Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus "Faithfulness"
Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What do I believe God wants them to know? To be faithful to truth, wisdom, and the Spirit
Why? It leads to peace, prosperity, provision, right paths, and reproof
What do I believe God wants them to do? o be faithful to truth, wisdom, and the Spirit
Why? It leads to peace, prosperity, provision, right paths, and reproof
ME/WE
Have you ever had a time in your life where you had a decision to make but you didn’t know what to do?
- Maybe it was a family decision…should we do this or that or not do this or that?
- Maybe it is at work…you want clarity as to what will bring the best outcomes
Maybe it is should I choose this job or stay at my job
Maybe it is in a relationship…should I date or continue to date ____should I put my self out there on a dating site
Maybe its a decision in general
The thing that you want and I want to know is what is the best decision…because we know that every decision has a reaction....sometimes they are very minor barely noticable....other times they are grandiose and not minor…like who you are going to date or marry has huge implications on your life…this no minor thing....it will either a decision or JOY or DESPAIR....I have been there on both ends....great JOY in marrying ROBYN and great despair in my pre Robyn dating years when I dated some people God said NO too, not that they were bad but they were bad for me....anybody been there?
Anybody been there with a decision in general? That was a HORRIBLE DECISION, ONE OF THE WORST DECISION of MY LIFE
OTHER TIMES WE SAY THIS IS THE BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE…LIFE CHANGE BECAUSE OF THIS DEICISION
IT WAS A DEFINING MOMENT
TENSION
THE QUESTION I HAVE AND YOU HAVE IS HOW DO WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH A DECISION, ESPECIALLY A BIG DECISION AND EVEN THE SMALL ONES…SMALL DECISION ADD UP, WE SEE THIS WITH OUR WALK WITH GOD…IT IS A SMALLER DECISION THAT WE MAKE EVERY DAY TO EITHER WALK WITH GOD OR NOT....WE SEE THIS WITH OUR PHYSICAL BODIES…OUR BODIES ARE NOT CHANGED OVER NIGHT, IT IS SMALL DECISIONS DAILY TO EAT RIGHT AND WORK OUT THAT CHANGE YOU
I WOULD CONTEND WITH YOU MANY SMALL DECISOINS ARE NOT SMALL
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
SO HOW DO WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION OR AS RIGHT AS WE CAN BE DECISION?
WE DO THIS BY BEING FAITHFUL (NEXT ASPECT OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT) TO THEE TRUTH, LADY WISDOM, HOLY SPIRIT, and Christian community
Notice I said FAITHFUL TO the TRUTH, GODLY WISDOM, HOLY SPIRIT
Faithful means I am going to depend upon this, I am going to trust this, give allegiance to this
Why is it so important I say we need to be faithful?
You can know the TRUTH, HOLY SPIRIT can speak to you, YOUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY can seek the LORD, wisdom can come
BUT IF YOU SHOVE ASIDE and say I know better it won’t matter what you know, because you did not do what you have been told that will lead you to the right decision
WE KNOW THIS, I KNOW THIS
TRUTH HAS SPOKEN, WISDOM has SPOKEN and I have said yeah but I know better
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
IT NOT YOUR INFORMATION OR INTENTION that determine your destination but it’s your direction
You have received the TRUTH or WISDOM and you head in that direction. YOU ARE FAITHFUL TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD
I TRIED THAT, THAT DIDN’T WORK
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
ANYBODY DO THAT BEFORE…you ask someone who you know will agree with you, but they will not agree with TRUTH, HOLY SPIRIT, WISDOM...
WELL TOM SAID IT WAS OK
HERE IS THE WONDERFUL AMAZING THING THAT HAPPENS:
When we are faithful to TRUTH, WISDOM, HOLY SPIRIT, and CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
not only do we get the right decision we will get GET PEACE, PROSPERITY, FAVOR, PROVISION, STRAIGHT PATHS, REPROOF…LIFE, JOY
Many of us know that
This is what PROVERBS 3:1-12 state to us
I want to show you in real life how to be faithful to TRUTH, WISDOM, HOLY SPIRIT, CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY and
- if you are faithful to TRUTH, WISDOM, HOLY SPIRIT, CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY you will have PEACE, FAVOR, STRAIGHT PATHS, REPROOF/CORRECTION, PROVISION,
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
God says in His Word, son, daughter do not forget my teaching, my commands, MY TRUTH...
My sons and daughter
I have given it to you…so much so that
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
Jer 31:33
We have the truth…I have given it to you…AND WHAT GOD SAYS TO US DO NOT FORGET THE TRUTH....but be faithful to the truth
SONS and DAUGHTERS THERE ARE DECISIONS IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AND YOU ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE TRUTH.
WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH MOST OF OUR SECOND GREATEST RELATIONSHIPS…WITH A SPOUSE OR A COMPANION.
I have counseled Christians over and over on relationships. I have found this amazing guy or girl and this list all this amazing girl BUT they are not a Christian, but there are not good Christian guys or girls
Break up with them
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
I have seen dozens and dozens of people date or get married to non-believers and watch them wander away from the TRUTH and live a life of destruction.
This is what Balak King of Moab does....he gets Israel to wander away by sending in woman to seduce the men away from God and marry and it works.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE AND THE FARTHEST WE NEED TO LOOK IS THE SCRIPTURES OR THE WORD WRITTEN ON YOUR HEART.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
AND IF WE ARE FAITHFUL WHAT THE TRUTH SAYS THE REWARD FOR OUR DECISION IS LONG LIFE AND PEACE…THE WORD FOR PEACE IS SHALOM…WHOLENESS…TOGETHERNESS
MANY OF US KNOW THIS
BUT WHEN WE GO AGAINST TRUTH, WE ARE NOT FAITHFUL TO TRUTH…WHEN WE SAY WE KNOW BEST…WHAT DO WE GET…PEACE!?!…NO ANXIETY WHICH MEANS TO BE TORN APART
HOW MANY OF US HAVE WENT AGAINST THE TRUTH AND REGRETTED IT???
GARDEN OF EDEN…DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT OF THIS TREE…YOU WILL DIE
MAYBE GOD WAS LYING, MAYBE GOD WAS WITH HOLDING TRUTH FROM US
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It is not just for big decisions, GRANDIOUS DEICISIONS... DAVID said this for daily living with God.
SMALL IS THE BIG
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
HOW DOES A MAN KEEP HIS WAY PURE, HOLY? BY BEING FAITHFUL TO THE WORD
WHEN WE DO OUR DECISIONS WILL BRING PEACE
2.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
God’s Word says be faithful to me, give your allegiance, not just your salvation to me.
What I mean by that is we live in a world that says Jesus is my savior and not my Lord, I am Lord of my life.
Golden ticket theology…I am going to heaven but I am going to live like hell here and now.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
God didn’t just come to save you but to give you a new life and a new way to live.
He didn’t save you so you can walk in whatever way you want.
He is the GOOD SHEPHERD WHO CAME TO LEAD US IN ALL OF LIFE AND WILL GIVE US SUCCESS AND FAVOR.
That’s the promise....you follow my ways you will have success and favor
3.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
This verse says do not lean on or trust your wisdom, but lean upon the Lord, lean upon the Spirit....
Listen to what the Spirit says
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
WHEN WE DO HE WILL MAKE OUR PATHS STRAIGHT
BUT HERE IS THE PROBLEM FOR US....WE LIKE OUR WISDOM AND TRUTH…WE THINK WE KNOW BEST....RIGHT???
- AND GOD’S STRAIGHT PATHS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST OR PHYSICALLY STRAIGHT
WE SEE THIS IN THE BIBLE WHERE GOD WANTS TO TAKE SOMEWHERE AND THEY GO EAST AND THEN WEST AND THEN SOUTH AND THEN THEY GO NORTH....GOD COULDN’T I HAVE WENT NORTH FIRST
OH MY CHILD YOU HAD TO GO EAST TO LEARN THIS AND WEST TO SEE THAT PERSON AND SOUTH TO BE RENEW TO GO NORTH
MANY TIMES GOD COMES INTO OUR LIVES AND HE SAYS TRUST ME, LEAN ON ME, WALK WITH ME
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
GOD IS SAYING WALK WITH ME…
AND IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE HUMANLY SPEAKING, BUT GOD SAYS BE FAITHFUL TO MY SPIRIT
IT DOESN’T MAKE HUMAN SENSE TO LEAVE THIS JOB
IT DOESN’T MAKE HUMAN SENSE TO STAY AT THIS JOB
IT DOESN’T MAKE HUMAN SENSE TO MAKE THIS DECISION
BUT YOU KNOW IN YOUR BONES AND HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO....YOU CANNOT ESCAPE IT, IT IS YOUR JONAH EXPERANCDE
THIS STORY OF SCRIPTURE…GOD CALLS US TO DO ____ AND WE ARE LIKE HUH???
THIS THE STORY OF OUR BOTHERS AND SISTERS OF CHRIST THROUGH THE CENTURIES
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
For by it the people of old received their commendation.
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—
of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
IT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE HUMANLY SPEAKING FOR GOD TO SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO DIE ON THE CROSS TO MAKE PAYMENT FOR OUR SINS, BUT HE DID BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,