I’m so glad; I belong to Jesus x 2
Main text: Matt. :11: 28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Mark 16:m15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature……………………..
1. Introduction
Come is a word of assurance and authority. Come is an invitation to something; depending on who is making the call, come means I have it come and get it. If I express a need and you are willing to support me, you can say to me: “Come”, I’ll do it for you. Come is a word of authority; when used in relationships, it connotes a command, say from father to son or daughter. Someone who has authority over you can ask you to come – to receive instruction or guidance; to bear a message; or receive a gift, or even punishment.
2. The Mission of Jesus
By prophesy: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Simeon confirmed prophesy at the dedication of Jesus as a child: Luke 2: 25-32 Cofirmation of Jesus as Saviour of the world.
John the Baptist bore witness: John 1: 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Jesus came to save the world; He is our Lord and savior. He knew that we all needed help, so He came to save us. Just as Jesus came, so also Satan; but their missions are radically different:
John 10: 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
4. Those who come to Christ
“Come unto me…” is a universal call by Jesus. God’s Kingdom is a universality – all are welcome into it. Requirements: sincerity, humility, obedience and faith in Christ Jesus. It is a miracle of God’s grace.
So people came to Jesus, for various reasons. And as many as needed healing or deliverance He healed or delivered them; even the hungry He fed; raised the dead; and taught them the Word of God.
1. Men and women from far and near
[Mark 3:7] But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
2. The sick, the weary and demon possessed
Matt. 4: 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Mark 6: 5and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was. 56Andwherever He went — villages and towns and countryside — they laid the sick in the market places and begged Him to let them just touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
3.The tired and hungry
Feeding of the 5000: [Mark 6:33-44] with five loaves and the two fishes 42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
Feeding of the 4,000 [Mark 8:1-9] he took the seven loaves and a few small fishes: and he blessed, and they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
4.The teachers of the Law – Pharisees and Sadducees
[Mark 3:1] And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
[Mark 3:22] And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils….they accused Him saying He had an unclean spirit.
5. SADDUCEES [Matt. 22: 23]
The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die………28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
6. Little children
[Mark 10:13] Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
7. His friends and family
[Mark 3:21] And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. 31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 34…..Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
8. His disciples
[Mark 3: 13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, …and He gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
[Luke 10:1] After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Not all the 82 or so disciples of Jesus followed Him till the end. John 6: 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day……. 56 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Even among the 12, one of them Judas Iscariot betrayed Him and was counted with the wicked.
9. Nicodemus came to Jesus
John 3: 1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night…… 5….. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God
9. Christian Crowds in Contemporary Times
In contemporary times, Christians (followers of Christ) are organized in denominations; numbering over 2 billion. As CLMI members we are part of the crowd following Jesus; His invitation to abundant life on earth and to the Kingdom after death is open to all peoples all over the world. The Church of Christ today is a mixed multitude, found in various denominations, movements and organized religious groups all over the world.
The question is: Am I a true follower of Christ? Have you found Jesus? Are you firmly in Christ? Can Jesus locate you in His Kingdom? [Rom. 14:17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
3. New life in Christ
Those who come to Jesus must believe in Him. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
If you come to Jesus, then you are cleansed from your sins; you become a new person. Jesus loves you; so after answering to his call; He wants to prepare you for the next level of blessing; to do what He is doing. To go on His mission in your New Life in Christ.
Then New Life: Luke 6:12-49: From this scripture, New Life in Jesus Christ has three major characteristics: a) the presence of the Kingdom of God; b) Love for God and neighbour; and c) Obedience to the Lordship of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1. The Kingdom of God: Luke 6: 20-26 – Jesus’ inaugural sermon, the Beatitudes. This is the blueprint of Jesus for His mission to mankind; the reason He came to this world as a man – to extend the invitation to the Kingdom of Heaven to all; and to die for our sins so we might inherit the Kingdom of Heaven after death. John 11: 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
2. Love: Luke 6: 27-36 Jesus and the Law of Love. Love does not seek compensation; love does not retaliate; love is not selfish; love is patient; love is merciful; love is not censorious (not judgmental); love has no pre-condition; love is patient; the fruit of the Spirit is manifestation of love; love is Jesus! Jesus warns – Matt 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
3. Obedience: Life of Dedicated Service. In Judaism, obedience is to a set of rules – relationship with God was considered secondary. In Christianity, obedience is to a person, Jesus Christ: respect for the Teacher; loyalty to the Messiah; homage to the risen and ascended King; worship to the divine Saviour. Acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour means He is Lord, and has the right to command obedience. Luke 6: 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
It is that newness of life that makes us His disciples indeed; and in obedience to His command, we must be available and willing to Go: Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Song: Jesus is a mighty God; He is amighty God; Everybody bow before Him; He is a mighty God
PRAYER
Romans 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.