To Be, or Not To Be? (2)
Notes
Transcript
To Be, or Not To Be...?
To Be, or Not To Be...?
Prayer:
God, show me the way to the cross.
It is still hard to understand why the Son of God would let mortal men condemn Him to such a horrible death. What love you demonstrated in that act!
Show me how to demonstrate that same love to the world’s needy. Give me your power…to do your work…as I set out on your mission.
Help me to understand who you are. Help me to be and do what you want me to do. Give me eyes to see the world…to see people…as you see them.
I will take up my cross and follow you…even into death. Amen.
Last week, we talked about becoming “Committed Christians”.... We spoke about what “commitment” to Christ means…what it looks like… and how that commitment is something that absolutely astounds the world!
Because a —
Commitment to Christ is more than simply “believing” in Jesus, it is faith that leads us to a life that astounds normal human life, and leads us to the lowest places, for the Glory of God.
But… What does that mean?!
It means that EVERYTHING we do is meant to bring glory to God!!!!
You want purpose in your life? That - is - it!!!
Our lives…our words…our deeds…are not meant to point people to this world.... They are not meant to point people to worldly philosophies…ideas…works.... They are meant to point people to God!
M.P. — Christ has committed His Kingdom Work to His Disciples.
That’s us!!!! For better, or for worse!!!!
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.
Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Do you see what’s happening here?
Jesus has called the twelve — His inner circle — those men whom He has invested himself in — and commissioned them to carry on the Kingdom work.....
He has called them into something they have not done before.... Think about it....
“Up to this point, the disciples have been observers — learners” — Ken Heer
Jesus has called them to end that! To stop standing by and “observing”.... sitting in a pew if you will.... and to “Go”..... Participate in the Kingdom work.....
No longer are they to “stand by” and “watch,” NOW they are to “GO” and “DO!”
Jesus called them to Him and said, “Alright guys....You’ve stood by and watched enough. It’s time to make a choice.....”
“To Be, or Not To Be?”
“Are you going to just sit here and ‘pretend’ to be my disciple, or are you going to ‘step up’?”
Do you see what Jesus is asking them to do?!
He is telling them to “step out”..... To “step out” of their comfortable places....and to join Him in the work of the Kingdom!
He is asking them to “step out” of their “comfort zone,” into His “itinerant lifestyle” in order to proclaim the Gospel.
We talked about this last week.....
An “itinerant lifestyle” is a lifestyle that understands that this world is temporary..... It is a powerful lifestyle, because it is temporary.... Do you understand that?
The power of Christ is enacted in our lives when we understand just what Christ’s lifestyle does for us..... Christ came to set us free, amen?!
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
An “itinerant lifestyle”…Christ’s lifestyle… is one that understands that Suffering, Persecution, Oppression,.... are temporary, BUT… the Kingdom of God is eternal!
Do you see the power in that?
We can face absolutely overwhelming suffering and tribulation, and walk out of it with our heads held high…when we understand that it is temporary.
Oppression is temporary....
Suffering is temporary.....
Disease is temporary....
(For the Christian) Death is temporary.....
Because we have the promise of God! We have the promise of eternal life.... We have been given true life.... true freedom....true purpose!
Absolutely nothing can stand against that!
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This world is temporary! (Say that again with me)
Have you ever noticed that when God calls us....When Christ asks us to do something.... it is never to the comfortable....to the familiar?
The idea that God has “already” gifted you for what he called you to be, is a lie!
If that were true, then the disciples would have remained fishermen!
When God calls you, He calls you out of the familiar, and into the uncomfortable!
He called Abraham out of Family....out of his hometown...out of the “familiar,” comfortable “worldly” religions of his childhood....and into the service of His Kingdom....
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
He called David…out of his family....out of his childhood....out of the comfortable, familiar life of simple shepherd boy....to be king!
I am pretty sure that Abraham and David were not comfortable with God’s call....
And I am positive that the disciples were not comfortable here!
But they answered the call.
Because they understood....
When God calls, He empowers us for the work He has for us.
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Jesus has proven His authority — over disease, over demons, and over nature.... There is no doubt in His power and authority, and He gives that authority to His Disciples.....
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
Why?! What was the purpose of empowering them?
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Healing was not their primary purpose..... Casting out demons was not their primary purpose..... The purpose of being given the power to do those things..... to heal diseases....to heal hearts.... to cast out demons and stand in the face of satan himself.... had one purpose only..... to open doors for the gospel!
Let me tell you..... If your service to the Kingdom ends with the physical, or focuses solely on the physical…then you are not working for the Kingdom!
The Disciples were sent out to “Proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
Christ proclaimed His mission:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Christ commissioned and empowered them to carry out His mission in areas He would not be going.....
Church — We are called to the same purpose!
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
M.P. — Christ has committed the work of the Kingdom to His disciples.
To us!
What are we going to do with it?
Christ has given us a purpose — as a church, and as individuals..... Are we willing to invest our lives to that purpose? Are we willing to do what ever it takes to fulfill it?
Hear this — Fulfilling Christ’s purpose REQUIRES commitment!
He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.
Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
“To Be, or Not To Be?”
Look at how crazy this is! Christ tells them to take nothing....no clothes…no blankets…no tent…no money...no means of comfort…no means of self-reliance...
Why?
Because Faith in God is essential.
Let me tell you something — Not once…in all of history…has God failed to provide for His people! Not once!
We can trust Him.
The disciples had to learn that. They had to learn that they could trust God for their sustinance…and…for the message....
They had to learn that it wasn’t their message…or, their rejection.... It was/is God’s.
