What else is there? Repost of Pastor Todd Boxley’s Sermon
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, California, Michigan, and Arizona this week.
Have you ever made plans but those plans never worked out as you wanted? Even many people that are considered expert planners (weddings, land use, environmental protection, economic development, transportation, community design, and housing) can all have their conundrums.
But the plan God has for his church (born-again believers) will never be changed or altered in any way. Philippians 1:6; Psalm 18:30; 37:5; Isaiah 46:9-11; Jeremiah 29:11). God’s plan is irreversible.
Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, thank you for gathering those around the country this morning. Lord, today’s a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures we may have experienced.
It’s a good day to be glad and give you thanks. Thank you for showing your presence among these hearts today. Holy Spirit, please draw those hearts that are searching for newness in their lives. Help us to new opportunities to love, give, and be all that you want us to be, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Have you ever heard someone say to you (or someone else), “What more do you want!” Or maybe someone approached you in conversation and said, “So, what else is new?” Some of you have been getting the “same ole, same ole, stuff.
Some of you get reports about your favorite sports team having another losing season. Your response, “So, what else is new?” Happens all the time, doesn’t it? Some have suggested that the answer to this question is out there to be discovered.
Some of you grew up asking a lot of questions about “What else is there?” Have you ever been bored with doing the same things over and over again? The human life is full of doing the same things on a daily routine basis.
I recall taking some teenagers from church on a yearly trip to Cedar Point amusement park. One year, there was one teen who hadn’t gone before. All teens who wanted to go needed to have a parent’s signed consent on the form.
There were about 15 teens that went. They all had never been there before. The three- and half-hour drive was great. There was great excitement and conversations about getting on rides and eating new kinds of food.
There were also at times I heard high pitched noises. My ears are still ringing (Smile). Just teasing everyone. Teens are a blessing from God. We all had to experience what teenagers go through.
Upon arriving at the resort hotel, instructions were given as to the time we would be leaving from our rooms to drive up to the entrance. When we walked through the gate I could the teens faces.
Their heads were turned everywhere, trying to decide what to do first. We then gathered in a circle just as we had done back at the hotel when we had a moment to pray.
We thanked God for traveling mercy and thankfulness for giving us this time to reflect his love and presence in such a beautiful place. After the teens decided who would ride together on what rides, I noticed one of the teens had a downward look on her face.
The more excited the other teens were, she seemed to look more disappointed. After the teens started to branch out a little bit, I asked her if everything was ok. At first, she just shrugged her shoulders, but I gently asked more questions about her feelings.
She finally said she felt like she does at home, bored and confused about how things would go rather than enjoying each moment as it came. She also wondered “What else is there to do in this place?”
Later I found out that she came from a home of verbal abuse and unhappy living arrangements. So, she basically brought all that emotional baggage from her home 3 1/2 hours away to the park.
I then began to pray for her that the Lord would release her spirit to see all that God had given us to enjoy. I asked the Lord to deliver her from any depression that was against her. I prayed that she would forgive those who hurt her.
Imagine not be able to see or feel good about all this stuff in the park built just for teenagers, and she couldn’t grasp any of it. Did you know there are hundreds and thousands of people of all ages who feel just like this teen felt?
Could you imagine feeling board in heaven? People who feel lost in life and do not believe in a Savior who loves them have nothing to look forward to. When Covid came, many people had nothing to cling too.
There were many who wallowed in fear and anxiety. Many could not cope because they didn’t have that “peace that passes all understanding that Jesus gave to his followers when Covid came.
There was an increase of suicides among the young teens and adults. Those who trusted more in their physicians than in God found out that no matter how many shots, boosters, or mask you wore, you could still get Covid.
When people feel the need to use all that the world has for them, crossing every “T” and doting every “I” of their life, and when it all fails, they then cry out in aspiration and confusion, “What else is there!!”I remember having a fellowship meal with a small group of Christians on New Years Eve after church. We were discussing how much fun it is living for Jesus. However, I remember two people feeling a little down.I waited for a few moments and asked why did they feel down. They said they felt they were missing all the fun on New Years Eve. I asked them what they considered fun. They said it seems like many people in the world have more options to do things than Christians do. I told them, “Maybe so, but there fun at the end of their life ends in a disastrous way without Jesus.They then asked me, “What else is there for us Christians to do?” Their anxiousness reminds me of the rich man who built greater barns for his crops. He wanted to enjoy the fruits of his labor apart from God (Luke 12:16-21). They also sounded like the people who were restless because Moses took to long to come down from the mountain while speaking with God.The people started to drink, play, and made an idol to worship. They had chosen the corrupt way of the other nations (Exodus 32:1-10). So, I encouraged my friends that there are many things’ Christians can do to have fun. I told them keep the cross before you, and the world behind you. I then asked them if they wanted to go bowling or skating after our meal.They had so much fun, they never spoke about feeling envious of those in the bars. God gives us the joy of the Lord! Many are still skeptical about Christianity. They carry questions such as, “What happens after death?” “Why do bad things happen to me?” “Why is there evil?” “If there is a God, why does he allow all this evil?” “Why don’t I have any peace?”
