Faith With Its Sleeves Rolled Up

 Everything so far has been about the heart. This part is about your hands and your calendar.

Jesus never let faith stay theoretical. He kept turning it into food, water, clothes, and visits.

These three commands push us out the door.

29. You Did It to Me

Matthew 25:34-40

Jesus described the day he separates the sheep from the goats, and the list he reads is not what people expect.

I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me.

The righteous are confused. They ask when they ever saw him like that. And Jesus gives the line that changes everything. When you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.

The world says: Charity is nice when you have extra.

But God's Word says: How you treat the forgotten is how you treat Jesus.

Look at the list again. None of it is impressive. A meal. A coat. Showing up. Ordinary people doing ordinary things, and Jesus counted every one of them as done to him.

You do not need a ministry title. You need a coat and an afternoon.

30. You Got It Free. Give It Free.

Matthew 10:8

Jesus sent out the twelve with a short instruction about their new power.

Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Cure those with leprosy. Cast out demons. Then he added the line that governs all of it. Give as freely as you have received.

They did not earn any of it. It was handed to them. So they were not allowed to put a price on it.

The world says: Get paid what you are worth. Nothing is free.

But God's Word says: It was free to you. Pass it on the same way.

This goes beyond money. Think about what you have been given. Grace you did not earn. Time. Skills. A second chance somebody gave you once.

Hold any of it too tightly and you forget how you got it.

31. Do Not Guard the Gate

Mark 9:38-40

John came to Jesus feeling pretty good about something the disciples had done.

They saw a man casting out demons in Jesus' name, and they told him to stop. Why? Because he was not part of their group.

Jesus told them to leave him alone. Anyone doing a miracle in his name is not going to turn around and curse him. Then he said it simply. Anyone who is not against us is for us.

The world says: They do it differently. They are not really with us.

But God's Word says: God works outside your circle. Be glad about it.

This one gets me. It is so easy to protect our own corner. Our church. Our method. Our tribe.

Meanwhile God is out there working through people we have never heard of, in ways we would not have picked. The right response is joy, not a turf check.

Where This Leaves Us

These three take faith out of your head and put it in the world.

Serve people who cannot pay you back. Give away what was given to you. Cheer for God's work even when it is not yours.

Jesus said the world would know us by our love. Not by our doctrine statement. By what people actually receive from us.

Try this week: Find one need you can meet with your own hands this week. A meal. A ride. A visit. Do not organize it. Just do it.

Ask yourself: When was the last time I did something for someone who could never repay me?

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God uses prophecy to enact judgement and provide mercy (1 Kings 22-2 Kings 1:18)

Big Idea: God's judgment stands, prophets' message is mercy towards repentance. 

 1 Kings 22-2 Kings 1:18

A) Ahab's desire for glory brings condemnation to himself

22:1-9) 3 years no war, Jehoshaphat of Judah, Ahab of Israel want to take Ramoth-gilead but ask 400 prophets + 1 of the Lord Micaiah Imlah

10-14) Ahab's prophets "LORD says, iron horns gore Arameans to death" Micaiah "I will say only what Lord tells me to say"

15-16) Micaiah sarcastically to Ahab, "LORD will give victory", Ahab wants truth from the LORD.

17) Vision Israel scattered mountain, sheep without a shepherd, LORD master killed, send home peace.

 - sheep without a shepherd. Moses (Numbers 27:17), Babylon (Isaiah 13:14), Easy prey (Ezekiel 34:5), Confused and helpless (Matthew 9:36), So Jesus taught the crowds (Mark 6:34)

18-28) Micaiah "Listen to what the LORD says, LORD put a lying spirit in the mouth of prophets to judge Ahab. Prison but assurance. 

 - Application: God is Sovereign and calls everyone to repent from fortune tellers and evil ways or die.

29-40) Ahab disguise didn't work, hit by a random arrow, buried Samaria - dogs licked his blood, son Ahaziah next king

B) Jehoshaphat lived a life pleasing to the LORD though he failed

41-50) Jehoshaphat 25 years, good pleasing LORD's sight but failed to remove pagan shrines, people sinned, peace with Israel, banished prostitutes, ships not sailed, son Jehoram next king.

C) Ahaziah's evil lead many to sin, and never sought the LORD in his moments of need leading to death

51-53) Ahaziah, evil in LORD's sight who led Israel to sin, served Baal provoked anger

2 Kings 1:1-8) Elijah intercepts messengers about Ahaziah's injury - you'll never recover

9-15) 50 soldiers fire from heaven killed them x2, Humble captain + angel of LORD, go with him

 - Man of God - Gen 2: formed from dirt, God breathed life into him. Moses (Deut 33:1, Joshua 14:6), messenger for Samson's parents angel of the LORD ascended in flame (Judges 13:6,18,20,25), Samuel (1 Samuel 9), Elijah

 - Application: But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. 1 Tim 6:11

A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. Titus 1:7

16-18) Elijah delivers same message, Ahaziah dies, brother Joram next king

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And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up Galatians 6:9 ESV

I'm an encourager and enjoy brightening people lives with doing good. There is a song in my heart and it makes me smile when others can hear it. I enjoy walking and praying thanksgiving to God and receiving grace and mercy that builds faith and repentance in my heart, healing my soul and body. I'm looking forward to seeing all the people in heaven who also love encouraging others, who have this same gift of the Holy Spirit, who use it as directed by Him. What joy there is in doing God's will, especially as the harvest season draws near!

tweet!

