Sermon Central
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Touching The Heart Series
Contributed by Steve Akins on Oct 5, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Today we celebrate Mothers and today as we continue our look in to the life we always wanted we take a look at one of the best characteristics of motherhood- that is the ability to touch the heart.
Read Scripture
Today we celebrate Mothers and today as we continue our look in to the life we always wanted we take a look at one of the best characteristics of motherhood- that is the ability to touch the heart.
How does that happen, how do we touch the heart of others?
First we must become:
People of Celebration
“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.”
Mothers celebrate everything, from the first steps, etc…..
People of Compassion and Forgiveness
First we need to become people who love and respect each other.
Mothers are amazing people of compassion and forgiveness. (expound)
We need to willing to forgive not from the mind but from the heart. Jesus, when teaching about forgiveness, was asked by Peter:
"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matt. 18:21-22
Jesus meant forever and always. God, through His Son Jesus on the cross of Calvary offered us a forgiveness that was forever and always.
If God is ever going to be able to do anything through our lives then we must be a people who model the very words of the Lord’s Prayer
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We must first forgive those who may have hurt us, just as God has forgiven us. If we as Christians are unwilling to forgive others who have offended us within the church, not just outside it, than our witness becomes like the scripture says in Matt 5:13.
We must learn what it means to have compassion and to forgive each other
People of Thanksgiving
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
Having the life you always wanted starts with ourselves and our attitudes toward others. God has commanded us to love one another in spite of our differences, in spite of our warts and in spite of our feelings,
People of Action
Mother’s are people of action. (expound)
We must be people of action. People who are always reaching out to help others to find Jesus. Many people stay away from church and Christians because they precieve that the church is self-serving and closed to anything outside of it’s walls. If we are not following the mandate of Jesus to go and make disciples, why then should we believe that God will bless our lives or bless our church. If we are not willing to be molded and used by our Lord then why do we hope that God will bless.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
In our scripture this morning, Jesus is saying that we must be a light that attracts humanity to Him and Him alone. And to be that light we must become a people who put the love of Jesus for all people into action. CHRIST DIED FOR EVERYONE!!!
Attitude determines action determines accomplishment
Conclusion:
We must be careful though it is tempting to get on our high horse and think that we are better than others but we have an enemy in Satan. That’s why Peter wrote:
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Satan will use whatever tactic he can find to tear down your family, your life and your church. Resist him and he will flee. We have a tendency to become negative when we don’t like a certain person or something that is happening within the church. But we need to remain positive in all of our relationships. In doing that we will truly begin to have the life that we always wanted.