TEXT:  Mat. 27:11-26

INTRODUCTION:

A.      vs. 22.  WE MUST ALL DEAL WITH THIS QUESTION.

B.      OUR QUESTION DEALS WITH ACCEPTANCE & SERVICE.

          1.       Must be answered daily.

          2.       Will I serve him today?

I.      THE MAGNITUDE OF THE QUESTION.

A.      IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO SERVE, YOU ARE AN ENEMY( Mat. 12:30 ).

B.      IF WE REJECT JESUS, WE REJECT GOD( John 5:23;  Luke 10:16 ).

C.      REJECTING JESUS IS REJECTING

          1.       God's spokesman( Heb. 1:1-2 ).

          2.       Our only mediator( 1 Tim. 2:5 ).

          3.       Our only source of knowledge about God( John 1:18;  8:19 ).

          4.       Our only Savior & Solution( Acts 4:12;  1 Cor. 15:55-57 ).

          5.       The divine pattern for our lives( 1 Pet. 2:21;  1 Cor. 11:1 )

D.      IF WE REJECT, WE WILL BE PUNISHED( John 12:48;  2 Thes. 1:7-9 ).

E.      A DAILY DECISION.  IF YOU PUT OFF DOING IT YOU HAVE DECIDED!

II.     IF YOU REJECT, YOU WON'T BE THE FIRST.

A.      HEROD REJECTED HIM - HOW?( Mat. 2 )Refused to hear at all.

B.      HIS COUNTRYMEN( John 1:11 ).Refused to be fair.

C.      MANY WHO BELIEVED( John 12:42-43 ). Fear.

D.      SAUL OF TARSUS( 1 Tim. 1:12-13 ). Ignorance.

E.      PILATE ATTEMPTED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL( Mat. 27:24 ).

F.      THE RICH YOUNG RULER( Mat. 19:21-22 ). Put other things first.

G.      FELIX & DRUSILLA PUT HIM OFF( Acts 24:25 ).

III.    IF YOU ACCEPT, YOU WON'T BE THE FIRST.

A.      THE WISEMEN WORSHIPED HIM( Mat. 2:1-2 ).

B.      PETER CONFESSED( Mat. 16:15-16 ), DENIED( Mat. 26:74 ), THEN

                   DIED FOR HIM( John 21:18-19 ).

C.      PAUL OBTAINED MERCY( 1 Tim. 1:13;  Acts 22:16 ).

CONCLUSION:  JESUS IMPLORES YOU TO ACCEPT.

A.      A CROWN IS OFFERED( 2 Tim. 4:6-8 ).

B.      ETERNAL LIFE( 1 John 5:11 ).

C.      JESUS IS WAITING( Rev. 3:20 ).

D.      WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?