Grace's Vision
Marked by Grace • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What Do You See, Where Are You Looking
What Do You See, Where Are You Looking
Perception in Reality
It is pretty easy to see the brokenness all around us.
Over the last 10 weeks we have walked through the greatest sermon ever
We have talked about what it means to be Marked by Grace - to live it, to experience it
We have heard from the King as to what it means to be a part of the kingdom
It all starts with the heart and flows from there
The neglected heart will soon be a heart overrun with worldly thoughts; the neglected life will soon become a moral chaos. - A.W. Tozer
So how do we navigate this world and it’s people, living by Grace and standing on the Truth?
In this final chapter, we are challenged with obeying the will of God or disobeying
We are challenged to a life of humility, self-examination, discernment, and dependence, and ultimately obedience
The road is not easy, but there is a way
Let’s pray as we dive in
See yourself and others accurately
1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Does this to do not judge?
Do not judge until you are prepared to be judged
We are to hold each other accountable - in humility to acknowledge we are just as capable to sin
Except by grace, there go I - John Bradford
It is one thing to exercise judgement - then to have a judgmental attitude
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
We must discern with whom and how we share the Truth
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
We need to discern character and understand not everyone will be receptive
So how do we know with who and when - ask
God gives us the resources to discern
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
We must have persistent reliance on God for all of it
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
How we respond to others matters
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
There are 2 ways -my way and God’s way
13 “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. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
It is not easy - but we must choose
We must be aware of those that would lead us back or away
We are warned
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
God’s will and God’s word will never be in conflict
There is no Jesus and...
Be a fruit inspector
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Does what they say and do match with what Jesus said and did?
Does it point to God or themselves?
There will be plenty that will have done what the world thinks as mighty acts, but in the end it is not about what you do it is about who you know and does He know you?
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
What are you building your life on?
What are you building your life on?
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
In the end it is a question of surrender and obedience
It all starts with the heart
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Let’s pray
