinners but think they can "work it out with God."

B.           Those Who Are Unconscious Are Not Aware Of The Serious Nature Of Their Situation.

1.           Some who are sinners do not realize the consequences of sin.

2.           It is our responsibility to help them to "awake to righteousness" ...tell them about Jesus Christ.

C.           Aware Or Not Aware, Anyone Without Christ Is In A Desperate Situation.

 Here in Wellington

III.         BY-STANDERS ARE SOON DRAWN INTO THE ACTION.

                                                                                                                       

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

A.           The Task Forces ALL To Respond.

              1.           “Go Ye”

B.           One Who Is Aware Of His Surroundings Cannot, Will Not, Allow Things To Go On Without His Becoming Involved.

1.           Given the opportunity to save a life or not save a life, how would you respond?

2.           I think everyone here would say, "If I could do something to save a life, I would do it."

3.           Given the opportunity to keep someone out of hell or let them go there by your silence, what would you do?

4.           If saving a life "physically" is so important, how much more important is it to change one's outcome for eternity?

Here in Wellington

IV.         THE WORK TO BE DONE CALLS FOR MORE THAN ORDINARY EFFORT.

A.           People Did Things They Thought They WOULD Never Do.

B.           People Did Things They Thought They COULD Never Do.

C.           Some Of You Here Today Probably Think That You COULD Never Lead A Soul To Christ.

1.           Do you think that,

              i.            Because you don't know how?

2.           Or do you think that,

              i.            Because you are afraid?

3.           Or do you think that,

              1.           Because you think that God could never use you?

Here in Wellington

V.           THERE ARE NO SPECTATORS.

A.           Being A Spectator Was Not Tolerated By Those Who Were Helping And Those In Need.

B.           The World Is Literally Going To Hell At An Alarming Rate ... Right Now ... There Is No Time For Spectators.

Here in Wellington

VI.         THERE IS NO THOUGHT OF STOPPING UNTIL THE TASK IS FINISHED.

A.           It Was Not Until May 2002 That The Worksite In NYC Was Declared "finished."

B.           I Want To Say With All The Passion In My Soul This Morning, THE TASK OF REACHING THE LOST FOR CHRIST IS NOT FINISHED.

1.           It won't be finished until the Lord returns.

2.           We can sit around and declare that "soul winning is hard" and "it's harder than it has ever been," but the truth of the matter is,

John 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Here in Wellington

VII.        IT IS NOT ABOUT A PAT ON THE BACK ... IT IS ABOUT "RESCUING THOSE IN DEPSERATE NEED."

A.           There Were No Heroes ... Just Workers.

B.           There Is No Disgrace Is Being "Just A Worker."

1.           You don't have to have a Bible college education to share Christ with someone.

2.           You don't have to be a S. S. teacher to share Christ with someone.

3.           You just have to love them enough to want to keep them out of hell.

CONCLUSION:               Here in Wellington, there are those in need and those reaching out to meet those needs.

Here in Wellington, there are some in desperate need and some who don't know they have a need.

Here in Wellington, by-standers are soon drawn into action.

Here in Wellington, the work to be done calls for more than ordinary effort.

Here in Wellington, there are no spectators.

Here in Wellington, there is no thought of stopping until the task is finished.

Here in Wellington, it is not about "a pat on the back" ... it is about "rescuing those in desperate need."

We are living at GROUND ZERO (Here in Wellington)... Right Here In Our Town...

Smell the sweat, hear the cries, and see the ones, who don't know they have a need,

AND by God's grace, REACH OUT ... Don't Be A By-Stander...

USE MORE THAN ORDINARY EFFORT...

DON'T STOP UNTIL THE TASK IS FINISHED ... and FORGET ABOUT WHO GETS THE CREDIT...

Fanny Crosby wrote,

"Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave.

Weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen.

Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.