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pressure you're under invitation. What are you going to do with Jesus? Not just on Sunday, not just at Easter or Christmas or some other special time of the year, but what are you going to do with Jesus Monday through Saturday?

What are you going to do with Jesus when it comes to your everyday life, your choices, your future? Your answer has an impact on how you consider your priorities. So, how does Jesus fit into what you're doing with your life right now?

And with what you're contemplating for your future? Let me make you aware this morning here the answer to this question my brothers and sisters here this has eternal ramifications. Just look at somebody right now next to you and just ask them, "What are you going to do with Jesus?" Before you fully answer that question, I need to make sure you understand who you're answering about.

Jesus is not junior God. He's not second place in the triune Godhead. He's not a lesser deity sitting on some divine committee waiting for his turn to speak.

He is the one, the only, the all together. He is God, period. Isaiah Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a child is born." This is speaking prophetically of Jesus, the Messiah that's going to be born in the future.

That This child is going to be born. "Unto us a son is given. The government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God.

How could the mighty God be the son that was going to be born? You know why? Because it was that mighty God that robed himself in flesh.

That son, that child is going to be the mighty God. He's also the everlasting father. He is the prince of peace.

Isaiah didn't call him a mighty God as in one of the many deities worshipped in his day, but Isaiah speaking prophetically about the coming Messiah called him the mighty God. The everlasting father. The prince of peace.

He's not an angel. He's not a prophet. He's God showing up wrapped in flesh.

Isaiah 44 and 6 says, "I am the first, I am the last, and beside me there is no God." So, he looked to the left, he looked to the right, he looked up, he looked down, and he declared, "THERE IS NOBODY BESIDE ME." NOBODY ABOVE ME, nobody before me, nobody after me. When Jesus spoke to John in Revelation 1 and 11, he declared himself, "I AM the alpha and the omega. I am the first and the last." There cannot be two first and last.

There cannot be two alpha and omegas. There's only one. He is the first.

He is the last. He is before time. He is the creator of time.

And let me remind you this morning that he's still the one WHO SHOWS UP ON TIME. HE'S THE I AM. Present tense.

Right now. He didn't tell Moses, "I was." He didn't say, "I will be." He said, I am. Present tense.

Right now tense. LET ME MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND. That means that whatever you need right now, he already is it.

He is healer. He is deliverer. He is savior.

He is way maker. He is chain breaker. That means whatever has you bound, he can break it.

He is burden bearer. That means that you can cast your cares on him because he actually does really care for you. He is bread when you're hungry, he's water when you're thirsty, he's rest when you're exhausted.

He's the door, the only door. And when he opens the door, no man can shut it. He's the good shepherd.

That means he leaves the 99 and goes and looks for the one. Somebody in this room today just might be that one that he's looking for. He is the resurrection and the life.

He is king of kings. He is lord of lords. He is alpha and omega.

He was there when it all started and he's going to be there when everything on this planet is going to be over with. He's the bright and morning star. That means he's willing to show up in your darkest hour.

He's the lamb. But he's also the lion of the tribe of Judah. He conquered death, hell, and the grave.

He's Emmanuel. He's not God far off. He's not God watching from a distance.

He is God with us. That means he's in this room. Right now.

HE IS STRONG TOWER. THE righteous run to it and are safe. He's judge, mercy, and grace, all three at the same time.

His judge His judgment is perfect and final. His mercy We can be thankful that he releases it fresh and new every morning. Every morning.

Every morning. Never running out. And his grace He gives it unearned, undeserved, and still flowing into your life.

Philippians 2 and 10 says that the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, things in earth, things under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every knee.

Every knee. That means kings, presidents, philosophers, atheists, every knee that ever bent is going to bow to him. James 2:19 confirms that even the devils believe and tremble.

Demons don't don't debate on the name. They don't try to negotiate with the name. They don't question his name.

No, it says they tremble. They tremble. And they flee at the sound of the name of Jesus.

How many is thankful for the name, the power of the name right now? Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah.

And here's a wonderful promise for us today. Hebrews 13 and 8 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Since he doesn't change, then what he did in Acts chapter 2, he still wants to do today.

How many believes that? He doesn't change. What he did in that upper room is what he's willing to do in this room.

He's not changed. He's not retired. He's not downsized.

He is the same. He changes not. That means whatever was important to him in that first century church is still important to him today.

So, before you answer the question, what are you going to do with Jesus, make sure you understand who you're answering to. Jesus is not just a religious figure. He's not some historical icon.

He's not just a good teacher of love and morals. Jesus is God wrapped in flesh, walking among men, healing the sick, dying for sinners, rising from the dead, and sitting on the throne of heaven right now with all power and all resources at his disposal. So now, what are you going to do with Jesus?

