{"id":1052,"date":"2018-09-09T15:59:10","date_gmt":"2018-09-09T22:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1052"},"modified":"2018-09-09T16:23:38","modified_gmt":"2018-09-09T23:23:38","slug":"the-most-important-evaluation-of-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/09\/the-most-important-evaluation-of-all\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Important Evaluation of All!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   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\tfont-size:11.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\"; \tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1052-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-16-09-09-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-16-09-09-18.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-16-09-09-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">September 9, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Mark 7:31-37<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Most Important Evaluation of All!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man\u2019s ears.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he spit and touched the man\u2019s tongue.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cEphphatha!\u201d<\/i> (which means, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe opened!\u201d<\/i>).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At this, the man\u2019s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>People were overwhelmed with amazement.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cHe has done everything well,\u201d they said.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cHe even makes the deaf<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>hear and the mute speak.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have you ever stopped to notice how often the process of evaluation plays a role in our lives?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When I was looking for a dentist in the Petaluma area I visited two dental offices.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It didn\u2019t take long to get an email from both of them asking me to fill out a survey evaluating various aspects of my visit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The same thing happened when I had a medical procedure done at Santa Rosa Memorial a few months back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The evaluation they asked me to fill out was even more extensive!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you go to McDonald\u2019s or Burger King, if you go to the Post Office their receipt usually has a link where you can go to evaluate how they did.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The flip side of that same coin reminds us of how often we are evaluated by others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you are in school or if you can remember when you were in school you know that students go through a number of evaluations.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time you take a test, every time you turn in a term paper, every time you receive a report card you are being evaluated.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For some people their employer may automatically evaluates them on an annual basis.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They are evaluated on things such as performance, attendance, communication and teamwork.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As much as the evaluation process is a regular part of our lives, we all understand that some evaluations are just more important than others, aren\u2019t they?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I don\u2019t want to sound disrespectful in any way, but evaluating how \u201cfriendly\u201d the server is when they bring you your hamburger and diet Coke does not seem as important to me as evaluating how our elected officials are doing so that we can vote accordingly.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As we turn our attention today to this portion of Mark chapter seven we have an opportunity to observe an evaluation that took place.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is an evaluation of Jesus and His work.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This morning, my friends, I would like us to study this text under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The Most Important Evaluation of All.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are two things we want to see this morning.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, let\u2019s see the evaluation that the people gave to Jesus here in Mark chapter seven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then, let\u2019s stop to examine what kind of evaluation we are giving to Jesus in our lives today.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">It\u2019s obvious from the opening verses of our text that the people in the region of the Decapolis had either seen\u2014 or at least heard about\u2014 the healing power of the Rabbi from Nazareth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, when they heard that Jesus was now in their area Mark tells us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201c\u2026some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Note the confidence that these people had in the power of Jesus.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbegged\u201d<\/i> Jesus to simply place His hand on this man\u2014 fully expecting that this deaf man who could hardly speak would be miraculously healed!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What did Jesus do?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did He respond to their request?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Unlike so many of the so-called \u201cmiracle workers\u201d today who seem to seek the spotlight for themselves and crave the attention (and offerings?) of others we are told that Jesus took this man aside\u2014 away from the crowd, away from the spotlight.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To me this highlights the deep compassion and the personal concern that Jesus has for each individual who needs His help.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Could Jesus have simply placed His hand on this man and healed him?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Could Jesus have simply spoken the words, \u201cBe healed!\u201d and this man would have instantly been able to both hear clearly and speak plainly?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Of course!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What did Jesus do?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Mark tells us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cJesus put his fingers into the man\u2019s ears.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he spit and touched the man\u2019s tongue.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He looked up to heaven with a deep sigh and said to him, \u2018Ephphatha!\u2019 (which means, \u2018Be opened!\u2019).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At this, the man\u2019s ears were opened, his tongue was loosed and he began to speak plainly.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I think that the manner in which Jesus healed this man was directly related to the man\u2019s personal situation.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Imagine what it must have been like for this deaf man to be taken to see Jesus.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since he could not hear did this man even know where he was being taken and why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since he could not hear did this man even know what his friends were asking Jesus to do for him?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I think those are valid questions to ask.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I think that the fact that this man was deaf was why Jesus healed this man the way He did!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By putting His fingers into this man\u2019s ears Jesus was personally communicating to him what He was about to do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By placing some spittle (which in that day and age was considered to be a curative) on this man\u2019s tongue Jesus was personally communicating with this deaf man what He was about to do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And by looking up to heaven and sighing deeply Jesus was personally communicating with this deaf man that the healing he was about to receive was a miraculous gift from heaven!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">With that in mind let\u2019s focus on the main truth I want us all to take home with us today, name, what kind of evaluation did the people give to Jesus as soon as this man was healed?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Mark shares that evaluation with us when he says in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cPeople were overwhelmed with amazement.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u2018He has done everything well\/correctly,\u2019 they said.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u2018He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.\u2019\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The people\u2019s positive \u201cevaluation\u201d of Jesus is certainly not difficult for us to understand.