I've Got Your Back Lord

In case your not aware of this Jesus had the most CUTTING EDGE ministry of his day. People everywhere were experiencing life change, being baptized, and following the Lord as a result of what He was doing. Here are some of the cool things Jesus was doing with His church that separated him from the religious organizations of His day...

1. Jesus focused on RELATIONSHIPS not RULES
2. Jesus didn't focus on how screwed up people were, He focused on what they could be
3. Jesus took time to live in COMMUNITY
4. Jesus attended events, and hung with people "HE WASN'T SUPPOSE TOO"
5. Jesus focused on GRACE AND TRUTH
6. Jesus MET people where they were
7. Jesus drew CROWDS
8. Jesus taught in COMPELLING and CREATIVE ways
9. Jesus GAVE freely, sacrificially, and unconditionally
10. Jesus focused on peoples HEARTS

And just when you think everyone would want to do what Jesus was doing, especially the "religious" crowd, just the opposite was true. It wasn't enough for lives to be forever changed, to see people baptized, healing take place and JOY to fill communities. And because it wasn't enough, Jesus' ministry came under attack. The religious people of Jesus' day who did not want to submit to the WORD OF GOD, or the GOD OF THE WORD did the same thing that many "religious" "Christian" people do today. When a person doesn't want to submit and follow authority they question it, buck it, and attack it.

MARK 11:27-28, "27 Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. 28 They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?”

Hey Jesus they said, WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO LEAD! Hey Jesus WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Hey Jesus, since WE DON'T WANT TO do things the way you do them, so we're going to kill you, your movement AND YOUR PEOPLE. Guess what they FAILED! GRANITE we do what we do because JESUS IS OUR AUTHORITY and has called us to a unique mission. And when that MISSION IS QUESTIONED, don't back down, Jesus didn't back down, he said he would answer them if they first answered a question He had. So here are a a few questions you can ask a naysayer...

1. Who have you led to Jesus recently

2. Whose small group are you in

3. How much money do you give to the Lord through the church

4. What ministry are you leading

5. Who are you discipling

6. How much money are you giving to feed starving kids in a communist nation

The truth is those who are too busy with the work, have a hard time being critical of the work. Those who have much invested in the work, become protective of the work. Those who have died to self and love for Christ realize its not about what I want, my comfort, or even my needs, because Jesus has my back. But the question is do I have His back, do you have His back, or are you QUESTIONING HIS AUTHORITY because your unwilling to pay the price! I'm all in Lord.