Matthew 11:13-15……Working

Matthew 11:13-15……Working

11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law  prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. (For Complete Expository Get the Book)

Extended Sermons

“Calls for embracing spiritual transitions, growth rarely happens in the places that stay the same” → God often moves us through seasons of shifting, stretching, and surrendering so He can shape us into who He’s calling us to become. Transitions are God’s way of releasing old patterns, to adopting new rhythms, and trusting God in unfamiliar territory. When we embrace transitions instead of resisting them, we position ourselves to experience renewal, clarity, and deeper obedience. Instead of resisting fearing transitions, recognize them as sacred spaces where God does some of His deepest work. Transitions are the places where God loosens our grip on what was, so He can prepare our hands for what will be. Maybe you need to transition from a check-box faith, to a grace-filled relationship with God. Maybe you need to move from trying to earn God’s approval through religious activity, to living in the confidence that you are already loved and accepted by Him. We move beyond a “I hope God is pleased with me” to “I know God delights in me because I belong to Him.” Maybe you need to move beyond collecting biblical facts, doctrines, and verses, to developing  a living and breathing relationship with God. It’s the difference between studying the map and actually walking the path. Maybe you need to transition from being a spectator in just going to church, to being a participant in God’s mission. Maybe you need to transition from managing appearances, to walking in honesty, repentance, and accountability. We move beyond “I’m fine” to “Lord I need help in overcoming this sin.” Maybe you need to transition from defining your faith by labels, traditions, or denomination, to defining it by your daily communion with Christ. We move beyond “This is the faith I grew up in”, to “This is the Savior I walk with.” Maybe you need to transition from spiritual apathy, that’s numb, distracted, and disengaged, to craving God’s presence, God’s Word, and God’s will. We move beyond “I’ll get to it when I can”, to “I can’t live without Him.”

“Calls for a less ridged and more flexible perspective in bible reading. (Will you approach scripture from more than just one angle.)” → A mind open to different perspectives is open to God’s instruction through the word no matter where it leads.  Obviously we still need to make sure those angles are theologically valid and biblically sound. But sometimes we limit the way we look at a Scripture, not because the Bible limits the passage, but because of some theological bias or our religious upbringing. Spiritual maturity grows when we allow Scripture to shape us from multiple directions: historically, contextually, devotionally, and personally. The more angles we’re willing to consider, the more clearly we see the heart of God.

Additional Notes & Applications

Calls for responding to what God is revealing, not what you expected Him to reveal. (Are you waiting for something more spectacular or dramatic before you respond and act)

Warns against allowing God’s Word to go in one ear and out the other.

Calls for seeing that we’re truly responding and acting on scripture  not just hearing it and then walking away.

Calls for slowing down in digesting God’s word,  rather than just reading it and walking away.

Calls for a faith that believes God’s word is still making progress even when we can’t see it in our lives or the world around us.