Let me to ask you Let me ask you to consider three questions that will help you to answer the most important question. We can answer the big question with three smaller ones. Question number one, what can I do with Jesus?

You do have options. Because he's given every one of us in this room the power of choice. Every single person in this room is already doing something with Jesus.

So, you can accept him, or you can reject him. Amen. You can let him in, or you can shut him out.

You can follow him or you can walk away. But you know what? There is no middle ground.

He's not looking for partial commitment. He's not honored by a part-time Christian. He's looking for all in or else it's not in at all.

So we we need to make him our Lord and Savior or one day stand before him as our judge. And here's what you cannot do. You cannot be neutral.

Pilate tried to wash his hands and stay out of it. He tried to do nothing and he ended up being the man who handed Jesus over to be crucified. You will do something with Jesus.

The only question what? If you're still setting If you're setting here unsure, that may not be the same as rejection because honestly seeking for more understanding is not the same as rejection. But be careful how you go about seeking.

Be careful how you who you allow to influence your decision. I believe God's pleased with the person who says, "I don't know yet, but I have the desire to find out." But keep in mind that the only place to find out in his word. You can't sit on the fence forever.

Eventually, the question must be answered, "What will you do with Jesus?" You do have options but you do have to decide. And then question number two, who Who what you do with Jesus? This is where it gets really personal.

Because your mama can't decide this for you. I know some mamas in this room that have been praying for their kids for years. But mama, you can't make the decision for them.

Your pastor can't make it for you. As pastor, as much as I want to help you make the right decision, I can't make it for you. It's a decision you have to make.

And your friends, your social media connections, they can't make the decision for you. Even your past, your past can have influence in your life, but even your past doesn't have the authority to decide your future. Only you can decide what you do with Jesus.

Jesus is not standing over you with condemnation. He's standing in front of you with invitation. Second Peter 3 and 9 says the Lord is not slack concerning his promises, some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

He's not willing that anyone perish. His will is that everyone comes to a place of repentance. But before But he he's he's not going to force you.

This is the decision that you have to make. And then question number three, does my decision really even matter? Quite obviously, many people live like it doesn't.

They must feel like God is okay with him being a part-time Christian. But let me be straight with you here today. If you have If you have never needed forgiveness for anything you've done, then no, it doesn't really matter what you do with Jesus.

If you've never been in a storm that you couldn't get yourself out of, if you've never been broken in ways that money couldn't fix, if you've never been sick in ways that medical science couldn't heal, if you've never felt that gap between who you are and who you know you're supposed to be, then know it doesn't matter what you do with Jesus. But if you have ever needed forgiveness, if you've ever needed peace, if you've ever needed strength that you didn't have, if you've ever needed direction, let me tell you this morning here, it matters. It matters for the life you're living now.

Amen. Amen. The reason The reason it matters is because your decision will impact where you spend eternity.

And I hope we all understand that. I hope we all believe that. Eternity's coming.

I think from time to time when I come into this building get here early in the morning and walk around the sanctuary and pray a little bit before I go back to my office, I'm just thinking, what if this was the last service we ever get to be a part of? Did you approach this service today as you would if you knew this was your last? So, we've considered some questions here and now let's consider the answer.

Let's look again here Luke 2:39 and 40. So, when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth. Verse 40 says, "And the child grew.

He became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." These four words, four words, one verse is the blueprint for your entire life. Grew, strong, wisdom, and grace. This is what happens when Jesus is not just a decoration in your life.

Not just something that sounds appropriate to identify with, but he truly becomes the occupant of your heart and life. Not just on the wall, but in the house. When this happens, things change.

You change. So, we see here four things, four things to do with Jesus. Number one, let Jesus grow.

Everybody say grow. Growth means change. It's sad to me that it seems more and more Christians today want to be considered a Christian, but not feel the need to truly be sold out to Jesus.

It seems many are satisfied, they feel justified with a lesser commitment than that of our apostolic forefathers. It seems that a lot of people are uncomfortable with the idea of fully surrendering their life. Because we want the Jesus that we can manage.

We want a bonsai tree Jesus. Restricted, kept small, kept contained, something that looks good on the shelf, but never gets too big, never never takes over, never demands too much attention. So, friend, let me tell you today here, that's not how this works.

You have to be willing to let Jesus grow in your life. And if Jesus is really growing in your life, the results will be that some things will also change in your life. Old habits, old mindsets, old attitudes, old relationships that are pulling you in the wrong direction.

