Marks of JESUS

SERMON STARTER

 

          Historically, the Marks of Jesus have been misunderstood and diverted to what has been called, "The Stigmata." It involves the notion that a devoted follower of Jesus can become so obsessed by His suffering and death that they take on His wounds. The stigmata sufferers assume Jesus' five wounds on his hands, feet and next to His heart. People afflicted with this type of suffering are referred to as "stigmatics."

          The first person in history that was supposed to be a stigmatic was St. Francis of Assisi. He is reported to have obtained the stigmata in 1224 AD, just 2 years before his death. Interestingly, no one manifested these unusual "signs" historically until 1,224 years after Jesus' Death, Burial and Resurrection.

http://www.miraclesofthesaints.com/2010/09/stigmata.html

          This morning's sermon interprets a different slant on the Marks of Jesus. Supposing His marks on our body and soul are scars inflicted during our service for Christ and His Kingdom. The Apostle Paul certainly bore the Marks of Jesus as we read today's scripture text.

          I'm interpreting that the "Stigmata" are the scars of life that point us to Jesus and lead us to maturity in Him. If that could be true, then the chronic pain that I personally began to suffer from since my 29th year of life, drove me into the arms of and service for the Lord Jesus Christ. My reaction to the life-long pain has led me into a maturity that I would not have experienced without the pain.

          There was a chorus we sang in our youth that says what I'm trying to say:

 

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

 

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

 

Sheepfold Ministries, July 22, 2012

Pastor Phil Roland

 

The Marks of JESUS

Gal 6:17 / 2 Corinthians 11:24-27

“There are “marks/Indicators” of maturity in Christ.  These marks happen from adversity, deprivation and personal loss.  When adversity comes, and it will, true believers will not get bitter, only better.                                             Pastor Phil

TWO GREEK WORDS:

A. Stigmata = STIG-MA-TA = Marks, Scars or Brands of ownership left by the Divine Rod of Discipline. . .

"From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks (Stigmata) of the Lord Jesus."                   Galatians 6:17

            1. Eg. Paul's Injuries; Cain's Mark (Gen. 4:15); Jacob’s Thigh; Apostle                         Paul's Scarred Body

            2. A mark pricked in or branded upon the body. To ancient oriental                               usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or the stamp of their                master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their                               bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to             3. Slaves were branded on their foreheads, either cutting or with                                   tattoos.

            4. Paul was also inferring that he was the "doulos" (slave) of Christ.

            5. Paul was probably figuratively speaking, referring to the scars and

                        disfigurements on his body due to persecution and hardship

                        he endured for preaching the Gospel of Christ.

B. Perfect = TeleioV = TEL-IOS = Complete, Full Growth, Mature

“Be perfect, (Telios) therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”     Matt. 5:48     

 

There are Five basic Marks of Jesus:

I.  Jesus' Mark of Humility - Matt. 23:12; Luke 18:14b

"for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

          A. Humility is Voluntarily Submitting yourself to Another

                        1. Humiliation happens when your are humbled Involuntarily

                        2. In Christianity Humility is a matter of choice

                                    a. You choose the Towel and Basin

                                    b. The Towel and Basin are chosen for you

          B. Our crazy World views Humility as Foolishness

                        1. D. L. Moody Story - Psalm 14:1a

                                    a. He was approaching the pulpit when a man handed

                                        him a note. On it was written a single word, "Fool!"

                                    b. Moody addressed the crowd, "Many times people                                                  have written me notes and forgotten to sign them.

                                        This is the first time someone signed a note and

                                         forgot to write it!"

 

THE MARKS OF JESUS, cont., p.2

 

                                    c. Moody went on to preach his sermon on Psalm 14:1a

                                      "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

 

II.  Jesus' Mark of Forgiveness - Luke 23:34

"Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots."

