15/10/2023
👨✈️Ministering: Rev. Nubert Omokhuale
📖Topic: Faith Without Work is Dead
🧾Text: Matthew 25:31-46, Psalm 23;1-6, John 10:27, James 2:14
Summary
When you say you have faith in God, it is the activities and actions that show that you have Faith. Abraham had faith in God, but what was his action? He obeyed God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.
Looking at the sheep and goat case study, you'll notice a difference between the two animals. Most times, the Bible makes use of sheep to paint a picture. Why? Sheep are meek and lowly, while goats are arrogant. This case study doesn't talk about the difference between unbelievers and believers. However, it's a distinction between the two categories in the church.
Difference between goats and sheep
Sheep follow the voice of their shepherd and trust him to lead them to food, water and safety. If they wander, which some do, the shepherd will go out and rescue them and bring them back to the safety of the flock.
While
A goat, however, doesn’t follow anyone. A herd of goats goes where it wants, and the goatherd follows behind
Jesus calls the sheep those who are “blessed by my Father” (25:34). Who are the blessed ones? The blessings of the beatitudes foreshadow Jesus’ teaching.
In verses 35-40, Jesus lists all these acts of kindness that the sheep showed to Him. He said that they fed Him when He was hungry, they gave Him something to drink when He was thirsty, they took Him in when He was a stranger, they clothed Him when He needed clothing, they took care of Him when He was sick, and they visited Him when He was in prison.
What a beautiful reality! We can please Jesus by the way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ! Further, we know that each and every one of us is so important to Jesus that He values the treatment of us like He values the treatment of Himself. How wonderful!
What is the result of obedience to Jesus? What is the result of living a life of faithfulness to God? What is the result of living out the good works that Jesus created us to live by the power of God’s Holy Spirit?
Well, jump back up to verse 34! The reward is for us to, “. . . inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
There will be some reward after this sorting, and it will be awesome.
Finally, . . .
There will be some condemnation (vv. 41-46)
This passage is pointing out a contrast. As there are sheep, there are also goats. As there is reward, there is also condemnation.