Growth says, "I want to change." Growth says, "I want to change the way I've been thinking." I don't want to think the way I used to think. I don't want to continue doing what I've been doing. And as growth takes place, we develop the attitude that says, "I want Jesus to be more to have more and more control over every part of my life." Growth says, "I need Jesus every hour." Not just Sunday.

Not just when I'm in trouble. But I need and I want Jesus every single day. Don't let anybody influence you to stay who you are, who you have been.

And you know what? The discomfort you may be feeling, the conviction you may be feeling, that's the evidence of growth trying to take place. That's the spirit trying to do what the spirit does.

And then the next word here, number two, let Jesus be your strength. Everybody say strengths. Jesus wants to be something bigger than your bank account.

He wants to be more important than your social connections. He wants to be more important than your education. He wants to be more important than your career.

Have you ever hit a wall that your own strength, your own willpower couldn't break through? I'll say yes. God wants you to arrive.

God wants you to arrive at a place where you can't fix it yourself. Second Corinthians 12:9 says, "And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most of gladly I would rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Stop trying to carry and control what you don't have the strength to carry.

You're not intended to control all the details of your life. Let him be strong where you are weak. Psalm 27 and 1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 46 and 1, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Everybody say strength.

We need growth, we need strength, and then number three, we need to depend on his wisdom. Everybody say wisdom. That means allowing him to have the last word.

Don't try to justify your opinions and end up ignoring his word. Culture says, "Follow your heart. Let your emotions guide you." But the word says, Proverbs 14 and 12, "There is a way that seems right unto a man, but its end is the way of death." So, today we're living in the technology age.

We're We're We're drowning in information, but we're starving for true wisdom. Everybody's got a platform. Everybody's got an opinion.

Everybody's got a hot take on what will make your life better, what will make you look better, what will make you more successful, but true wisdom that will actually build your life, that only comes from God. Wisdom will give God's word the final word on every decision in your life. Your relationships, your money, your kids, it's all in here.

Let his wisdom guide you on how you invest your time, your talents, and your treasure. Let him be the voice that overrules every other voice in your life. Then number four, we need to live under grace.

Everybody say grace. This could be for the people who've been sitting under condemnation. You think you've messed up too many times.

You think God's patience has run out. You may think that everybody else in this room has it all together. And you're the only one that's holding on by a thread.

But let me assure you today, grace doesn't need a perfect setting. Grace doesn't need a perfect person. Grace isn't waiting for you to get your life cleaned up and everything in order.

Grace shows up in the messy. It shows up in the ordinary. And it makes it extraordinary.

And here's what I need the saints to hear, the ones who've been in this church for years. This isn't just a message for the newcomers. The question for you is, are you still living like Jesus is the number one priority in your house?

Or has he possibly ended up being in the guest room while you run everything else? Grace is also the for the prodigal who's wanting to come back. And then grace is also for the elder brother who never left.

And grace is for this room here today. John 1:14, Jesus came full of grace and truth. So, now we come to the part that changes everything here.

On the day of Pentecost, after Jesus had died on the cross, after he had been buried, after he had risen from the dead, the Holy Ghost fell on 120 people in that upper room. The crowd outside heard it. They saw it.

And then they asked a very important question here. Acts 2:37, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter, one of those that were filled with the Holy Ghost, standing right there in that moment, he gave them the answer God wanted them to hear. Not a suggestion, not an opinion, the answer.

Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Repentance. Everybody say repentance. Repentance is not just being sorry, because sorry doesn't change you.

It just makes you feel bad. Repentance is a turn. Repentance is saying, "I I I I You you you recognize that you need to rearrange your priorities.

You you you now have the desire to change the direction you've been going, and you want to go toward God instead." And then baptism in Jesus' name here. This is where we have to be specific. Why?

Because the word is specific. Acts 2:38 says, "Be baptized in the name." Singular, the name of Jesus Christ. Not titles, not a formula, the name.

Why? Because there's power in the name. We sang about it this morning.

There's power in the name of Jesus. Power in that name alone here. Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

So, when the apostles baptized people throughout the book of Acts, every single time that it's recorded in scripture, they baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts chapter 8, Acts chapter 10, and the Bible is very specific in Acts chapter 19 where they were all rebaptized because they had not been baptized in Jesus' name, they'd been baptized in another formula. Acts chapter 22, all baptized in the name of Jesus.

And then experiencing the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Peter said, "You shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Not might, not maybe, you shall. That's a promise.

Acts 2 shows us exactly what that looks like when it happens. They were filled with the Holy Ghost, they began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them the utterance. That's not weird.

It's not spooky. It's the Bible. It's how God chose to manifest the infilling of His spirit.

