* One thing we are to do if our brother sins against us:

* Rebuke him - we tell him about his sin against us.

* Then, “IF” he repents, forgive him.

* The only sin that can’t be forgiven is the sin of not asking for forgiveness.

* So what do we do when someone sins against us but doesn’t ask for forgiveness?

* We do what Jesus did on the cross - give it to God.

* vs 5 - Forgiveness is a matter of faith.

* Do we have faith God can help the person?

* Do we have faith in God that He can change this person?

* Jesus is talking about lost people and gives three parables to show us what our goal should be - lost sheep, lost coin, and a lost son.

* Two things that Christ mentions is our role regarding lost people:

* 1) We need to find them.

* We should actively be looking.

* 2) We need to get them out of the situation where we find them.

* vs 5-6 - The shepherd found the sheep and removed him from the situation where he found it.

* The woman found the coin and removed it from where it was.

* The son removed himself from where he was.

* This is what God is waiting for from us - to choose to remove ourselves from where we are so He can then put us on His shoulders.

* This is why Jesus was the friend of sinners.

* He didn’t simply come alongside them in their journey toward hell.

* Look at how Boaz led his organization - “The Lord be with you!”

* This phrase created a culture of love, loyalty, and respect.

* This phrase shows us a two-fold plan for creating a great culture in your business:

* 1) Focus on God - it starts with “the Lord.”

* Recognizing God in your company is key - making sure you and your employees know you are all there for Him.

* 2) Focus on people - “be with YOU!”

* When your employees, co-workers, customers, and clients know you’re all about them they will love you, respect you, and be loyal to you….

* Even when you mess up!

* When your goal is to bless the people around you because you’re doing it for the Lord, He will bless them through you!

* He’ll use you as the conduit through which to shower blessings on people.

* This will change any business culture.

* Remember Rahab? A non-Jewish woman in Canaan and a former prostitute who clung to faith in God and was spared death in Jericho.

* She was married to Salmon, who was the father of Boaz (some believe she was the grandmother of Boaz).

* Boaz most likely grew up hearing the story of what God did and how He spared her even though she wasn’t a Jew.

* So when Ruth showed up Boaz didn’t see a Moabite woman who shouldn’t be a part of the Jews. (Deuteronomy 23:3 - “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants should enter into the assembly of the Lord, even to the 10th generation)

* He saw a woman a lot like his mom (or grandmother) who placed her faith in God and needed mercy just as she did.

* Just as the City of Jericho was doomed for destruction, yet God spared one faithful family.

* Ruth the Moabite was allowed into the assembly just as Rahab the Canaanite because of her faith.

* Faith transforms people - God no longer saw Ruth as a Moabite or Rahab as a Canaanite - He saw them as His kids!

* Boaz was uniquely prepared for Ruth, so now we have this great love story.

* Their marriage produced Obed, who had a son named Jesse, who had a boy named David who became king in Israel.

* Until David’s progeny produced a king named JESUS!

* Unity is a gift of God and is the result of being on mission for God with others.

* Notice how the Israelites united “as one man.”

* How could this happen?

* They weren’t arising “as one man” to go to a concert, or party, or church service, or coffee social.

* They arose against injustice.

* They had a common enemy and a common goal to defeat them.

* This always brings unity - for better or for worse.

* vs 11 - their hearts were angered at injustice and they arose “as one man” to bring about justice.

* Unity was the result, not the goal.

* The unity resulting from Love Life is the same way.

* Standing against injustice bring true unity.

* The key is understanding God’s definition of justice and not your own.

* When you represent the God of justice and you stand against injustice unity with others who represent the same God who have the same goal will be the result.

* Samson was doe-drunk - Delilah tried to capture him three times - she was so obvious but he never picked up on it.

* This is what happens when a man loses his focus on God and puts it on his fleshly appetite - he loses all sound judgment.

* Samson could conquer a nation of warrior men but he couldn’t conquer his own lust for a woman.

* He struggled with the same thing David did, and it’s something all men should be aware of.

* vs 19-20 - Delilah put him to sleep on her lap and he lost all his strength.

* He was in the LAP of Satan:

* 1) Lust.

* 2) Anger.

* 3) Pride.

* vs 21 - his sin left him blind, bound, and burdened.

* Sin blinds, binds, and burdens.

* vs 24 - his sin led his enemies to believe that God could not save.

* Samson’s sin damaged God’s reputation.

* Look at this picture - a woman crippled for 18 long years, yet never stopped going to the Synagogue to worship God.

* That says a lot about her.

* Most people would’ve said, “Forget you, God” and stopped going.

* So what was the result of her faithfulness?

* She just so happened to be there the day Jesus showed up!

* When you pray, coincidences happen!

* When you don’t, they won’t.

* In the meantime, be faithful right where you are!

* Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was.

* “Love the Lord you’re God….and love your neighbor as yourself.”

* Then He was asked, “who’s your neighbor.”

* Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan.

* We all know this story.

* But have you ever asked, “Why did the Samaritan leave him?”

* If he really cared wouldn’t he have stayed there and taken care of him the whole time?

* I like to think the Samaritan may have had business in Jerusalem and he had a meeting he couldn’t miss.

* He might have been brokering a deal for camels to a wealthy buyer.

* If he wouldn’t have shown up the man would’ve found another broker to sell him camels.

* Then the Samaritan would’ve gone out of business and no longer had the means to help the poor and defenseless.

* The Samaritan helped this man within the boundaries he set for himself.

* Even if the man was offended at his departure, he did it anyway.

* This is the value of boundaries - they keep alive what remains inside.

* This man’s business thrived because he put boundaries around it.

* EX: when we started our biz some thought we weren’t doing enough in “ministry.”

* So what if you’re not thirsty for God, what do you do?

* You drink anyway!

* In time your heart will catch up with your habit.

* This is the same way affairs happens.

* Two people spend lots of time together and then they end up wanting to spend more time together.

* Why?

* Luke 11:34 - your heart will follow where your treasure takes it.

* Whatever you spend your treasure on will become “yours” (like my laptop).

* Jesus rebuked everyone when a dad brought his son for healing.

* He said, “your disciples COULD NOT drive out the demon.”

* Essentially, they could not because they would not.

* It wasn’t a power problem but a faith problem.

* God had given them power, but the faith of the disciples and the dad needed to be strengthened.

* Jesus seemed agitated - He knew God could cast a demon out through anyone, not just Himself.

* But the people didn’t get it.

* It’s like the business I own - I set it up for others to be able to sell houses for me and not just me sell houses alone.

* Every now and then someone demands they work with me.

* But that’s not the system I set up.

* God set up a system where we can all experience His power if we simply have the faith and faithfulness to use it.

* vs 44 - Jesus told them He wouldn’t be there much longer so they would have to figure out how to do it on their own (through the power of the HS).