God: Our True North
Lessons From Luke • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 viewsTrue North v. Magnetic North is fascinating. True North never moves while Magnetic North is continually shifting. When Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him, He calls them to align their lives with His never shifting True North! This sermon explores the distinctions Jesus makes between those who are firmly fixed on Him as their moral true north versus those who are continually shifting with the moral changes of this world.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
VBS Week: True North
Difference in True North v. Magnetic North
True North is a fixed place that never changes. (Think of the North Pole)
Magnetic North is based on magnetic pulls of the earth.
Every year a World Magnetic Model is released by scientists who measure such shifts in the earth’s magnetic pull in order for global navigation systems to be accurate and updated.
In the 1990s magnetic north was shifting around 34.5 miles each year out of Canada and towards Russia. In the 2000s that shift has slowed to around 22 miles each year. Today Magnetic north continues to head towards Siberia and is no longer over Canada.
True North, on the other hand, isn’t shifting. It remains located at intersection of earth’s axis of rotation and it’s surface at Latitude: 90 and Longitude: 360…and it’s not going any where.
Various factors cause shifts in Magnetic North, but True North never changes!
17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
3 Distinctions when God is our Firm True North Versus the Shifting Morality of This World:
3 Distinctions when God is our Firm True North Versus the Shifting Morality of This World:
1) Motivations of Heart: Followers v. Seekers (v.17-19)
1) Motivations of Heart: Followers v. Seekers (v.17-19)
17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
Disciples follow Jesus, learn from Him, and embrace His teachings. (v.20)
The multitudes will go to Jesus to get something from Him for themselves. (v.19)
2) Measures of Worth: Faithful v. Secular (v.20-26)
2) Measures of Worth: Faithful v. Secular (v.20-26)
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Discontent and Discounted in this temporary life find comfort and hospitality in God’s Eternal Kingdom.
Those who are content and complacent in this temporary life will be found wanting and wandering in eternity.
Those who seek to please culture and carnally minded people have a hard time finding consolation in God’s Eternal Kingdom.
3) Mission of Life: Freed by Jesus v. Slaves to Sin (v.27-34)
3) Mission of Life: Freed by Jesus v. Slaves to Sin (v.27-34)
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.
The standard of “good” is not ultimately defined by human terms but by God’s Holy Standard!
There is a vast difference in worldly morality and true morality.
Closing
Closing
Blessing when God is our True North!
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
There is great reward, great relationship, and great regard for others…
…though maybe not great regard from others, but that’s not our focus. Great regard from God is our focus and our joy.
