Jesus’ Priority
Ducks In A Row • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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I love that video! It just reminds me of the memes that say, “all of my ducks are in fact not in a row and I'm not sure all of them are ducks.” Have you guys heard that? That’s a lot of times “real life”, isn’t it?
Thankfully that is not what we are talking about this morning. At least I hope it's not for us.
As you probably noticed this morning, I have quite a display.
See I wore this dress on my wedding day…to the most incredible man in the world. At least he is to me. I pray each of you married ladies believe that as well. And if you don’t know our story, here is a little background. Aaron and I met in high school. I was a Senior and he was a Junior. Yes, he found himself an older woman…haha.
We dated for 2 years before he proposed and asked me to marry him. We then were engaged for 2 more years before we got married. Now in that time, we obviously had plenty of opportunities to get to know one another. We learned one another’s strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes, favorite foods, colors, all the basic questions.
But we also learned what was important and a priority to each of us. And as our love for one another grew, what became important to the other person, became what was most important to each of us. So his priorities became my priority, and my priorities became his. I can tell you with complete certainty that Aaron Clark would find a way to move the whole earth if needed to make sure that my priorities were met and vice versa.
See the more in step we grew with each other, the more that we could individually lay down our priorities, to ensure that we met the other persons. Even if it meant, my priorities were never met, because we grew in love and relationship and intimacy.
This morning we have to be reminded that we are a bride. We are His bride and are we making His priorities part of our priorities as His bride? Are we growing in love with Him, to the point that we are no longer worried about our priorities as long as His are met?
What are Jesus’ priorities? We saw what they were when He was on this earth.
The Kingdom of God is at hand. He had John, his cousin, come as a forerunner for his ministry. Matthew 3:3
The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’ ”
Then in Matthew 4:17 right after Jesus is tempted in the wilderness he begins telling others the Kingdom of God is near.
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
So we see the first real priority of Jesus was the whole reason He came to the earth in the first place. In Luke 19:10 - Jesus says He came to seek and save the lost. And in Matthew 20:28 - He came for this purpose.
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
To give up his life and display what has always been true, that we are His only priority.
Heal the sick and give compassion over the broken. In Matthew 15:30 -
A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all.
And in Matthew 14:14 –
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
I want us to notice something about this scripture, the Bible uses the word Huge. Meaning many were going to need His attention. Many were going to ask something of Him. Many were going to drain His energy. His capacity in human flesh.
I believe Jesus displayed what we call a model of personal discipleship. Being willing to spiritually mature to a place of selflessly serving others. He made this a priority.
Empowering and rejoicing in the maturity of others. - Jesus pushed, empowered and challenged His apostles.
In Mark 6:7-13 – He calls them and sends them out, but one of the most important scriptures that is an example for us is found in Mark 6:30 – The Bible says that He took the time to listen hear all that He had empowered them to do, when they returned from being sent out.
And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes. “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town. But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.
Paul spoke on empowering others many times. And when he spoke of them it was celebrating them in all that they were doing. In Philippians 2:19 .
If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.
This was a priority that was set by Jesus Himself and it displays being filled with the Holy Spirit to witness and replicate yourself.
So these are the priorities of Christ. Now my question for you is this, are Jesus’ priorities in your priorities?
How would some else know that? Can anyone tell?
Truthfully in this day and age, I think the real question is “How do we do that?”
Well I think a good place to start is – first are you making these a priority in your life; next are they a priority for you to see in others lives?
See the real hard truth is that “The Church” must be a priority for us. And I don’t mean the modern institution of the Church, but the design of Christ’s Church.
What was Christ’s design for the Church?
A localized body organism of like minded and unified believers that met, cared, taught and encouraged each other. Whether in life or in sending
A force empowered by the Holy Spirit by using gifts given of the Spirit, meaning something not of this world, to share and expand the reach of the Good News. This means signs and wonders were present and followed.
A bride that would look forward and be watching to spend eternity with Him. Meaning that She would keep herself ready.
Church, we must be careful.
Often the very thing God has handed us to help build and protect is the first thing we abandon and beat down.
Speaking death or division or anger of the church is ultimately what the enemy of the church desires to happen. The enemy of Christ’s most treasured possession desires to see it hurt and wounded and belittled and degraded.
How is that enemy doing that? By causing the imperfect people that make up that church to see those imperfections as images of Christ rather than the reflection of the enemy himself and the tactics of temptation that cause those imperfect people to fall subject to sin. John 10:10
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
now there are moments that blatant sin is presented and is often allowed within the church, this is not right.
I’m going to make a bit of a harsh statement here that is unpopular opinion, but we were given instructions on how to handle and deal with sin within the church, and I'm going to go a step further and say, if sin had been handled the way we’re instructed according to scripture, you wouldn’t have the hurt that has ensued upon Christ’s Church.
