Racing or resting

Racing or resting

Matthew 11:28-30

Pastor Miles

Memorial Day Weekend 5/24/15

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28-30‬ NIV)

1. "Come to me."

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ NIV)

Jesus tells us to come to Him for rest.

When I'm weary, what do I turn to? Where do I go to for relief?

Do we find real rest in any of these places? It provides temporary distraction but never real rest.

Jesus knows us, all that we are going through, our fears, and our needs. 

2. "Take my yoke upon you."

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29-30‬ NIV)

Jesus is asking us to surrender to Him.

Jesus is offering us a relationship not a religion.

Jesus, the master carpenter, is able to shape our yoke, to make it bearable for us. He doesn't give us more than we can handle. His yoke is light because it fits us.

We are responsible for the pace in life that we set.

Are we overburdening ourselves by doing more than we can handle?

We do not need to earn God's approval or merit.

3. "Learn from Me."

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29-30‬ NIV)

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ NIV)

Are we too proud to turn to Jesus? To accept His offer of rest for our souls?

Jesus is able to meet our most basic needs and can fill the holes in our lives.

Are we wearing ourselves out by seeking significance, security, and satisfaction elsewhere apart from Jesus?

Jesus teaches us to rest in His presence.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38-39‬ NIV)

Nothing can separate us from Christ.

If only we would submit to Him, put on His yoke, and follow in His footsteps.

Jesus is gentle and humble of heart.

We need to learn to rest in Him.

The principle of sowing and reaping

The principle of sowing and reaping

Charles Stanley

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬ ESV)

We have to be careful with the seeds that we sow in our children. They will reap in adulthood what was sown. 

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭7-10‬ ESV)

Are we training our children in the important things of life?

Sowing to the flesh: the attitude within us that wants to live and act independently from God.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16-17‬ ESV)

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭19-21‬ ESV)

Sowing means craving, absorbing and accepting.

Corruption is a form of death that happens over time.

Sowing to the spirit is putting the word of God and it's things into your heart and life.

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ESV)

Are we sowing things of eternal value in our life?

Do our associations contribute to our godliness or hinder?

Life principle: You reap what you sow, more than what you sow, and later than when you sow.

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭8-9‬ ESV)

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

...

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭1, 9-10‬ ESV)

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ESV)

Ask yourself if your thoughts and actions will contribute to your flesh or your spirit?

Don't be weary in doing what's right because God will honor that.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9-10‬ ESV)

All of us have the opportunity to sow seeds in the lives of our friends. We have the opportunity to impact people for good.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22-23‬ ESV)

Are feeding ourselves spiritual food or corruption that will influence our eternal destiny?

Compassion Sunday

Compassion Sunday

Luke 10:30-37

Pastor Miles

5/18/15

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." (‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭30-37‬ NIV)

1. What determines our response to those in need?

We see the needs of others around us.

We are in a position to help. We have access to resources.

2. Compassion is the ability to feel someone else's pain.

The difference between the Samaritan and the others is his compassion, the ability to feel someone else's pain, and the desire to help.

Jesus had compassion on others:

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭36‬ NIV)

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭14‬ NIV)

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." (‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭41‬ ESV)

3. The story of Trinity Cares International

A church to church partnership:

A adopt children in need

B build infrastructure

C create economic self sufficiency

D develop disciples for Jesus 

E experience partnership personally

Impossible

Impossible

Mark 10:24-31

Malachi Courtney

5/3/2015

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!" "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭24-31‬ NIV)

1. It is impossible to work your way to eternal life.

Salvation is impossible for any human being.

We don't deserve salvation because of our actions.

Christ's response to the little children who come to Him is different from His response to the rich young ruler.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭15‬ NIV)

We need to offer God our lives, not our deeds, self-righteousness or idols.

2. If you want anything more than Christ, you lose everything.

Those other things that we pursue are our idols.

3. God is in the business of doing the impossible.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son." (‭Genesis‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬ NIV)

Living a good life is not good enough.

We cannot have eternal life without the gracious gift of God, who does the impossible in our lives.