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Refocused

My heart was in my throat…My heart was in my throat…

I didn't rejoice over:I didn't rejoice over:

- My wife- My wife- My pets- My pets

- My possessions- My possessions

I rejoiced over my son!I rejoiced over my son!

You have been rejoiced overYou have been rejoiced over

Brought to shoreBrought to shoreReady to rescue moreReady to rescue more

Brought to shoreBrought to shoreReady to rescue moreReady to rescue more

And then something happenedAnd then something happened

- He's about me- He's about me

- I need to get through this- I need to get through this

- They deserve it or- They deserve it orI feel sorry for them…I feel sorry for them…

- Theology and knowledge- Theology and knowledgeBecame the goalBecame the goal

"I'm focused on God (and me)""I'm focused on God (and me)"

And I've forgottenAnd I've forgottenWhy Christ cameWhy Christ came

And bled and diedAnd bled and died

But how can I love GodBut how can I love GodAnd not share his heart?And not share his heart?

God loves people God loves people Far from himFar from him

And has made you hisAnd has made you hisMinister and AmbassadorMinister and Ambassador

(2 Cor. 5)(2 Cor. 5)

Fast food= 1 hourFast food= 1 hour

So Jesus hangs outSo Jesus hangs outat the watercoolerat the watercooler

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming

(he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will

tell us all things.”

Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he”

Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking

with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are

you talking with her?”

So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said

to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.

Can this be the Christ?”

They went out of the town and were coming to him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him

something to eat?”

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him

who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Sharing the gospelWith a Samaritan Woman

"I get fed by sharing the gospel..."

"I get fed by sharing the gospel..."

- Creation- Fall

- Redemption- Restoration

"I am fed. I am nourished. I am satisfied"

Your greatest needs are not met by

Seeking to have your needs met

But by investing yourselfin God-given opportunities

As God leads

The basis of our healingIs not found in Receiving

But in Giving

Jesus just gave us aPerfect Picture of that

Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’?

Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are

white for harvest.

Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit

for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together"

Jesus connects Being Fed and Rejoicing

To reaching people

With the message of the gospel

Not everyone understands…

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man

receives sinners and eats with them.”

"We've given our lives toServing God

And they've never even cared!"(Until now…)

So he told them this parable:

Lost Sheep

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them,

‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who

repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who

need no repentance.

Lost Coin

And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and

neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one

sinner who repents.”

Parable of the Older Brother…

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of

them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that

is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.

Free will…(It can be enough rope

To hang ourselves with)

Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a

journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property

in reckless living.

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that

country, and he began to be in need.

And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that

country, and he began to be in need.

Does he deserve it?

So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that

country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no

one gave him anything.

God will allow circumstancesTo bring us to the point

Of repentance

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than

enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

Well, you deserve it

I'm busy seeking my next breakthrough

I have my own trials

Was this predestined or free will?

They all miss the PersonIn need of the forgiveness

Of a FatherWho loves people far from him

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have

sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be

called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

Fake Repentance="Sorry I got caught in this situation

It's not my fault!"

I'll say what I need to say…

Real Repentance=Humility and Change of Heart

And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still

a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion,

and ran and embraced himand kissed him.

Everything he has doneIs repugnant

But nothing stopsThe Father's love

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and

before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and

put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

Your actions don't determineGod's love

Your actions don't determineGod's love

But when you understand itGod's love determines your actions

And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is

found.’ And they began to celebrate.

"We serve a God who solves a problem with a party"- Jon Acuff

He's not looking to punish you-He's looking to

Celebrate your return

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to

the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the

servants and asked what these things meant.

And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has

killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back

safe and sound.’

How should he feel?

But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out

and entreated him, but he answered his father…

‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed

your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might

celebrate with my friends.

‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed

your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might

celebrate with my friends.

You're not rejoicing over me!

But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property

with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to

celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he

was lost, and is found’”- Luke 15:1-31

He missed out on rejoicingHe missed out on rejoicingAnd being filledAnd being filled

Because his eyes were on himselfBecause his eyes were on himselfNot the need of his brotherNot the need of his brother

God has rejoiced over youGod has rejoiced over you

God has rejoiced over youGod has rejoiced over you

Now he invites you to Now he invites you to Rejoice with him over anotherRejoice with him over another

The invitation is clearThe invitation is clear

Rejoicing, satisfaction, fillingRejoicing, satisfaction, filling

Are not found in seekingAre not found in seekingThose thingsThose things

Your greatest needs are not met by

Seeking to have your needs met

But by investing yourselfin God-given opportunities

As God leads

You You werewere rescued rescued

Why Don't We Rescue?Why Don't We Rescue?

- They don't deserve it- They don't deserve it

- I'm busy getting stronger- I'm busy getting stronger

- I memorized the Rescue Manual!- I memorized the Rescue Manual!

I don't want to make him madI don't want to make him mad

I want her to like meI want her to like me

I don't want to seem "pushy"I don't want to seem "pushy"

I have my own needs…I have my own needs…HouseHouseHealthHealth

FoodFood

It scares me…It scares me…

None of our reasons None of our reasons Change the factChange the fact

EveryEvery person… person…

You were rescuedYou were rescuedTo rescueTo rescue

You were foundYou were foundto findto find

You were lovedYou were lovedto share that loveto share that love

The experience of God- The experience of God- And the blessings that come with itAnd the blessings that come with it

Come from sharing the Come from sharing the Heart of God and doing Heart of God and doing

The work of GodThe work of God

To seek and to save…?To seek and to save…?

God, make me aware.God, make me aware.Break my heart.Break my heart.

Give me spiritual eyes.Give me spiritual eyes.Give me the cajones Give me the cajones

to share the Truth to share the Truth of your Gracious Offerof your Gracious Offer

As a people,As a people,Give us a warm FellowshipGive us a warm Fellowship

An atmosphere of increasing An atmosphere of increasing excellenceexcellence

A great desire to invite, welcome A great desire to invite, welcome and show great love towardsand show great love towards

We've been rejoiced overWe've been rejoiced over

Want to relive it?Want to relive it?Share it with someone-Share it with someone-And rejoice over themAnd rejoice over them

CreationCreationFallFall

RedemptionRedemptionRestorationRestoration

Where are you?Where are you?