Post on 27-Dec-2015
40/740/7
Refocused
My heart was in my throat…My heart was in my throat…
I didn't rejoice over:I didn't rejoice over:
- My wife- My wife- My pets- My pets
- My possessions- My possessions
I rejoiced over my son!I rejoiced over my son!
You have been rejoiced overYou have been rejoiced over
Brought to shoreBrought to shoreReady to rescue moreReady to rescue more
Brought to shoreBrought to shoreReady to rescue moreReady to rescue more
And then something happenedAnd then something happened
- He's about me- He's about me
- I need to get through this- I need to get through this
- They deserve it or- They deserve it orI feel sorry for them…I feel sorry for them…
- Theology and knowledge- Theology and knowledgeBecame the goalBecame the goal
"I'm focused on God (and me)""I'm focused on God (and me)"
And I've forgottenAnd I've forgottenWhy Christ cameWhy Christ came
And bled and diedAnd bled and died
But how can I love GodBut how can I love GodAnd not share his heart?And not share his heart?
God loves people God loves people Far from himFar from him
And has made you hisAnd has made you hisMinister and AmbassadorMinister and Ambassador
(2 Cor. 5)(2 Cor. 5)
Fast food= 1 hourFast food= 1 hour
So Jesus hangs outSo Jesus hangs outat the watercoolerat the watercooler
The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming
(he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will
tell us all things.”
Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he”
Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking
with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are
you talking with her?”
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said
to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.
Can this be the Christ?”
They went out of the town and were coming to him.
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him
something to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him
who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Sharing the gospelWith a Samaritan Woman
"I get fed by sharing the gospel..."
"I get fed by sharing the gospel..."
- Creation- Fall
- Redemption- Restoration
"I am fed. I am nourished. I am satisfied"
Your greatest needs are not met by
Seeking to have your needs met
But by investing yourselfin God-given opportunities
As God leads
The basis of our healingIs not found in Receiving
But in Giving
Jesus just gave us aPerfect Picture of that
Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’?
Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are
white for harvest.
Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit
for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together"
Jesus connects Being Fed and Rejoicing
To reaching people
With the message of the gospel
Not everyone understands…
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.
And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man
receives sinners and eats with them.”
"We've given our lives toServing God
And they've never even cared!"(Until now…)
So he told them this parable:
Lost Sheep
And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them,
‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who
need no repentance.
Lost Coin
And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and
neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one
sinner who repents.”
Parable of the Older Brother…
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of
them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that
is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
Free will…(It can be enough rope
To hang ourselves with)
Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a
journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property
in reckless living.
And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that
country, and he began to be in need.
And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that
country, and he began to be in need.
Does he deserve it?
So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that
country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.
And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no
one gave him anything.
God will allow circumstancesTo bring us to the point
Of repentance
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than
enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
Well, you deserve it
I'm busy seeking my next breakthrough
I have my own trials
Was this predestined or free will?
They all miss the PersonIn need of the forgiveness
Of a FatherWho loves people far from him
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have
sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be
called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
Fake Repentance="Sorry I got caught in this situation
It's not my fault!"
I'll say what I need to say…
Real Repentance=Humility and Change of Heart
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still
a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion,
and ran and embraced himand kissed him.
Everything he has doneIs repugnant
But nothing stopsThe Father's love
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and
put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
Your actions don't determineGod's love
Your actions don't determineGod's love
But when you understand itGod's love determines your actions
And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found.’ And they began to celebrate.
"We serve a God who solves a problem with a party"- Jon Acuff
He's not looking to punish you-He's looking to
Celebrate your return
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to
the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the
servants and asked what these things meant.
And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has
killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back
safe and sound.’
How should he feel?
But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out
and entreated him, but he answered his father…
‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed
your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might
celebrate with my friends.
‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed
your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might
celebrate with my friends.
You're not rejoicing over me!
But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property
with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to
celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he
was lost, and is found’”- Luke 15:1-31
He missed out on rejoicingHe missed out on rejoicingAnd being filledAnd being filled
Because his eyes were on himselfBecause his eyes were on himselfNot the need of his brotherNot the need of his brother
God has rejoiced over youGod has rejoiced over you
God has rejoiced over youGod has rejoiced over you
Now he invites you to Now he invites you to Rejoice with him over anotherRejoice with him over another
The invitation is clearThe invitation is clear
Rejoicing, satisfaction, fillingRejoicing, satisfaction, filling
Are not found in seekingAre not found in seekingThose thingsThose things
Your greatest needs are not met by
Seeking to have your needs met
But by investing yourselfin God-given opportunities
As God leads
You You werewere rescued rescued
Why Don't We Rescue?Why Don't We Rescue?
- They don't deserve it- They don't deserve it
- I'm busy getting stronger- I'm busy getting stronger
- I memorized the Rescue Manual!- I memorized the Rescue Manual!
I don't want to make him madI don't want to make him mad
I want her to like meI want her to like me
I don't want to seem "pushy"I don't want to seem "pushy"
I have my own needs…I have my own needs…HouseHouseHealthHealth
FoodFood
It scares me…It scares me…
None of our reasons None of our reasons Change the factChange the fact
EveryEvery person… person…
You were rescuedYou were rescuedTo rescueTo rescue
You were foundYou were foundto findto find
You were lovedYou were lovedto share that loveto share that love
The experience of God- The experience of God- And the blessings that come with itAnd the blessings that come with it
Come from sharing the Come from sharing the Heart of God and doing Heart of God and doing
The work of GodThe work of God
To seek and to save…?To seek and to save…?
God, make me aware.God, make me aware.Break my heart.Break my heart.
Give me spiritual eyes.Give me spiritual eyes.Give me the cajones Give me the cajones
to share the Truth to share the Truth of your Gracious Offerof your Gracious Offer
As a people,As a people,Give us a warm FellowshipGive us a warm Fellowship
An atmosphere of increasing An atmosphere of increasing excellenceexcellence
A great desire to invite, welcome A great desire to invite, welcome and show great love towardsand show great love towards
We've been rejoiced overWe've been rejoiced over
Want to relive it?Want to relive it?Share it with someone-Share it with someone-And rejoice over themAnd rejoice over them
CreationCreationFallFall
RedemptionRedemptionRestorationRestoration
Where are you?Where are you?