Cell phone Jesus: Reaching People on Our Cell Phones...

There is so much negativity out there on our cell phones. Why do you want to feed that negativity by looking at it, and giving it roots in our lives? Why would you not instead look at things that lift people up and let that take root in our lives? I have talked about you can use your cell phone to lift people up or to bring them down. Which is more important to bring someone to Christ or to bring them down to the pit of hell? Which is more important gossiping about someone or bringing them to Christ. This is the hour, this is the time, and the year that we need to bring people to Christ. in a media world how do we do that when most of how we interact is on our cell phones. I have talked about being a missionary to bring people to Christ. 

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28 19-20. With just our fingertips we can go through the world and make disciples of all nations. we can use our cell phones to bring people to Christ, instead of looking at those cat videos that do nothing for your life and will only have a Band-Aid on your life, you can use that time to bring people to Christ. What tools we have at this time are different than the tools they had 20 or 30 years ago but the instruction is still the same, we need to win souls for Jesus, so, they do not end up in hell.

We have Facebook for what so we can as I talked about yesterday to look at juicy news about people who are no better than us only, they have more money and don't care about the things that will give them eternal life. Just like the church, I go to, they use Instagram to reach people. why can we not all be like that and use what is on our cell phones to bring people to Christ? (They use a computer, but you get the idea). Our cell phones hold so much that if we all used it for God's glory and brought people to Christ, we could have souls won for Jesus, so much so that all the things that are negative or unholy would be wiped away and God would be the center or our cell phone and our lives.

Today is the Lord's and we should treat it as such. So, go forth and use your cell phones to reach people for Christ. Tomorrow we will look at key things you can do on your cell phone to bring people to Christ. Today's message may be a bit short but it is for a purpose and that is so you can have time to take stock of how you are using your cell phone to bring people to Christ.

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38. Let's be a worker for the Harvest today!!!

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

1 Peter 1:12-14

 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 1 Peter 1:12-14

Cell phone Jesus: Shift in What We Do...

I am here to tell you that what Beyonce is doing at the moment is not that important compared to what God is doing right now but we would rather read about the first one rather than read about what God is doing. Why? because we love drama, a juicy story, we love a good soap opera and want to escape to what we think is a better life. Read your Bible on your phone and you will see in the Old Testament all the things I mentioned above. There is plenty of drama and some of it reads like a soap opera. There have been times recently that I almost couldn't put down my Bible it was so interesting. Our Phones offer us so much stuff we can look at and so much juicy news about celebrities and who has slept with who and who has cheated on whom. 

But what if we shifted the atmosphere to seeking things of Jesus and His kingdom, so much so that those other things just drown out and cease to exist, that we would be so filled with God in our phones that it overflows to others and it would affect how they use their cell phones, that people would see us worship Jesus so in turn Jesus can be glorified by others. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8. 

I talked about seeking Jesus, be mindful of what you do on your cell phone, and if we veer off course to have discernment and correct it. This is just not stuff you do and it all becomes better and is fixed. This need to be a total shift in the atmosphere regarding how we use our cell phones. An action of just doing something does not bring about change like the things above. Things can change that way but will not last. An example of this is a guy who is a drunk and says I will not drink anymore and put all the bottles in the cupboard. He has done the action of putting them away but will it last because he only did the action of putting them away not actions that will last. in order just like this example we need to create lasting actions that will last and not just do an action to say we did it and go back. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13

This last example Goes for our cell phones and what we do on them. How do we expect to change when we create change that won't last? I am here to tell you it is because we do not want it to last. It is easier for us to give those things up for a moment and then go back and then ask again for forgiveness than just get rid of it and give it up altogether. What is on your cell phone that needs that lasting action of getting rid of those things, so you can change the atmosphere for good? In everything, there is action but not all actions are the same and be done as such. We need lasting action for it to work

So how do we change the way we use our cell phones to bring us closer to Jesus. We need a total shift in what and how we use our cell phones.  Those actions I talked about yesterday are just part of how we need to do it so the things we do will be lasting and just temporary. 

