Removing Barriers: Embracing Jesus' Mission Together

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience as a Pathway to Purpose

In Luke 19, the disciples' obedience to Jesus' instruction to fetch a colt is a profound example of trust and submission to divine guidance. Their willingness to follow Jesus' specific directions without question highlights the importance of listening to and acting upon God's word. This act of obedience is not just about following orders; it is about aligning oneself with God's purpose and mission. When we obey God's guidance, we open ourselves to fulfilling the unique purpose He has for our lives. Obedience becomes a pathway through which we can experience God's presence and power in our journey. [53:21]

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21, ESV)

Reflection: What specific instruction or guidance from God have you been hesitant to follow? How can you take a step of obedience today to align with His purpose for your life?

Day 2: Stewardship of Gifts for God's Glory

The parable of the nobleman in Luke 19 serves as a reminder that we are entrusted with gifts and talents that we must use wisely for God's glory. Just as the servants were expected to invest and multiply the resources given to them, we too are called to actively engage our abilities in service to God and others. This stewardship is not merely about avoiding waste but about recognizing the potential within us to contribute to God's kingdom. By using our gifts wisely, we honor God and participate in His work on earth, bringing His love and grace to those around us. [01:01:21]

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific gift or talent has God entrusted to you that you have not fully utilized? How can you begin to use this gift for His glory today?

Day 3: Engaging in the Mission of Grace

As followers of Christ, we are called to actively participate in God's mission by reaching out to our communities, making disciples, and sharing the good news of Jesus. This involves finding those who are ready to hear and speaking words of grace that release them from their burdens. Engaging in God's mission requires intentionality and a heart that is open to the needs of others. It is about being present and available to share the love of Christ in tangible ways, helping others to grow in their faith and encouraging them to do the same. [01:05:21]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community or circle of influence is ready to hear about Jesus? How can you intentionally engage with them this week to share the message of grace and hope?

Day 4: Vigilance in Recognizing God's Work

The religious leaders' failure to recognize the fulfillment of prophecy when Jesus entered Jerusalem serves as a cautionary tale for us to remain vigilant and aware of God's work in our lives and the world around us. It is easy to become complacent or distracted by the busyness of life, missing the signs of God's presence and activity. By staying spiritually alert and attentive, we can discern His movements and join Him in His work, experiencing the joy and fulfillment that comes from being part of His divine plan. [01:10:17]

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life have you become spiritually complacent? How can you cultivate a greater awareness of God's work around you today?

Day 5: Becoming Gates of Love, Not Walls

As followers of Christ, we are called to be gates that open up the love of Jesus to others, rather than walls that block His message. This involves removing barriers in our lives and in our church community that hinder people from encountering Jesus. By being open and welcoming, we create spaces where others can experience the transformative power of God's love. Let us pray for the courage and wisdom to be conduits of His grace, inviting others into a relationship with Him and helping them grow in their faith. [01:14:09]

"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7, ESV)

Reflection: What barriers in your life or community might be preventing others from experiencing the love of Jesus? How can you actively work to become a gate of love and grace today?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection on Luke 19, we delve into the concept of walls—both physical and personal—that hinder people from encountering Jesus. As we explore this passage, we are reminded of the importance of removing these barriers in our lives and in our church community. Jesus' journey to Jerusalem is a pivotal moment, filled with intensity and purpose. He knew exactly where He was going and what awaited Him, yet He pressed on with determination. This serves as a powerful reminder for us to remain focused on our spiritual journey, despite the challenges we may face.

The story of Jesus instructing His disciples to fetch a colt is a testament to the importance of obedience and trust in His guidance. The disciples followed His instructions precisely, demonstrating the significance of listening to and acting upon God's word. This obedience is mirrored in the parable of the nobleman, where servants are entrusted with resources and expected to use them wisely. We, too, are given gifts and talents by God, and it is our responsibility to use them for His glory.

As followers of Christ, we are called to actively engage in His mission. This involves going out into our communities, making disciples, and sharing the good news of Jesus. It requires us to find those who are ready to hear about the Lord and to speak words of grace that release them from their burdens. Our role is not just to bring people to Jesus but to help them grow in their faith and to encourage others to do the same.

