“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:14
 
God’s View of the Poor:
 
“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” 1 Peter 1:17
 
 
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”Acts 10:34-35
 
If we view the poor differently than God we are wrong. We are sinning. Seeing some people as more important, more valuable than any other people is wrong. This too is a sin.
 
“There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:9-11
 
The state of our country now: riots, screaming, divisions, blaming, pointing of fingers; accusing, violence, fear.
 
This is wrong. We are wrong. Each of us must take responsibility for ourselves, for our own actions and attitudes.
 
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” James 2:5
 
Jesus’s view of the Poor:
 
Luke 6:20
“Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God” Luke 6:20
 
 “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Revelation 2:9
 
We should not see ourselves as better than anyone, and we should not see ourselves less than anyone. All are equal in value to God. This is the perspective we must have. Every person we meet is loved by God. When we look at someone we are looking into the face of someone loved by God.
 
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” 1 Corinthians 1:26-28
 
“But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?” James 2:6-7
 
Even in the courts of America, the “land of the free” if you have enough money you can get by not being punished for horrendous crimes (Shannon gives examples). Our money and accomplishments do not impress God. A sin is a sin. If we have committed a sin we are sinners, no better or worse than any other sinners (including those sins we in society would call the worst sins).
 
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.”If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.” James 2:8-11
 
If we fulfill the two greatest commandments we will fulfill the entire law. We will be doing God’s will. We will be honoring God. Love God and love people with all we are and all we have and all we do.
 
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 25:37-40
 
So….do!
 
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” James 2:12-13
 
If you see a need, fill it. If you can’t fill it on your own, seek the help of others. Do something. Do what you can. When God gives you an opportunity, take it. Don’t pass that open door. If you do you will regret it and wonder what God could have done.
 
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17
 
There is often a lot of debate about faith vs. works but it is not an argument. We know we are saved by faith, not works. But if we have faith it will be visible in the things we do.
 
 “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:18-19
 
Go forth and Do!!
 
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:35-40

Good morning. I'm a bit late. We had graduation yesterday and then I couldnt' get the recording uploaded for some reason. It was a good sermon. See Shannon's notes Below:
Seeing through the eyes of Jesus – Matthew 9
Telescope to see the stars
Magnifying glass to see closely
Microscope to see tiny creatures, viruses
What these all have in common is lenses – purpose filled to see more clearly
Parrot and Jesus the Doberman
The eyes of Jesus see more than our eyes see
WE need eyes of discernment for spiritual matters.
Be careful that our discernment is not judgement
Psalm 119:66
Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
    for I trust your commands.
Matthew 7: 1 -2
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Jesus was careful, however.
John 2: 23-25
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[a] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person
Matthew 7:6
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

• Don’t’ be deceived either. Farmer and the snake

Matthew 10:16
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Nothing is hidden from God.
Heb 4:13
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account
Discernment is used to guard our spirituality, but is also and instrument of healing if we add grace
Spiritual development  - Proverbs 14:6
The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
    but knowledge comes easily to the discerning
Comes from -anointing of the Spirit, Study of God’s Word, experience of God’s Grace
Human nature is to judge  - look at our society – everyone wants to blame someone else, no one wants to solve the problems!
 
James 4: 11-12
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[a] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
 
Matthew 7:3
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
James 1:5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
What does it look like to see through Jesus’ eyes?
-19th century painter Joseph Turner was confronted by a woman who said “Why do you paint with such extravagant colors? I have never seen colors like that in nature”
-Turner’s response, “ but wouldn’t you like to, Madam?”
Matthew 9
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
The Calling of Matthew
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus Questioned About Fasting
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mute
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
 
What I would have seen vs. what Jesus saw.
Vs. 2 Paralytic – faith of friends plus  unspoken repentance of paralytic
2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
Vs. 3-4 – nothing – Jesus saw evil thoughts
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
 
Vs. 9 – traitor to the people – Matthew as a new disciple
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Vs. 10-13 – Jesus eating with sinners – people in desperate need of his presence and healing
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
 
Vs. 20-22 – Unclean woman bumping Jesus – Jesus saw secret sickness and faith
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment
 
Vs. 23-25 – Dead girl – just sleeping!
 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up
Vs. 35-37 – Chaos and a fallen world – Jesus saw every type of person in the crowd, individually
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Jesus response:
          1, Compassion, not judgement
          2. Teach, not condemnation
          3. Provides healing, fulfilling real needs
          4. Sees right past the sin, straight to the conditions
We need to pray that we develop the eyes of Jesus

• The Church cannot be idle in a broken world
• Not good enough to speak the truth and not live it
• Not good enough to diagnose the world’s problem and send them home to fix it themselves
• Not good enough to think we are being helpful when we are not willing to do something ourselves

When we really see through the eyes and heart of Jesus – through his lens – then people will see the reflection of Jesus within us, and we will be his instruments for change.
If you don’t like what is going on, change it. Start a fire. BE the revival. Be the difference in the individual lives of the lost. Don’t just tell people, Show people the heart of Jesus. 

