The Greatest Interrupter...

“For we ourselves, in the past, were also foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:3-8)

We all have our "favorites" in life. Those, in times past or in some cases, living right now, who we feel are the GREATEST in a particular field or sport or area of life. Let me ask you this, “Who's the greatest baseball player that ever played the game?”

Ok, “Who's the greatest basketball player ever?” How about, “the greatest race car driver or boxer?” Now that I have you thinking, “who's the greatest actor you've ever seen on stage or on the big screen?”

No matter how we argue our opinions, they are just that, subjective opinions. You will have your favorites, and this one will have hers. But I want to ask you about one more. “Who is the greatest interrupter that has ever lived?” According to the passage that I shared above, Titus 3:3-8, and also based upon my personal testimony of the great day that Jesus interrupted my life...I would have to say that JESUS, my King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is the Greatest Interrupter that has ever lived.

Notice what verse three says...prior to Jesus interrupting my life and invading me with His saving grace I lived for myself. I was foolish, unpersuaded that God's way was the right way, led away in my mind to roam through the deceptions of this world, feeding my desires and doing all I could do to gratify my flesh, living with motives that were always about me...even the good I would do was for my benefit and credit...not loving and placing others needs before my own. The problem with living like this was I didn't know I was living this way until Jesus showed me who I was and what He had done for me. I was deceived and couldn't see it. I was deceived, like everyone else that is still living in verse three. But...as verse four begins...after that...or when God showed me Himself through His Son, and clearly manifested His great love for us...even though I was enemy to all that He is...and He proved this love to us through Jesus...that is Jesus giving up His life for our lives...and we not having to do a thing to gain this love...He showed me that I was loved by Him when I was a rebellious sinner and I didn't have to perform for His love. I was loved by Him in spite of my hostility toward Him and Him ways. He then absolutely and completely interrupted my life and set me on a new course of living for His glory. I fell in love Him and His Word. I loved His people and wanted to be around those who loved Him. I also had a love for those who hated Him and His truth. I gave my life to Him and to the honor of telling the world what He has done me and them. I still may act out of character at times and act like a fool, and I can do things that are opposed to Him, but He loves me enough to discipline me and graciously grant unto me the gift of repentance and forgiveness. He cultivates and nurtures this relationship with me so I can continue to walk with Him and declare before the world the things that He finds pleasure in.

The only difference between verse three and verse four is Jesus. Every person alive has lived in verse three at some point in their lives but not everyone is living in verse four. Once you've been interrupted by Jesus you will live forever in verse four. Praise be unto God. Because the interruption of Jesus is a permanent interruption that includes a powerful invasion of His amazing and redeeming grace.

I can humbly and thankfully say that I have been interrupted by the Greatest Interrupter in the world and His name is Jesus. He has been the difference for me, and He can be the One who can make a difference in your life also.

“Who's the greatest interrupter in the history of mankind?”

His name is Jesus! I love Him! I trust Him! And I will tell the world...who He is...and what He's doing today!

Interrupting lives for His glory!

So, let’s think about this? If the only difference between Titus 3:3-4 is the interruption of Jesus, then all of us, at one time or another, have lived in verse three. And some of you reading this are still in verse three... but the only difference those who have been in verse three but now living in verse four is the interruption of Jesus and the invasion of His redeeming grace.

I haven't always been in love with Jesus. Matter of fact... I got along great without Him and had no desire for Him to lead or “mess up” my life. So I thought...

I wasn't raised in a Christ centered home and hated going to church as a kid. And I only went, when I did go, to chase after a girl. But Jesus used my girlfriend (my wife now) to put me in a place where I was exposed to the good news about Jesus. And in 1997, after being married nearly 10 years, I surrendered myself and my sin and self centered living to Jesus and His purpose for my life.

Up to that point, I really didn't see myself, as He saw me, and I didn't see my need for His saving grace. But, in a way that can only be described as a God thing, Jesus opened my eyes to see that I would perish in my self-centered life, without Him, and that He was calling me to come follow Him. I can’t ever remember hearing the gospel preached in those days gone by. But when I heard and knew of the grace of God in truth, as Colossians 1 reveals, the gospel began to bring forth fruit in my life, from that point on. So, through faith, I answered His call to surrender my sin and life to Him. I refer to it as when Jesus interrupted my agenda and invaded me with the grace I need to trust Him and also what He did for me on the cross. I deserved to be punished and die, as a result of my rebellion, but He, on my behalf, as my substitute, took the wrath I deserved and shed His blood to satisfy the wrath of God toward me. And through His sinless life became the means of how God would see me, therefore, His life and death supplied the forgiveness and favor I need to be in a right relationship with His Father.

I obviously didn't know these things, or the necessity of them, until I heard the gospel of Jesus in such away that brought me to a place where I knew my life now belong to Him. I love the word picture of the word "delivered" in Colossians 1:13 ...a violent and forceful rescue... from that which we once loved... darkness! We had to be forcefully ripped away and rescued from the bondage of Satan and the inescapable cords of darkness that were holding us captive. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

My life was now His, He was inviting me to come join Him, and that He would use me in His work of rescuing other sinners like myself. It was from that point, that my life was different. What happen? I fell in love with Jesus, and I wanted to know Him. I found Him in the word of God and at work in His people. I indulged myself in His word and invested my life in the body of Christ and He began to teach me and use me to help others. I had a desire to share His gospel and teach what He was teaching me to others, as I learned more and more about Him. This was and still is the work of His grace. It is amazing.

Check out Pastor Nick’s corresponding audio message, “Fruit Upon Fruit” posted on February 19, 2019.