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17 March: Are YOU Loved?

I want to first look at a verse about Jesus which occurs in His final days:  John 13:1 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. …. got up from supper, and (washed the Apostles feet)”

This verse happens just before He institutes the Lord’s Supper and He washes the Apostles’ feet.

I point this out to show you that Jesus is becoming very much aware of what is about to happen – His torture and crucifixion. But in this verse, as He contemplates what is ahead – His thoughts turn to His followers. He feels a sense of emotion rising within Himself for His followers. He realizes that in those 72 hours during His death His people are going to become anxious, unsure and, plainly, scared. He feels for them during His own turmoil.

This moment of emotion is what lies in front of His act of proclaiming the Lord’s Supper. Mt 26:26ff “While they were eating, He took the bread and the cup and said, ‘Take eat; this is My body; … Drink for it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.’”

In His establishing the Lord’s Supper He is forever establishing a memorial of the greatest act of love the world has ever seen.  And immediately following this memorial Jesus proceeds to then wash His Apostle’s feet. One of the greatest acts of humility and love ever recorded.

After this act of service Jesus then tells His followers about His future suffering and how it was necessary not only for securing salvation for all of mankind, but so that the Father can then send the Holy Spirit: John 16:6,7 “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

After this promise Jesus prays the prayer recorded in chapter 17: In Jesus’ prayer He speaks of the glory of Him and the Father. He then prays for His followers:     John 17:15,19,20 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” “I do not ask on behalf of those alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me in I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Jesus’ freedom ends in the garden at Gethsemane: John 18:2-4,8 “Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek? . . . Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way.’”

Right up until the very end Jesus’ concern is first and foremost for His followers. I present this chronology as evidence to the love, devotion, and concern that He had for those who accepted Him as the Messiah and Son of God when He was here on this earth. This same attitude exists for each and every one of us as well:   John 6:38 - For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.  

 

Heb 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.     

 

1 John 4:9,10  “By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”     

 

1 Peter 1:18,19 “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things . . . but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 

 

2 Cor 5:21 - He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.    

 

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  

 

My original question was to ask if YOU are loved? We are in fact loved beyond our ability to comprehend the love that the God-head has for us.

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22)

“No eye has seen a God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Sirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; … And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:26,28)

 

 

10 March:USING YOUR TALENTS                    Plain Bible Teaching Sermons:   “The Talents”   Andy Sochor March 8, 2021

Mtt 25:14 – 18 “ For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.  To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability. He then went on his journey. The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them and earned five more talents.  In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

This parable was told just a couple of days before Jesus was arrested and crucified. One of the points of this parable is that it represents how each and everyone of us have talents which the Lord has given us. Whether it be 5, 2 or even just one – we have been given something which can and SHOULD be used in our kingdom walk.

I think that it is significant that this parable is being told to His followers, His disciples, and not just to a crowd of people  AND  just before His arrest and crucifixion. If you remember in the book of John it is recorded that after His death and resurrection Peter and some of the others go out in their boat and do some fishing. They are without their leader and without any guidance and so they are reverting back to what they know. Jesus then greets them from on shore and helps them catch a net full of fish. When they realize that this is the Lord they come in and spend some time with Him. This is when Jesus tells Peter three times to feed His flock. I think Jesus is trying to remind Peter that His followers have a mission – they have a job to do – care for the lost.

We too have a job – 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”   The Lord does not want anyone to perish – and to the point of when and where we can present the gospel of salvation – we are to do so!

Rom 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”  

2 Cor 5:18 “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ  AND  gave us the ministry of reconciliation”.

I think that it is important that each and every one of us understand that we have been blessed with salvation at the cost of Christ’s life and we have been blessed with many things of this world as well. So, like the Good Samaritan we need to have the courage to help those around us who need it.  

Acts 4:32, 34, 35 “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. . . . For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.”

Just as in the parable of the talents where each servant received a different amount of money so we have received different blessings from the Lord as well. In this parable of the talents the servants are entrusted with talents or money but you and I not been limited to receiving monetary blessings. We all have different abilities, we have different resources, we have varying amounts of time and different opportunities in our lives. When Jesus was asked who is our neighbor that we should love He told the parable of the “Good Samaritan” which is basically saying the neighbor we are to love – by action, not emotion, is anyone who is in need.

WE all have varying talents, abilities, time and resources.

1 Cor 12:4 – 7, 11, 18, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is give the manifestation of the Spirit   for the common good.”

1 Peter 4:10,11 “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  

Mtt 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

I truly believe that our good works are to bless those who are in need and to bring glory to God – which then opens the door for the gospel of Christ and salvation to be preached.

2 Cor 5:18 “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ  AND  gave us the ministry of reconciliation”.

2 Cor 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

John 15:1,2,8 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. . . . My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be MY disciples.”

When we are productive and fruitful we need to know and believe that we will be rewarded: Heb 6:10  “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”

Gal 6:9  “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do to grow weary.”

If we are going to do God’s will in loving His children then we will receive our just reward. But if we do not do God’s will, if we are not bearing fruit as branches on the vine – we will also receive our just reward.  The one talent man shows us the result of living a wasted life:   

Mt 25:18, 24-28 “But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.  . . . Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed. 25 And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’

26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed? 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival, I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore: take the talent away from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’”

Here is a man who knew the nature of his master but because of his fear he is unwilling to do what he knows he is supposed to do. His master also called him lazy so between his excuse of fear and unwillingness to make an effort for his master his talent is taken from him.

Matt 13:22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”

Jesus is about to leave His disciples and ultimately ascend into heaven to return to the Father. In the Great Commission His apostles are told to go out an make disciples – baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We are told to go out into the world and be God’s ambassadors - spreading His gospel and His love. To the degree that we love the Lord is the degree to which we will show our love to the Father and to our neighbors. We are not allowed to sit on our blessings and hoard what we have been given. Like the first generation of believers, we need to show our love and not just speak of it. Our love and service must speak just as loud as our words.

1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”