Real Christianity
Matthew 25:31-46
Introduction-
This morning, I want you to think about 0ur country, the United States of America. It is anything but united.
I want you to think about politics for a moment. I know religion and politics don’t mix well, so I will be careful about the next statement I am making.
They (politicians) have lost touch with reality. All of them have drifted away from their original ideology and went with what they think people want to hear.
Lifelong people living above the very people they claim to serve.
Making rules for everyone else that they themselves being exempt.
They live above the law of the land. One made a reference as a million dollar personal loan as being “little”
I told you last week, one day soon, it will stop.
God the Father will send His Son Jesus Christ and put a stop to this evil and deception.
The battle over right and wrong, the truth of God verses the law of the land.
It will not matter what all the law makers say, they will answer to the ultimate law maker and what He will do.
Matthew 25:31-46
Real verses Fake- that is the way that I would describe Jesus own Words (red) about the separation of the sheep and the goats recorded by Matthew.
It is not a coincidence that this passage comes after Jesus parable of the servants.
One servant gains 5 bags of silver and invests and gets 5 more.
One servant gains 2 bags of silver and invests and gets 2 more.
One servant had one bag of silver and hides his bag and does nothing with it.
It is about talking our abilities and using it accordingly for God’s kingdom.
Out text this morning- final judgment and God looking at our lives and what we did with it.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to “make disciples.”
We are to Address spiritual needs and we are to address physical needs.
We cannot overlook the heart of Jesus. Jesus loved people and we are to love people.
We are to meet needs and we are to make disciples.
One is the responsibility of the church and one is each one of our responsibilities to ourselves.
We look at the evil in this world, and it is easy to write off and say that there is nothing we can do.
This morning God has a message for each and every one of us.
Wither we have a pocket full of money or we do not have two coins to rub together. He has a word for us.
Illustration-
One night a woman dreamed that she was having a conversation with God. She was angry about all the suffering and evil she saw around her, so she complained to the Lord. “God, why don’t you do something about all this?” God gently said: I did. I created you.
Each of us plays a role and has something to do. Just like at the beginning of the sermon about the out of touch politicians who have gotten lost in the process of doing good for people, I believe God’s people can lose focus of what God wants us to do and what part we play in the process.
If we are not careful- the poor, because they do not have much develop a “give me” attitude and look on those that have more as owing them.
The well off- forget that God gave them everything that they have. They sometimes try to keep up with the Jones and are forced to work 3 jobs to support their lifestyle and requires all they have and little for those that need help.
Fake Christianity is believing it is all about you- your life, your happiness, your success, and nothing else or nobody else.
Genuine Christianity is Christ as Lord and savior, first in every aspect of our lives and having a heart for people like God has.
When you see a need- how can I help?
When you see a job that needs to be done- what part do I play? Where do I fit?
These people have the love for people like Jesus did, that open up their hearts and lives to be a blessing to others.
This passage is not about haves-have not’s. It is about those that did and those that did not.
Jesus loved people- that is His ministry to us. We love others, that is our ministry back to Him.
“Come unto me, all you that are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Mt. 11:28
Our ministry back to others
“When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Luke 14:13
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.” Pro 19;17
“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Pro 22:9
Listen,
Jesus taught it
Jesus lived it
Jesus modeled it
We think that Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for immoral living- that was only one sin of many. Ezekiel writes, they were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned, they did not help the poor and needy.
We are not saved by good deeds- we are saved by Christ alone.
“ For it by grace that we are saved, through faith- this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9
We cannot buy or earn salvation. We can do good works to make heaven.
But… the fruit should follow the believer. He who is saved by Jesus should act like Jesus.
Jesus has a call to those that claim to be a Christian
Feed the hungry
Give drink to those who are thirsty.
Cloth the naked.
There will be those that claim Jesus but don’t live it. Their lives do not bear fruit.
Some live it, some fake it- one day we will stand before God and He will look at our lives.
(Take fake flowers in a vase) SermonCentral Illustration
They look real
Upon closer look, you realize they are fake.
Fake flowers don’t reproduce. The church today has to reproduce, disciple people to be like Christ. The people of God have to desire to be discipled and be who God intended them to be.
Good Quote-
Good deeds don’t make you a Christian, but if you are a Christian, it will be the fruit of your faith.
It is great to hear a good sermon. I pray hard and work hard for that to happen, but just as important on hearing is being a good sermon. Live it out! Model it!
I have given you scripture this morning that shows us as believers that we need to be authentic, not fake, and we need(all of us) to be looking for ways to allow our faith to be active in good deeds for others.
The essence of leadership in the church- Servanthood.
The essence of a life fulfilled-Servanthood in the kingdom of God.
It is more than a nice concept, it is modeled by Christ Himself.
“For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
It is more than a sermon, it was his example of “being Christ”
The last supper- Jesus is in the upper room. He was ready to die for mankind, The Son of the living God.
Jesus gets up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:4-5
That was radical! That was unbelievable! The Son of God washing people’s feet.
The world has all these big shots we look up too, with their limos, big houses, servants, vacations all over the world.
Even some Christian celebrities have lost focus- getting too big and forgetting why they do what they do. The Son of God serves.
Why in the world would we not serve/
The world expects to be served- needs met, feet washed so to speak- not so with Jesus, and should not be Jesus followers.
The deepest lesson that Jesus teaches is humbleness, gratitude, and not forgetting where we came from.
At that time, washing feet was the worst job you could have. The lowest of the low did that.
Closing,
Jesus while still kneeling at the feet of his disciples-
“ Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s
feet, I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:14-15
A church that serves is a church filled with joy and will be a church that makes a difference in their community.
Christ servants served as faithful stewards of what has been given them.’
Christ servants are humble, they will not forget all that God has done for them.
Christ servants will love people like Christ loves them.
Christ servants model Christ everyday of their lives.
I’ve pulled the trigger. I’ve shot everyone of you including myself this morning. The message was for everyone. My prayer as we close is that each of us will grab what the Lord has told us.
That as a church , we will model Christ to this community He has called us too.
Amen.
