Released to give
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Intro and tension
Intro and tension
Re-offending rate massive prisoners
Australia = 28.3% first 12 months
US = 44% first 12 months
Why?
Main reason - Lack of support | don’t know how to function in society.
Jesus said ,the kingdom of God does not operate like this world;
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Some of us - Out of Prison, acting like we still in Prison.
If don’t know Jesus - Great day to come to Church.
Know Jesus - Great day to come to Church.
Title: Released to Give
Series: Giver
Week 1 - Positioned to Give
Week 2 - Created to give
Week 3 - Because we came to give;
this week; Released to Give.
2 things we need to know if become a giver.
You’ve been given Freedom (if not on table) | Chains have been broken for you
You’ve been given purpose (if not on table) - However (let’s be real) requires sacrifice, suffering, going without - Why would anyone? - How do we endure to the end?
Answer to both; Personal meeting with Jesus
*pray*
let’s dive into number 1.
All series we’ve said - Need to know what you’ve been given to give.
major thing to wrap our heads around; Justification - This is your Pardon
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
So important to get this |
Justified, heard it - just as if I didn’t sin = doesn’t give it justice - No you did sin - Slate wiped Clean - Still got stuff going on - but in front of All Mighty God - You are justified.
Means you are clean in front of God
Court room and Water Jars - Hebrews Washed.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Few things we need to know - Done by Jesus Christ.
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
There was an argument; Peter eating with jews because he said gentiles had to become Jews - Paul confronted him to his face.
Jews saying they clean by Birth right | Pull that into 2024 | Can’t be born Christian | Families faith does not save you | Need to make a choice | Choice open to everyone.
2nd thing here - Can’t be justified by Works.
Romans 3:21–24 (ESV)
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it
“Hard for me to belieeve that all I need to do is simply believe” - Yes and ZOOM OUT - Faith in beliving = simple, but Cost was not.
Not just your faith | death of Jesus justifies us. - Throw your faith on finished work of Jesus.
Rich young ruler;
Everyone knows story, rich young ruler -
Kept all commandments - Asks Jesus what must he do to be saved - Jesus Sell everything - goes away sad. Nothing to do with his posessions - Details in the question.
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
Jesus trying to show him - There is NOTHING you can do;
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
See it earlier in Luke 18 - Pharisee and tax collector -praying in Temple - I have done this and that - I am not like this tax collector - fast, tithe, but tax collector;
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
At the moment you are painfully confrontered of what you actually are - there is severe mercy for you - at that moment - can try and justify;
“but i’ve done this, and that” - but God is saying…look at what you are…What I did and accept my grace.
This is salvation - where in a moment, you realise fall short of the glory of God - and in that moment you give your life to Jesus - you are Justified, by what Jesus did on the cross.
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
and our rebellion, mess, shame, guilt is nailed to cross. Not just saved - but Placed.
Our life as christians is a life of Surrender.
because of His Sacrifice;
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
You’ve been given freedom, so you have the freedom to give.
You have been given purpose.
If going to live like this - How endure?
5 Practical things, then going home.
Look at someone who understood this;
Paul - Use to be Saul - Persecuting Christians had a “Grace Awakening”
When Saul met Jusus - Jesus said you’re persecuting ME - Jesus turned around and offered GRACE.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Amazing shift between - “Trying to do enough” and “Jesus did it all” - This is what Drove Paul’s Ministry.
2nd thing; it was personal for Paul - Not just beliefs - Relationship
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Question: Is it personal? Is Jesus Personal for you
3rd thing - Given a calling - Calling should rise above earthly gain and earthly pain - That’s why Paul says - everytihng I had before = Rubbish.
Your calling will always require sacrifice. but nothing more fulfilling then being used by The King.
4th thing - He knew who he belonged to;
For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.
5th thing - You’re going to meet Jesus at the end of your story - face to face.
Paul - Writing to timothy, last letter he wrote before he died;
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
There is something coming - and Someone coming - Someone is waitig for you at the end of your story.
Story Time
There was a person on death row - Did horrible things…wrote to the judge… He got called before the judge…Taken off death row…got let out of prison where he thought he’d be forever…into the world…Job… New purpose, He dedicated His life to this Job…everyone around him thought it was unfair…I mean wouldn’t you…
it’s unfair until you realise that person that was let out of prison and given a new purpose is you…It’s you.
For all those that call on Jesus Christ, there is life and freedom but also purpose…
You’ve been given freedom, so you have the freedom to give.
You have been given purpose.
Paul, writing from a jail cell and encouraging Timothy said this, and it’s the same for you…
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
You have a God that has a purpose for you that has saved you from Wrath.
on the table today is Prupose and Calling, and you have been released to Give everything for the one who gave everything to you.