The COMPASSION OF GOD Versus the RELIGION OF SELF

THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

Jesus Christ is:

- The Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6-7)

- The Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5)

- The REST of God into which we ENTER (Hebrews 4:1-11)

- The absolute GOODNESS of God manifested (John 1:14, 18; Hebrews 1:3)

- COMPASSION personified - the very heart of the Father revealed

JESUS’ MISSION TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST

Jesus’ Own Declaration of Purpose

Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 5:31-32 “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’”

Matthew 9:12-13 “But when Jesus heard this, He said, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,” for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

John 6:37-40 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

John 10:10-16 - The Good Shepherd “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep… I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”

John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

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THE GREAT CONTRAST: JESUS VS. SATAN / COMPASSION VS. RELIGION

Jesus Seeks To:

FIND - Actively searches for the lost (Luke 15:4-7; Luke 19:10)

SAVE - Delivers from sin, death, and destruction (Matthew 1:21; 1 Timothy 1:15)

SUPPLY - Gives abundantly, freely (John 10:10; Philippians 4:19)

GIVE - Offers everything, asks nothing in return - SAVED BY GRACE (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23)

PROTECT - Guards and keeps His own (John 10:28-29; 17:12)

KEEP - Will not lose even ONE sheep (John 6:39; 18:9)

RESTORE - Brings back the scattered, heals the broken (Ezekiel 34:16; Psalm 23:3)

FEED - Provides spiritual and physical nourishment (Matthew 14:14-21; John 6:35)

TEACH - Instructs with compassion (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34)

HEAL - Makes whole in body, soul, and spirit (Matthew 14:14; Luke 4:18)

Satan Seeks To:

LIE - The father of lies (John 8:44)

DECEIVE - Leads astray from truth (Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 11:3)

ENSLAVE - Binds in captivity to sin (Hebrews 2:14-15; Romans 6:16)

COMMAND - Demands without mercy (Matthew 23:4)

USE & ABUSE - Exploits for his purposes (1 Peter 5:8)

RIDICULE - Mocks and shames (Revelation 12:10)

BLAME - Accuses day and night (Revelation 12:10; Job 1:9-11)

CONDEMN - Brings judgment and guilt (Romans 8:1)

FIND FAULT - Demands impossible perfection (Matthew 23:1-4)

DEVOUR - Destroys completely (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10)

Critical Distinction:

- Jesus supplies EVERYTHING and asks for NOTHING in return (salvation by grace, not works)

- Satan demands EVERYTHING, delivers NOTHING, and STEALS, KILLS, and DESTROYS (John 10:10)

RELIGION = IDOLATRY = SELF-WORSHIP

Jesus REJECTED and REJECTS all forms of SELF

- Self-righteousness (Matthew 23:1-39; Luke 18:9-14)

- Self-confidence (Philippians 3:3-9)

- Self-ambition (Matthew 20:26-28; Philippians 2:3)

- Self-promotion (Matthew 6:1-6; 23:5-12)

- Self-preservation (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24)

- Self-protection (John 12:24-25)

Religion is man’s attempt to reach God through SELF-EFFORT:

- It is IDOLATRY - worship of self and human achievement

- It is PRIDE disguised as piety

- It is DISGRACE, DISORDER, DISHONOR, and DISHONEST rebellion

- It is LAWLESSNESS without Christ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus HATED and HATES religion because:

- It exalts self over grace

- It trusts in works over faith

- It produces self-righteousness that blinds people to their need

- It creates barriers between God and those who desperately need Him

- It is the opposite of COMPASSION

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THE THREE PARABLES OF THE LOST (LUKE 15)

Heaven Rejoices Over Finding ONE SINNER

Luke 15:3-7 - The Lost Sheep “So He told them this parable, saying, ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’”

Luke 15:8-10 - The Lost Coin “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Luke 15:11-32 - The Prodigal Son The father sees his lost son “while he was still a long way off” and runs to him, embraces him, and celebrates: “for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” (v. 24)

HEAVEN’S VALUE SYSTEM:

- Heaven FAVORS the LOST

- All of Heaven REJOICES over the discovery of a single SINNER

- SINNERS are God’s children who are FOUND, SAVED, RESCUED, and REDEEMED by
Jesus

- This is FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

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JESUS SEEKING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS: RADICAL COMPASSION IN ACTION

The Pattern: Jesus INITIATES, CROSSES BARRIERS, RESTORES COMPLETELY

1. ZACCHEUS - Luke 19:1-10

- Who: Chief tax collector, wealthy, hated sinner, unacceptable to religious elite

