Ablaze Church Sermon Podcast (Audio)

Lives without purpose are wasted. Do you know your purpose? Are you intentionally living for the glory of God and the mission of making disciples? We are continually tempted to merely exist, or to become apathetic toward our divinely-given mission. Don’t attempt this on your own. The Giver of purpose is the Giver of power. When Jesus sent out his disciples on mission, he gave them authority. The Holy Spirit is more than willing to empower all who seek to serve God and others.

Feelings of insecurity are quite common and most likely everyone encounters at least a fleeting feeling like that every day. Others live with insecurity as a way of life. It ranges from food insecurity, social anxiety, financial insecurity and concerns over physical safety. These experiences are part of what it is to live in a sin-fractured world. The Good Shepherd addresses the insecurities of his flock and brings is answers. His assuring voice beings a reassuring message of a committed love relationship. He holds his sheep securely so that there is no force that is able to snatch them (meaning us) out of his hand. He then asks us to follow the path of safety where he leads us. He give us counsel and comfort.

The Good Shepherd’s voice is Jesus’ voice. The sound of that voice is the soothing sound of a relationship. The Shepherd knows his sheep. The sheep hear and recognize his voice. There are many “voices” out there beckoning us and offering benefits. But all these voices except one are deceiving voices. Like the hissing voice of a snake in the Garden of Eden that offered everything and delivered only misery. Learn to recognize the unique voice of the Good Shepherd. That voice offers security, stability, safety and salvation. Do you recognize that voice? Can you distinguish it from the others? Listen to the sound of his voice in the Word. “Faith comes by hearing.”

In his teaching, Jesus gave us some compelling word pictures. One of the most enduring is the Good Shepherd. This picture is painted in high contrast between the Good Shepherd and a bad shepherd, who is merely a hired hand who cares more about his pay than about the sheep. So, when threatening danger comes the hired hand abandons the sheep and flees for his life. Contrast that with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who faced the enemy of the soul head-on and laid down his life for the sheep. The sheep are his and he will do whatever it takes to save them, even to the point of laying down his own life.

For so many, life itself feels purposeless, futile, and empty. Not everyone can even answer the question “What do you want most in life?” The Christian wants everything that God has put into life. Jesus said that He came to give life, and to give it abundantly… to the fullest. Yet so many are disillusioned with life and disappointed with their outcomes. Jesus claimed to be the portal into the best life. This is a life that has forgiveness and acceptance at the base and then goes into purpose, joy, meaning, and solid relationships. Because of who Jesus is and what He has done, all of this and more is available to all who come to Him.

There is an intimate relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. There is a close and intimate relationship between Jesus and his followers. Sheep listen for the voice of their shepherd, and he calls them by name. Jesus, our Good Shepherd calls us by name and leads us through life. To make our way through life we need to know the right leader. Only Jesus qualifies. He knows us better than we know ourselves, he is wiser and stronger than we are, and he loves us even more than we love ourselves. Because of that, He is the Shepherd who laid down his life for us.

Rejection can be devastating and can erode self-esteem and self-confidence. Yet all of us face it at times. How can we regain our confidence? What does God have to say about it?

When Jesus healed two blind men He asked them a penetrating question, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Their simple answer, “Yes, Lord!” Their faith was vindicated as Jesus came through and he opened their eyes. Spiritual sight preceded physical sight. We live in the midst of a dark spiritual world where there are dark forces trying to keep us from seeing the brilliant light of the glory of God. But Jesus comes to open our eyes. We are called to live our lives in complete faith that He is able to bring the light of his glory into our lives.

Everyone longs for something. People are hungry for many things. One day near the shores of the Sea of Galilee, people got hungry for regular, physical food. They’d been following and listening to Jesus all day and by now they were starting to feel starved. But the place is remote with no stores or markets around, so how can they be fed? Just five loaves and two fish that a boy had with him. “What’s that among so many?” is the limited perspective of the disciples. What to do when your resources are inadequate? Just place them into the hands of Jesus and let him bless and multiply. That’s what happened that day and 5000 men and their families were fed and filled. Human longings go deeper than surface hunger for food. People hunger for meaning, validation of their worth, and acceptance just to name a few. What to do? Place the need in the hands of Jesus for him to bless.

People can appear to live in free and unfettered liberty, doing whatever they choose whenever and however, while in a deep spiritual bondage. Real freedom is to do not as you feel you want, but as you ought. For the Christian, doing the will of God becomes the greatest pleasure and freedom. Human freedom was hijacked by Satan in the Garden of Eden. The classic event of bondage in the gospels is where a man is under the domination of Satan and in a bizarre behavioral state where his humanity is severely distorted. Jesus confronts the demons in him and sets him free to be an active witness to his community of the power of Jesus to liberate.