Sermon Central
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When Did We?
Contributed by Steve Smith on Jan 31, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: This message helps the church ask why we do the acts of mercy we do? What is our motive? Last in a series of 4, we are reminded that all opportunities of service are to be done as though we are doing them for the Master Himself!
Introduction
Today, we end our study of preparation for the Vision of our church for the year 2010. We’ve talked about:
1. Recognizing the Open Doors (Rev. 3:7-8)
2. Effective Prayer (Col. 6:2-6)
3. Effective Giving (2 Cor 8:1-15)
And now today the question, “When Did We…” asked by the Righteous.
I asked you during our prayer time to consider you acts of mercy towards others in your recent lifetime.
Now I want you to ask yourself, “why did I do these things?”
We’ve talked during the month of January about the importance of everything BUT THE RIGHT MOTIVE!
-Yes, we must always be in a spirit of maturing together so that we can recognize the Open Doors being placed before us by God!
-Yes, we must always maintain an attitude of prayer for our pastor, staff, and leaders asking God to protect us, guide us, and lead us so that we might stand up to the evil one and recognize the right decisions for our church.
-Yes, we must always recognize that from the heart, we should give to show appreciation to God for all He’s done and so that He can use us to provide for His church
-And now, Yes, we must make sure that as we equip the saints, we move the church to the outside so that together we learn how to love and care for others.
The question we ask is simply: WHEN DID WE?
Our Text: Matthew 25:31-40
VERSE 31
He will return not as a humble carpenter,
but in his glory
and all the angels with him
The sight will be spectacular – PICTURE IT!
READ MATT 16.27-28
This time (from vs. 31), he will not come as a little, tiny, cute, innocent cudly baby boy.
This time he will come ‘sitting on his throne in heavenly glory’ – this time AS A KING!
It’s not the same JESUS this time is it? He came the first time offering the plan of redemption.
This time he comes to separate each one of us – one from the other.
VERSE 32-33
Jesus used sheep & goats to picture the division between believers and unbelievers.
This time Jesus comes as a judge!
Why the comparison of SHEEP VS GOATS
- SHEEP have been considered the emblems of mildness, simplicity patience, and usefulness here representing the sincere disciples.
- GOATS are naturally quarrelsome, ill-scented, riotous, profane, and stubborn. They here represent all people who have lived and died in their sins.
At this time, each one of us will answer for ourselves
VERSE 34
To those who understood his first coming, he invites them to receive “your inheritance
- THE KINGDOM prepared for you”
1. John 3:16 (NIV)
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Always a lot of confusion of the word “believe”
2. READ Romans 10:9 (NIV)
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Always a lot of confusion over the word “confess with your mouth” – “believe in your heart”
APPLICATION
Here in our passage Jesus begins to describe some thoughts that clear up this confusion.
Here Jesus shows that SALVATION is …
‘more’ than ‘belief – EVEN IN YOUR HEART’
‘more’ than ‘confessing - EVEN OUT OF YOUR MOUTH
Here Jesus begins to truly define what it means to be saved!
NOTICE… VERSE 35-36
The group given inheritance received this inheritance because OF A CHANGE IN THE HEART THAT RESULTED IN ACTS OF MERCY every day!
There is something else: These acts of mercy are acts that take place every day!
- Acts they do not depend on wealth, ability, or intelligence;
- ¬Acts freely given and freely received.
In fact, notice their response…
VERSE 37-39
Notice also that the righteous are surprised at the King’s words!
They never even realized they had such an opportunity to do such kindness to him directly!
They are commended for their acts of kindness TO HIM!
QUESTION: Can you imagine what it would feel like to hear the Master say THANK YOU?
VERSE 40
The basis of reward rests on the acts of kindness each individual believer did for other believers.
And in fact, their doing so they were doing those acts of kindness for the KING HIMSELF!
These acts of kindness had become a way of life!
A belief down in their heart that was a way of life
A change of what came out of the mouth because of what was in the heart!
SUMMARY
If the church is to be the training ground for the BELIVER, then we need to be ABOUT THE MASTER’S BUSINESS!
