Keith Battle - Sinners Wanted

1 Timothy chapter 1. If you have a Bible or an app, if you’ve got a Bible app, use the New Living Translation; that’s what I’m using if you want to follow along. 1 Timothy chapter 1. It’s just good to get that stuff out, man. When you’re really burdened by what’s on your heart, it’s good to share that with somebody. You know how many of you have been praying about something for years and it hasn’t turned yet? Amen. That’s okay. It may be the prayers that are keeping it from getting worse, or it may be the prayers that are keeping us together while we wait for it. I don’t know; just don’t stop praying. 1 Timothy chapter 1. There’s a movie that just came out this weekend called «Sinners Wanted.» It is a powerful movie. I was blown away by the production. Jimmy and Joshua Jenkins wrote, directed, and produced this film. Let me tell you a little bit about the movie without giving too much away, because it’s showing at the Magic Johnson Theater here in Maryland on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. We’re going to try to rent a theater ourselves to show this movie if we can, so we’re going to talk to them about that because I think we should support them. Joshua Jenkins is here right now; stand up, Josh, so they can see you. Get him on camera; you know he’s short. Put him on the camera; there you go. So, these brothers wrote this movie, and it’s not like a regular church movie. It’s got a powerful message but is edgy enough to catch people on the streets. You know I like that. They sneak up on you with Jesus sometimes; you’ve got to sneak Jesus up on people. They don’t even know what they’re getting into. Anyway, the movie is about a young man who moves from Monroe, Georgia, to take over a church in the Washington, D.C. area. When he gets to the church, the board asks, «What do you need from us? What can we provide for you?» He says, «Sinners, I’m going to need sinners.» I like that. May this church never be a place where sinners are not welcome and comfortable. I was sold on that. Well, as the movie progresses, he ends up falling in love with a prostitute and marrying her. The prostitute goes back into prostitution and drug use, and just like a shepherd goes after a sheep that has wandered, this husband goes back after his bride. It’s a powerful story; it’s a modern-day depiction of the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible, and that’s all I’m going to tell you. It is powerful. Let’s check it out. Let’s support them, and let’s get behind this project they’re putting on. Because if we can really buy the movie up in theaters, Hollywood will take what they’re doing seriously, and they can get around the country in theaters to reach people. So, 1 Timothy chapter 1, beginning at verse 12, the New Living Translation says, «I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.» Verse 15: «This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.» Everybody say «sinners.» «And I am the worst of them all.» But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Everybody say «sinners.» «Then others will realize that they too can believe in him and receive eternal life.» Verse 15 again: «This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.» My subject today is «Sinners Wanted.» I created that; I came up with that. I just stole that. Do me a favor, y’all. Work with me today; stand up, stand up, stand up. I want you to go to at least five people, six if you want to, and I want you to tell them these words. Look them right in the face, move around a little bit, and tell them, «God wants you. God wants you.» Shake that. Look them right in the eye: «God wants you. God wants you. God wants you. God wants you.» Yeah, God wants you. God wants you. Don’t go too far. God wants you. And take me back up to thirty. God wants you. God wants you. God wants you. Jesus said, «I came into this world to save sinners.» God wants you. It’s good to be wanted, not a burden to be desired. And the only criteria is you’ve got to be a sinner. Ain’t that good news? Because we all fit that criteria. You may not be in the right political party; you don’t have to be in the right sorority or the right fraternity. You could be in the wrong neighborhood, but if you’re a sinner, you are exactly who God wants.