The Recentred Life
Notes
Transcript
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
A sad story typically called the story of the rich young ruler, some would even go as far as calling him the rich young fool.
We do not hear about this man again
It has become a sad anecdote
This may well be the story of many Christians today.
Just as this young man in this story was in the very presence of Jesus and missed out on eternal life. People who come to church may be in the very presence of Jesus and miss out on the abundant life that He offers.
There is a self-centeredness in churches of today.
Focuses on the individual and his needs
I need to get fed this Sunday — I am not being fed
I feel so good with the worship, nice choice of songs!
How does this sermon apply to my life — life application
consumer mentality, songs are bland, sermon does not have so much jokes, attention span
church has become an entertainment center..
Illustration from Campus Crusade for Christ here
I have used it before, very effective, and the four spiritual laws have led millions to Christ.. but people can be misled in their thinking.. if you look at it who is the subject? (bigger circle).. Christ can become an object.
Human methods have emerged and it is centered on getting Jesus into a Person’s life rather than:
Giving one’s self to Christ.
Experiencing the life of Christ.
Following Christ.
Even the phrase “personal Lord and Savior” appeared only recently
Savior of the world and Lord of all
The self-centered life needs to be re-centered by:
Being Christ-led instead of need-based.
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
What is there for me? What do you have to offer.
What about our needs? Case in point, the disciples.
That is why you need to be part of the body of Christ, the local church (prayed for)
We are to be led by our Lord. What is Your will Lord? What are Your desires? I want that.
The self-centered life needs to be re-centered by:
2. Embracing a Mandate instead of performing duties.
Notice the question: “What must I do”?
Do we appreciate what Jesus already did? (talk)
Jesus replied:
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
And the Lord continued:
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”
The man proudly replied:
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
Look at the greatest mandate given to us by the Lord:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Do not look at it as a duty.. Wow, the Lord entrusted me this! This is His parting command, this is His marching order… oh I am enlisting in the King’s army!
I love that the Lord does not leave us without the assurance of His presence.
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
The self-centered life needs to be re-centered by:
3. Demonstrating love over Piety.
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
This is why I like Mark’s version of this story over Matthew:
Matthew said: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have..”
Looking at him, loved him.. this is true love — human piety versus Christ’s compassion.
One thing you lack, God is not keeping score, you are 9 out of 10.
Notice that Jesus did not say, “you will have more treasures in heaven”, “you will have treasure in heaven”..
The man was spiritually bankrupt.
You don’t have to be rich, to be spiritually bankrupt - the story of this man could be the story of many who come to church.. they may be here but their hearts are somewhere else. (talk)
This is not a prosperity gospel issue, this is a heart issue.
what excites you?
You are missing the most important one..
The self-centered life needs to be re-centered by:
4. Choosing Christ over anything else.
Look at that verse again:
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
It is not the act of selling everything he had and giving to the poor.. it is not that the man refused to do this that is the issue.
The issue is that there are things he cannot give up for Christ.
The command of Jesus is this: “come, take up the cross, and follow Me”.
The man turned his back on Jesus:
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
I hope he was eventually saved.. he was so close.
Obedience is not a prerequisite — you are already following Jesus, you are being discipled, you are growing in Him.
Paul’s two prayers in Ephesians: (Chapters 1 and 3)
The prayer in chapter 1 is for them (you) but centered on Jesus:
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
The recentered life.