THE MARKS OF JESUS
SERMON STARTER
The people of the Middle ages called them, "Stigmata." Certain people were thought to have been given this special gift from God bearing the "wounds of Christ." Stigmata is a term used in Christian mysticism to describe the manifestations of bodily wounds, scars and pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ, such as the hands, wrists, feet and side. St. Francis of Assisi, 1224 A.D. was the first recorded stigmatic in Christian history.
This phenomenon didn't appear until Medieval times and only in the Roman Catholic Church. The stigmata occurred from a surface, literal interpretation of Galatians 6:17,
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Galatians 6:17
The Apostle Paul in this text is describing his own sufferings in His service of Jesus. He concludes his litany of trials and perils with the text from which I derived my sermon.
Paul isn't saying he bore the actual wounds of Christ. He is speaking metaphorically of His journey in following Jesus. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action which is NOT literally applicable.
Few of us have suffered as Paul did for the Gospel, but all of us carry specific scars from life, living in an aging body and continuing to serve to the very end of life. Personally, Jesus used my pain to bring me into obedience to Him. Pain can be redemptive and can force us to our knees in the Presence of Jesus. Have you given your pain, discomfort or suffering to Jesus for His complete healing power?
Pastor Phil <><<
Sheepfold Ministries, June 2, 2019
Pastor Phil Roland
THE MARKS OF JESUS
Galatians 6:17 / 2 Corinthians 11:24-27
“There are “marks/Indicators” of maturity in Christ. These scars occur from adversity, deprivation, disappointment or personal loss. True believers will not get bitter in trials, only better. Pastor Phil <><<
17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Galatians 6:17
Greek: Stigmata = Stig-ma-ta = Marks, Scars or Brands of ownership left by the Divine Rod of Discipline. . .Eg. Jacob’s Thigh. . . Genesis 32
THERE ARE FIVE BASIC MARKS OF JESUS:
I. THE MARK OF HUMILITY - Luke 14:11
11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
A. The World views Humility as Foolishness - 1 Corinthians 3:18,19
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this
age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of
this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise
in their own craftiness";
1. The cosmos/world has its own order
2. The World's Order is convoluted to we who follow Jesus
Eg. Pro Life counselors shamed for talking to young women on their way to an abortion clinic. Killing babies is considering a woman's right.
3. Darkness is extolled as light / Light as darkness
4. Eg. D.L. Moody - One Sunday night as Dr. Moody was on his way to the pulpit, a person handed him a piece of paper. He opened it up as he stood at the pulpit. On the paper was written only one word in large letters, 'FOOL!" Dr. Moody began his sermon holding up the paper. He said, "Over the years people have given me notes and forgot to sign their names. This evening someone gave me their name and FORGOT to write the note!" Dr. moody went on to preach his sermon from Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God!!'"
B. The Apostle Paul was not a self-exalting apostle - Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (NIV)
1. Saw himself as the least of the apostles
2. B-4 his conversion, he persecuted the newly-forming church
C. Jesus reminded us clearly - Matt. 23:11,12
THE MARKS OF JESUS, cont., p.2
1 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
1. The one greatest one among us would be the servant
2. Humbling yourself before God and man is a virtue
THE SECOND OF FIVE MARKS OF JESUS:
II. THE MARK OF FORGIVENESS - Luke 6:37
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
A. Joseph and His Brothers - Genesis Chapters 37-50
1. His brothers thru sibling rivalry, sell him into slavery
2. He ends up in Potiphar's house and Pharaoh's prison
3. Joseph is there more than 13 years
4. He becomes Pharaoh's Overseer at 30 - Genesis 41:46
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of
Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and
went throughout all the land of Egypt.
B. Theme of the entire Bible is Forgiveness - Genesis 50:20
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.
1. Jesus made it a Divine Command - Matthew 5:40
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for
those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be
sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil
and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
2. Forgiveness is not an option for we who follow Jesus
THE THIRD OF FIVE MARKS OF JESUS:
III. THE MARK OF TRUTH - John 14:6 (NKJV)
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 Lord Jesus was Divine Truth in human flesh - John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
1. He always spoke the Truth in Love
2. Every answer He gave His antagonists was truthful
B. Following Jesus, we put away lying and speak the truth in love
25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his
neighbor," for we are members of one another. Ephesians 4:25
1. No liars can inherit the Kingdom of God - Rev. 21:8
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."