The same is true for us.
We must learn to trust God completely..... To make Our Home in His Home.... We have to learn that we can trust God.... not to do things “our way”, but His.....
Think about that..... Why do most people struggle to trust God?
They want things done “their way.”
God never does things “our way.”
God will never fail us! Nor will He ever leave us!
We have to understand that..... And we have to understand that rejection of the Gospel is not a rejection of us… it is a rejection of God.
Jesus tells us this in....
You will be hated by all because of my name.
Look at:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
Now… Let me ask you this:
If Jesus gave us “all the power and authority that is His,” why don’t we experience it in our lives? Why don’t we see miraculous healings when we lay hands on the sick? Why don’t we see deliverance from demonic oppression? why don’t we see instant, powerful answers to our prayers like they seem to have witnessed in scripture?
Because.....
The “power and authority” can only be experienced in our lives when we “commit to the Kingdom Work.”
To Be, or Not To Be?
We are called to be a Kingdom of Priests, Amen?
but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory.
but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Christ made us into a kingdom of priests....
What do Priests do?
They serve.... they serve God.... they serve the people.... they act as mediators, between God and people..... In other words, they witness God, and proclaim both who He is, and who we are.... They are witnesses of the Kingdom to the world...
God’s vision for us is to KNOW HIM and to MAKE HIM KNOWN!
You want to know the vision for Bonham Community Church? That is it!!!!!
We exist for two things and two things alone.....
To KNOW Christ!
And to MAKE HIM KNOWN!
In other words — to BE discipled, and to MAKE disciples!
The question is — Are we willing to commit to that vision?
To Be, or Not To Be?
We need to understand and commit to the FACT that Christ sent us too!
The Kingdom WILL NOT be built until Christians let go of the world, and COMMIT to the CROSS!
It takes us all....
We are ALL called to share Christ with the world!
Let me tell you — If you are a professed Christian....if you call yourself “redeemed”....if you have received salvation...... Then it is not about you anymore!!!!
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
This is a question for us all — Are we willing to commit to the purpose to which God has called us? Will we surrender? Or will we continue to fight against Him?
To Be, or Not To Be?
Most of us make excuses when God calls..... “I’m not special....I’m not educated.... I’m not skilled.... I can’t...... I’m just ordinary.....”
Guess what? These men were too!
Jesus didn’t choose them because they were rich....highly educated…or famous....
You see.... We tend to think that we have to be those things in order to make a difference...... Thank God that isn’t true!
If it were, I wouldn’t be standing here before you today!
“Most people won to Jesus are won by ordinary people....” People like you and me.... People who heard God’s call.... People who simply realized that they were sent by God, and that they had God’s power and authority to step into the lives of people and make a difference....
King Duncan once said (and no he was not a real king, he was a pastor): “There are reasons why God wouldn’t want you and me to serve Him, reasons having to do with our various inadequacies. However, we’re in good company:
— Abraham was too old.
— David was too young.
— Moses stuttered.
— Hosea’s wife was a prostitute.
— Elijah got depressed.
— Noah got drunk.
— Jacob was deceitful.
— David was an adulterer and a murderer.
— Naomi was a poor widow.
— Sampson had long hair.
— Elisha had none.
— James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on some Samaritans who denied Christ.
— Peter was afraid of death.
— and Thomas doubted the resurrection.
— But God used them all, and God wants to use us!”
Let me share with you King Duncan’s story:
*King Duncan once pastored a church in the hills of east Tennessee. For 18 months, the average attendance was four. Sometimes there were six. And on Easter, there were seven, because of an old gentleman named Claude, who only came on Easter Sunday.
*But one time Claude came on another Sunday. And about halfway through the sermon Duncan saw a tear running down Claude's face. After church, Duncan went to Claude, and asked if he wanted to talk. Claude looked at his pastor and said, "Preacher, things aren't going to be like this around here anymore."
*Duncan didn't think much about it. But when he drove up the next Sunday, the parking lot was filled with cars, and the church was filled with people! They had 58 people in Sunday School that day!
*Duncan asked Claude where all the people came from. And Claude said, "Preacher, I know these hollers up in here better than you. I went to some families that I knew didn't go to church and I asked, 'If I came up here Sunday morning and picked up your children, -- would you let them go to Sunday School at our church?' And every once in a while, someone would say, 'Claude, you don't have to pick up my children, I could bring them.'
*And then I went to older people that I knew, shut-ins, and I said, 'If I came after you Sunday morning, would you come down to our church?' And every once in a while someone would say, 'Claude, you don't have to come after me, my daughter could bring me down there.' And, preacher, this is what happened." (3)
Church....the Kingdom will not grow without you!
People’s lives will not be changed without you!
The Gospel will not be proclaimed without you!
We need more people like Claude…more people who realize that we are sent by God.... that we are called to be ministers…priests…to share the Gospel with everyone God places into our path...
That doesn’t mean that we simply “have compassion and love for them” and “take care of their needs” even non-believers do that.... It means that we share what the world can’t!
We share the Gospel!
Church — If our “works” and with “compassion” and physical care, then we fail!
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Our compassion…Our benevolence… Our care for the “widows and orphans”… are meant for one thing.... to open the door for the Gospel!
*King Duncan’s church was totally transformed, because a 78-year-old man realized that we have been sent by God. And all of us need to be more like Claude, because Jesus sends us.
God has called you.... God will empower you.... If you call yourself a disciple, God expects you to “GO” and to “SHARE” the Kingdom with the world.....
Will you?
Will you choose to be, or will you choose not to be what God has called and empowered you to be?