“God where are you?” “What is the future of the world?” “What happens when I die?” “I don’t feel that God loves me.” “Why does God allow suffering?” These are just a few of the questions many people in this nation ask concerning the existence of God.
Each question can be answered from the mouth of God, which comes from his living word, “The Bible!” God understands your questions better than you could try to explain them. Trusting God with an open heart is the key.
Since true born-again believing Christians have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, they can cling with their heart that God’s Word tells them this;
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27 KJV).
They can also rest in knowing that God will never leave them or forsake them. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV).
Further still, God’s adopted children know nothing can separate them from his love. 35} “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
38} For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39} Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35,38-39 KJV).
The Christian’s God is forever faithful. (1 Thessalonians 5:24; Isaiah 41:10). God constantly watches over his people. We are his precious sheep and the apple of his eye. (John 10:11-16; Deuteronomy 32:10).
There’s no denying who God is. 5} “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6} That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:5-6 KJV).
I could go on all day in today’s message about how Christians stand on the foundational truth of Almighty God and his Word. As the world wonders about, they blindly try to save a world that is beyond saving (2 Peter 3:10-13).
Christians rest in Christ, passing through this sinful world as pilgrims going to their new home (Hebrews 11:13). Since Jesus has defeated sin and death, he has gone to prepare a place for his authentic born-again believers (The church).
Read these powerful truths he spoke about his children. 1} “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2} In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3 KJV).
There is no mincing words from Jesus concerning his protection over us in life and in death that he has prepared us to be fit for his Kingdom. Those who doubt and disbelieve about “What else is there”, will be gravely disappointed when
hey see the King of kings, and Lord of lords in all his glory and splendor.
God has left enough evidence on the earth for all of us to see that he is without question the creator of all things. (Romans 1:18-32). The Bible tells everyone on this earth, that we are all without any excuses whether God exist.
God has left enough of his handprint all over his majestic earth. There are too many amazing creations to doubt what God has done. His presence fills the whole earth beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3).
But when people deny God’s existence, they do not know that there is another presence in the earth. He once was the highest Cherub. But in his rebellion, he was defeated and cast to the earth.
His name, Satan, Lucifer, is the enemy of God. Therefore, all of God’s creation became his enemy. That’s you and me. He is called the prince of the air (Ephesians 2:2).
Paul describes Satan, the devil, as “The commander of the powers in the unseen world.” Paul pictures Satan as ruling an evil spiritual kingdom, directing the demons and those who are against Christ and the rule of the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, Jesus Christ is the permanent ruler of the whole world; the devil is only the temporary ruler of the part of the world that chooses to follow him. Satan can only do to humans what God allows him to do.
Many people think God should have just eliminated him from the beginning. God does everything according to his own plan and timing. God was not surprised by Satan’s rebellion.
God gives every heart he creates a choice to believe in him or reject him. He never forces anyone to love him. Would you like to be forced to love someone? Satan has contaminated all human life through the rebellious seed of Adam and Eve.
Today his objective still remains the same. He comes to destroy all that God called good in his six days of creation (John 10:10). Satan carries a spiritual blindfold to keep people from coming to the knowledge of truth, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:3-6; John 14:6).
I’m here today to encourage those who have been sitting on the spiritual fence of life for far too long. I’m praying that God would free your spiritual mind to believe by the faith he gives you, that there is something else besides this broken world.
God gave you a spirit. That spirit has eternal life. It never dies. Your body dies and returns to the ground. But your spirit will live forever. This is the real you. Your body is just the shell housing your spirit. Someone said to me, “Its living like a turtle, right Pastor Todd?” Yes.
But because our spirit is defiled and corrupt it cannot enter into God’s presence in the condition it is born in. That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born-again (John 3:3-7).
Nicodemus undoubtedly would have been familiar with God’s promise to give a new heart and a new spirit to the faithful (Ezekiel 36:25,26). He was familiar with the Old Testament teaching.
You see my friends, all of us are born through water (physical birth) from the womb. But not all are spiritually reborn. You must realize and believe that his entrance to heaven requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth.
Jesus’ Kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic. Your skin color has nothing to do with whether you enter heaven or not. Religion is also not a requirement to gain entrance into his Kingdom.