Following are Shannon's notes. Some of them only make sense if you actually listen to the sermon. See below:

Let put Jesus first again.
Headlines: Trump’s devious coronavirus election strategy
Michigan protest bellwether of dangerous partisan divide
Covid Anger splits US
Texas officer killed, two injured in ambush
Federal judges side w/ Planned PH, deem elective abortions essential.
Opinion + Dear Abby
Our country is divided-broken-fearful-lost
What the world needs is Jesus!
Jesus is coming soon, we have a stewardship responsibility for what we have been given.
Romans 14:11-12
 For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
 
 
 
 
We have been called to take up our cross and follow
Luke 14: 25-27
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Right now what the world needs is REVIVAL not SURVIVAL
 
Two biblical accounts of revival:
Nehemiah – rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem
Nehemiah 7: 4-5
Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not yet been rebuilt. 5 So my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the common people for registration by families.
Nehemiah 8:1-3
1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law
 
 
 
Nehemiah 8:6
6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Jonah
Jonah 3: 1-5
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Revival means a second chance (CPR). We need a second chance in country.
What do we need to do?

1. Repent.

Isaiah 30:15
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
How did we get to this point? Where did we go wrong?

1. Pray with confidence

Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Psalm 138:3
When I called, you answered me;
    you greatly emboldened me.
Matthew 7:7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
If a microscopic virus can do this to the world, image faith of a mustard seed!
Spurgeon:
“Prayer pulls on the rope below and the great bell rings in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell for they pray so languidly. Others give an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continually with all his might”

1. Have a Passion for the Glory of God

1 Peter 2: 9-10
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Colossians 3:23
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
“the true worth of a man is measured in the objects he pursues:
Matthew 6:21
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1. Have a burden for the lost and revival

John 13: 34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Phil: 2:3-4
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
John 4:35
35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Matthew 9:35-38
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Phil 2: 1-3
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
 

1. Be bold – GO Forth!

1 Cor 15:58
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
 
 
Gal 6: 9-10
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
2 Chron 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
1 Thess 5:11
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
2 Tim 1:7
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Isaiah 6:8
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
 
 
Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
 
Go boldly where no man has gone before!
​
​

Community is so important for the harvest! The season for spiritual harvest. We just have to be looking for it. The world is a bunch of helpless sheep without a shepherd (and there are wolves too). 

7 Steps to Harvest:

#1. The Soil. 

"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times." Mark 4:8

How we live our lives will affect the "soil" of a person's heart. People need to see the light in us. There's enough strife in the world. They don't need it from us. 

#2. Seed.

"It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Mark 4:31-32

Jesus doesn't care about the depth or the size of the seed. He says for us to just cast the seed. God doesn't say to be selective in this process. Leave the results to Spirit.

#3. Showers.
The Holy Spirit will rain down on the seeds and cause the germination and growth. 

 "for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke 12:12

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God." Romans 8:26-27

We can't force it.

#4 The Seasons.
"Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." John 4:35

The harvest is now. If you don't harvest when the harvest is ripe, it will rot in the field. It will be gone, no good. Look for someone who needs harvesting. Harvest is the best time of year.

#5 Servants.
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go." Matthew 21:28-30

Are we the first son or the second son in our actions?

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," 1 Peter 1:3

He has given you what you need to do His work. Get engaged. Just do it. You have got to be wiling to do something. You hvae to watch where you're going (not your feet). If you drop the ball, there is temporary chaos. Do you work. 

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:4-8

All of us are different. We all have something to give.We're all gifted to pray. We have immense capability in this room.

#6 Sacrifice.
"Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them." Psalm 126:5-6

Sacrifice is necessary. Time, effort, the things are most important to you will get your time. Everything you need will be provided. First Fruits -- give God your very best. We don't need to see it all. We just have to get to work. It might be seed planting. It might be harvesting.

#7 Sure Hope.
"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness." 2 Corinthians 9:10

God will take care of it. You would not plant if you didn't believe you would harvest. Do the same with spiritual planting. As we gather, we can plant more.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Get engaged. Get involved. Don't give up. Ever. The harvest is here and the harvest is coming.

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11

Don't lose your first love.

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”" Isaiah 6:8

Here I am, Lord. Send me, Lord! Use Me! Use the gifts in Me. Use Me!

Mount vs. Plain:
Beatitudes are written in the 3rd person.
The Sermon on the Plain is written in the 2nd person.

"He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all." Luke 6:17-19

3 types of people present to hear the sermon on the plain:
The 12 apostles
The followers and Believers -- many, many followed Jesus who weren't part of the 12.
And The Multitude -- seeking physical healing and entertainment.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you." Luke 6:20-22

There were also Gentiles present in the crowd that day too. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile towns.