          A. The Joseph Narrative - Genesis Chapters 37-50

                        1. Born in Haran about 75 years after Abraham’s death,

                        2. Born 30 years before the death of Isaac, when Isaac was 90,                               and 8 years before they returned to Canaan,

                        3. Sold into Egyptian slavery at 17, Spent a total of 13 years,                                     both in Potiphar’s House and Prison,

                        4. Became ruler of Egypt at 30, and

                        5. Died in Egypt at 110 

            B. Joseph had the chance to revenge himself with his brothers

                        1. Joseph chose to love and forgive his brothers

                        2. Joseph's life casts a long shadow toward Jesus' Cross

            C. Redemptive Theme of the entire Bible - Genesis 50:20

               "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in

                order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

 

III.  Jesus' Mark of Truth - John 14:6

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the

Father except through Me."

            A. The Way of Jesus is the Way of Truth - John 18:38

            "Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You

            say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I

            have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone

            who is of the truth hears My voice." 38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"

            And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to

            them, "I find no fault in Him at all.

                        1. Jesus was Truth in human flesh

                        2. He Himself was the Answer to the philosopher's ancient                                      query, "What is Truth?"

            B. No Liars can enter God's Heaven - Rev. 21:7,8

            "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he        shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,

            sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in

            the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

          C. Ananias and Saphira Lied to God and Died - Acts 5:3,4

            "But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy

            Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it

            remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your

            own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have

            not lied to men but to God."

 

IV.  Jesus' Mark of Love - 1 Corinthians 12:31

       "But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."

THE MARKS OF JESUS, cont., p.2

 

            A. Jesus showed us the way of Love

                        1. Agape - God's incredible love for mankind - John 3:16

                      2. Early believers were known for their love - John 13:35

                        "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for

                         one another."

            B.  We receive Agape and give it freely - 1 John 4:7,8

            "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who

            loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not

            know God, for God is love."

                        1. We cannot create Love

                        2. This Love is an evidence of the indwelling Christ

 

V.  Jesus' Mark of Serving Others – Matthew 20:27,28

"And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the

Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

          A. We love and serve others because of Jesus' example

                        1. We are not paid to love and serve    

                        2. Service is our voluntary choice

            B. The Servant is not above his Master - . Matt. 10:24

            "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master."

                        1. We Serve Him because we Love Him

                        2. We Love Him because He first Loved us

            C. God is searching for mature, complete hearts - 2 Chronicles 16:9a

            "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to

             shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward

             him. . ." NKV

            “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those

             whose hearts are fully committed (KJV “Perfect”)  to Him.” NIV

                        a. What about your Life?

                        b. Does it bear the Stigmata of the Lord Jesus?

 

 

 

THE Marks of jesus

2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (NKJV)
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--

 

The Way to God

 

If my days were untroubled and my heart always light

 

Would I seek that fair land where there is no night?

 

If I never grew weary with the weight of my load

 

Would I search for God’s peace at the end of the road?

 

If I never knew sickness and never felt pain

 

Would I reach for a hand to help and sustain?

 

If I walked not with sorrow and lived without loss

 

Would my soul seek sweet solace at the foot of the Cross?

 

If all I desired was mine day by day

 

Would I kneel before God and earnestly pray?

 

If God sent no “WINTER” to freeze me with fear

 

Would I yearn for the warmth of “SPRING” every year?

 

I ask myself this and the answer is plain-------

 

If my life were all pleasure and I never knew pain

 

I’d seek God less often and need Him much less,

 

For God’s sought more often in times of distress,

 

And no one knows God or sees Him as plain

 

As those who have met Him on “THE PATHWAY OF PAIN.”

 

Helen Steiner Rice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guests

Pain knocked upon my door and said
That she had come to stay;
And though I would not welcome her
But bade her go away,

She entered in. Like my own shade
She followed after me,
And from her stabbing, stinging sword
No moment was I free.

And then one day another knocked
Most gently at my door.
I cried, "No, Pain is living here,
There is no room for more".

And then I heard His tender voice,
" 'Tis I, be not afraid".
And from the day He entered in --
The difference it made!

For though He did not bid her leave,
(My strange, unwelcome guest,)
He taught me how to live with her.
Oh, I had never guessed

That we could dwell so sweetly here,
My Lord and Pain and I,
Within this fragile house of clay
While years slip slowly by!

 

Martha Snell Richardson