Kingdom Thinking, motivations
Kingdom Thinking • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 17 viewsWhat motivates us and how can we apply what motivates us to respond to a world in crisis
Notes
Transcript
Motivations
What motivates the world around us?
Even people with the greatest of intentions, at the end of the day would have to agree that what benefits me or my group is the most important of all.
Part of our conflict is that as we try and live from a kingdom perspective rather than the world, we find this battle that goes on inside of us.
Take for instance bonds, levy’s and taxes around schools. If you have kids in school, you will vote yes on these issues for the benefit of your kids.
However, as a person without kids in school you will tend to vote no on these same issues because for you, all it means is more taxes taken out of your pocket with no advantage for you.
You could pick any topic I just used this as an example because it isn’t on the ballot, so you could see the tension that is created from differing perspectives. As followers of Jesus will we or should we allow things like this to cause conflict or tension in our relationships with others?
In our series so far we have looked at several different ways that we as the church can and should respond to a world in crisis.
The last couple of weeks Pastor Steve has brought the focus a little closer to home with topics like how to submit to authorities and how we need to be a people of prayer instead of worry.
This morning we are going to talk about what our motivations are or should be, and how as we lean into Jesus, we can use the things that motivate us to bring hope and peace to the world we live in.
Let’s pray
What motivates us?
We are not just saved to be rescued from Hell, we are saved to become like Christ. Pastor Steve last week gave us an excellent example of this in Peter. He worried when Jesus was next to him but had boldness and confidence when Jesus lived in him.
Using the scriptures my Goal is to look at Jesus and some things that Paul wrote to give us direction.
In John 17 Jesus is praying, and he prays for the disciples but then goes on to include us in His prayer.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Church this is so important. Jesus says that “they may be one. Just as You, Father are in Me and I in You.”
I think this is the highest request Jesus ever made
That is oneness of purpose, truth, and especially love.
So let me ask us, how are we doing?
The amazing part of this request, I don’t think Jesus is asking that we be all alike at the cost of our own individual identity, but to be the many parts of one body all striving for the same purpose.
Let me give you a picture to describe this. America’s got talent has had dance groups perform and their choreography is so amazing, if one person was just one step off or one second late it would ruin the whole performance.
What if the body of Christ moved in the same way?
Jesus finishes His prayer by giving us the reason that this unity exists in the first place, “So that the world may believe that you have sent Me!
John: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition Chapter 21: Jesus Intercedes (John 17:1–26)
The rich, living, intimate connection between believers and their God makes (or should make) such a profound impression upon the world so that the world may believe that you have sent me
So now that I have given you this picture of what the body is supposed to look like, how do we get motivated to be there?
Paul wrote some very encouraging words to a couple churches in the cities of Philippi and Ephesus.
Now these churches weren’t in this place of perfect paradise.
Both cities were built on major trade routes and filled with other objects of worship. Rulers of the past, religions and idols.
So when Paul went to these cities to develop and establish the churches, you can imagine the conflict of being the church leaders in a place where there was such resistance?
When Paul later wrote these epistles, they were to encourage and teach the church how to live in a way that honored God as well as build unity among the believers.
Listen to the language of conflict he uses in chapter 1 to introduce our text from chapter 2
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Its almost like he is giving an answer to the Lord’s Prayer of let your kingdom come here on earth as it is in Heaven.
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
NIV says being-like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and mind.
I can just imagine Jesus saying these same words to us today, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
This isn’t just a way to live or rules to follow, but who we become.
It can’t come from laws from the government, the president or the governor, but ONLY through Jesus.
Galatians, Philippians, Colossians: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition 2. An Exhortation to Unity 2:1–4
The fact that God has given His salvation, His comfort, His Spirit, and His compassion to His people does not mean that unity is automatic.
Verse 3 warns us, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit
James tells us that where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.
However we have the answer in verse 4
Verse 4: Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
My son Jeremy has a wife and 4 kids with another one due in December.
On his way home from work often times he stops to get Hannah a coffee and then when he gets home he takes the kids so mom gets a time of rest.
In my opinion that is the best use of his time that he could make.
Whether he knows it or not that is such an example to his family what it looks like to put the needs of others before yourself, and its contagious.
What would a community that counted others more significant than themselves look like?
It would be a community of promoting others, thinking the best of them, and not receiving a word of gossip about them.
Can you imagine how well our community would be taken care of when we put the interests of others before our own?
Maybe it would look like the church of Acts 2?
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Galatians, Philippians, Colossians: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition 2. An Exhortation to Unity 2:1–4
Fellowship is a fact before it is a feeling. Any fellowship that is based on feeling will quickly evaporate. But if it is grounded in the fact that we are all possessed by the same Spirit, then its future is secure
This would be the community that fulfilled the prayer of Jesus in
John 17:21. So that the world might believe that you sent me.
Likewise in Ephesians Paul has some excellent words to share with us.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:15
Look carefully how you walk
I was recently on an elk hunting trip and we did a lot of walking. Have you ever noticed how loud twigs and branches crack when you step on them and that is the only sound that breaks the silence?
Paul is reminding the church in Ephesus to watch were they step, to walk in a way that is wise, not casual.
Then he says something so profound; making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Watch how you walk, making the best use of the time.
Then in verse 20 he gives in my opinion one of the greatest principles of motivation; Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Notice the comma at the end of this verse making room for verse 21 to be included in this section
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Through Jesus prayer and Paul’s instruction, we can really sit back and reflect on the things that motivate us.
Do they line up with scripture or do we have some adjustments to make?