Born for a Purpose

No Surprises | Matthew 7:21-23 Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? ' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! ' On the final day there will be some solemn surprises. Jesus said on that day people would call him, "Lord, Lord," but they are not fit for the kingdom of heaven. Can you think of anything more tragic? Some will say, "Jesus, I was a preacher." However, Jesus warned about false teachers. Some will say, "I drove out demons in your name." Judas did that and then betrayed him. Some will say, "I did miracles in your name." Moses watched Pharaoh's magicians do many supernatural acts. Works nev...

Building Lives | Matthew 7:24-27 Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. A person decided to build a house. He worked hard and had it up in record time. Sure, he took a few shortcuts but the house looked fantastic. He moved in and had cookouts for family and friends. Everyone enjoyed his generous hospitality. Then one night a storm rolled into town. The sun rose to show the house was demolished by the rain and wind. A person decided to build a house. He worked hard and took his...

The Golden Rule | Matthew 7:12 Matthew  7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. I like executive summaries. The bottom line. The main point. Cut to the chase. Give me a few bullet points on one side of a sheet of paper and I'm happy. Today's passage is the executive summary of the entire Old Testament. Jesus said there is this one thing that "sums up the Law and the Prophets." It's this one instruction that demonstrates who you trust and who you serve. It's the one command that puts all other commands in perspective. It's the Golden Rule: "Do to others what you would have them do to you." If truly applied, this one command would change everything. Armies would put down their weapons. Husbands and wives would call a ceasefire. Siblings would embrace. Forgiveness would flow. Grace would govern. Bitterness would be banished. The greedy would turn generous. T...

Forgiveness: A Beautiful Idea | Matthew 6:14-15 Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. C. S. Lewis said that forgiveness is a beautiful idea, until you actually have to do it. It's true, isn't it? We delight in the forgiveness of God, but forgiving others when they have hurt us . . . well, that's hard. The words of Jesus are hard as well - forgive if you want to be forgiven. Jesus once told a story about a servant who was not able to pay his hefty debt - ten thousand bags of gold! After the servant begged for patience, the master took pity on him and canceled his entire debt. Then the servant went out and found a man who owed him a few hundred silver coins. The servant refused to forgive his debtor and had the man thrown into prison. When the master learned what the servant had done, he reversed his...

Fasting: Right and Wrong | Matthew 6:16-18 Matthew 6:16-18 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Fasting is not a topic of many sermons or writings today. It is often misused and misunderstood. Today let me offer a definition of fasting, describe what it is not, and then describe what it is. A Definition Fasting means to do without human desires and needs in order to focus on prayer. Fasting is normally done when we have a particular need or are dealing with a particular circumstance. Wrong Methods and Motives Fasting is not to impress others with our "spirituality." In fact, it is to be...