Other Sheep
Mark 9:38-41
There is a difference in having a lot of Churches and making an impact for Christ.
There are just over 20 Major religions in the world and Christianity is one of them. Each religion has multiple, sometimes tens of thousands of, denominations. A denomination is defined as a group of Churches within a religion that identify with one another because of harmony in important beliefs and purpose in missions.
There are over 38,000 groups that identify themselves as a Christian denomination. According to Wikipedia, a Christian denomination is defined one that views Jesus Christ as an important person to their faith. I think you can see the problem in this.
As SBTC-Southern Baptists, we are one of 96 recognized Baptist denominations. We are in a wonderful situation here in Eula. We have a large ministry footprint in an area that is not inundated with Churches. The Churches within our footprint are either good Churches or stand in sharp contrast to our message and ministry.
Yet with that opportunity comes a vital responsibility. If we do not accomplish what God has called this Church to do, do not be surprised if another Church shows up and takes off. Churches who have operated as a convalescent center for retiring saints have been startled by an upstart Church moving into the community and making a stand for Christ.
One writer said, "When Christianity began there were no denominations. All believers were one! They were called by many names believers for their faith, brethren for their love, disciples for their knowledge, saints for their holiness, servants for their works Christians for their Lord."
Mankind has always had a "we vs. them" mentality. There are two extremes that are to be avoided. Jesus addressed one here, but it would be reckless to present it without presenting the other warning. We will cover both today if we can accomplish our goal in today's sermon.
Mark 9:38-41 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
The disciples received several stings from this encounter. First, remember that the disciples tried to cast out an evil spirit prior to this and could not. Now, someone who was not as close to Jesus was doing the same. When the disciples saw that this one was using Jesus' authority, they attempted to stop him. When he would not stop, so they went to tell Jesus.
I. Choosing Sides.
"Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."
We often feel that if we are for something or against it, Jesus is on our side.
I am reminded of when the Israelites were getting ready for the the first battle in the promise land. A man appeared before them. Joshua 5:13-14 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14 And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?"
That's the way God operates. It is not a question of whether people are with us or not. The question is whether the other person will surrender to the Captain, the Lord of Host. That should be our only question. When we are choosing sides, we better choose His.
II. Cheering Servants.
"...for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me."
Jesus sees the end before the beginning. He would not empower someone to do mighty works and they speak evil of Jesus. Because we can't see in the future, we often consider labels and not fruit. We should rejoice when other Churches do well. We should rejoice when other Churches are leading people to salvation in Jesus Christ.
The mightiest work of God is the redemption of a life. God's true salvation plan saves families. God's plan delivers the alcoholic from the bottle and the druggy from the fix. Jesus' salvation not only forgives one's sins, but opens the avenue of all the cures for what destroys his soul. No one would speak ill of Jesus after "they have tasted that the Lord is good," as Peter says in 1 Peter 2:3. (those who praise him with life and tongue, we should praise.)
III. Conserving Sanctity.
We must remain theologically pure. Please understand this. Although we recognize all of God's children, our greatest fellowship must be within our Church and must be based upon theological agreement. This is most true of the "non-negotiable" truths we hold.
Gal 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Even from the earliest days, Satan has tried to distort the message of Jesus. We must be guardians of the truth that God has revealed to us.
Jud 1:3-4 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jud 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (We are guardians).
But though we stand guard of the truths we possess, we must keep some other important things in mind.
IV. Calling Seekers.
We must remain open to new-comers. "For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward."
No defense of the gospel or protection of our congregation calls for a lack of hospitality. Titus 1:8 calls for Church leaders to be hospitable.
This verse 41 has wonderful promises in it. First, if we help those working for Christ, even if it is with just a cup of water, God will bless us richly. This is why we give to our missionaries.
With our offerings, we support about 10,500 missionaries through the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board. Our missionaries report that over 500 thousand salvations a year outside the United States, and 400 thousand within the U.S. each year have come to faith. Our, our contribution is small compared to the need, but just a cup of water is blessed.
Last year, World Changers we took 4 students and three adults to Waco in a program that won over 50 souls to Christ, even the port-a-potty supplier and his wife came seeking Jesus. This year, we need help getting a bigger group to Eastland.
Last year we sent a dozen students to camp and they heard the truth. Our camp had over 500 salvations last year and over 200 rededications. Over a hundred sensed the call of God on their lives to prepare for full time service in His work. Our contribution was small compared to the budget, just a cup of water.
Last year, we sent two families to Church builders. This was just a cup of water compared to the need, but it will be blessed.
God promised that even just a cup of water in His name would bring reward. Praise His almighty name for allowing us to be part of these wonderful ministry.
Second, when we are doing the work of Jesus, God will send to us those who offer a cup of water. God will supply our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:19.
To see God do His work, we must allow those who belong to Christ join us. We must invite others to join us, as Jesus did. And we must welcome those who come.
I want to end this sermon with the invitations of Jesus.
In John 1:39, we read, "He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour."
This is the first of the gracious invitations of the Lord Jesus to "Come" to Him. On this occasion, right after His baptism by John, He invited two potential disciples to come with Him to His dwelling place. Very likely this was an outdoor mat somewhere, for He soon afterwards acknowledged that ""Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."" (Matthew 8:20). Nevertheless, one night of abiding with Jesus changed their lives.
Soon after He issued another invitation to them. "Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17), and they never went home again. First He invites us to come to see and know Him, then to come with Him to win others.
There is also the wonderful invitation to come to Him for relief from our burdens and cares. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). And note His promise to those who do accept His invitation: "whoever comes to me I will never cast out." (John 6:37).
There were personal invitations. To Zacchaeus, the seeking sinner glimpsing Jesus from a sycamore tree, He said: "hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." (Luke 19:5).
To his friend Lazarus, dead and bound in a tomb, He cried: "Lazarus, come out" (John 11:43), and not even the grave could prevent his accepting such a call.
There are other invitations from the Lord, with gracious promises to those who come. But note especially the final invitation of the Bible, "The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price" (Revelation 22:17). (Dr. Henry Morris, "Days of Praise".)
Today, we join our Master as we invite you to come. Will you come join the Savior's work today?