- What Jesus Did: Looked up, called him by name, invited Himself to his home

- Result: “Today salvation has come to this house… for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

- Key Truth: Jesus WENT to stay at Zaccheus’ home - eating, dining, conversing, hanging out, getting to know one another, becoming like close friends and family

2. The Samaritan Woman - John 4:4-42

- Who: Woman with 5 husbands, living with man not her husband, despised ethnicity, drawing water alone (social outcast)

- What Jesus Did: “He HAD TO pass through Samaria” - divine appointment, asked her for
water, revealed Himself as Messiah

- Result: She became evangelist to her whole town; many believed

- Key Truth: Jesus intentionally sought her out, crossed ethnic and moral barriers

3. The Man at Bethesda - John 5:1-15

- Who: Invalid for 38 years, helpless, no one to help him

- What Jesus Did: Found him among the multitude, healed him, later found him again in the temple

- Result: Complete healing and restoration

- Key Truth: Jesus sought him out twice - initial healing and follow-up care

4. The Gerasene Demoniac - Mark 5:1-20

- Who: Demon-possessed, living among tombs, cutting himself, chained, rejected by society

- What Jesus Did: Crossed the sea specifically to reach him, cast out legion of demons

- Result: Found “sitting down, clothed and in his right mind”; sent as witness

- Key Truth: Jesus made a special journey across dangerous waters to reach ONE man

5. The Leper - Matthew 8:2-3; Luke 5:12-13

- Who: Unclean, untouchable, isolated from society

- What Jesus Did: TOUCHED him - breaking all social and religious barriers

- Result: Immediate cleansing and restoration

- Key Truth: Jesus touches the untouchable

6. The Man Born Blind - John 9:1-41

- Who: Blind from birth, used by Pharisees, then cast out of synagogue

- What Jesus Did: After healing, “Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’”

- Result: Physical and spiritual sight; worshiped Jesus

- Key Truth: Jesus sought him out AFTER his rejection by religious leaders

7. The Sinful Woman - Luke 7:36-50

- Who: “Woman in the city who was a sinner” - likely prostitute

- What Jesus Did: Allowed her to anoint His feet at Pharisee’s house, defended her, forgave her sins

- Result: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”

- Key Truth: Jesus received her worship while religious people scorned her

8. Matthew (Levi) the Tax Collector - Matthew 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27-28

- Who: Tax collector, traitor to his people, sinner

- What Jesus Did: Saw him at tax booth, said “Follow Me,” then dined with many tax collectors and sinners at his house

- Result: Left everything and followed Jesus; became apostle and Gospel writer

- Key Truth: Jesus called him and then celebrated with his sinner friends

9. Woman Caught in Adultery - John 8:1-11

- Who: Caught in the very act, brought for public execution

- What Jesus Did: Protected her, dismissed her accusers, refused to condemn her

- Result: “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

- Key Truth: Jesus shields the condemned from the self-righteous

10. Widow of Nain’s Son - Luke 7:11-17

- Who: Dead son, grieving widow with no provider

- What Jesus Did: Saw the funeral procession, “felt compassion for her,” raised her son

- Result: Hope and provision restored; “God has visited His people!”

- Key Truth: Unsolicited compassion - she didn’t ask, Jesus saw and acted

11. Blind Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52

- Who: Blind beggar, told by crowd to be quiet

- What Jesus Did: Stopped, called for him specifically, asked “What do you want Me to do for you?”

- Result: Received sight, followed Jesus on the road

- Key Truth: Jesus stops for the one the crowd wants to silence

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JESUS’ COMPASSION: THE HEART OF THE FATHER REVEALED

Compassion as the Defining Characteristic

Matthew 9:36 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”

Mark 6:34 “When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.”

Matthew 14:14 “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.”

Matthew 15:32 “And Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, ‘I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.’”

THE PATTERN OF COMPASSION:

Jesus SEES - He notices the distressed, dispirited, lost

Jesus FEELS - Deep compassion moves Him to action

Jesus ACTS - He teaches, heals, feeds, delivers, restores

COMPASSION LEADS TO:

- Teaching - Because they are like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34)

- Healing - Because He feels their pain (Matthew 14:14)

- Feeding - Because they are hungry (Matthew 15:32)

- Delivering - Because they are oppressed (Luke 4:18-19)

CRITICAL TRUTH: Jesus IS compassion. He reflects and reveals the compassion of our Heavenly Father. The Father IS compassion.