20 "Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man." Luke 6:20-22

Look at these "people Groups" From Jesus's perspective:

Poverty, Hunger, Sad and Hated. He wasn't saying you should seek to be poor or hungry or sad or hated. He just said if you know you are these apart from Christ you are blessed.

If you don't come empty to Him, He can't fill You. If you don't know you need Him, You can't receive Him.

"“But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." Luke 6:24-26

Woe to you if you find satisfaction in anythig else but Him. Jesus is the 2-edged Sword.

Whatever stands between you and Jesus, get rid of it! 
Rich, well-fed; laughing, spoken well of. What's your great reputation based on? 

You can have Jesus or the World. Not both. You should come to Jesus starving for Him..

The context is what makes the difference. Of course we do these things (take care of the weak and voiceless and the poor and widows,,,the vulnerable), but we do it for Jesus.

"The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me." Matthew 26:11

"‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" Revelation 21:4

Have Christ's attitude toward people. He is the reason we do things. There's nothing we need more than Jesus.

What truly separates the world from Believers:

​"Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man." Luke 6:22

"Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." Luke 6:26

Jesus did it right.

OT Prophets had really hard lives.

Who are you really?

Seek Him. Whose eyes are we looking through? The world's? Jesus's?

Our motivation is the difference.

"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets." Luke 6:23

I can never finish seeking Him and Running the race until I get to the finish line (which is Heaven). 

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a] 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had," Romans 15:1-5

A person's scars represent lots of lessons learned. Scars (if we learn by them) strengthen us. We have strength in Jesus.

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1

Our strength is in our hope.

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." 1 Peter 1:13

Our hope is our strength.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:10

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1-2

Have compassion. Be humble. Pray. Give a hug. We don't help for ourselves. We help so we can build others up.

"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Romans 15:2

Don't help to garner praise.

"not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:" Philippians 2:4-5

That's who I came for (Jesus says). Even if it is self-induced suffering, still help. God does. He dealt with the issue first, then spoke. Through the helping they saw the love of God. Don't worry about what others think.

"For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Romans 15:3

Jesus picked people up. He didn't do this for himself. World asks, "What's in it for me?"

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." John 15:10

This is the reward!

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Give grace always. Give a flood of grace so others can't help but get touched by that grace.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4

Where does our strength come from?

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36

Look at the goal. That's the encouragement. 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Train and get better. Read your Bible. Spend time with Jesus. The source of our strength!!

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains--
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

The spirit of unity:

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had," Romans 15:5

How do we live in unity? in strength in unity?

Remember where we came from:

"Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation." Romans 12:16

We need to get to someone's eye level, eye-to-eye. Get down to their level.

"To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;" 1 Peter 3:8

"And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them." Acts 4:32

SO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

1. Work out spiritually! Add strength through Bible study and prayer and obedience.
2. Use your strength. Help others be strong.
3. Need Help? Follow the example of Jesus and the early church.
4. Endurance. Persevere. Hope.

(Story from recording about riderless horse)
His heart was trying but he couldn't win. What if he had had someone helping him? There are people who are trying alone -- if we recognize it we can help them. Help me Lord see the ones I can encourage to walk with you.

1. We have been given everything we need through Jesus!

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

If we choose not to know, that's on us.

2. Escape the world -- participate in heaven now.

"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:4

The world didn't change when Jesus came. We are the ones who are supposed to change.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Renewing your mind -- use the Bible. Conform to God's will. When we fail to do this, we are failing to develop the way God intends us to develop.

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." 2 Peter 1:5-7

Check out the progression -- where are you?

Faith -- add Goodness.
Goodness -- add Knowledge.
Knowledge -- add Self-Control.
Self-Control -- add Perseverance.
Perseverance -- add Godliness.
Godliness -- add Mutual Affection.
Mutual Affection -- add Love.

Going toward these things. When we go back to God. it will all come back in line.

If you try and skip the knowledge, you will miss it all. 

3. We are meant to be different than the rest of the world.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

God did this to free us. But some of this is our responsibility.

"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8

"If!"  Increasing measure means always increasing.

4. The Sacred Secret.

Secret means a mystery or religious secrets.

"Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly." Ephesians 3:2-3

Jesus changed all this.

"The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." Matthew 13:10-11

If you know Jesus, the secrets of heaven are open to you.

5. We are part of the family.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1

We are living in the time of Grace.  Galatia church had a problem. 

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervertthe gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:6-10

This church started the right way. Then they starting adding to it. Why? To please people! If we lose sight of God and His ways, we are going to wander off the path. If we try to please people first before God, we are going to wander off the path He has for us.

6. We have a job to do -- be the hands and feet of Jesus.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free," Luke 4:18


"But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins." 2 Peter 1:9

We are to be used by God. We have to take what He gives us and use it. A chainsaw is great but if we don't put our hands to it it is useless.

7. We have been chosen for a purpose.

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10-11