God is a personal God and the only way you can know him is through a personal relationship. Just joining a church is not enough. Even if you spent seven days a week in church and were not born-again, you still would end up in hell.
God wants us to live deliberately and to yield all control to him. Anything else is a cheap substitute. Nothing else fulfills us. Solomon all too well understood the “What else is there feelings.”
2} “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3} What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2,3 KJV). Many people feel restless and dissatisfied.
Paul ended up with the same feelings after meeting Jesus. Everything Paul had accumulated was there for all to see. He was a loyal Jew that never lost the Hebrew speech.
His reputation proceeded itself. He was a member of their strictest and the most self-disciplined sect. In his heart he had a burning zeal for what he thought was the cause of God. He had a record in Judaism in which no man could mark a fault.
But when Paul met Jesus, he wrote off all those accomplishments as nothing more than bad debts. He joyfully stated it this way, 7} “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8} Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:7,8 KJV).
Even the rest of his words were just as powerful. (Philippians 3:9-14; 20,21). David also, knowing and growing in his relationship with God could say, 13} “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14} I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalm 139:13,14 KJV). David continued his exuberance about Gods masterful way he made him (Psalm 139:13-18).
Before we close this morning, take a quick look at some examples of other ordinary individuals who seemed to have everything, but ultimately had nothing, that is until they met Jesus. Please read the following scriptures aloud in your group or to yourself.
The parable about two men. (Luke 18:10-14). Zacchæus and Jesus. (Luke 19:1-10). The young man who had everything (Matthew 19:16-24). He walked away from his what else is there opportunity.
Right after that incident, Peter and Jesus (Matthew 19:27-30). Peter after seeing the young man unwilling to give up all his stuff (which he ended up losing at his death anyway) wondered what him and disciples would have for given up everything to follow Jesus.
[As believers, our reward is God’s presence and power through his indwelling Holy Spirit. Later, when Jesus rules and the whole world is made new, we will be rewarded for our faith and service.]
You see my friends, while you consider “The what else is there” dialog with yourself, consider this. Read verses 28-30 aloud to yourself once again. Do You see? Do you understand? You don’t lose anything, but you gain everything.
It’s call eternal life. That’s everything for all time. What can you trade for that? Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gives up something valuable for his sake will be repaid many times.
Maybe you have longed to be loved but cannot seem to find someone who loves you just for being you. What else is there for you? When you accept Jesus in your heart, you gain the larger family of believers. Get it? Don’t we all need more God?
Finally, Paul said it best. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 KJV).
Jesus is the “ELSE” that’s missing in your life. He’s the empty void in all your stuff. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (14:6 KJV).
🗣📢 Last words: Just remember this my friends, everywhere you’re searching for, where that something else might be other than Jesus, is futile. People continue to look for things in the wrong places.
All your objectives, directions, goals, strategies, methods, plans, and contingencies, are like grasping at straws while sinking in deep waters. You need a lifesaving hand like Peter had.
Jesus said it this way, 36} “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37} Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36,37 KJV).
Jesus spoke about the importance of a spiritual rebirth, saying that people enter the Kingdom not by living a better life but by receiving a new life from God. One day Jesus will return again to judge the world and abolish evil forever. (Revelation 21–22).
[Solomon challenged us to find true and lasting meaning in God alone. As you take a hard look at your life, as Solomon did his, you will see how important following God is over all other options. Nothing else ultimately matters.]
Ok, so is Jesus enough for you or do you have your eyes on something else? If it’s something else, you’ll never see it again once you leave this earth. Therefore, choose the other “What else there is, a new righteousness, a new relationship, a new reward, a NEW LIFE!”
🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray for that “What else” you need. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message of seeing my life in a more abundant way. Lord, I found out today, you are my life.
You have breathed into me the breath of life, and I have become a living being. My very existence and my being flow from you. In you I live and move and have my being. You are the vine, and I am a true branch of yours. Father, you have made me alive with Christ.
Lord, I learned and believe today that you are more than what I thought could fill my life. All the other things in my life were sinking sand. Lord, today I surrender all that I thought was my life support.
I learned today that turning from sin and giving my heart to you makes me new, whole, and complete. I am in Christ, and he is in me. I claim the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus now.
I stand against every black law of sin and death and every foul power of destruction aimed against me. By the authority of Jesus Christ, I bind and banish all forms of bondage and death against me.
I stand against all spirits, all witchcraft, all foul powers. I cancel all claims against me by the work of Jesus Christ.
I take my place in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and in his life.
For I have been raised with Christ to a new life. You now are the only “what else” in my life. I present my life to you, Jesus, to be filled with your life. I choose to live by the strength of Jesus Christ and by his mighty life. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
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Pastor Todd Boxley Worship Center Ministry