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WHO JESUS CALLS: THE LOST, THE HUMBLE, THE DESPERATE

The Profile of Those Jesus Seeks

Those who KNOW they are:

- LOST - Without hope, without direction (Luke 19:10)

- SICK - In desperate need of a physician (Matthew 9:12)

- SINNERS - Confessing their depravity (Luke 18:13)

- POOR IN SPIRIT - Knowing they have no spiritual wealth (Matthew 5:3)

- MOURNING - Grieving their condition (Matthew 5:4)

- HUMBLE - Lowly, no pride, totally crushed and humiliated (Matthew 5:5; Luke 18:14)

- HUNGRY & THIRSTY - Desperately desiring righteousness (Matthew 5:6)

- LITTLE CHILDREN - Trusting, dependent, without pretense (Matthew 18:3-4)

- THOSE WITH NO STANDING - No authority, no respect, no honor (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

- DISGRACED - Knowing they are in disorder and disgrace (Luke 15:18-19)

- DISCOURAGED - Totally defeated, enslaved, mistreated (Isaiah 61:1-3)

- DESPERATE - Knowing they need a Savior (Luke 18:13)

- WILLING TO SURRENDER EVERYTHING - Ready to give up all self-effort (Luke 14:33)

Alignment with TRUTH

CONFESSING SINNERS are aligned with TRUTH:

- Without God, without Grace, we are ALL filthy sinners

- We ALL fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23)

- We ARE DISGRACED - disgrace is our natural state

- We have NO pride because we have NOTHING to be proud of

- We are totally crushed and humiliated by the reality of our sin

- We deserve NOTHING but death (Romans 6:23)

RELIGIOUS PEOPLE are NOT aligned with truth:

- They are deceived by SELF

- They trust in their own righteousness (Luke 18:9)

- They are confident in their own goodness (Philippians 3:4-6)

- They do not recognize their need (Revelation 3:17)

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JESUS CONFRONTS AND BYPASSES THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS

The Woes to the Pharisees - Matthew 23:1-39

Jesus exposes:

- Hypocrisy and pretense (v. 13-15)

- Straining out gnats while swallowing camels (v. 24)

- Cleaning the outside while inside full of robbery and self-indulgence (v. 25)

- Being like whitewashed tombs - beautiful outside, dead inside (v. 27)

- Appearing righteous but full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (v. 28)

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14 “And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

Tax Collectors and Prostitutes Enter First

Matthew 21:31-32 “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.’”

Why Jesus Bypasses the Self-Righteous:

They don’t recognize their need for a physician (Matthew 9:12)

They trust in their own righteousness (Luke 18:9)

They exalt themselves (Luke 18:14)

They are full of self-confidence, not God-confidence (Philippians 3:3)

They seek glory from men, not from God (John 5:44)

They reject the free gift of grace for the slavery of works (Galatians 5:4)

JESUS HATES RELIGION BECAUSE:

- Religion is idolatry - the worship of SELF

- Religion blinds people to their desperate need for God

- Religion creates self-righteousness that prevents people from receiving grace

- Religion is all EVIL, WICKED, DISGRACED, DISORDERED, DISHONORED, and DISHONEST

- Religion is REBELLION and LAWLESSNESS without Christ

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OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: THE LORD SEEKS THE LOST

Ezekiel 34:11-16 - The Divine Shepherd “For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day… I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick…’”

God Himself promises to:

- SEARCH for His sheep
- SEEK them out
- CARE for them
- DELIVER them
- BRING BACK the scattered
- BIND UP the broken
- STRENGTHEN the sick

This is Jesus - the fulfillment of the Father’s promise

Isaiah 53:6 - All Have Gone Astray “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”

Psalm 23:3 - He Restores “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

Isaiah 61:1-3 - Jesus Reads His Mission Statement “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD… To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.”

Jesus read this in Luke 4:18-19 and declared, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jeremiah 31:3 - Everlasting Love “The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.’”

Hosea 11:1-4 - God’s Pursuing Love God’s pursuing love for wayward Israel:

- Calling His son out of Egypt
- Teaching Ephraim to walk
- Healing them
- Leading them with cords of love

This is the heart of the Father - this is WHO GOD IS

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THE CALL TO REPENTANCE: TURNING FROM SELF TO CHRIST

What is Biblical Repentance?

