Self-Made Vs. God-Made #Our Faith Journey

Matthew 10:31-39

Today marks the final sermon on our series True Stories,, shaping our minds through truth of scriptures. Our final subject deals with and age old issue Self-made vs. God-Made.

Question: we love to win and when we see athletes put so much pain and self discipline on their bodies is the win for them or Christ? When we push ourselves in school staying up late, seeking the best schooling, and striving to climb the cooperate ladder, is it for God, or is it for me? Don’t get me wrong we can strive to be the best but who are we doing it for? That’s how we define our Self-made vs God-made direction. What a better story of this than the one Jesus shares with us in the book of Matthew. After the beatitudes in Matthew 5, jesus begins to shape the minds of His disciples. Preparing them for their faith journey.

We see his subjects that deal with becoming salt and light,

understanding the purpose of the law,

dealing with our anger, adultery, divorce, revenge

and learning how to love our enemies.

In Chapter 6 he begins with the 2nd greatest commandment, showing them how to give to the needy,

teaching them how to pray and fast,

chapter 7 teaches about judging others,

effective prayers, the Golden rules,

the narrow gate, a fruitful trees,

becoming a true disciples and building on a solid foundation.

Chapter 8 and 9, Jesus shows his magnificent works and powers while selecting those to travel on this journey.

He ends chapter 9 by saying in verse 37-38; He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Dear brothers and sisters, today we delve into the timeless truth of recognizing the difference between being self-made and God-made. In a culture that exalts self-reliance and human achievement, we must pause to consider our Creator's role in shaping our lives. Let us explore this theme through the lens of Scripture and discover the profound implications for our faith journey.

Matthew chapter 10 challenges us to the core. In Matthew 10:31-39, Jesus speaks words that cut deep into the essence of discipleship, calling us to a radical commitment to Him above all else. At first glance, these words may seem harsh or unsettling. Jesus speaks of division, of turning family members against each other, and of the necessity of taking up our cross to follow Him. Yet, embedded within these challenging words is a profound message of love, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion to Christ. This passage provides a recipe for ensuring we have a God-Made Life.

It’s a war that we must be willing to confess who Christ is and that scripture today, allows us to explore the contrast between the notion of being self-made and embracing God's design for our lives. In a world that often celebrates self-sufficiency and human achievement, we must examine the truth that God ultimately created and sustained us. Let's delve into this topic and discover the profound implications for our faith journey. Verse 31

Matthew 10:31 NKJV

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

The Illusion of Self-Made Success:

Society often glorifies the concept of being self-made, portraying success as the result of one's efforts, talents, and determination. However, this mindset can lead to pride, self-reliance, and a misplaced sense of entitlement. As Christians it will cause us distance ourselves from acknowledging God's role in our lives. The reality is that every good gift and every accomplishment we have is ultimately from God, who gives us the ability to achieve and succeed. Last Sunday we saw South Carolina win a national championship and Coach Dawn Staley shared her faith to make it clear they were not self-made but God-led.

Dawn said “ We serve an unbelievable God, who gives us uncommon favor” David said several times in Psalms about who really was in charge and who he really was willing to serve.

psalm 18:I-6 I love you, Lord; you are my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. 3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. 4 The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. 5 The grave[a] wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. 6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

David is saying instead of me depending on my fame and success I’m going to lean on who gave me this success.

Verse 31 starts out by Jesus saying, Do not fear therefore;

The word Not means not lacking anything, or God forbid. basically saying “God forbid that you lack anything” it connects with the verse in chapter 6 of Matthew where Jesus has commanded His followers not to store up wealth for themselves on earth, but to instead store up "treasure" in heaven by living righteously out of sincere devotion to God (Matthew 6:19–24). To those who might be tempted towards greed or materialism, this is a sobering warning. In Chapter 6 , Jesus has applied that same idea to those who are in no immediate danger of stockpiling wealth: the poor. Those who do not know where the money for food, drink, and clothing will come from can still be overly concerned about material things.

Christ says that believers ought not to live in anxiety about these basic needs of life. Life is about more than just food and clothing—there is meaning and purpose even if you do not have these things. To live in worry about the money we don't have is living under the control of money, rather than the control of God. Living to serve God includes trusting Him to provide what is needed without living in fear and anxiety.

“you are of more value than many sparrows.”