And that's what happened on the day of Pentecost, and that's what will still what it's still available to every believer in every generation. Remember Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever? What He did in that first century church is what He still wants for us today.

His plan for humanity doesn't change just because society changes. It doesn't change because religious culture changes. Acts 2:39, "For the promise is unto you, to your children, to all that are afar off, as even as many as the Lord our God shall call." So, the promise is not just for people in that upper room.

It's for you. It's for your kids. It's for whoever God is calling.

And if you walked in here today, if you feel God has more for you in your life, then my friend, God is calling you. Amen. Let's all stand if you would.

As I stand as I come to a close here, but I want to I want to take you to one more scene in the Bible. And after after years years after the baby in the manger became risen with Christ but became the risen Christ, the religious authorities dragged the disciples in and said to them, "Acts 5 and 28, did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine." They filled Jerusalem with the power of Jesus.

They didn't ask permission. They didn't form a committee to strategize. They didn't wait for somebody to give them a platform.

They experienced a power that enabled them to fill the city. So, Christian Life Church, let me remind you, let me help you understand, we've got a city to fill. I said we've got a silly city to fill.

We've got a responsibility here. These streets, these neighborhoods, these schools, these jails, these hospitals, these barber shops, these beauty salons, these fitness centers, these coffee shops, this city needs to be filled with the power of the name of Jesus. Not a liberal Jesus or a conservative Jesus.

Not a black Jesus, not a white Jesus, not a brown Jesus. The Jesus who said, "Come unto me, all of you." The Jesus who said, "Whosoever will, let him come." It's the Jesus who came for the sick. Came for the sick, not the healthy.

Not the all self-sufficient. It's Jesus who still heals the brokenhearted. It's Jesus who still sets the captives free.

They tried, but they couldn't shut up or shut down the disciples. They may try to silence a movement, but they can't silence the power of the resurrection. You can lock up a preacher, but you can't lock up the Holy Ghost.

Amen. Somebody in this room has been locked up. Not by bars, but by shame.

You've been locked up in doubt. You've been locked up in failure from the past. You're held captive by your history.

But I need you to know today that the name The same Jesus who walked out of that grave wants to walk into your situation right now. He grew, and he wants to grow in you. He got strong, and he wants to make you strong.

He was filled with wisdom, and he will fill you with the wisdom to make better choices. The grace of God was on him, and that means grace is here reaching for somebody today. So, I want to bring you back to the question we started with, and I need you to answer it.

Not for me, not for your family, but you have to answer it for yourself and before God. How are you going to answer the most important question of life? what are you going to do with Jesus?

If you feel there's a part of your life that you've been holding back on God, today's the day you need to decide. I'm ready to surrender. I'm ready to surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ.

I'm ready to make him Lord of my life. This altar right here is thank you for coming, brother Tommy, but this altar is open. You can come to the front here.

If you If you've not experienced the baptism of the Holy Ghost, I invite you to come to the front here today. We'll pray with you. The promise is real.

And the promise is for you. Every single one of us. If you've not been baptized according to the scripture in the name of Jesus Christ, the water's ready.

You can be baptized today. Maybe you've been part of the church for years. But you put Jesus in the back room where you've been trying to run your life yourself.

Well, today can be the day you give him occupancy of the whole house. And maybe you came here today with your faith on life support. Jesus wants to breathe fresh faith into your spirit today.

Amen. So, I'm just inviting everybody. Make your way to the front here.

This altar Make your way to the front. Whatever your need may be. We're going to sing.

We're going to worship. We're going to pray. We're going to pray together.

We're going to pray for one another. Let God speak to you. Let God draw you.

But I ask you to please respond. Please respond to what God wants to do in your life. Amen.

Most important The most important question of your life. Jesus Come on, let's Come to the front here. Let's pray together.

Let's worship together. Join together with somebody. Pray together.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. >> You have rescued my life.

You have rescued my life. And I'll never go back. Woah, woah, you have rescued my life.

You have rescued my life. And I'll never go back. My response is Hallelujah.

You're my redeemer. Hallelujah. My response is My response is Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. You're my redeemer. You're my redeemer.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. You have rescued You have rescued my life.

You have rescued my life. And I'll never go back. You have rescued >> You have rescued my life.

>> Have rescued. >> You have rescued my life. >> And I'm never going back.

My response is >> My response is Hallelujah. You're my redeemer. Hallelujah.

My response is Hallelujah. You're my redeemer. Hallelujah.

My response is Hallelujah. You're my redeemer. Hallelujah.

My response is Hallelujah. You're my redeemer. Hallelujah.

>> You have rescued. >> You have rescued my life. You have rescued my life.

And I'm never going back. Back.