Getting Our Hands Dirty

Getting Our Hands Dirty

2004056

Topic # 1510 evangelism
Introduction:

A. Bible declares that God’s eyes are open to everything happening.

1. He is totally pure

2. He is absolute happiness

3. He despises all that is evil.

B. It is w/these scriptures in mind that some may picture God as the Chief Inspector of the universe.

1. Been in military? You are aware of the necessity of passing inspection.

a) Officer not there to compliment you.

b) There to uncover all flaws and mistakes

c) Has to discover correction that needs to be made.

2. Perhaps we always picture God as the inspector who is never wrong.

a) His job is to make endless inspections. He inspects everything all the time.

b) Picture God wearing a glistening white suit and bright white gloves – constantly searching for dirt.

3. In this picture – God hates messes. He refuses to touch a mess.

a) We begin to believe God’s only job is to expose the mess, not deliver us from the mess.

b) We might fall prey to the idea that God will only associate with people who are neat, orderly, proper, and mess free.

C. But..The bible reminds us that God’s work is messy work.

1. How many have seen His presence & work obvious in lives too messy to describe?

2. The bible also pictures God as concerned, involved, and merciful to those who seek Him.

3. Bible says God is a God who is always getting His hands dirty.

I. God has always involved Himself in messy situations.

A. Gen. 1:1-2 – what is the first thing we’re told about God?

1. What were the conditions? Chaos!

2. Here – the messes of all messes. The ultimate form of a mess.

3. No orderliness, no form, no tidiness, nothing but darkness; and useless, meaningless waste.

B. God, of His own initiative & choice brought good, order, purpose, usefulness, light, and life into existence.

1. God got involved when there was chaos. He got His hands dirty.

C. Gen. 2-3 – Adam/Eve took God’s creation made out of chaos and created an even worse mess.

1. As a result of their actions, the world became spiritually polluted.

2. People created the mess – God involved Himself and created a solution for the mess by providing a Savior.

a) Eph. 1:1-4

D. Look at the history of the OT. God involved himself in the messes people made.

1. The Hebrews, descendants of Abraham, in a hopeless situation as they lived in slavery w/no chance to be free.

a) Look through the beginning of Exodus: A true mess.

b) God got involved. Did for them what they never could have done for themselves – He freed them.

2. These former slaves became a nation in the Sinai desert

a) An impossible mess?

b) Think of all the situations and messes people created.

c) God stayed involved until enough people of faith would allow Him to lead them into the Promised Land.

3. Read Judges lately? Another mess.

a) All their evil & godless conduct created incredible chaos.

b) But God remained involved.

4. Look at the rest of OT history. Things got worse & worse.

II. A look at the NT.

A. God sent a part of Himself, Jesus, to be born in, grow up in, and to minister in the chaos of Israel & mankind.

B. Jesus was God in the flesh – John 14:6-7.

1. God, in a most personal and direct manner, went to work in individual lives.

2. Jesus got involved. Got his hands dirty.

C. Who did he target?

1. The religious people filled w/a sense of self righteousness? Those who felt certain they had no problems, and needed no help?

2. Targeted those whose lives were in chaos. People who felt their worthlessness.

3. The hopeless, demon possessed, sinners, adulterous, the incurable, the outcasts, thieves.

4. Their lives were in chaos and through faith, trust, and honesty they accepted His help.

a) He brought them forgiveness, life, hope, and a new existence!

b) 2 Cor. 5:17

D. The devoutly religious deeply resented Jesus for working with the downtrodden and criticized Him for doing so. Jesus response:

1. Mt. 9:12-13

2. Lk. 15:7, 10

E. God has destroyed chaos and created order and life.

1. He sent us Jesus to address the chaos in our personal lives, marriages, families, and friendships.

2. He destroys the chaos by giving us forgiveness and life.

3. He sent Jesus to sustain us after we receive life by continuing to strengthen & forgive us after we learn surrender, commitment, and service.

4. He is a God who works with us in the chaos of our lives.

III. We should rejoice about these facts! Phil. 4:4.

A. Rejoice that God willingly gets His hands dirty!

1. Not only should we rejoice that God has gone to work in our lives…

2. But we now must be willing to share the good news of God & salvation w/anyone whose life is in chaos.

B. God wants to use our lives to help others in chaos.

1. No person is too bad, no situation too hopeless if they respond in faith!

2. 1 Tim. 1:12-15.

a) God can forgive any sin. Give hope to any life.

b) God can liberate any person from evil through redemption.

c) God can give spiritual life to any person.

C. So as disciples of Jesus, we must put on qualities like Him. Lk. 6:40

1. Jesus loves people. Look at His life:

2. His heart, mind, and life were ruled by compassion & mercy.

3. He understood what kind of people needed compassion; mercy.

4. He was a servant. He did the dirty work. He did the repulsive work.

5. Jesus did not come to Lord His authority over people. Never thought of himself as prestigious.

D. So what about us? Are we placing these qualities in our lives?

1. Are we concerned about reaching out to others? Anyone who needs the gospel? Anyone?

2. Everyone needs the gospel – but it is time to concentrate on those who are open to receive it.

3. Too often we try to teach those who will not listen and are not interested.

a) Their minds are already made up.

b) How many people are filled w/a sense of self righteousness? They are certain they had no problems, and needed no help.