To end for today this needs to be a whole body, mind, and actions shift so it will last and we can use our cell phones to come closer to Jesus not farther away from Jesus. What we do matters, so do it for Jesus today, so that we can as the verse I used says come closer to Jesus.

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

1 Corinthians 16:12-14

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity. 13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 All that you do must be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:12-14

All Bible verse taken from the NASB

Cell phone Jesus: Changing the Way We Use Our Cell Phones to Bring Us Closer to Jesus...

Today we will look at how we change the way we use our cell phones to bring us closer to Jesus. and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3. If we are to use our cell phones to bring us closer to Jesus, we need to change the way we use our cell phones. I keep mentioning it and I had you do an app evaluation before we started this series to get rid of the apps that bring you farther away from Jesus but that is only the tip of the iceberg of what we need to do to change how we use our cell phones.  Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. Matthew 9:35. When Jesus went out, He did not teach just to do this one thing and it will all be good. When Jesus went out, He preached and taught many things in order that people would come and follow him and worship Him and bring them closer to Him. With that, we have to use many things to change the way we use our cell phones to bring us closer to Jesus.

What is the first you do when you pick up your cell? probably to look at who has texted you and emailed you or called you. But what if the first thing we did with our cell phones was to seek Jesus and His Kingdom. So, the first thing is to see what we do on our first pick up and change what it is we do on our first pick up. Instead of Facebook the bible app, instead of emails the daily devotion app you may have and never use, instead of Amazon the music app that has only Christian music on it. To do this we need to train our brains to do this, we need to pray for God to help us change the way we first pick up our phones. it will not be easy but anything that involves worshipping Jesus is not easy. we need to put effort into this and every time we pick up our cell phones resist the urge to do what we have always done and instead Seek Jesus on our phones.

We all have to use our cell phones for things that do not bring us closer to Jesus and we have to use it for those things. I am not saying only use your cell phone for Jesus but to be mindful of what you do on your cell phone. This leads to the second one and that is to be mindful of what you are doing on your cell phone.  If you know that you will need to use your cell phone for something that could you lead you away from Jesus be mindful of that and limit what you have to do to the essentials only. If you use Facebook, Amazon, Instagram, or anything else a lot be mindful of that and limit your time using those apps so you can use more apps that bring you closer to Jesu or on those apps that you can because not all can do this, the content that you are getting have it be more Christian than worldly. always be mindful of what you are doing on your phones. Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:1. we always need to be on our guard, be alert and be mindful of what we are doing staying strong in what we are doing so that we will become closer to Jesus

In a race, if you veer off track you have to get back on track to finish the race. Just like a race if we veer off on our cell phones we need to get back on track. That is the third point, we may veer off, but we need to discern when we are veering off and correct it. Not one person who is living other than Jesus is perfect and can say they are. We will veer off from time to time but we need to know that we can get back on course, that just because we veer off doesn't mean that we cannot get back on track. When you start a race you start off strong, it is not how you start but how you finish the race. So as you start, finish in the same way strong so that you can become closer To Jesus and worship Him more.

Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8. If we want God to come close to us we have to come close to Him first. To do this we need to change what we do in our lives and that included how we use our cell phones to bring us closer to God.

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Matthew 6:32-34

32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:32-34

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Cell phone Jesus: Seeing Where God is in Our Cell Phones...

Today we will be looking at seeing where God is in our cell phones. Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1. I have mentioned this before if we were to log into your cell phone, would we know that you are a Christian by looking at your apps and what is on your phone?  Let that sink in for a moment.

If I can be honest, I can tell you that most of the apps I have are essential apps or for personal or school apps but if you were to look at my phone closely you would see I have the Bible app on my phone, an app for lights at church, a hymn radio app, so that would leave a clue to anyone looking at my phone that I am a Christian. but is that enough to say I am and that Jesus is my Priority? If you looked at my notes you would see several notes on Christian things and have a clue that I am Christian. But would that be enough to say if you were to look at my phone that I am a Christian? You could look at what I use the most and determine it by that (probably not, it would not show Jesus things very much but that is because what I do is not reflecting Jesu, to be honest,). But is that enough, if you looked at it, would you know that I am Christian? Same thing if you looked at my music. What if we were to look at your cell phone, would we know that you are a Christian? if we use the same thing, we did with my cell phone would we be able to tell you are a Christian.