And let us
 - Christianity is a team sport, Jesus prayed for us to be in unity (John 17)
 - Freedom! Christ has set us free, FAITH expressed in LOVE, obey the TRUTH! SERVE one another humbly in LOVE (Gal 5:1,6,7,13)

not grow weary
 - Don't plant and water the weeds that produce weariness. Flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh (Gal 5:17)
 - Plant and water the word that brings the fruit of the Spirit. love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23)

of doing good
 - "Social Justice" do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8)
 - What does it mean to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly

for in due season we will reap if we do not give up
 - Matthew 25:31-46, The king will say to the righteous 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up

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Jesus Illustrates God's plan as a Door and Good Shepherd

John 10:1-42
AIM: Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Good Shepherd
A) Jesus uses figures of speech to eluding to the truth of Ezekiel 34:1-30
(1-2) To Pharisees, Sneaking over the wall = thief, One enters through gate = shepherd of sheep

• Compassion and Conviction: sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34, Jude 1:12)

(3) Gatekeeper opens for him, sheep recognize his voice coming to him - he calls them, lead them out
(4-5) Shepherd gathers flock, follow him knowing his voice, run from stranger don't know his voice
(6-7) figure of speech they didn't understand, he explained it: I Am the Gate
(8-9) Before were thieves, sheep didn't listen to them, I Am the Door anyone enters by/through me saved, freely go in and out

• John 14:6: Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through him.
• Revelation 7:7, "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

(10) Thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

B) Jesus is the true shepherd of God's people because he lays down his life, to take it up again.
(11) I Am the Good Shepherd, lay down his life for sheep

• Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd...
• Matthew 2:6, Bethlehem comes a ruler who will shepherd Israel, fulfilled with witnesses (Luke 2:15-18)

(12-13) Hired hand, no ownership/doesn't care,sees wolf flees wolf snatches and scatters them
(14-15) I Am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, like my Father knows me and lay life down for sheep

• “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them." Ezekiel 34:11
•  I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. Ezekiel 34:16
• ‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Ezekiel 34:17, Matthew 25:31-32
• Matthew 26:31, "strike the shepherd, flock will be scattered"

(16-18) Other sheep, must bring them also - lay down my life, only to take it up again, my accord, authority, command received from Father.

• Jews and Gentiles Reconciled through Christ (Ephesians 2:1-22)
• Application: The role of the church, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." - Acts 20:28, "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, when the Chief Shepherd appears receive a crown of glory" 1 Peter 5:2, 4 
• Application: We also lay down our lives and take it up again by His authority and command. "Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep," Hebrews 13:20. "For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." - 1 Peter 2:25. We offer ourselves as living sacrifice, dying daily - yet taking up our cross and following him (Romans 12)

C) Jesus proves he is Messiah by word and works but only those who believe and trust with whole life receive him.

(19-21) Jews (unbelievers) divided, "demon-possessed, raving mad", "no, demon open eyes of blind?"
(22-23) Jesus walking temple/Solomon's Colonnade Festival of Dedication/Hanukkah Jerusalem, winter
(24-26) Jews, "tell us plainly if your Messiah", Jesus "I did you didn't believe me, my works cause your not my sheep
(27-30) My sheep listen, I know them, follow me, eternal life, protected, given by Father, I and FAther are one
(31-33) Opponents try to stone him for blasphemy, mere man claims to be God
(34-36) Psalm 82:6, to whom word of God came Scritpure calls "gods", the one whom Father set apart as his very own, sent into the world, accuse me of blasphemy because I am God's Son?

• Ps 82:6 is addressed to the ruling judges of Israel, who were supposed to serve as God’s representatives on earth. Jesus’ argument (v 36) is that since He is in fact proving Himself to be the Father’s representative on earth, He is entitled to be recognized as the Son of God. - John 10:35 AMP

(37-38) Works of Father, only God could perform/Jesus does - believe him/Miracles, Father in me/I in Father

(39-42) tried to seize him, he went across Jordan where John first baptizing, John no miralcles but everything he said about Jesus was true and accurate. Many believed and trusted him

• Application believing means Accepting Him as Savior and following his teaching.

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Our Doctrine for the week is Eternal Security
Our Attribute is Preserver

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