NAMELESS

NAMELESS people become FAMOUS people when they matter to Jesus Christ.

~ John 21:15-19 (NIV)
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"  He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." 18Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18…I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 

Jesus: “I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”  ~   Revelation 2:17 (NIV)

People Like You

What kind of people make up the Body of Christ?  People like you!

QUOTE: If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.

• Yearn for People…  

18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (NIV)

Three Big Questions we all face.

Who Loves Me?
Who Accepts Me?
Who Believes In Me?

21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 (NIV)

Answer these questions and people will know that you really care:

Do I Fit Here?A Question of Acceptance
Does Anybody Want To Know Me?A Question of Friendship
Am I Needed?A Question of Value
What is the Advantage for Me?A Question of Benefits
What is Required of Me?A Question of Expectations

WHY…  

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  Ephesians 4:14-16 (NLT)

What is the Goal of Our Ministry To Each Other?

People Like You Become People Like Christ.

THE INNKEEPER MISSED CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:7 “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

...Because He Was Too Busy.

KING HEROD MISSED CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:1-3  “1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”   

V. 12 “And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.” (NASB)

...Because Of Worry, Fear And Jealousy. 

THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS MISSED CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:4-6 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;  for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."

...Because Of Indifference. 

JERUSALEM MISSED CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told. (NIV)

...Because Of Religion. 

THE ROMANS MISSED CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (NIV)

...Because Of False Gods.

NAZARETH MISSED CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:39-40 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him. 

...Because of Familiarity

                                                                             UNBELIEF:   

“He Came to His Own And they Received Him Not… John 1:11”

Sin In The Camp

Today: Battles within ourselves - SIN 

7 DEADLY SINS
Lust
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Wrath
Envy
Pride

A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual Challenge to them:
1. Materialism.
2. Pride.
3. Self-centeredness.
4. Laziness.
5. Anger/Bitterness.
5. Sexual lust.
7. Envy.
8. Gluttony.
9. Lying.

Joshua 7:2-5 (NLT)
2Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the city of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. 3When they returned, they told Joshua, "It's a small town, and it won't take more than two or three thousand of us to destroy it. There's no need for all of us to go there." 4So approximately three thousand warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai 5chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.

Joshua 7:10-13 (NLT)
10But the Lord said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? 11Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen the things that I commanded to be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them; they have also lied about it and hidden the things among their belongings. 12That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat.  For now Israel has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.  13"Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things.

Joshua 7:18-21 (NLT)
18Every member of Zimri's family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out. 19Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don't hide it from me." 20Achan replied, "I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. 21For I saw a beautiful robe imported from Babylon, two hundred silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest."  

What is sin?
Man call is an accident, God calls it abomination.
Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease.
Man calls it an error, God calls it an enmity.
Man calls it a liberty, God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.
Man calls it a mistake, God calls it a madness.
Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness

Romans 10:13 (NIV)
For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Can A Black Sheep Have A White Christmas?

Shepherds, at the time of Jesus, were the Black Sheep of society.

Woe is the lowly Black Sheep of the Family.  He is maligned ... misunderstood ... marginalized. 

The Black Sheep Often Sparks Debate Among The Rest Of The Flock:

Shall we include him in family gatherings? 
Will he finally mend his ways?
How can we manage him?

History Of …

Criminal Conduct
Financial Problems
Mental Illness
Ongoing Conflicts with Multiple Relatives
Substance Abuse
Gambling or Other Addictions
Unstable Relationships
Long Periods of Unemployment

May only differ up or down from the rest of the family in …

Values & Lifestyle
Professional / Educational Attainment
Religious, Philosophical & Personal Values
Political Affiliation

Isaiah 1:18 (NASB)
“Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” 

Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.

John 10:7-13 (NASB)
Jesus therefore said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep.” 

Luke 15:4-5 (NASB)

Revelation 5:9 (NASB)

John 21: 16, 17 (NASB)  
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 

Luke 15:8-20 (NASB 77)  
And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.  

Let’s Roll

Matthew 20
24And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your servant; 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 

THREE RESPONSES WHEN IT’S TIME TO SERVEI. JONAH: HERE I AM. I’M NOT GOING.
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord... Jonah 1:2-3

II. MOSES: HERE I AM. SEND SOMEONE ELSE. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:10-11

III. ISAIAH: HERE I AM. SEND ME.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

A COLLISION OF MY SIN AND GOD’S GRACE
So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”
Isaiah 6:5
I am undone is not a bad place to be. "God will never do anything with us till he has first of all undone us."- Charles Spurgeon

UNDONE - Reflexive Tense: Frequently used of a city. “Caused to be Cut Off, Destroyed, Ruined.” Passive verb. Isaiah is doing nothing. 

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:6-7

A REAL EXPERIENCE IN GOD’S PRESENCE “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.”
Isaiah 6:1

“Whom shall I send?... “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

THERE’S BEEN A CHANGE OF PLANS - Christmas Series    

A CHANGE OF PLANS
Luke 1:31, 38 

• Don’t Let Your Plans Make You Miss God’s Purpose.

Mary had been planning her wedding to Joseph, but while she was planning to get married, God was planning to save the world. 

Like Mary, we have a decision to make when there is a change of plans. We must decide whether or not we will see God’s purpose in the change. 

PLAN FOR INTERRUPTION

• Mary’s Interruption Was Your Salvation. 

Pregnancy was a major interruption to Mary’s life and plans.   But…   it was also the greatest thing that had ever happened to the world:  God coming in the form of a Baby.

• Your Interruption Is God’s Invitation. 