I used to have a lot of Christian apps on my phone but hardly ever used them. Why was that, was it to look good, that I have a bunch of those kinds of apps on my phone. My intention was good when I downloaded them and intended to use them but rarely did. So, what does that say about what I was doing with my phone? Where was Jesus on my phone, in apps that I never used? Was Jesus dripping/leaking out of my phone or was Jesus there in the background. In your cell phone is Jesus dripping/ leaking from your phone or is He in the background?

Before we started this series I had you do an app evaluation to get rid of the apps that lead you farther away from Jesus. If you did this you are on the right track to where Jesus will be in our cell phone. But is that enough? No, it is never enough to just delete apps and to say, I did well. we need to keep seeking Jesus on our phones; so that when people look at our cell phones they will know that Jesus is leaking from our phones.

So where is Jesus on your cell phone? But he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him. Mark 16:6. Jesus has Risen and deserves all the Glory and that should be in our cell phones because it is one of the things, we use most. The things we use most should be the things we use the most to glorify Jesus. Jesus will be the front and center on our cell phones not in the background, in apps that we rarely use, or just there. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. Matthew 6:33

We have to seek God's Kingdom and that included our cell Phones. But how do we change the way we look at our cell phones. we will talk about that tomorrow. This series is as much for you as it is for me. I need this as much as you do so Go forth and seek Jesus in your Cell phones.

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

1 Peter 3:10-12

10 For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. 11 He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it.12  For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against evildoers.” 1 Peter 3:10-12

Al Bibler verses taken from the NASB

Cell phone Jesus: Negative Impact Listening

Today I will be talking about what we listen to on our cell phones and the negative impact it has on our lives. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18. we are to cake care what we listen to as the verse says. It talks about how you listen but I believe that means as well what you listen to too.

What we listen to can change the way we behave/act or the way we talk or both. It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the person.” Matthew 15:11. I believe what the verse says above is true, but I also believe that what you listen to, brings that which will determine what comes out of your mouth. If you listen to a lot of stuff with swear words you will at some point start swearing more yourself. I had a Job for a season where there was talk like slang and such and after working there a while, I started to talk like that, so I quit that job, and one of the reasons was that (it was not the only reason). But not being there that long I started to speak like them. What would it be different for you if you listen to something that was with slang or swear words would you not be doing the same.

So what we listen to matters whether it is podcasts, music, YouTube channels, or anything that is on your Phone. It can either bring you closer to Jesus or It can destroy you. I have talked about music and what kind of music you listen to and are you listen to the right things. that same thing can be applied to all that you listen to. Does what you listen to on your cell phone bring you closer to Jesus or farther away From Jesus.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5. If we do not do this it will lead to our destruction. Listen to instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it. Proverbs 8:33. we are to listen to instructions and be wise. 

In the Bible, it talks about turn from what is evil and to serve and worship God. We can use that and apply it to everything we do and in terms of what we are talking about, even more so that we do not be led astray by bad speech or talk that we listen to. God has given us free will and what we do with that free will determine our lives. So, if we choose to listen to things that are unholy, we will be plotting our own destruction. Not to say that there is not neutral stuff that is neither holy or unholy out there like a video you are listening to on how to clean your gutters. But be careful in all the things that you listen to even those can lead you astray.

I want to take a moment and say something. There are times when I have been listening to secular things like music videos and such, and it leads me to worship God. I start off with a song that is secular and then by the time I'm done I'm fully worshipping God. I believe with all my heart that what the devil can use for evil, God can use it for His glory and Kingdom. But be careful of this, for I am careful, but I do this because I know what is in my heart and my motives, I am a follower and worshipper of Jesus Christ.

So I will ask it again to close today and does what you listen to on your cell phone to bring you closer to Jesus or farther away from Jesus. This matters what we do in this life because it will determine where we are in the next life, in heaven or in hell. So, when you listen to something put it through the lens of where to do you want to be in the next life heaven or hell.

