Society & Influence

Hey,

Late again sorry, The Sunday just pass I went to church in the morning at my old church before heading back to Plymouth. The speaker was Andrew who spoke about society and influence.

 

When looking at society and it's influence, go back to when you were in high school and think about who was popular? What influence did they have? But is popularity important? No, Jesus doesn't care about being popular. He cares about everyone. Jesus sees us through his loving eyes and therefore he cares about different values and his care rests upon us. He chose us before the foundation of the world.

Matthew 9:9-11

"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow me,' he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, may tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

In the time this verse was written tax collectors were considered to be sinners as they went against their own people to collect money for those who wish. Jesus went to have dinner with Matthew who was a tax collector who was considered a sinner. This led to the question of influence; who was influencing whom? Jesus was influencing Matthew and not the other way around which lead to Matthew inviting Jesus to dinner to influence others. But there was also the influence of going to person B when you have a problem with person A. Anyone done that? In this case, the people had a problem with Jesus and went to his disciple trying to influence them to betrayal by saying 'look why is your teacher hanging with sinners.

Hearing this reminded me of a song by Casting Crowns 'Jesus, friend of Sinners'

Matthew 9:12-13

"On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill.' But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

What does healthy mean? Who are the healthy one? Those who know the truth?

John 9:39-41

"Jesus said 'For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see the those who see will become blind. 'Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, 'What? Are we blind too?' Jesus said, 'If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."

We are blinded because we are in denial of the truth. You have to be prepared to listen as Jesus came and basically said 'I am a doctor, I am here for anyone who knows you are ill, knows you are a sinner.

In this service, I came across many songs that I haven't heard in a while so I thought I would share them now;

Unchanging - Chris Tomlin

I will offer up of life - Matt Redman

The lord's my Shepherd - Stuart Townend

In prayer, Andrew spoke about how we are calling us into Jesus and drawing near to him. To tell the truth and live a life of honesty and humility as well as honesty in those who lead us whether that be world leaders in both home Country and away, Family, Business, Schools or Church. 

Please use the contact box to comment or ask questions,

Thanks for reading,

Amy x