2. We, His followers are to "speak the truth in love" - Eph. 4:15
THE MARKS OF JESUS, cont., p.3
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
THE FOURTH OF FIVE MARKS OF JESUS:
IV. THE MARK OF LOVE - 1 Corinthians 12:31
"But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way."
A. Agape Love is the More Excellent Way - 1 Corinthians 13:13
13 And now abide faith, hope, love. . .; but the greatest of these is love.
1. Love is the evidence of being in the Spirit - Romans 5:5b
. . .the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
2. Agape Love is the primary evidence of Jesus' Presence
B. It always Hurts to Love: Ask Jesus
1. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit begins with Love - Gal. 5:22,23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against
such there is no law.
2. Agape Love is the primary evidence of Jesus' Presence
3. You cannot fake it. . .His Presence is in His Love
4. It can cause scars: relationship problems, conflict, pain. . .
5. It is easily misunderstood. . .It is a Mark of Jesus
THE FIFTH OF FIVE MARKS OF JESUS:
V. THE MARK OF SERVING OTHERS - Matt. 25:35-36;40
35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'
A. Find a Need and Fill it / Find a Hurt and Heal it
1. Human need is all around us
2. Listen to your heart where His Spirit Dwells
3. He will Guide You
B. It isn't always Giving Money
1. Most needs cross your path at an inconvenient time
2. That's a Kingdom Service Call
3. All Jesus' Miracles were Divine Interruptions
4. Has Jesus interrupted your comfortable life lately?
C. The Lord is looking for those with servant's hearts- 2 Chron. 16:9a
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to
show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. . .
THE MARKS OF JESUS
2 Corinthians 11:23-33
23 Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
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--
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
Eg.
MY DIFFICULT SCAR-RIDDEN BIRTH
Mom and I both bore the marks of my difficult and painful birth. One thing I know: she never complained about HOW I get here through our mutual suffering. She only told me over and over what a joy I was to be her first-born.
Jesus is like that. . .He NEVER reminds us of His Suffering for our Salvation. He is full of love for you and wants you to be with Him. Why don't you accept Him into your heart, asking Him to forgive your sins, and begin to walk in newness of life? DO IT TODAY! <><<
1 John 1:8 (NKJV)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 3:18 (NKJV)
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 4:6 (NKJV)
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
August 25, 1996
Pastor Phil Roland - Sheepfold Ministries
MARKS OF MATURITY
"Be perfect, (complete, mature) therefore, as your Father in Heaven in perfect." Matt.5:48
"Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Gal. 6:17
"Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes minus one. . ." II Cor. 11:24-27
Christian Maturity is growing up in Jesus Christ and becoming more like Him every day.
Five Marks of Christian Maturity:
I. THE MARK OF HUMILITY -
A. The world insists humility is the "mark of a fool"
B. Humility admits it when it is wrong
1. James 4:6
2. Matt. 23:12
II. THE MARK OF FORGIVENESS -
A. Joseph and his brothers - Genesis chapters 37-50
1. Summary: "You meant it for evil, but the Lord meant it for good." Gen.50:20
2. Forgiveness
B. The one who does not forgive, stands in the place of God.
1. Joseph speaks to his brothers
2. ". . .Fear not: for am I in the place of God?"
III. THE MARK OF TRUTH -
A. Jesus says, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. . ." John 14:6
1. Care-frontation
2. The church is a place where love and truth meet
B. Love and truth meet in Jesus
1. Rev. 21:8 "No liars shall enter the Kingdom of God."
2. Silence can harbor a lie
IV. THE MARK OF LOVE -
A. ". . .a more excellent way." I Cor. 13
B. The Royal Law
1. Not a gift
2. Fruit
V. THE MARK OF SERVING OTHERS -
A. Matt. 20: 20-28 "Let he who is greatest among you, be the servant of all."
B. Matt. 10:24 "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord."
1. Self-Centeredness stops the anointing
2.