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

2 Timothy 3: 15-17

 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3: 15-17

All Bible verses taken from the NASB

Cell phone Jesus: Negative Impact reading 2 Important Points

Today I will be talking about what we read on our cell phones and the negative impact it has on our lives. I am revisiting this because I forgot two important points. The first being what we write on our cellphones and then when we read it. the second is texts we get and read.

You may write things to yourself as notes or things about yourself.30 But even the hairs of your head are all counted.  Matthew 10:30. We are loved that much that the hairs on our heads are counted. But what we write about ourselves can be negative like we are not good enough, in need to get this done, I have to accomplish all this today, or I can do better, these are just some examples of what can be written about yourself in a negative way. What we write about ourselves has the most impact on our lives we have the ability to lift ourselves up and to bring us down and destroy us, our lives. 

You may write a text or read a text and after you read or write the text it can impact you in an instance. In both, you can either get lifted up or torn down and be destroyed. What is sent to you can make a big impact in your walk with God. there is a lot of negative speech out there that is written in texts, hurtful things that were never meant to be or taken out of context or written as a joke. I am here to say that none of those should ever be written but they have and will have a negative impact on people's lives. 

To sum this all up; is what you are reading through your texts or self-writing bringing you closer to Jesus or further away from Jesus. If you are writing things about yourself that are negative or putting undue pressure on yourselves cut it out if will destroy you. It will have a negative impact on your life and may spread to their lives. What write as a text or read a text it can impact our lives in a negative way if we let it. it can lead you to Jesus or Not to Jesus. 

All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2 Timothy 3:16

All Bible verse taken from the NASB

Philippians 4:7-9

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all [a]comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [b]lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:7-9

Bible verses taken from the NASB

Cell phone Jesus: Negative Impact Watching

Today I will be talking about what we watch on our cell phones and the negative impact it has on our lives.

Just Like reading there is so much stuff out there that we can watch on our cells via YouTube, videos, tik-tok, and more. Do we tend to look at that cute kitty video? Do we tend to look at the latest challenge that is trending? Do we tend to look at what is trending or that funny video of someone falling? Or do we look tend to look at Godly messages, Godly Worship, or Godly things? I am not sure what you tend to do but I can say it would probably be the first ones, not the Godly messages, worship, and Godly things. Why is this it's because we like entertainment, drama, and stupid stuff that leads nowhere; or looking at this stuff to feel numb or to destress. 

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19. We tend to treat our bodies like a garbage dump looking at more and more mindless stuff. I can only speak to this because I've been there who hasn't. But what we watch takes headspace we could be using for other things. Having so much useless stuff in your brain will make it rot and you can become dumb and stupid.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything, worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8. What we watch, we will think and like I said take up useless headspace that can be used for other things. And as the verse says we are not to think of unholy things, only holy things. 

I will be honest and say I watch YouTube a lot but what I watch is the Three Stooges, How It's Made, playing for change videos, or old or new comedians (not so much that it takes up my day but time). I am careful what I watch. I mention this to say that we often aren't careful with what we watch, we tend to watch what we want and think there will be no consequences. There are grave consequences in we watch if we watch the wrong thing, it can lead to our destruction and can have lasting effects on our lives. You may think that a cute cat video may bring you joy and if every time you feel down it will bring you joy, in the end, it will only bring you pain. Everything you watch that is unholy will only bring pain and destruction. Not to say that a how-to video, cooking videos, and such fits into that scenario. Those are neither holy nor unholy, they can only be a problem and become unholy if you watch those more than holy videos and take them to heart more. 

What we watch matters and can have a negative impact on our lives if we do not keep it in check. So to close, What we watch on our phone, does it lead us closer to Jesus or Farther away from Jesus, or is neutral. (This goes for what I talked about yesterday, what we read can have neutral reading I mention this because I did not yesterday.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Philippians 4:6

All Bible verses taken from the NASB, ESV

Revelations 1:2-4

 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw.  3 Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and [keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, Revelations 1:2-4