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Real Christianity
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Apr 27, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: With everything going on and this world trying to identify itself with people and causes, what does the Bible say a real Christian looks like?
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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