Wk 18 Jesus and New Ears
Notes
Transcript
CELEBRATING: TELLING OUR STORY!
Thanks for Giving to the Agape Preg Center here in Okmulgee
Pictures
#bettertogether
GENEROSITY
GENEROSITY
A series of studies…
found that neurons in the portion of the brain associated with a sense of satisfaction start firing when a person chooses to donate money. These results are a fascinating reminder of the intrinsic motivation that many people share to make the world a better place.
(https://www.classy.org/blog/giving-quotes-inspire-nonprofit-community/)
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
“… You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
UPDATE
CF Website
Hispanic church today at 2pm
Wed MidWeek Circle this Wednesday 600p
New Series: Post Easter “Walking in Wholeness”
Daily walking with Father reaping His Fruit not my own.
TRANSITION:
In a new song by Bethel Music penned in 2024 by Josh Baldwin and Jenn Johnson titled “Made For More,” the lyrics are so on point for our post-Easter series…
CHORUS:
'Cause I wasn't made to be tending a grave
I was called by name
Born and raised back to life again
I was made for more!
As We ponder on Christ Resurrection usually during Easter, however, as we said last week….
the grave maybe our DESTINATION, but it is NOT our DESTINY.
We are NOT to be TENDING A GRAVE!!
The song goes on to say…
So why would I make a bed in my shame
When a fountain of grace is running my way
I know I am Yours
And I was made for more!
ANALOGY…
chocolate fountain at a wedding flowing with chocolate
Why like a used plate on the table when you could load up on fresh at the fountain?
Why roll around in you sin and be depressed— when Jesus is ready to forgive, heal, restore, and declare you are his.
VERSE:
I know who I am 'cause I know who You are
The campaign years ago was bracelets that were imprinted “WWJD”
But until you KNOW who He is you will never KNOW who You are!
The VERSE Finishes…
The cross of salvation was only the start
Now I am chosen, free and forgiven
I have a future and it's worth the living
'Cause I wasn't made to be tending a grave,
I was called by name…
As Christians or as I say
As Christ Followers:
we anticipate eternal life with Jesus, knowing we'll one day be with him—no matter what tomorrow brings.
Funeral songs
In the Sweet By and By
I’ll Fly A Way
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
If we are confident knowing God’s Love and how much He loves us—
It’s that confidence that fuels our HOPE and develops a RELATIONSHIP that matures in faith.
WE HAVE A HOPE!
SAY IT WITH ME … 1-2-go!
WE HAVE A HOPE!
REMEMBER:
“The grave may be our Destination but it is NOT our Destiny.” ~Greg Laurie
We see this expectation of Jesus meeting our needs in our scripture reading today— people brought a man to be healed by Jesus
31 Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns.* 32 A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.
33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!
36 Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. 37 They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”
Baitman vs Batman (insurance commercial)
Baitman see a button and reaches out to push it and Batman says, “I wouldn’t touch that!”
Baitman says, “that makes me want to push it even more!”
Then the trap door opens up and he falls into a pit with his adversary yelling to Batman, “Get me out of here.”
A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.
Have we become so respectable that we just take what the devil serves us on his platter?
Have you thought of it?
Shouldn’t we get angry and upset when the enemy is tormenting w our friends, family, neighbors?
The Promises for us are YES and AMEN
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
This conveys that…
Jesus Christ is the “yes” and “amen” of ALL God's promises
It means that in Jesus—is the guarantee and confirmation of God's promises. Christians respond with an amen to the assurance of God's promises which signifies our affirmation of and trust in God's faithfulness
The first step to wholeness is JESUS!
Oftentimes we make it about us: how much faith we have
But it is only because of Jesus
Healing doesn’t flow from me and me alone
Healing flows from the empty grave — what God did in Jesus!
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,*
16 for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.*
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect* in their relationship to Christ.
Let’s lean into this first step to wholeness today…
That JESUS! Is our answer!!!
Throw everything else out today
Shame
Past mistakes
Unforgiveness
Disobedience
Remorse
Lack of anything…
TODAY WE SAY…
Jesus is my answer!
Not my skill set
Not my finances
Not my popularity
Not my roots- family bloodline
TODAY WE PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM AND HIM ALONE —
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
READ IT AGAIN!
The Grave Can’t keep you
You were not made to be tending a grave,
WHY?
Cause you were called by the name…
THE NAME OF JESUS!
Let’s Pray
