Sunday 23rd February 2014 - What would Jesus do ? - Brian Nish

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? INTRODUCTION Math 4v19 – Follow Me - and I will make you – fishers of men (missionaries) Math 4v19(EXB) – Come follow Me - be My disciples – and I will make you – and teach you – how to fish for people (missionaries) Math 28v18-20 – And Jesus came and spoke to them saying “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Jesus still calls each one of us today and says exactly the same thing “Come follow Me – be My disciples – and I will make you – fishers of men (missionaries) ‘Disciple’ - A learner and follower of a particular teacher. ‘A Christian Disciple’ - A learner and follower of Jesus Christ. ‘Mission’ – A special assignment given to a person or group ‘A Christian Missionary’ – A person sent on a mission by Jesus Christ – to advance the kingdom of God, and seek and save the lost We are ALL called to be DISCIPLES and MISSIONARIES!!! What does this mean for us today? I believe it means to be like Jesus in our attitude, words, and actions – and - to look to Jesus as our example, and follow in His footsteps, on a daily basis. To continually ask the question when confronted with people and situations throughout the day “What would Jesus do?” I believe if we read the Gospels to see “What DID Jesus do?” it will make it easier for us to understand “What WOULD Jesus do?” in our daily situations JESUS IN THE GOSPELS Jesus Knew He Was Loved And Accepted By The Father As His Son Math 3v17 – And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” John 17v26 – And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them Jesus Revealed The Father John 14v9 – Jesus said to him “Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known Me Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” John 17v25-26(ERV) – Father, You are the One who always does what is right. The world does not know You, but I know You, and these followers of mine know that You sent Me. I showed them what You are like, and I will show them again. Then they will have the same love that You have for Me, and I will live in them Jesus Loved And Obeyed The Father John 5V19(NLT) – So Jesus explained “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He only does what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does John 12v49-50(NLT) – I don’t speak on My own authority. The Father who has sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. And I know His commands lead to eternal life, so I say whatever the Father tells Me to say Jesus Was A Man Of Prayer Mark 1v35 – Now in the morning, having risen a long time before daylight, Jesus went out and departed to a solitary place, and there He prayed Luke 5v16 – So Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed Luke 18v1 – Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart Jesus Came As A Servant King John 13v14 – If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you Mark 10v45 – 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 Jesus Taught About The Kingdom Of God Mark 1v14-15 – Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” Luke 4v43 – but Jesus said to them “I must preach the kingdom of God to the others cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent” Jesus Loved Righteousness And Hated Wickedness & Sin Heb 1v8-9 – Your throne O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions 1 John 3v8(NLT) – When people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil Jesus Was Often Misunderstood And Suffered Persecution 1 Peter 2v21-23(NLT) – For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His cause in the hands of God, who always judges fairly 1 Peter 4v12-14(NLT) – Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange was happening to you. Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you Jesus Denied Himself And Took Up His Cross Mark 14v36 – And He said “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will” Phil 2v6(NIV) – Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Rather He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross Jesus Went About Doing Good Acts 10v38 - …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him Luke 6v27-35 – But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you…But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same…But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful Jesus Loved And Restored The Brokenhearted Psalm 23v1-3 – The Lord (Jesus) is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul… Psalm 147v3(AMP) – He (Jesus) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds, curing their pains and sorrows Jesus Healed The Sick And Set The Captives Free Math 9v35 - Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people Math 12v28 – If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can you enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house Jesus Came To Seek And Save The Lost Luke 19v10 – For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost Luke 15v4-7 – What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls his friends and neighbours, saying to them “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost”. I say to you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS TODAY • ‘Jesus is in the house’ – and will manifest His presence to each one of us if we will meet His conditions - which is simply to show that we really love Him by keeping His word • The next challenge for us is to demonstrate that we are truly His ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’, by walking in His footsteps on a daily basis – and asking the question “What would Jesus do?” when encountering people and situations – and looking for opportunities to reach the lost • The same baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit that was upon Jesus is also upon us. As we go on being filled with the Holy Spirit, we will be empowered and enabled to follow in His footsteps • Father God wants to use our uniqueness, personality, gifts, and abilities, to help and bless others, and advance the kingdom of God – in our town and nation – as well as across the nations of the earth. As we do this Jesus will be glorified, and honour will be restored to the Father’s name!