4. And we think the gospel message somehow doesn’t work as well in today’s society.

5. Challenge: Let’s roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and take the gospel

Conclusion:

A. Is your life in chaos? Out of order? Is there a hopeless void?

1. YOU control the keys to your heart. Open it & let God in!

2. Don’t writhe around in your own agony!

3. Obey the gospel!

B. Already a Christian? Surrender your life back to God!

C. I N V I T A T I O N



Getting Our Hands Dirty 2004056 Topic # 1510 evangelism Introduction: A. Bible declares that God’s eyes are open to everything happening. 1. He is totally pure 2. He is absolute happiness 3. He despises all that is evil. B. It is w/these scriptures in mind that some may picture God as the Chief Inspector of the universe. 1. Been in military? You are aware of the necessity of passing inspection. a) Officer not there to compliment you. b) There to uncover all flaws and mistakes c) Has to discover correction that needs to be made. 2. Perhaps we always picture God as the inspector who is never wrong. a) His job is to make endless inspections. He inspects everything all the time. b) Picture God wearing a glistening white suit and bright white gloves – constantly searching for dirt. 3. In this picture – God hates messes. He refuses to touch a mess. a) We begin to believe God’s only job is to expose the mess, not deliver us from the mess. b) We might fall prey to the idea that God will only associate with people who are neat, orderly, proper, and mess free. C. But..The bible reminds us that God’s work is messy work. 1. How many have seen His presence & work obvious in lives too messy to describe? 2. The bible also pictures God as concerned, involved, and merciful to those who seek Him. 3. Bible says God is a God who is always getting His hands dirty. I. God has always involved Himself in messy situations. A. Gen. 1:1-2 – what is the first thing we’re told about God? 1. What were the conditions? Chaos! 2. Here – the messes of all messes. The ultimate form of a mess. 3. No orderliness, no form, no tidiness, nothing but darkness; and useless, meaningless waste. B. God, of His own initiative & choice brought good, order, purpose, usefulness, light, and life into existence. 1. God got involved when there was chaos. He got His hands dirty. C. Gen. 2-3 – Adam/Eve took God’s creation made out of chaos and created an even worse mess. 1. As a result of their actions, the world became spiritually polluted. 2. People created the mess – God involved Himself and created a solution for the mess by providing a Savior. a) Eph. 1:1-4 D. Look at the history of the OT. God involved himself in the messes people made. 1. The Hebrews, descendants of Abraham, in a hopeless situation as they lived in slavery w/no chance to be free. a) Look through the beginning of Exodus: A true mess. b) God got involved. Did for them what they never could have done for themselves – He freed them. 2. These former slaves became a nation in the Sinai desert a) An impossible mess? b) Think of all the situations and messes people created. c) God stayed involved until enough people of faith would allow Him to lead them into the Promised Land. 3. Read Judges lately? Another mess. a) All their evil & godless conduct created incredible chaos. b) But God remained involved. 4. Look at the rest of OT history. Things got worse & worse. II. A look at the NT. A. God sent a part of Himself, Jesus, to be born in, grow up in, and to minister in the chaos of Israel & mankind. B. Jesus was God in the flesh – John 14:6-7. 1. God, in a most personal and direct manner, went to work in individual lives. 2. Jesus got involved. Got his hands dirty. C. Who did he target? 1. The religious people filled w/a sense of self righteousness? Those who felt certain they had no problems, and needed no help? 2. Targeted those whose lives were in chaos. People who felt their worthlessness. 3. The hopeless, demon possessed, sinners, adulterous, the incurable, the outcasts, thieves. 4. Their lives were in chaos and through faith, trust, and honesty they accepted His help. a) He brought them forgiveness, life, hope, and a new existence! b) 2 Cor. 5:17 D. The devoutly religious deeply resented Jesus for working with the downtrodden and criticized Him for doing so. Jesus response: 1. Mt. 9:12-13 2. Lk. 15:7, 10 E. God has destroyed chaos and created order and life. 1. He sent us Jesus to address the chaos in our personal lives, marriages, families, and friendships. 2. He destroys the chaos by giving us forgiveness and life. 3. He sent Jesus to sustain us after we receive life by continuing to strengthen & forgive us after we learn surrender, commitment, and service. 4. He is a God who works with us in the chaos of our lives. III. We should rejoice about these facts! Phil. 4:4. A. Rejoice that God willingly gets His hands dirty! 1. Not only should we rejoice that God has gone to work in our lives… 2. But we now must be willing to share the good news of God & salvation w/anyone whose life is in chaos. B. God wants to use our lives to help others in chaos. 1. No person is too bad, no situation too hopeless if they respond in faith! 2. 1 Tim. 1:12-15. a) God can forgive any sin. Give hope to any life. b) God can liberate any person from evil through redemption. c) God can give spiritual life to any person. C. So as disciples of Jesus, we must put on qualities like Him. Lk. 6:40 1. Jesus loves people. Look at His life: 2. His heart, mind, and life were ruled by compassion & mercy. 3. He understood what kind of people needed compassion; mercy. 4. He was a servant. He did the dirty work. He did the repulsive work. 5. Jesus did not come to Lord His authority over people. Never thought of himself as prestigious. D. So what about us? Are we placing these qualities in our lives? 1. Are we concerned about reaching out to others? Anyone who needs the gospel? *Anyone?* 2. Everyone needs the gospel – but it is time to concentrate on those who are open to receive it. 3. Too often we try to teach those who will not listen and are not interested. a) Their minds are already made up. b) How many people are filled w/a sense of self righteousness? They are certain they had no problems, and needed no help. 4. And we think the gospel message somehow doesn’t work as well in today’s society. 5. Challenge: Let’s roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and take the gospel Conclusion: A. Is your life in chaos? Out of order? Is there a hopeless void? 1. YOU control the keys to your heart. Open it & let God in! 2. Don’t writhe around in your own agony! 3. Obey the gospel! B. Already a Christian? Surrender your life back to God! C. I N V I T A T I O N