JESUS MY COVERING

Jesus: My Covering

INSTAGRAM: Jesus Pics

“Images of Jesus from the Gospel of John”

CONNECT Have ever been “caught in the act”?  I have.  I remember those times in elementary school, when you would break the rules, there was no time out, or missed recess, or even 'going to the office'; the teacher would march you up to the front of the room, bend you over, take that big paddle out, and in front of the class 'bust your britches'! What did you feel? Besides the pain in your backside, you felt shame.  Shame is always being dumped on us by the enemy and his hordes. Shame on you… You should be ashamed… For shame… Do people not have shame anymore?

TENSION Now, don’t misunderstand me; shame can be a tool to keep us from sinning.  If you have ever been in a situation where you have been ashamed, you certainly don’t want a repeat performance.  That is not the shame I am referring to.  I am talking about that constant feeling of condemnation and accusation that comes from the enemy that says you will never overcome that failure; you are good for nothing; you will never amount to anything.  Let me tell you, those feelings can totally debilitate you and severely limit your effectiveness in the work of the kingdom.  How do you deal with shame?

SOLUTION Jesus came not only to forgive our sin but also to cover our shame!

PRAYER

TEXT John 8:1-11 MSG Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.

The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.

The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.

Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”

“No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”

INSTRUCTION  John 8:11 NKJV She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

John 3:17 NKJV For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Why? They are already under judgement.

John 3:18-19 NKJV He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Jesus came to free people from judgment and condemnation!

Romans 8:1 NKJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…

God always convicts of sin. Satan always condemns. Conviction is specific and redemptive. Condemnation is vague and vindictive.

Condemnation and shame are fraternal twins. If you have one, you have the other. Jesus came to forgive our condemnation and cover our shame. Shame is a terrible thing; its goal is to humiliate us. God wants to humble us but the devil wants to humiliate us.

Psalms 44:15 NKJV My dishonor is continually before me, And the shame of my face has covered me,

Psalms 71:1 NKJV In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.

The Old Testament prophets spoke of a hope of living a life with no shame.

Isaiah 54:4 NKJV Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.

Isaiah 61:7 NKJV Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

Joel 2:26-27 NKJV You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.

So Jesus, knowing all of these prophecies, stands beside a woman who is in the most shameful circumstance, caught in sin, guilty as sin, condemned in sin.  What did He do? He covered her.  He did not condemn her. He stood between her and her accusers in the sight of all those gathered in the Temple, the dwelling place of God, that morning.

How did He cover her?

1.     He did not accuse her.

2.     He did not excuse her.

3.     He did not leave her.

4.     He lifted her.

INSPIRATION All of us have heard the verses from the Roman Road to salvation…

Few go on to the next verse:

Romans 10:11 NKJV For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Covering shame is part of salvation!

I Peter 2:6 NKJV Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

APPLICATION How can we work together with the Lord to cover shame in those we encounter?

1.     Don’t be an accuser.

Two ministries going on before the throne: intercession and accusation.

2.     Don’t be an excuser.

II Timothy 2:15 NKJV Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

“Cut it straight…”

II Corinthians 4:2 NKJV But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

3.     Don’t be a leaver.

Luke 15:1-2 NKJV Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Galatians 6:1-2 NKJV Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

4.     Be a lifter!

Psalms 3:1-3 NKJV LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the lifter of my head.

I Samuel 2:8 NKJV He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap…

ACTION STEPS

If you are feeling shame today, listen to God’s Word…

Psalms 32:1 NKJV Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.

Psalms 34:18 NKJV The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Psalms 51:17 NKJV The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

Isaiah 57:15 NKJV For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

RESPONSE

Luke 7:36-38 NKJV Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

HASTAG #NoShame

JESUS GOD OF POSSIBILITIES

Jesus: God of Possibilities

INSTAGRAM: Jesus Pics

“Images of Jesus from the Gospel of John”

CONNECT Franklin Graham: I want you to give them something to eat!

TENSION What would you do? That is exactly what the disciples faced in this next Instagram pic: Jesus, God of Possibilities!

SOLUTION Nothing is impossible with God!  He is the God of possibilities!

Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV) Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Mark 10:27 (NKJV) But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Luke 1:37 (NKJV) For with God nothing will be impossible.

PRAYER

INSTRUCTION This Jesus pic is in John 6. Two most well-known miracles: “Feeding of the Five Thousand”; “Jesus Walks on Water...

John 6:1-14 (NKJV) After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. ² Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  ³ And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

⁴ Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. ⁵ Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” ⁶ But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

⁷ Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ⁹ “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. ¹¹ And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

¹² So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” ¹³ Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

John 6:15-21 (NKJV) Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

¹⁶ Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. ¹⁸ Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. ¹⁹ So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. ²⁰ But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” ²¹ Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

John 6:53–68 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. ⁵⁶He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. ⁵⁷As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. ⁵⁸This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. ⁶⁰Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” ⁶¹When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶²What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? ⁶³It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. ⁶⁵And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” ⁶⁶From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” ⁶⁸But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Sometimes...

1.  God gives us an impossible task.

2.  God send us on an impossible journey.

3.  God requires an impossible commitment

APPLICATION

1.  When God gives us an impossible task, He knows what to do.

2.  When God send us on an impossible journey, He is there with us.

3.  When God requires an impossible commitment, He has the Words of Life!

INSPIRATION

Reasons for discouragement:

1.  Hardness of the way, Numbers 21:4 (NKJV) Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.

2.  Difficulty of the task, Nehemiah 4:10 (NKJV) Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.”

3.  The prosperity of the wicked, Psalm 73:2–3 (NKJV) But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. ³For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4.  Delay in fulfillment of our desires, Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Our response: Hebrews 10:32–39 (NKJV) But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. ³⁵Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ³⁶For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ³⁷“For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. ³⁸Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” ³⁹But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

ACTION STEPS

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 (NKJV) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Look for the way of escape!