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After all, they had just seen Jesus perform a glorious miracle!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, since the people had such a positive evaluation of Jesus, why did Jesus <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccommand them not to tell anyone\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The reason for this command, my friends, was due to the fact that Jesus did <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> want to be known or seen simply as a \u201cmiracle worker.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While Jesus\u2019 compassion for people such as this man led Him to heal their physical problems that is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> the main reason why our Lord came into our world!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Jesus\u2019 ability and Jesus\u2019 willingness to miraculously heal physical ailments such as being deaf or blind or mute were designed to reveal to the people that Jesus is the Messiah who came into this world to heal us of our spiritual problems\u2014 being spiritually deaf, spiritually blind and spiritually dead!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus\u2019 ability and Jesus\u2019 willingness to heal these physical problems were designed to reveal to the people that He is the fulfillment of what the prophets said the Messiah would do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Remember the words of Isaiah that we read just a short while ago, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThen will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy\u201d<\/i> (Isaiah 35:5-6a).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(On this point see also Matthew 11:1-6)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">All<\/i><\/b> of Jesus\u2019 miracles pointed to the fact that He <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">is<\/i> the eternal Son of God and this world\u2019s <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">only<\/i> Savior from sin.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As glorious, as wonderful, as awesome as it was that Jesus healed people such as this man here in our text, it all pales in comparison to the spiritual healing that Jesus the Christ, the long-awaited Promised Messiah, has secured for all people\u2014 including you and me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>From our vantage point as the New Testament children of God we are able to look back through the pages of Scripture and see the entire ministry of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In a relatively short amount of time we could sit down and read the Bible\u2019s account of Jesus\u2019 birth, His life, His death, His physical resurrection from the dead and His ascension into heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Over the course of just one worship service we are not only reminded of the amazing grace which led Jesus to take all of<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"> <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">our<\/i><\/b> sins and all of<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"> <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">our<\/i><\/b><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> <\/i>guilt to the cross (Pointing to the cross) where He endured the punishment that we deserve, but during the course of that same worship service we are assured that purely by grace through faith in what Jesus has done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">for<\/i><\/b><\/span> <span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">us His righteousness and His holiness are given to us as a free gift from God so that we can live forever in our heavenly Father\u2019s home!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we were asked to give an \u201cevaluation\u201d of what Jesus has done for us, all we would need to do is look up to this cross and we could certainly echo the evaluation that is recorded here in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe has done everything well!\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When you and I are sitting here in God\u2019s house surrounded by our brothers and sisters in the faith that\u2019s an easy evaluation to give, isn\u2019t it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But what about last week when we were out with our friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What about tomorrow when we are at work or at school or back to the regular routine of our lives?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What kind of \u201cevaluation\u201d of Jesus and His work do we express outside of this building?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Our evaluation of Jesus and His work includes remembering that now that Jesus\u2019 work of redemption is finished, now that God\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world is completely revealed right here in His holy Word, Jesus no longer commands us to keep quiet about who He is and what He has done!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now Jesus says, \u201cGo!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Go and make disciples of all nations by faithfully proclaiming My Word and by faithfully administering My Sacraments.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Matthew 28:19-20)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now Jesus says to us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth\u201d<\/i> (Acts 1:8).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now Jesus says to us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLet your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 5:16).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Hardly a day goes by, my friends, when we do not evaluate someone or get evaluated by someone.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is a regular part of our lives.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of that it is also not difficult for us to understand that some evaluations are simply more important than others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>With that in mind remember how that same truth applies to us as brothers and sisters of Jesus.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time we gather together here in the house of our God we are expressing our evaluation of Jesus and what Jesus has done for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time we place our offering on the altar of our Lord we are expressing our evaluation of Jesus and what Jesus has done for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time we follow Jesus\u2019 command and share our faith with someone else we are expressing our evaluation of Jesus and what Jesus has done for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time we stand up for the Truth of Scripture, every time we refuse to apologize when the world accuses us of being \u201cintolerant,\u201d every time we joyfully explain to someone that we are members of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">this <\/b>church because <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">this <\/b>church faithfully proclaims <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all <\/b>of God\u2019s holy Word\u2014 without adding to it or subtracting from it\u2014 we are expressing our evaluation of Jesus and what Jesus has done for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But let\u2019s not forget that perhaps\u2014 just perhaps\u2014 the most important evaluation of all is the one that is perhaps the easiest to overlook:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The way in which we live our life out there in the \u201creal world\u201d is indeed an expression of our evaluation of Jesus and what Jesus has done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for<\/b> us.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">My prayer this morning is that when you get home today you will find a little quiet time to sit down with a cup of coffee or a glass of juice and evaluate your evaluation of Jesus.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Evaluate your personal evaluation of Jesus and how that personal evaluation is made public in your life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, how would someone else describe your evaluation of Jesus by simply listening to how you talk and by watching how you live your life?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>May God grant that the cross of Jesus Christ will be so central in your heart and so central in your life that both your personal and your public evaluation of Jesus and what Jesus has done for you loudly and clearly echoes the evaluation recorded here in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe has done everything well!\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Pentecost-16-09-09-18.mp3\">Pentecost-16-09-09-18.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 9, 2018 Mark 7:31-37 The Most Important Evaluation of All! &nbsp; Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.&nbsp; There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1052"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1052\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}