Repentance is:

- Turning FROM self TO Christ
- Turning FROM self-righteousness TO grace
- Turning FROM self-effort TO faith
- Turning FROM self-confidence TO God-confidence
- Turning FROM religion TO relationship

Jesus calls us to BELIEVE IN HIM ALONE:

- This IS repentance
- To fully receive His compassion
- Because we know that ONLY JESUS IS GOOD
- Only our Father is GOOD

Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Acts 20:21 “solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Gospel Call

John 6:28-29 “Therefore they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.’”

The ONLY work God requires: BELIEVE IN JESUS

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KNOWING JESUS: THE ABSOLUTE GOODNESS OF GOD

Ephesians 1-3: Our Identity in Christ

Ephesians 1:3-14 - Every spiritual blessing in Christ

- Chosen before the foundation of the world (v. 4)

- Predestined to adoption as sons (v. 5)

- Redeemed through His blood (v. 7)

- Forgiveness of trespasses (v. 7)

- Sealed with the Holy Spirit (v. 13)

Ephesians 2:1-10 - Made alive in Christ

- Dead in trespasses and sins (v. 1)

- But God, being rich in mercy (v. 4)

- Made us alive together with Christ (v. 5)

- “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (v. 8-10)

Ephesians 3:14-21 - The immeasurable love of Christ

- Strengthened with power through His Spirit (v. 16)

- Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith (v. 17)

- To know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (v. 19)

- Filled up to all the fullness of God (v. 19)

Colossians 1-3: The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ

Colossians 1:9-14 - Filled with the knowledge of His will

- Bearing fruit in every good work (v. 10)

- Strengthened with all power (v. 11)

- Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us (v. 12)

- Rescued us from the domain of darkness (v. 13)

- Transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (v. 13)

- In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (v. 14)

Colossians 1:15-20 - The supremacy of Christ

- He is the image of the invisible God (v. 15)

- All things were created through Him and for Him (v. 16)

- He is before all things (v. 17)

- In Him all things hold together (v. 17)

- He is the head of the body, the church (v. 18)

- In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells (v. 19)

Colossians 2:9-10 “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority”

Colossians 3:1-4 - Raised up with Christ

- Keep seeking the things above (v. 1)

- Set your mind on things above (v. 2)

- You have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (v. 3)

- When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory (v. 4)

WE MUST KNOW:

- Jesus IS the absolute GOODNESS of God
- Jesus IS the image of the invisible God
- In Jesus dwells ALL the fullness of Deity
- Jesus reveals the Father perfectly
- To know Jesus is to know the Father

John 14:9 “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, “Show us the Father”?’”

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THE CALL TO DIE AND FOLLOW: DENYING SELF

Taking Up the Cross Daily

Matthew 16:24-26 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’”

Luke 9:23-24 “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.’”

John 12:24-25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.”

Baptism into Christ’s Death and Resurrection

Romans 6:3-11 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin… Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Born Again - Born of the Spirit

John 3:3-8 “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’… Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit… The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’”

John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

WE ARE:

- Born of the WILL and PLEASURE of God
- Born of the SPIRIT
- Born of the Spirit of TRUTH full of GRACE
- Given the RENEWED MIND - the Mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

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THE LIFE OF SURRENDER: MATTHEW 6:33 AND ROMANS 12:1-2

Seeking First His Kingdom

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

This is our calling:

- Seek FIRST - priority, not secondary

- His KINGDOM - His rule, His reign, His way

- His RIGHTEOUSNESS - not our own, HIS

- ALL THINGS will be added - God supplies everything we need

The Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Our Response to God’s Mercy:

- Present our bodies as LIVING sacrifices

- HOLY and acceptable to God

- This is our SPIRITUAL SERVICE OF WORSHIP

- Do NOT be conformed to this world

- BE TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our mind

- So we may PROVE (know and live) God’s will

This is TOTAL SURRENDER to King Jesus

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THE GREAT COMMISSION: LIVING THE MATTHEW 28:18-20 LIFE

Jesus’ Final Command

Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

Luke 24:46-47 “and He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’”

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve and the Seventy

Luke 9:1-6 - The Twelve Sent Out “And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing… They began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”

Luke 10:1-20 - The Seventy Sent Out “Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest… Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”’”

JESUS SENT THEM WITH:

- HIS PEACE from HIS COMPASSION
- The COMPASSION OF THE FATHER
- To SAVE that which was LOST
- With POWER and AUTHORITY

Our Role in Sharing the Gospel

WE ARE CALLED TO:

SHARE THE GOSPEL - Give opportunity for Jesus’ lost sheep to hear His voice

BE WITNESSES - To Jesus’ absolute goodness, not our own goodness

TRUST THE GOSPEL - The Gospel will do its work, not us

KNOW BY FAITH - His sheep WILL hear His voice (John 10:27)

