"We interrupt your world."

Who interrupts?

God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit when drawing people near and convincing them. John 6:44-45; 12:32-33; 15:26; 16:8-11

Who is interrupted?

Since the Lord doesn't show favoritism, Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11 EACH PERSON will have their world interrupted. John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 2 Peter 3:9

Where can it happen?

It can be where we least expect it. 

Saul, who became Paul, was headed to a city to persecute and arrest Christians Acts 9:1-2; 22:4-5 when his world was interrupted by Jesus.

As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him,

"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?"

"Who are You, Lord?" Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting," He replied.

"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Acts 9:3-6

When?

As often as it takes to give each person an individualized witness. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8; 10:4-6, 33; 26:22-23

How?

Use all godly means to rescue as many as possible. 1 Corinthians 9:22

Proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead. 1 Corinthians 2:2; 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Share none other than what Moses and the prophets foretold Luke 24:25-27; John 5:39; Acts 28:23; 1 Peter 1:10-11 and confirmed by His apostles and prophets through the New Testament. Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:3-5; Hebrews 2:3; 2 Peter 3:1-2, 15

Show compassion and pull them from the fire. Jude vs.22-23

Believe for supernatural signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4 that will astound those who see them. John 5:20; Acts 8:12-13

Teach in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:7, 13; 1 Peter 1:12

Trust creation's ever-present witness. Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20; 10:18

When our worlds are interrupted on His day of visitation, Luke 7:16; 1 Peter 2:12 what can occur?

NEGATIVE REACTIONS

DISTURBANCE

Religious leaders were disturbed when their worlds were attacked by John the Baptist and Jesus. Matthew 3:7; Luke 11:37-54 

Even in Jesus' hometown, everyone in the Jewish synagogue became offended and wanted to kill Him. Luke 4:16-29

DOUBTS

Sometimes when the Lord interrupts our world with something supernatural, we wonder,

"Is this really God?" Matthew 12:22-23

People reacted to the miracles, wonders, and signs that the Father did through Jesus. John 5:36; 9:13-16; Acts 2:22

Some religious leaders said that He cast out evil spirits by the power of the devil. Matthew 12:24

After Jesus healed a man born blind, John 9:1-11 others countered, 

"These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" John 10:21 

DEVASTATION

Noah's generation could have believed this preacher of righteousness. Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5 

But they didn't change their lives, Genesis 6:5-8, 11-12; 7:1, 17-23; Matthew 24:37-39 even when warned 7 days in advance. Genesis 7:4

Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them 2 Peter 2:6; Jude v.7 could have turned from sin when angels visited, Genesis 19:1-2 but they didn't. Genesis 19:4-14, 24-26

The Lord would have spared the cities if only 10 righteous people were there. Genesis 18:22-32

Jesus' generation could have turned to Him but most didn't. Matthew 16:4; Mark 8:38; Luke 10:13-15; John 6:66; 7:47-48

So, their house was left to them desolate Matthew 23:38; Luke 13:35 because they didn't recognize their time of visitation.

Luke 19:41-44

POSITIVE OUTCOMES

DELIGHTED

Jesus raised a young man from the dead who was in a coffin.

His mother and a large crowd saw it. Luke 7:11-15

They were thrilled.

A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God.

"A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said. "God has visited His people!" Luke 7:16

A rich, chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, climbed up a tree to see Jesus. Luke 19:1-4

The Lord was about to interrupt his world.

When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said,

"Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today."

So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully. Luke 19:5-6

The crowd said that he was a sinner. Luke 19:7

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,

"Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold."

Jesus said to him,

"Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:8-10

Has Jesus ever said to you, "Follow Me?"

That would be a visitation, an interruption by the Savior, wouldn't it?

Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all fishermen. Matthew 4:18, 21

Jesus interrupted their business world.

Peter and Andrew were casting a net into the sea when Jesus called them. Matthew 4:18

"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

And at once they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:20

When He called James and John, they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Him. Matthew 4:22

Paul, who at that time was called Saul, after he saw the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and heard His voice, Acts 9:1-6, 17 risked the loss of his religious status Galatians 1:14; Philippians 3:4-6 if he did what Jesus asked him.

Paul said later that he wasn't disobedient to the heavenly vision. Acts 26:19

Whatever Paul had as a Jewish religious leader, he counted it as garbage compared to what he gained from the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:7-8

DELIVERED

Their worlds were interrupted --

Noah and 7 family members were rescued from The Flood. Genesis 7:1-7

Lot, his wife and 2 daughters were warned and pushed to escape the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19:18-23

A large and evil city named Nineveh was spared by God the Father. Jonah 1:1-2; 3:10; 4:11

Did these deliverances happen automatically and without conditions?

No, they didn't.

Noah had to obey the Father to build an ark by faith and gather living creatures into it Genesis 6:13-22 to escape rain that had never been seen. Genesis 2:5-6; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5

And all 8 of them had to enter the ark. Genesis 6:18

Lot's wife looked back, which the angels said not to do, Genesis 19:17 so she turned into a pillar of salt Genesis 19:26 instead of being saved.

Jesus said, "Remember Lot's wife!" Luke 17:32

Lot tried to convince his sons-in-law that judgment was coming but they thought he was joking. Genesis 19:14

Though Lot is described as a righteous man, 2 Peter 2:7-8 he wasn't as quick as the angels wanted so they had to grab him, his wife, and daughters to lead them to flee the city, the Father being merciful to him. Genesis 19:15-16 

So Lot, his wife, and daughters were the only ones who took the warning from the angels seriously enough to run. Genesis 19:1-2, 12-13, 17; 2 Peter 2:7

How many of us have at times, run, but then wanted to return to our "Egypt" where there was plenty of food and more? Numbers 11:4-6

Or after having put our hand to the Lord's work, His plough, Luke 9:62 were tempted to look back as Lot's wife did? Genesis 19:17, 26

Have we ever made a 180 degree turn from evil as the large city of Nineveh did?

The prophet Jonah finally agreed to preach the Lord's judgment on that city. Jonah 3:1-3

The people of Nineveh were soon to have their world interrupted.

On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed,

"Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!" Jonah 3:4

How many have seen signs that say, "The world will be judged!" "Repent: the end is near!" and "Jesus Saves"?

Some shake their heads at this kind of preaching. 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

What did this wicked city of Nineveh do?

Jesus said that they repented [changed their thoughts and lives] at the preaching of Jonah. Luke 11:32

They proved it when they didn't eat or drink, wore rough clothing, turned from evil and violence, and called out earnestly to God. Jonah 3:5-9

When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them. Jonah 3:10

DO WHAT?

John the Baptist told the multitudes that came to be baptized by him that they were children of snakes. Luke 3:7 

Instead of being offended they asked,

"What then should we do?" to produce fruit to show that they had a change of heart. Luke 3:8, 10-14

ARE WE BEING VISITED NOW?

Some of this information may be new to you.

For others they may think, "I've believed this my whole life."

But maybe, the words haven't changed us. Matthew 18:3; 2 Timothy 3:5; Titus 1:16

We're missing something.

We lack a PERSONAL, one-on-One, salvation relationship with God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:3-7, 16-17; Romans 3:21-26; 5:1-2, 8-9; 6:23; 10:8-10

The day of His visitation is today. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 

We can become new creations in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17

God made Him [Jesus] Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Then, you can marvel and say,

"My world has been interrupted! The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit are now MINE!" 2 Corinthians 13:14

Your thoughts?

R. Jason