The Love Of Jesus Makes Us Whole And Holy

THE STORY OF JESUS #4: THE LOVE OF JESUS MAKES US WHOLE AND HOLY

INTRO TO SPEAKER:

My new role as Executive Coordinator of the Overcomers Outreach.

My trip to Toronto to do an addictions workshop at the Promise Keepers Legacy event.

The ‘colour’ of Toronto – police, fire, biker gang. My experience at the conference.

Share God encounter experience at the PK conference – renewed passion for His presence!

This morning’s message came out of this experience and was written on my flight home.

OPENING TEXT: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

• God wants us to take a close look at His love – as revealed in the person of Jesus!

QUOTES: From Free to Live by John Eldredge.

“The hope of Christianity is that we get to live the life of Jesus. His beautiful goodness can be ours. God makes us whole by making us holy, he makes us holy by making us whole.” (pg. 179).

PREACH THROUGH THE KEY TEXT! (Eph. 1:3-10, The Message).

“3 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. 4 Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6 He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. 7 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!”

THE BIG IDEA:

Jesus pours out His love upon us to make us whole and holy, and abundantly free!

A LOOK AT THE GOODNESS OF JESUS:

• QUOTE: “You can tell a lot about a person by his effect on others. What is he like to be around? What is the aftertaste he leaves in your mouth? (John Eldredge).

1. JESUS SHOWS LOVE TO AN OUTCAST LEPER:

“1 Jesus came down the mountain with the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. 2 Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, "Master, if you want to, you can heal my body." 3 Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone. 4 Jesus said, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed body to the priest, along with the appropriate expressions of thanks to God. Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” (Matt. 8:1-4, The Message).

• Jesus healed this nobody, this outcast that no one else cared for, and made him whole.

• But he wanted him to be holy too and challenged him to life a life of gratefulness to God.

2. JESUS SHOWED LOVE TO LITTLE CHILDREN:

“13 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. 14 The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. 15 Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." 16 Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.” (Mark 10:13-16, The Message).

• In the first century Jewish culture, children were insignificant and unimportant.

• Here Jesus shows His goodness towards all people – regardless of age, sex, etc.

3. JESUS FORGAVE A SINFUL WOMAN:

“3 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone 4 and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. 5 Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. 7 They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." 8 Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. 9 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. 10 Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?" 11 "No one, Master." "Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin.” (John 8:3-11, The Message).