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COMPLETE SERMON NOTES

What Does God Want From Me (pt. 2)? MATTHEW 10

Matthew 10 (NIV) 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

1. Don’t look at the odds . . . Only 12

When you’re filled with the Spirit of God, even a minority is the majority.

I’m useless, hopeless, unqualified. GOOD – “Now I have you in a position of openness, willingness, dependance, and flexibility.” God + Humility = SUCCESS

BUT – Fine line between presumption and faith

(Didn’t get to this in the 2nd service.)

– Stamp of Approval vs. Waiting for orders from Headquarters

– Presumption rushes / Faith waits

– Presumption is fueled by pride / Faith by humility

– Presumption is assuming / Faith is knowing

– Presumption results is anger, anxiety & confusion / Faith offers peace in the midst of the storm

“Be still and know that I am God…” “Those who wait on the Lord…”

TAKE-AWAY: Presumptuous people assume without seeking God … without waiting on Him; they rush ahead to get what they “want”.

If you’ve been presumptuous and reckless, repent and turn back to God. There is safety in the center of His will.

2. We have limited time to do God’s Will

The priority: “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

If everything is a priority, then nothing is – Do not go in that direction or spend time with those people or that situation; you’re just spinning your wheels. Go rather to those I’m giving you a burden for.

So What Does God Want?“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). WISDOM IS YOUR FRIEND!

3. “Proclaim this message”: The gospel is primary.

Life is Gospel-centered; not worldly-centered

The power of the gospel (when truly embraced) is like dynamite that ignites a hunger for God so intense that every aspect of life is changed—we become bold not passive; stable not hysterical; and committed not wavering.

Ministry is not the gospel – it’s the by product.
“Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”: When ministry is our mistress, our relationship with God suffers.

So What Does God Want?

BELIEVER: Misaligned priorities always results in frustration.

UNBELIEVER: He is not willing that any should perish…

THE GOSPEL HURTS IN ORDER TO HEAL
IT PENETRATES IN ORDER TO OVERCOME
IT OFFENDS IN ORDER TO HUMBLE
IT BREAKS THE HEART IN ORDER TO CONVERT IT

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? We need reminders often

-Jesus died for the gospel -He came to preach the gospel

-He told us to take the gospel -We are called to defend, guard it, and live it…

1. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10 adds, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.” We all sin and fall short…no one is innocent.

2. The consequences. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death…”.This verse is not popular in many churches, nor is it preached from many pulpits. Telling others that the punishment for sin is eternal death (separation from God) is not pleasant, marketable, or palatable, but it is powerful: “It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16).

3. Be encouraged! Romans 6:23 doesn’t end there. It adds, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He died for us, took our spot, and paid the price of our sin. Hebrews 9:22 says that “without the shedding of blood, there is no removal of sin.”

THIS IS THE MOST ENCOURAGING MESSAGE ANYWHERE:

1. The culture is hopeless – “The books we read our senior year of high school were dark. It seemed every book we read told us that life was meaningless and in the end nothing matters. …These books all together made life seem hopeless” (Hello, Darkness – Teenagers & the Literature of Hopelessness, by Emily Whitten.)

2. Other religions don’t offer assurance – man reaching up to God

3. Liberal churches question truth, salvation, sin and so on…

4. Ministry followed: Heal, Cleanse, Set free …

8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

Too many use the ministry to build themselves: “I’m just not being used.”

So What Does God Want? Power follows a genuine commission from Christ and a teachable / humble vessel.

CLOSING: So What Does God Want?

Have you been rejecting the message of the cross? 15 Truly, I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom & Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for YOU.

Have you been living a world-centered life? 15 Truly, I tell you, he who knows what to do but does not do it, it is sin to YOU.