Paul had to deal with sin within the church and I’m sure He wasn’t the only one, but even before Paul, Jesus Himself laid out the blueprint of how to deal with sin, within the group of believers. In Matthew 18:15-20
“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Pine Valley example***
Every part of the body is meant to be useful and keep accountability at the forefront until we see the day of Christ’s return.
We were intended to give opportunities for grace, as laid out in scripture. We were meant to hold leaders and each other accountable. In order to do this, we must cultivate a relationship close enough to notice patterns.
Once it’s been confronted, it’s meant to include more wisdom. And if no change occurs the outcome is meant to be harsh.
Let me be clear. This is not the separation of churches in gangs. And sending someone out of the church is not meant to happen to just people who leave a church. Those two things are not the same.
Noticing someone is missing is a form of love and accountability. Calling out sin is a form of love and accountability.
See unfortunately, I bring this topic up, because the enemy has used an old tactic - new wrapping to trap the church.
When trust is broken often the use of hurtful words or others' lack of passion or motivation ends up being an excuse for why not to love His Church.
And I will be 100% transparent with you guys, I’m guilty of this and had to really speak with Jesus about this this week. We can often grow bitter when other churches succeed - and wrongfully judge His church out of jealousy or hurt.
Unfortunately friends, when the church isn’t a priority, it will show, because the church will not be willing to fight for herself.
Above all of the things that we have, there are two things that will endure, the Word of God and the Church. God’s Church is what will endure for all of eternity. So how are you stewarding it? Are we treating it as though it is something we will get to present before Christ?
Or are we actively neglecting it and at times harming it? What we speak to and what we speak over is important, including His Church.
This is Christ’s Bride. If you’re married, I want you to ask yourself, would you let someone speak about your bride the way we often speak about His or the way we even hear others speak of His church?
There is great benefit for us in the Church. Otherwise Christ would not have put so much emphasis on the gathering of people together and commissioning them in unity.
So what is the purpose or benefit of prioritizing the Church?
we are meant to find joy and feel motivated daily by seeing people added to the church. This brought joy to Christ and to the apostles. It still is His passion. Is it ours?
we are meant to be a faithful bride, a faithful church. We are to adhere to scripture. Is there a time or circumstance where applying scripture will not positively impact your life? 2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
Prioritizing the Church and health of the church should create a plurality of humble leaders 1 Peter 5:1-3
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
We should push each other to to practice the ordinances of scripture with care together. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
It’s should be a simple one, but there should be a joy in honoring Christ as Lord. Colossians 1:18
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.
Believe it or not if the Church is a priority, we should welcome hearing sin addressed with truth and grace. Ephesians 4:15
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
And finally we should be shaped and fashioned together over time through learning to love one another. Giving grace to one another. Viewing one another as Christ views us. Ephesians 4:16
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Did Jesus ever do anything halfway? Did He have a purpose for everything when teaching? Of course!
Jesus intended for us to replicate His ministry. That required Him to make the disciples a priority. It then required each disciple to make each other a priority once He left and for them to teach that same principle of love and grace as they grew daily.
many people ask what church is right for me? When really the correct question to ask is how am I being a productive and effective body part to the church?
The truth of this topic is that the church is not a priority of the church at the moment. It’s not popular or seen as important to make it a priority in our culture today, but in order for the church to become a priority, we have to make up our minds that “it will be important to me”. It begins with one person deciding to make a change.
That is how the church was formed and must be how it is maintained.
For us this morning, as we wrap up our Ducks in a row series, I want to tell you a story. In the later 1800’s there was a man by the name of Gypsy Smith. He was born right outside of London in a Gypsy Tent.
And in 1876, he gave his heart to Christ. He felt called to preach and would teach himself to read and write and he would “practice” preaching the gospel to the tulips in the field.
Soon after he began speaking to one person at a time and that one on one meeting soon turned to 10, then, 13, then not long after he was preaching the gospel to 250 people. By 1881, he was preaching the gospel to 10,000 people. And thousands were accepting Christ and were either joining local churches or starting them.
Once a man was so impacted by his ministry, he asked Gypsy, “how did this start?”
And Gypsy’s answer was, “Find a piece of chalk, and find an empty room. Go into that room and shut the door. Draw a circle on the floor with that chalk, kneel down in that circle, and ask God to start a revival in it.”
Christ’s passion must become our priority
Christ’s passion must become our priority
See church if we want the church to be a priority in our lives the way Christ intended, we have to let it spark in us. We can’t wait around for anyone else to motivate us until it’s a priority.
We need God to start it in us.
I want to read you a Psalm that God convicted my heart with this week and it was David repenting before God in Psalm 51 .
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
