02-16-2025 It’s Happening (Luke 7:18-35)

It’s HappeningLuke 7:18-35Luke 7:18-1918 Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”Matthew 11:2-32 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”Luke 7:20-2320 When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 23 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”Luke 4: to preach good news to the poorto proclaim release to the captivesrecovery of sight to the blindto set free the oppressedto proclaim the year of the Lord's favorLuke 7:The blind receive their sightthe lame walkthose with leprosy are cleansedthe deaf hearthe dead are raisedthe poor are told the good newsLuke 7:24-3524 After John’s messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:We played the flute for you,but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t weep!33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”Stages of Growth:Self-Focused- You are driven by the pursuit of rewards and the avoidance of punishment.Motivation=Personal GainGroup-Focused- You begin to see yourself as a part of a group. Groups have rules and expectations.Motivation=Being a 'good member'Others-Focused- You have a desire for the well-being of others outside of your own well-being.Motivation=love and the well-being of othersPhilippians 2:3-43 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.