John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me”

Romans 10:14-17 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?… So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

IT ALL WORKS BY:

- FAITH working through GRACE
- ALL for the GLORY OF GOD
- NOT by our effort, but by His power

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”

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JESUS: THE LORD OF THE SABBATH REST

Entering His Rest

Matthew 12:8 “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Hebrews 4:1-11 - The Promise of Rest “Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it… For we who have believed enter that rest… So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”

Matthew 11:28-30 - Jesus’ Invitation “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

THE REST OF GOD IS:

- Ceasing from our own works (self-effort)
- Trusting completely in Christ’s finished work
- Living by faith, not by works
- Entering through the ONE GATE - Jesus Christ

John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’”

JESUS IS CALLING HIS SHEEP:

- Into the ONLY GATE
- To enjoy His KINGDOM
- To walk in His WAY
- To live in His REST

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JESUS ALWAYS LIVES TO INTERCEDE

Christ’s Ongoing Ministry

Hebrews 7:24-25 “but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Romans 8:34 “who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

1 John 2:1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”

JESUS IS:

- ALWAYS interceding for the saints

- ALWAYS seeking to find the lost

- ALWAYS looking to feed the hungry

- ALWAYS ready to give water to the thirsty - LIVING WATER

- ALWAYS working to make us life-giving spirits like Him

- ALWAYS conforming us to His image

- ALWAYS keeping those the Father has given Him

John 17:12 “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”

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THE JOY OF THE LORD: SERVING THE LOST

Jesus’ Joy in Finding the Lost

Luke 15:5-7 “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing… I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS:

- To SERVE the lost

- To FIND them

- To RESCUE them

- To REDEEM them

- To RECONCILE them

- To RESTORE them back to the Father

- To see the Father’s compassion transform lives

This is what brings Jesus JOY - finding lost sheep and bringing them home to the Father

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WE BECOME LIFE-GIVING SPIRITS: IMAGE BEARERS OF GOD

Transformation into His Likeness

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren”

1 Corinthians 15:49 “Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.”

Becoming Life-Giving Spirits

John 7:37-39 “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive”

John 4:14 “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

WE ARE:

- Made in the IMAGE OF GOD (Genesis 1:27)

- Being TRANSFORMED into Christ’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18)

- Called to be IMAGE BEARERS - displaying the absolute goodness of God

- Becoming LIFE-GIVING SPIRITS like Jesus

- Sources of LIVING WATER to a thirsty world

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SUMMARY: THE FOUNDATION FOR ABSOLUTE SURRENDER

THE CORE TRUTHS:

JESUS IS the Chief Cornerstone, Lord of the Sabbath, the REST of God, the absolute GOODNESS of God, and COMPASSION personified

JESUS CAME to seek and to save that which was lost - this is His mission and His joy

JESUS SEEKS those who know they are lost, sick, sinful, desperate, and have no hope apart from Him

JESUS REJECTS all forms of SELF and religion, which is idolatry and self-worship

JESUS SUPPLIES everything and asks nothing in return - salvation by GRACE alone through FAITH alone

SATAN DEMANDS everything, delivers nothing, and seeks only to steal, kill, and destroy

HEAVEN FAVORS the lost - all of heaven rejoices over ONE sinner who repents

CONFESSING SINNERS are aligned with truth - religious people are deceived by self

JESUS IS COMPASSION - He reflects the Father’s heart perfectly

WE ARE CALLED to die to self, be resurrected with Christ, and live in total surrender

OUR LIFE is Matthew 6:33 and Romans 12:1-2 - seeking first His kingdom and presenting ourselves as living sacrifices

OUR MISSION is Matthew 28:18-20 - sharing the Gospel so His sheep can hear His voice

OUR ROLE is to be witnesses to Jesus’ absolute goodness, trusting the Gospel to do its work

WE ARE BEING TRANSFORMED into His image, becoming life-giving spirits displaying God’s goodness

JESUS IS the Lord of the Sabbath REST, and He calls His sheep through the ONLY GATE to enjoy His Kingdom in His way

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FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

All of this - from seeking to saving to transforming to sending - is:

- BY FAITH working through GRACE
- ALL for the GLORY OF GOD
- To display the absolute GOODNESS of God
- To reveal the COMPASSION of the Father
- To bring the LOST home
- To give the Father PLEASURE and JOY

SOLI DEO GLORIA - TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY

THE Grace Awakening

THE Grace Awakening Study Guide

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