The King's Church in Ilford
The following is the text of the talk given on 29th November 2009 by Georges Kisombola
"My Tag has been Changed"
In Luke chapter 5 Jesus starts calling His disciples. He first gives a fishing lesson to Peter, James and John then he calls them to follow Him. He goes on and cleanses a Leper then withdraws to a desolate place to pray. In Verse 17, Jesus is back and He heals a man let through someone's roof by his friends.
Now in Luke 5:27-32 after this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, "Follow me." And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
What we understand from this account is that Jesus walks away from the crowd and sees a man; A tax Collector. I understand that traffic wardens are the most hated workers in London & you may be a supporter of that statement and I can understand why. Tax collectors were the same. Even worse! But as Jesus walks away, He is attracted to one of them. Levi!
I believe I will be speaking to three categories of people this morning. Some of you have been sent out, some of you are confused by sin and others lost.
1 Sent out!
True story, that during the World War II the American military medical staff used a Color tagging system to identify the extent of soldier's injuries.
One color (red) =hopeless; nothing they could do to save them; going to die
Another color (blue) = their condition is questionable but hopeful. They would make it if they got immediate medical attention
Last color (green) = they are wounded but they will make it whether they have medical attention or not.During a certain battle and because of the shortage of medical supplies, only injured solders in the 2ndcategory (blue those that would make it if they got immediate help) were treated.
But One soldier by the 1st name of Lou was badly hurt. He had been "red tagged" because he was hopeless! He was basically left to die in the field while others were being helped.
However, one nurse saw that he was still alive and thought she would make him as comfortable as she could in his final moments and began talking to him. They talked and found out they were both from Ohio and in a few minutes the compassion within this nurse caused her to go against the rules and she changed his red tag for a blue one so that he could get some help!
After spending months in the hospital, Lou recovered from his injuries, he went on and married another nurse from the hospital and although he had only one leg, he lived a full and happy life.
All because one compassionate person was willing the break traditions and change his tag from "hopeless to hopeful".
As I read this story, I thought of the purpose of the church today!
I thought about many of us were hopelessly lost in sin but someone took the time and gave us attention and we're in church today because someone cared enough to help you through the first steps in your Christian journey. Jesus changed your tag from Red to blue and in the church, someone took time to build you up.
Bible is full of scripture that encourages the church to reach out and preach the Gospel to the lost, to restore the backsliders to go the 2nd mile, to do whatever you have to do to help someone from eternity in Hell.
James 5:20 says: let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Thank God for a church that took you in and loved you!
Thank God for a preacher that preached the whole plan of salvation to you.
Thank God for a believer who took time to disciple you and give you fellowship week after week. But most of all, Thank you Jesus for saving our souls!!!
In Luke 5 Jesus demonstrates to us what Christian life should be all about. We find Jesus making friends with a sinner, a tax collector named Levi.
Levi had the usual reputation of cheating people while collecting taxes. Just like he did for many of us, Jesus looked past this hopelessly sinful man and saw what he could become and said to him "Levi I want you to follow me".
They went to Levi's house for some fellowship and a bunch of Levi's unsaved family and friends were there. What an opportunity for the Gospel. I can not help to imagine that Levi's friends and family looked at Jesus and wondered what Jesus was doing there? No one had ever had fellowship with them. No one ever associated with these sinners before.
When Pharisees were grumbling about what Jesus was doing He rightly answered: "It is the sick that need a doctor, not those in good health. In other words "My purpose is to invite sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend time with those who think of themselves being good enough already"
Here Jesus sat in the company of people tagged by self-righteous Pharisees as Sinners. Jesus broke all the rules and traditions and changed their tags from hopeless to hopeful. How many unsaved friends do we have? How often do we meet with them.
Levi the Red tagged man was also known as Matthew and he became one of the greatest Apostles that ever lived and he wrote the 1st Book in the Gospels; the Book of Matthew.
The purpose of the church is not to sit around and judge people as hopeless sinners but to look out because there is Gold out there. We are called to show the way and say to our unsaved friends and relatives:"Come, follow me. Jesus can change your tag". Even if this means to go against the norm or go out of our way and share God's love with those we love. Eternal hell is a reality and now one will like seeing loved ones going that way. We are called to do whatever it takes, to show the way:" Follow me".
I believe that I am addressing this message to you and to myself. We are called to go out and fellowship with those in need of Jesus so that they may be saved. That is the great commission Jesus left us. In Matthew 5: 46-47 we are told if we continue loving those who love us or fellowship only with our fellow Christians, what good that is; because even sinners do the same among themselves. We need to break that norm if we want to see the Kingdom expand. We need to go out in season and out of season.
2. Confused by Sin but willing
If it is you, I want you to know that Eph. 2:12 was written for people that were just like you… "having no hope and without God in the world. BUT NOW you belong to Christ Jesus, and though you were once far away from God, now you have been brought very near to him because of what Jesus Christ did for you with his blood"
You use to be hopelessly lost in sin but now Jesus can make something beautiful out of your life!!! Levi and his friends must have been confused by just seeing Jesus sitting with them. Levi's tag was changed.
I wonder whether anyone has watched a youtube video called:" 8 reasons why I do not share my faith". In this video, we have a young man explaining why he is confused:
Here they are:
Reason 8: I may be beaten up
Reason 7: I am afraid , what I will say will not make sense, because I do not know have to go about it.
Reason 6: I will look stupid before people
Reason 5: I do not know how to get started and share my faith
Reason 4: I will be a bad witness because I do wrong things
Reason 3: I am afraid of saying wrong things
Reason 2: I do not want to look religious, Judgmental
Reason 1: I do not know enough. What will I say if someone asks a question?
This is where many today's Christians stuck.
Jesus overcame all these fears and when we receive Him as our personal savior and Lord we need to realize that we are changed and live our lives in that light.
Those who believe in Christ are ought to follow Him in His footsteps. We are all being transformed day after day into the likeness of Jesus in that Hope for Eternal life; Rooted and grounded in God! As we battle leaving behind what we used to do, think, watch and read, we are called as a people to support one another and to support those starting their journey into that Hope for Eternal life. The church is very vital: To help believers in their growth and Knowledge of Christ.
God uses the Church as a place of growth and the Bible says that Jesus is coming for His bride: The church; the church being a community of Christians. As Christians, we are on that journey together. We cannot afford being isolated.
But it is very important that I ask the real question. What kind of tag are you wearing?
Are you already Green Tagged? = rooted and grounded in faith; going to make it no matter what! If you are enjoying the benefit of sanctification and you are being transformed more like Jesus, let me tell you something: Hold fast what you have because the enemy is not happy losing the battle. But Remember, there are those around you in the Christian family needing your help. Also remember, we have been called to go out. We are not done yet!
Are you still Blue tagged? Confused but if you get immediate attention you can make it, then join the local Church, you will find people to help you. Do not stand on your own. We are here to support you so that that hope may become real in your life. We will help you to grow and be confident enough to share your faith with others.
3. But I am aware that some may feel lost; without Hope
For some, the Society, your friends or your family wrote you off, but Jesus wants to change you, deliver you, heal your spirit and save your soul. He wants to take you from your hopelessness and death without God. He will give you Hope for Eternal life. He will make something beautiful out of your life. I proclaim to you this morning that we believe in the only one who has the power to changes tags. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who loved us so much that He took on flesh and came into this world and on the cross He took all our sins upon Himself so that we may be reconciled with God the Father.
There is no other way you can get through to get your tag changed; only Jesus Christ has the power over sin. So as it is said in Acts 2: 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Levi's tag was changed. So can yours. Let Jesus change you right now!
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1