February 24, 2013 – Pastor Tim – “The Impression” – Click to download
John 14:9, Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Jesus was about the Father’s work. How could you spend anytime with Jesus and not see the imprint of the Father? Jesus was obviously committed to having a close relationship with His disciples and friends. But no matter how hard they tried, most of the time, the disciples just didn’t understand Jesus. They couldn’t get past the physical Jesus. John 13:31-35 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” The world does not understand theology or dogma, but it understands love and compassion. A loving act may be more powerful and far-reaching than the most eloquent sermon. Jesus is our best friend. He died to prove it. We need to open ourselves to that idea…connect.
John 15:11-17, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. The disciples didn’t understand that the true friendship wouldn’t start until after he was nailed to a tree.
Oswald Chambers said, “The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way, because the last abyss of his nature has been satisfied by Jesus. The only impression left by such a life is that of the strong calm sanity that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.”
Psalm 73:28, “But it is good for me to draw near to God;?I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,?That I may declare all Your works.”
We can tell what kind of impression God has made on us by the impression we make on others.
Jesus exists in the moments we offer ourselves to others.
- Jesus is there when you say “hello.”
- Jesus is there when you put your hand on the shoulder of a friend.
- Jesus is there when you offer a look, a word, an e-mail or a letter of encouragement.
- Jesus is there when you point to their art, help with homework, watch them play sports.
- Jesus is there when it would seem that you have every right to go off on somebody and choose not to!
- Jesus is there! Proverbs 18:24, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly,?But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
James 4:8a, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”