How do you tell if someone really believes something? Let’s say you were asking people on the street questions like, "What do you believe?", "What are you willing to do for the Kingdom of God?" or "Do you follow Jesus"? Then they answered you by saying that they did and they told you they would do anything for Christ. How would you know if they really believed?
The answer is if they actually do it. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we say one thing but we don't end up doing it. For instance let’s say Chelsea asks if I would go up to the store and will I pick up dinner? Me being a dutiful husband would say well of course yes I will. However in my travels I end up getting sidetracked at a new electronics store and I don't end up going to the store. In the meantime Chelsea may say to Kaleb will you go up to the store and get something for dinner and he may say no way I'm too busy. I don't want to do that tonight. Then he goes on a bike ride and it turns out he did go to the store and bought what she wanted.
Which one do you think really did what she wanted? Which one of us fulfilled her desires and wishes for dinner that night? Well it wasn't me I said I'd do it but I didn't. Kaleb said he wouldn't but he did. See this story that I just told you is actually a biblical story reworked. It is the parable of two sons found in Matthew 21:28-31. It goes like this, “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. Matthew 21:28 “But give me your opinion: a man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 He answered, ‘I don’t want to’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to his other son and said the same thing. This one answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they replied. “That’s right!” Yeshua said to them. “I tell you that the tax-collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you! (Complete Jewish Bible).
Now that's an interesting teaching because we don't think of the tax collectors and the prostitutes as people who are going to go into the kingdom of God because by their behavior they're saying no I'm not interested in the kingdom of God. However, they end up going into the kingdom of God because of their obedience. At the same time there are people that are saying, “I will obey you and I will do all these things but they don't. The key there is actually doing it and taking action. We can talk all day long about what we believe, what we are willing to do and how much we love God but it really comes down to will we be obedient? Will we do it?
That's the litmus test. In Philippians chapter 2 we see that Jesus humbles himself and he is obedient even to death. He is obedient even if it costs him everything. My friends this is what being a disciple is all about. This is what it means to follow Jesus. It is not lip service that we want to pay to him or to others. It is an obedient heart. It is a faithful heart. A heart that is given over to his will. To demonstrate his will not with lip service but by what we do in our actions. Our goal is to become like Jesus who is obedient even to death.
I love this reading of the parable of the two sons and I challenge you this week as I challenge myself to take a look in the mirror and ask which son are we. Now ideally it would be better to say yes and then do it let our yes be yes and let our no be no and let us live a life that is filled with integrity. That tenacity that we will do what Jesus has called us to do even as Philippians says even if it costs us our life.
Pastor Jeremy
Coming Up At Mount Carmel
PLNU Summer Ministry Team BBQ:
This Friday June 8th from 5:30-7:30 at Hilltop Park we will be sending off Kathy and her Summer Ministry Team to go be missionaries to our youth at camps all around our region. Please plan to come so that we can have plenty of people there to have a great time of sending for them. The church will be providing hamburgers and hot dogs. Please bring a side dish/dessert/drinks to share.
Wednesday Food Sign up:
Here is a question for everyone, why don’t eggs tell jokes... cause they’d crack each other up!
If you want to see the answer just highlight the blank space above.
Okay one more...
Q: What did the baby corn say to its mom?
A: Where’s my pop corn?So speaking of food and Bible Study, we would love for you to join us on Wednesday for dinner and Bible study. If you enjoy our time together please also consider inviting your friends. The more we have the merrier it will be. To make sure we have everything we need, here is the link for this week Wednesday, June 6th. To sign up for next week, please use the following link: Wednesday, June 13th.
Kyle Kirby’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor:
THIS Saturday, June 9 at 4:00 pm. The Kirby family would like to invite the church to celebrate this important milestone that Kyle has achieved. The celebration will be held at the church.
Wednesday Night Small Groups Family Meeting:
On Wednesday, June 13 during our dinner portion of the evening, we'll be having a meeting to figure out what the plans are for our Wednesday night group during the rest of the summer. Please plan to attend, so we can hear from everyone about this topic.
Missions Focus for Month of June:
This month, we will be focusing on the thousands of lives that are transformed through the work of the Holy Spirit and World Mission Broadcast (WMB) programs. WMB began as the Nazarene Radio League in 1944 and has expanded to a global network of programs contextualized for listeners and viewers around the world.
WMB programs are produced in multiple languages and countries. The bulk of the ministry’s work in 2017 is taking place on the Asia Pacific and Africa Regions. However, new work in the Mesoamerica, South America, and Eurasia Regions is in process.We will be receiving an offering for this portion of the mission field the last two Sundays of June, so make sure you bring your check book, or give online.
Offering:
To all those who give during out service or online, THANK YOU!!! The money you give goes to helping our community and the global church. If you missed giving this week, just visit our giving page here and give online.
We also are set up to receive Faith Promise through our online giving here just make sure that you select Faith Promise instead of general offering.
Tithing is a discipline that will strengthen your faith and the church cannot function properly without your support. If you consider Mount Carmel your church home, please pray about being obedient to the Lord in this way.
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