Impact Evangelism, A Heart Like Jesus, Matthew 9:36-38

Rough Draft, A Heart Like Jesus

Matthew 9:35-38

Pray

Introduction:

For the past 3 months I’ve tried to answer the question,

“If I had one super power, what would I choose?”

“If there was one thing I could do supernaturally what would it be?”

For some of you I’m going to need you to listen because you will think about that question for the rest of the sermon.

-I know how Rowland McLeod and Mike Crawford are.

Don’t think about the question for the next 30 min, pay attention to the message.

Superpower, Would you have super speed, mind reading, flying, an iron fist, control the weather, super strength … the list goes on and on.

-A month ago settled on the ability to heal people of sickness.

-The ability to travel the world and heal anyone with any disease seems like a really good thing.

-No one is going to make a Marvel Action movie on healing people from sickness - not enough explosions for it to be good, but that’s what I settled on.

-In our passage today, Jesus was exercising his gift of healing in extreme fashion.

verse 35 says Jesus was, “healing every disease and every affliction.”

From what we read in the Gospels Jesus wasn’t always healing everyone all the time. There were times he was focused on other things than healing everyone all the time.

In this case, Jesus was on a preaching and healing tour all around.

Question - Why do we see so much healing go on in the Bible in the Gospels and in the book of Acts (in the early church).

There was a reason why healing was so prevalent in the Gospels and in the early church.

-When someone heals in clear and miraculous ways, you know that person is from God and speaks for God.

-At the time of Jesus and the Apostles the New Testament Bible, had not been established yet. Things were just starting to get off the ground.

-If there is no New Testament Bible - who do you go to for spiritual truth?

Was there a big floating arrow over the head of Peter or Paul that said, “Listen to this guy?” No.

-You listened to the leaders who proved God’s hand was on them through healing. That was the sign that God was with them. That was the sign that these guys had truth. That was the sign that you could trust them.

Jesus healing in such an overwhelming way showed that he was from God, that He had the truth, and that He was God.

Transition - What was the truth that Jesus was telling? Verse 35 gives the answer, “proclaiming the Gospel”.

The first thing we see was Jesus purpose.

To have a heart like Jesus - I must purpose in my heart to share the Gospel. x2

Jesus purpose was to proclaim the Gospel.

I. I must purpose to proclaim the Gospel

Jesus knew that his physical healing of others was going to fall short.

-Sure he would heal, but physical healing is just temporary. Only lasts a lifetime.

Jesus had to give them something of eternal value.

Jesus care’s about your condition today and tomorrow, but He died for your eternity.

-The superpower to heal is nice, but once someone is healed they can get sick again.

Q, What brings healing for eternity? The Gospel.

-The Gospel heals the soul. Jesus forgives sin. He gives you an identity.

-At the end of your life hear on earth he also brings your body eternal healing in heaven.

-The Gospel doesn’t just change us today, but more importantly for eternity.

-God has shared the Gospel with you, not only for your to be saved, but for you to share the Gospel with others.

-You have been given the recipe for spiritual eternal healing. A recipe that is to be shared with others.

Illustration - Fresh out of college I taught Bible in the high school at at Augusta Christian. One year the Senior Class was putting together Cook Books to sell as a fundraiser.

Earlier that year someone in my family had shared with me a secret recipe. There was at that time a restaurant across from the Augusta National called “The Green Jacket”. It has a salad that was very known for called The Green Jacket Salad. I had been given the secret recipe. I put that recipe in the Senior Class Cookbook.

Soon after the cookbook was published and sold to hundreds and hundreds of people the restaurant “The Green Jacket” closed down. Susan’s brother to this day blames me for the closing of the restaurant because I shared their secret recipe.

Pause

My friend - The recipe of how to be saved is not to be held back.

It is to be shared all over the world. Most importantly, It is to be shared by those who you have contact with.

God’s recipe for salvation is never to be secret.

You must purpose to share the Gospel.

To proclaim the Gospel.

The Gospel is simply this-

Due to your sin your relationship with God is broken.

It’s not only broken, but your sin must be punished.

God is a good judge and must punish sin.

God sent His Son Jesus to earth. To live a perfect life.

To get on a cross and to take your punishment for you.

Jesus invites you to have a restored relationship with Him and God the Father.

A relationship that is based on His love and grace for you.

A relationships where He makes you new, gives you a new identity, and purpose.

Q - What do I have to do?

2 things:

A) Fully trust that Jesus paid for your sin on the cross.

B) Commit to giving all of your life to Him and follow Him.

Church family - Because Jesus purpose was to proclaim the Good News, you and I must proclaim the Good News wherever we go. Not only in church, but on the mission field - in our own county.

Transition - What else do we see that tells us something about Jesus heart?

2. He saw them -

I asked a group of high school students recently at Thomas Jefferson, In what way do high school students not consider others and show their selfishness. One 14 year old said, looking at our phones all day long and not thinking about the people around them.

-This person really nailed it.

-When we (as adults or students) are buried in our phones we don’t see others around us.

-We all have things in our life that get our attention.

Examples: Jobs, busy schedules, children, sports, entertainment, our own anxiety and insecurities.

Whatever it is … It is easy to not look up and see people around us.

…but Jesus sees people.

Most importantly, Jesus sees you.

