Jesus Encounters: Relational Investment (Part 1)
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Summary :
Summary :
Chuck- careful in the way that we live
b/c the world is watching
individual encounters with Jesus
water into wine
Nicodemus
jesus with the invalid at the pool
Jesus feeding the 5,000
Jesus with the woman at the well
Holy Spirit meeting with Paul
we have begun to see the message of Jesus
we have even noticed some of his methods of reaching different types of people in different situations
To regroup what we have learned through some of the Jesus encounters:
Jesus created
Jesus sustains
by His blood He redeems and santifies
He has come to establish His kingdom
it will be distinguished by His character and His priorities
there is hope for the hopeless
there is not light in the darkness
there is rest for the weary
and healing for both sick in body and in soul
the cross marks the satisfaction of the debt of sin
and whosoever may come
Constantly reminded that this is and has always been the message of God...
the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
We have noticed that Jesus has a profound love for sinners
but as we continue to look at some of these encounters we will see that He is commited to relational ministry as well
in the investment in a few
When we see the whole picture we will notice that Jesus has a strategic balance of effort:
win the lost, build up believers, equip workers
Through relational investment Jesus also shows us another aspect of His encounters
Jesus modeled His life for us
In doing so He also modeled a pattern for us to follow in making disciples who make disciples
Jesus created
Jesus sustains
by His blood He redeems and santifies
He has come to establish His kingdom
it will be distinguished by His character and His priorities
there is hope for the hopeless
there is not light in the darkness
there is rest for the weary
and healing for both sick in body and in soul
the cross marks the satisfaction of the debt of sin and whosoever may come
but as we continue to look at some of these encounters we will see that He is commited to relational ministry as well
in the investment in a few
When we see the who picture we will notice that Jesus has a strategic balance of effort:
win the lost, build up believers, equip workers
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
the goal is that we will become fully trained
and be like Jesus
- He lived without sin
He lived with purpose from the Father
He sacrificed His life for the building of that purpose
He humbled Himself
How did He do that?
He spent regular time in prayer with the Father
He practiced obedience to the death of the cross
He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit
He knew the Word of God
He was intentional about His efforts
we may feel that this is impossible for us
because Jesus was and is God and we are not. We can’t do what God does!
This is true - Jesus is fully God
But Jesus was also fully human
like us in every way except without sin
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
The power of the resurrection energizes us to do anything and everything that God calls us to do!
It takes tremendous faith to give ourselves to the power that the resurrection provides
a. on seven occasions Jesus rebuked His disciples for LACK OF FAITH
b. Jesus commands His disciples to simply “ASK”
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
John
look at the life of Peter
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Peter started off kind of rough
quick to speak
even quicker to action - not always in a positive way
over time (even after Jesus resurrects) we see Peter’s rough edges smooth out
His character becomes more like Christ
His priorities become more like Christ
Peter went from a rough and unrefined fisherman to a powerful mouthpiece for the kingdom of God and a pillar for the early church!
We can do the same if we will spend enough time with Jesus!
So there are two things that I’d like for us to do today:
we know the power of influence
who in your life is leading you closer to Jesus?
who in your life are you truly and intentionally leading closer to Jesus?
not of faith yet
young in faith
who in your life is pulling you further from your faith and purpose?
look for your circles of influence and adjust as necessary
2. Identify the areas of your life that you have decided are impossible to change
I know Jesus didn’t ______ but I could never do that .
sinful
sleep around
get blasted after a long day
lose his cool
gossip a little
I know that Jesus DID _______ but I could never do that.
Intentional actions
lead others to faith
teach someone about God
stand up for what is right - when no one else is standing
forgive those who have hurt
love my enemies
turn the other cheek
bless others
be close to God
have that kind of faith
stand against the enemy
what is your spiritual limitation?
So check your circles of influence
identify your spiritual limitations
then take it to God in prayer