17/05/2026
BAPTISMAL SUNDAY SERVICE (Picture Extract Part 1)
TOPIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF SALVATION
TEST: LUKE 19:1-10, 2KING 4:1, 2:1-2
Acts 8:26-31,mark 10:46-50, luke 3:7-9,acts 13:26-27,acts 4:12,Romans 8:1,7:18-19
Speaker: Rev. Kayode Oyedoyin
Introduction;
God created man in his own image, after his likeness Gen 1; 27 man fell from grace to grass and was drove out of the garden as a result of his sin.(Gen 3:24) since then man has been struggling with sin, pain, sickness, fear, oppression, calamity, failure etc. For
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3; 32
God did not abandon his people, he has been looking for a way to redeem his people through many messengers. ‘’Then I heard the voice of the lord saying, ‘’whom shall I send? And whom will go for us?’’ And I said hear am I send me!’’ (Isaiah 6: 8).
The order of salvation in the old testament is ‘’GO’’ it is a command God has been sending his prophets to go and tell kings, nations and individuals to repent of their sin to escape judgement the like of prophet Elijah, Jerimiah, Nathan etc. 1 kings 18:1, 2samuel 12:1-4, Jeremiah 22:1-3 it a privilege for God to be sending messengers to them for corrections, many utilize the opportunity, in the new testament the order is ‘’come’’ so you don’t wait until someone sent to you but you can make a move like the prodigal son when he had come to his senses, he said ‘’I will set out and go back to my father and say to him ; father for I have sinned against heavens and you (Luke 15:17-18)
Jesus say ‘’come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
Matt 11:28 come to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (revelation 3:20)
Make sacrifice for your salvation (Luke 19:1-4, 2 KING 4:1, 2:1-2 mark5: 6-7)
Zacchaeus a chief tax collector, wealthy, short. He realized his riches cannot save him, no one can buy salvation, even Simon that offer money for power of holy ghost was rebuked by peter( Acts 8 18:-20) ‘’your money perish with thee ‘’ it’s only a sacrifice that can earn you salvation remember the order of salvation in new testament is ‘’come’’ zacchacus forget his wealth and his position when he had about Jesus when he discover there are many crowd and as a short man he made another sacrifice to climbed the tree to see him. As a reach man he sacrifice to run ahead. It’s not when there is trouble you can run but run to Jesus the saviour redeemer, advocate, provider etc.
Note: (money can never satisfy spiritual thirst of human heart)
(2) Love of Christ :( Luke 19:5-7, mark 10:46-50, acts 8:26-31, mark 5:1-8)
Jesus love is extended to all humans, rich or poor, blind or deaf. When Jesus reached the sport he looked up and said to him ‘’zacchoeus come down without making any request, Christ knows his mind and what is looking for, as you are eager to see him today he will dine and wine with you in Jesus name.
A hungry seeking heart will always find the lord. Zacchacus humbled himself and make
Haste to come down immediately
When you make a move to be saved Christ will show love to you, Christ show love to bartimaeus the blind (mark 10: 46-50) he show love to Ethiopian eu**ch (acts 8:26-31) he showed love to the demon possessed man of gadarenus (mark 5 1-8). If you make a move, today is the day of your salvation in Jesus name (2 corinthians 6:2)
Evidence of salvation :Luke 19:8-9 (Mark 10:21-22, Number 5:5-7, Acts 19:18-19)
And zacchaeus stood, and said unto the lord behold, lord, the half of my goods I gave to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold Vs8. willingly he made the offer by himself he doesn’t want to live in the wrong of the past or having guilty conscience. Is wealth made no value because of salvation? Do you value your salvation or are you still involved in the dubious characters, manipulation corruption not like the young rich ruler that came to Jesus, he cannot sacrifice his money for salvation and he left (Mark 10:21-22) Jesus said to him ‘’today salvation as come to this house’’. (Luke 19:9). Evidence of salvation, Acts 19:18-19, Number 5:5-7) Restitution take place they burn charm. Whatever that can take you backward surrender them for Christ.
Conclusion: Receive Jesus as your lord and saviour is not enough than to surrender and submit your total life unto Jesus let him have control over your life and embrace the newness of Christ by produce fruit in keeping with repentance. The axe is already at the root of the tree and every three that doesn’t bear fruit will cut down and thrown into fire. (Luke 3:7-9) I, ask you which fruit are you producing since you believed? If your life is still under control of devil doing what you don’t want to do come to Jesus for help cry aloud like Paul ‘’ what a wretched man I am who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thank be to Jesus who deliver me through Jesus Christ our lord (Rome 7:24-25). ‘’Therefore, if anyone is in Christ the new creation as come the old as gone the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). Come to Jesus make a sacrifice, receive the love of Christ live your life with prove and evidence of salvation let people see Jesus in you.