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, met only by His disciples, highlights the missed opportunity by the religious leaders who should have recognized the fulfillment of prophecy. This serves as a cautionary tale for us to remain vigilant and aware of God's work in our lives and the world around us.

Ultimately, we are reminded that Jesus is looking for obedient disciples who will put their gifts to work, find those ready to hear, and help them grow in the Lord. As we journey through life, let us be gates that open up the love of Jesus to others, rather than walls that block His message.

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience to God's Guidance: Just as the disciples followed Jesus' specific instructions to fetch the colt, we are called to listen and act upon God's guidance in our lives. Obedience to His word is crucial for fulfilling our purpose and mission. [53:21]
2. Using Our Gifts Wisely: The parable of the nobleman reminds us that we are entrusted with gifts and talents that we must use for God's glory. It is our responsibility to put these gifts to work and not let them go to waste. [61:21]
3. Engaging in God's Mission: We are called to actively participate in God's mission by going out into our communities, making disciples, and sharing the good news of Jesus. This involves finding those ready to hear and speaking words of grace that release them from their burdens. [65:21]
4. Awareness of God's Work: The religious leaders missed the fulfillment of prophecy when Jesus entered Jerusalem. This serves as a reminder for us to remain vigilant and aware of God's work in our lives and the world around us. [70:17]
5. Being Gates, Not Walls: As followers of Christ, we are called to be gates that open up the love of Jesus to others, rather than walls that block His message. Let us pray for the courage and wisdom to remove barriers and bring others to Jesus. [01:14:09]
** [74:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Introduction and Greeting
[05:00] - Insight into Luke 19
[10:00] - The Journey to Jerusalem
[15:00] - The Significance of Obedience
[20:00] - The Parable of the Nobleman
[25:00] - Using Our Gifts for God's Glory
[30:00] - Engaging in God's Mission
[35:00] - Finding Those Ready to Hear
[40:00] - Speaking Words of Grace
[45:00] - The Missed Opportunity in Jerusalem
[50:00] - Being Gates, Not Walls
[55:00] - Encouragement for the Church
[60:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Sermon Clips

I want to challenge you to spend the next hour just focused in and saying, yeah, there's some clutter. There's some things I need to take care of. But this moment, this is God's moment to talk to me. This is God's moment to speak to me about areas in my life where I need to grow, where I need to be stretched, where I need to challenge myself. [00:16:07] (23 seconds)

The Lord needs his disciples to obey his commands. The Lord needs his disciples to follow his instructions. And the Lord expects his disciples to follow his instructions. He doesn't just need it. It's an anticipated thing. When his disciples are following his instructions, things go well. [00:56:08] (28 seconds)

Go to your home, community, and throughout the world and make disciples. Jesus says in the end of Matthew, Matthew 28, go therefore and all the nations and baptizing them. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [00:59:59] (20 seconds)

Pray for those people who are eager and open to hear the word of God. Colossians 4 .8 says, let your conversations always be filled with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. I just heard a story. A story this morning about how this church loved somebody with grace. [01:02:53] (32 seconds)

Loved somebody with grace, and it helped them, helped them make their connection, and them and others, but you accepted them, you embraced them, and this church seasoned your conversations with grace. And now this person is a vital member of this community. [01:03:14] (18 seconds)

And so, right, it was just, it was just a beast of burden to be used by God. What happened? A couple of disciples went and they followed Jesus obediently and when they followed Jesus obediently, all they did was release it from the burden that it was being hindered by and they brought it to go meet Jesus. [01:04:32] (22 seconds)

Help them grow in the Lord. Once you've released them, once you brought them to Jesus, it isn't somebody else's job, it's your job to help them grow in the Lord. Look at what 1 Thessalonians says. It says, therefore, encourage one another and build each other up just in fact, just as in fact you are doing now. [01:05:26] (19 seconds)

Tell other people about this good news of Jesus and all of those burdens that you personally were released when someone brought you to Jesus and now you are personally sharing the love of Jesus, sharing the grace, sharing the compassion and the mercy and yes, the justice and the truth that needs to be said as well. [01:06:09] (18 seconds)

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