Some Of Life’s Greatest Invitations Come In The Form Of Interruptions.  The things that interrupt our agendas are often the things that are at the top of God’s agenda. 

PLAN FOR INCONVENIENCE

• In Order To See God Work In Big Ways, We Will Often Have To Face Great Personal Inconvenience. 

It was inconvenient for Mary to travel to Bethlehem for a census while she was pregnant, and then give birth in a barn. 

We could look at the Christmas story & think God did poor planning. But, what if instead it’s that God wanted to show us something by the way His Son came into the world

PLAN FOR IMPERFECTION

• Expecting Perfection Stops Our Celebration Of What’s Really Important.

Many of us get disappointed in the Christmas season. In love with a perfect ideal of Christmas never met. If we plan for the imperfect, we can celebrate what’s really important.

• Expecting Perfection Stops Our Celebration Of Progress.

Pregnancy is a metaphor for anything God puts inside of us. Just as God conceived Jesus inside of Mary, God plants divine purpose in each of us. 

With a pregnancy, we celebrate every little step along the journey. 

As believers we often expect perfection in life, instead of celebrating the little steps of progress along our journeys. 

• God Expected Our Imperfection, So He Incarnated Perfection.

God didn’t wait for us to be perfect, but sent His son while we were still sinners. 

God knew from the beginning of time that we would never be able to get it all right, so He planned to send Jesus. 

PLAN FOR IMPOSSIBILITY   

Luke 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

• God’s Plans Always Defy Human Reason. 

THE PROMISE REMAINS- Jeremiah 29:11

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

This Implies That You Don’t Know Them.  
 God’s Promises Still Stand, No Matter What Happens.
We Get Plans Confused With Promises. 
Instead Of Trusting In Plans, We Can Trust In Jesus.
So, We Get Upset When God Changes The Plans. 
He Changed Every Plan, Every Person, And Every Thing By His Birth.
Plans Change, But The Promise Remains. 
He Died For Our Sins And Destroyed Death And Hell And Rose Again! 

12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13 

THANK YOU For Being A Friend 

Philippians Chapter One

Know Who You Are 

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Phil. 1:1-6

I am a Servant  of Jesus Christ   I am Thankful for You
I Pray For You 
I am a Partner      
I am Sure About You!  

Show Who You Are 

7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:7-8

“Take Your Heart Out And Put It On The Table”

Friends Ahead… Friends Beside… Friends Behind…

Go Where They Are        

Casual Friends Are The Result Of Circumstances.   
Close Friends Are The Result Of Choices. 

Sharpening…  “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” 
Proverbs 27:17 

Surgical… "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6

Stick & Stay…  “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” 
Proverbs 17:17 

“I do not call you servants any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you [My] friends, because I have revealed to you everything that I have heard from My Father.” John 15:15

FACING FORWARD AT CHRISTMAS

I HAVE TO FACE ________ BEFORE I CAN MOVE FORWARD. 

• MARY FACED INADEQUACY

“Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. So, the angel said, ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID, Mary, for God has decided to bless and use you! You will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus…and he will be the Son of God, and his Kingdom will never end!’ Then Mary asked, ‘But how can this be?’” Luke 1:29-34

• JOSEPH FACED DISAPPROVAL

“Now this is how Jesus Christ was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, being a good and righteous man, decided to break off the engagement quietly, so it would not disgrace Mary publicly. But after he had considered doing this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, DO NOT BE AFRAID to take Mary home as your wife, because the child in her is from God’s Holy Spirit.’”  Matthew 1:18-20 

• SHEPHERDS FACED UNEXPECTED CHANGE

“That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. SUDDENLY, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory flashed and surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, so the angel said to them ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID!’” Luke 2:8-10

• KING HEROD FACED LOSING CONTROL

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the time that Herod was the king of the Jews… Then some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and started asking: ‘Where is the child born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him!’ When King Herod heard this news, he was deeply frightened and disturbed, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem!” Matthew 2:1-3

• ZECHARIAH FACED THE FEAR OF BEING DISAPPOINTED

“(While serving in the Temple) an angel appeared to Zechariah. When he saw the angel, he was confused and overwhelmed with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID! Your prayer has been heard!’”  Luke 1:11-13

HOW CAN I FACE FORWARD WITH FAITH?

1. SURRENDER MY LIFE COMPLETELY TO GOD EVERYDAY!

“Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to accept whatever God wants for my life!’”  Luke 1:38  

Job 11:13-18 (CEV) 

1. STOP LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF FEAR!

“Whatsoever is not based on faith is sin.” Romans 14:23

1. FILL MY MIND WITH MUSIC THAT PRAISES GOD

“Then Mary sang, ‘With all my heart I praise the Lord! I rejoice in God my Savior, for he notices and cares for me, a simple servant girl! …He has blessed me, and He is the Mighty One who is holy… He is All-Powerful… He can do anything… He meets all our needs…and He keeps his promises!”  Luke 1:46-56

Mary Sang!   Luke 1:46-56

Elizabeth Sang!  Luke 1: 42-45

The Angels Sang!  Luke 2:13-14

The Shepherds Sang!  Luke 2:20

Zechariah sang!  Luke 1:67-79

You lose your fear when God is near!

1. BASE MY HOPE ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

Elizabeth said to Mary, “You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what he said."  Luke 1:45 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in God. And when I trust in God I am not afraid! I praise him for what he has PROMISED.”  Psalm 56:3-4 

The Good News.

Galatians 4:4,5
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned and  fall short of the glory of God."