The word Value means “To be more worth , to surpass or be better. Some of you might have heard that term before. Remember when we started this series we were in the book of Isa. chapter 53, when we spoke about abandonment, abuse, rejection and worthiness. These terms are what Jesus shared with us what experienced by becoming flesh like us. meaning this is what we where born into and experience on a daily bases. I spoke with a lady the other day and she mentioned how she experience abuse as a child from her mother. she stated she experienced mental, physical and emotional abuse from her mother. And how that she had to make a decision that she was seeking self-made pleasure from her mother, but turn her ways and sought to find value in God.

Paul's epistles often begin by encouraging people to follow Christ. In many of his letters, he addresses the recipients as believers in Jesus Christ and emphasizes the importance of living a life in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Paul often offers words of encouragement, exhortation, and instruction on how to grow in faith and live out the gospel in their daily lives. verse 32

The New King James Version (Chapter 10)

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven

Embracing God's Design and His Purpose:

Jesus reassures us not to fear, for we are of great value to God, far more precious than sparrows. He calls us to acknowledge Him openly before others, promising to acknowledge us before the Father in heaven. But He also warns us of the consequences of denying Him, of disowning Him before others. Such actions, He tells us, will result in being disowned before the Father. Back to Dawn Staley’s comment. The final game, between South Carolina's Gamecocks and the University of Iowa's Hawkeyes, averaged about 18.7 million viewers and peaked at a whopping 24 million combined on ESPN and ABC, making it the first time in history that a women's final has drawn a larger TV audience than the men's. What a bigger platform than that.

As Christians, we are called to recognize that we are not self-made but rather God-made. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image, with unique gifts, talents, and purposes. God has a specific plan and purpose for each of us, intricately designed according to His will and for His glory. Embracing God's design involves surrendering our pride and selfish ambitions, allowing Him to shape and mold us according to His perfect will.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Verse 34

The New King James Version Chapter 10

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household

Jesus then speaks of the inevitable conflicts that arise from following Him. He declares that He did not come to bring peace to the earth but a sword, symbolizing the division that His message may cause, even within families. This division stems from the radical nature of Jesus' teachings, which challenge societal norms and call for allegiance to Him above all earthly relationships. Luke 12 puts it this way Turn to

Luke 12:49-53 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! Name another time in the bible when a city was seton fire?

51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. 53 ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law Are we willing to let our families know what we are made for ? Verse 37

The New King James Version (Chapter 10)

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me

verse 37, Jesus delivers a profound truth that cuts to the heart of our priorities: "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Here, Jesus demands our utmost devotion, surpassing even the bonds of family.

If your kids ask why you favor one over the other let them don’t feel bad none of you are more important than Christ. Devotion to family should not supersede allegiance to Jesus

Question?

When your asked to do things on Sunday and Wednesday that takes you away from serving and receiving His blessings what will you do?

The New King James Version Chapter 10

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me

Jesus even goes one step deeper and says you need a value check

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 10

Jesus’ words here foreshadow His death and call on His followers to identify themselves fully with Him, to the point of being willing to die as He did

Jesus is instructing His disciples about the cost of discipleship, emphasizing the need to prioritize following him above all else, even if it means bearing the cross. We are almost done verse 39

The New King James Version Chapter 10

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Walking in God's Grace and Provision:

Unlike the self-made mindset that relies solely on human effort and achievement, embracing God's design involves walking in humility and dependence on Him. God's grace is sufficient for us, do you believe that? It empowers us to fulfill His purposes and overcome our weaknesses and limitations. When we align our lives with God's design, we experience His abundant provision, guidance, and blessings that far surpass anything we could achieve on our own.

Furthermore, Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, a symbol of self-denial, sacrifice, and willingness to endure hardship for the sake of the gospel. He emphasizes that those who cling to their earthly lives will ultimately lose them, but those who lose their lives for His sake will find true life in Him.

As we reflect on the contrast between self-made and God-made, let us humbly acknowledge our dependence on our Creator and Redeemer. May we surrender our pride and ambitions at the feet of Jesus, embracing His design and purpose for our lives. Let us walk in humility and gratitude, trusting in God's grace and provision to lead us on the path of obedience and fulfillment. Amen.

let’s be sure that we understand what sacrifice means “ We are not sacrificing on Sunday’s to get up and come to bible class and worship.

God might express disappointment that we're missing out on the opportunity to grow spiritually and connect with others in the community of believers. He might encourage us to prioritize our relationship with Him and seek fulfillment in serving others through church work. Additionally, God might remind us of the importance of being active members of a spiritual family and the blessings that come from being involved in His work on Earth.