2 questions that are important for you to answer:

Do you see Jesus or are you blind to Him in your life?

Do you see others?

Do you take the time to see others looking to proclaim the Gospel.

Transition - The third thing we see in from Jesus in our passage is-

3. He saw them in their true condition. vs. 36

-Jesus had spiritual eyes.

Let me make a challenging statement

-Every person that I’ve met that shared their faith was someone who also regularly spent one on one time with God.

-Why? Because when you regularly spend time with God you train your eyes to look at the world through spiritual lenses.

-Spending regular time with God … helps us see others from a spiritual perspective. You look for other’s spiritual condition.

-The most important thing you do every day isn’t loving your kids and grandkids, isn’t being faithful to your spouse, isn’t taking your medicine or eating the right things. It going to your job.

-The most important thing you can do everyday is spend time with God one on one.

-When you do that, not only is your heart strengthened, but you love your kids and grandkids more fully, your are faithful to your spouse in ways you wouldn’t have been otherwise … you are spiritually aligned to not just see people, but look at them through the eyes of eternity.

-You consider other’s spiritual condition.

-Jesus looked at others through the eye of eternity. "They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus was always considering the spiritual and the eternal.

Illustration - I spoke with a friend recently who has a critical disease that might kill them. Outwardly they don’t look good. I came away from our conversation knowing that inwardly they were more alive than ever. Inwardly they were closer to God than they ever have been.

Will you take a moment to look at someone and ask. How are they doing spiritually? What is God doing in their life? How can I speak an encouraging spiritual word to them?

2 Corinthians 5:14–16 ESV

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

Paul said we regard no one according to the flesh any longer.

To have a heart like Jesus is to not see people for what they have or how they act, but to see their heart. And in seeing their true condition...

Transition: So far we have seen that Jesus:

-Purpose to proclaim the Gospel

-He saw them

- He saw them in their true condition.

4. His heart was broken, vs. 36

Jesus heart was broken for them because He loved them.

He saw that they were spiritually wandering with no guidance.

The guidance they got from the religious leaders was warped and led them astray.

Out of Jesus immense love - His heart broke for the people. Pause

God has placed individuals in your life. Some of these people are good people, smart people, people who look like they have it all together. But...

They are spiritually lost and wandering.

God wants you to love the people around you so much that when you think of their spiritual condition - that they are fare from God - that your heart breaks.

-Your heart will break when you are at their funeral, but by then it will be too late. Will you right now think about where they will be for eternity if they died today without Jesus.

Q - For who does your heart spiritually break for?

-Will you be the one to share Jesus with them? Pause

-Who is it in your family that your heart breaks for?

-Who is it that lives near you that your heart breaks for?

-Who is it that is in your school that your heart breaks for?

-Who do you work with that your heart breaks for?

-Who has Christ called you to love so much that your heart breaks for their lostness? pause

Transition - Our final observation is this

5. He challenged others to take on the mission. vs. 37-38

Jesus saw the need for Gospel laborers.

-Let me ask you this question. Outside of our local church buildings, how many times do your think Gospel conversations are had in our county each week?

-How many times do you talk about Jesus with someone in your life who you are not sure if they are a Christ Follower?

-Here is the great news, Jesus told the 12 disciples to pray for you.

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

2,000 years ago the disciples and Jesus prayed that you would become a laborer for the spiritual harvest.

Right now you can make the decision that you will be the answer to one of the disciples prayers.

-God is calling you right now to take on the mission of Jesus.

-God is calling you right now to reach others with the Good News of Jesus.

-Is the Gospel worth sharing? Has your life been Impacted by the Gospel to the point that it is worth sharing. Pause

Illustration -

-At my house I have more fishing gear than a person should be allowed to have.

-There are two kinds of fisherman.

-One kind calls themselves a fisherman, and might even have all the gear, but rarely if ever fishes.

-The other kind of fisherman regularly gets out and makes casts. Tries new baits. Works with the seasons and the weather to be successful.

-The first person who says they are a fisherman, but never fishes is just an imposter. They know the language, but are not committed to the sport.

-It’s the second person, the person who actually goes out and casts in the water, that’s the true fisherman. Even if all they have is a cain pole and bread. They get out.

Why? Fisherman fish. (X 2)

Matthew 4:19 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Followers of Jesus become fishers of men.

Who are you fishing for?

Closing

There are some in this room today, the first people you need to have a Gospel conversation with is are your children and grandchildren.

-You need to tell them,

I want to share with you about the time that my life was really changed. In 2-3 minutes, You need to share with them about how Jesus changed your life.

-You need to end the conversation with a question, Would you like Jesus to change your life too?

-There are some today who have a friend, a family member, classmate or coworker and you need to say to them. Can I take you to lunch on Thursday? I have something good that has happened to me that I want to share with you. Privately over lunch share with them your testimony of when Jesus changed your life.

Who is it that you need to share Jesus with?

Who will you today commit to sharing Jesus with?

Commitment Sheet, 5 people

3 circles track, I’m going to post a video on our FB page about how to use this - be looking for it.

Finally, If you have never come to Jesus.

If you have never had your sins forgiven.

If you have never said to God. I am a sinner and I need you to save me.

Would you do that right now?

Stop making excuses, today is your day to be saved.

Response -

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