Forgotten Jesus- Great Commission, Antioch Church, April 7th, 2013

Forgotten Jesus – Great Commission

Antioch Church, April 2013

TEXT

Matthew 28 (NIV84) —16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Between the empty tomb & the Upper Room…

50 days between Passover and Pentecost

Luke opens Acts with statement that Jesus appeared to His disciples for a period of 40 days and spoke with them about the Kingdom of God.

Acts 1:1–3 (NIV84) — 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Five Great Totalities…

  1.     Jesus has been given ALL AUTHORITY (all power).

Through the resurrection, Jesus spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly.

Parable of the Minas – man went away to receive a kingdom, when he came back, faithfulness with each mina brought authority over an entire city. 

  2.     Jesus is sending us to ALL PLACES and ALL PEOPLES.

“Ethne”

The goal of creation and redemption is worship.

“Every tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation worshipping at the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

All places (across ocean or backyard fence) and all people = all kinds of people…!

Jerusalem  and Judea– those like us who are near to us.

Samaria – those near to us who are not like us

Ends of the earth – those like us and unlike us who are far from us

Jerusalem and Judea we will reach accidentally; Samaria and the ends of the earth will only be reached intentionally.

Cf. Abraham – “Every family on earth will be blessed through you and through your seed…”

Jesus called to be “missionaries of monotheism” among the nations, but because of the blessing of God on their nation and the needs in their own nation, they failed to go to the nations…! (Like some American Christians today…!) 

  3.     Jesus wants us to teach and train them in ALL THINGS

Where the Bible speaks, we must speak; where the Bible is silent, we must remain silent…!

This includes every aspect of the Kingdom....

  4.     Jesus promises to be with us ALWAYS

Will never leave us or forsake us! (Promise to us as people / friends)

He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…!

Will never leave off from helping us do what He has sent us to do (Promise to us as servants)

Faithful is He who calls you who also will do it!

To this end I labor according to His mighty power which works (labors) in me…!

Jesus sent out the 12 and then the 70, into every town and village where He was about to go…!  JESUS SENDS US WHERE HE IS ABOUT TO SHOW UP…! 

BIG IDEA

Jesus wants to send every one of us somewhere to someone. This is the reason we are alive…!

As we go to whoever Jesus is sending us to, He will go with us, work through us, and provide for us…!

BELIEVERS INVITATION

  1.     Where is God sending me?

  2.     Who is God sending me to?

UNBELIEVERS INVITATION

Jesus wants to reveal Himself to you the way He did to His disciples.

Are you willing to acknowledge that He has been given all authority?

Are you willing to discover the reason you are alive (His will for your life?)

Awaken-Drawing Near To God Through Prayer, January 13, 2013

TEXT

James 4:6–8 (NIV84) — 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

THE “BIG IDEA”

Prayer is simply a conversation with God, one that profoundly impacts our lives and the lives of others. God is listening, but also speaking, especially about His heart for those who do not know Him. 

VISION

·      As an Antioch Church, God wants us to bring multitudes of people to Jesus!

This is the first thing mentioned as a consequence of the founding of the church at Antioch in the New Testament!

Acts 11:19–21 (NIV84) — 19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

·      As followers of Jesus, God wants to use us to bring people to Jesus!

PERSONAL APPLICATION

God wants to use every one of us to help others come to Him. There is something unique and powerful about the story of our faith journey that will touch the hearts of those we share it with. Prayer is the starting point for us to be used of God in this way.

INTRODUCTION

Prayer is simply a conversation with God. It profoundly impacts our lives and the lives of others.

Here are two simple, yet very important questions to ask ourselves as we consider that statement.

·      He is listening. Are we speaking?

·      He is speaking. Are we listening?

Engaging in this conversation with God brings tremendous blessings to us and through us to others.

James 5:16 (NIV84) — 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

As we draw near to God, we sense the heart of God for those who do not know Him and He moves us to pray on their behalf.

As followers of Jesus, the most important prayer we can pray is for opportunities to share the Good News about Him with those who do not know Him!

The Book of James not only tells us that sometimes we have not because we ask not, it also tells us that in order to receive, we must ask according to the will of God (i.e., according to what God wants to do).

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV84) — 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

·      Prayer for the lost is never a matter of trying to convince God to do something He doesn’t want to do.

·      It is never a matter of trying to convince God to make someone else do what they do not want to do!

God’s attitude toward those who do not know Him is like that of a young man toward a young woman he wants to marry.

Prayer for the lost is not a matter of obligation but of cooperation  and participation with God in creating an environment conducive to their choosing to give their hearts to Him.

How should we pray for those who are not followers of Jesus?

1.     Pray for “doors” (opportunities).

Colossians 4:2–4 (NIV84) — 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Opportunities to speak, not just act.

Romans 10:14–17 (NIV84) — 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:14 (The Message) — 14 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them?

How can they hear unless someone speaks…!

Neither salvation nor witnessing are merely a matter of acting, both require speaking…!

The word of faith is in your mouth…with the heart man believes and is made righteous…with the mouth confession is made which brings salvation…!

We often hear it said, “Preach always, when necessary, use words.” Taken at face value, that statement is completely unbiblical…!

Now, I understand why like that statement and I understand what it is that prompted that statement, namely, that nothing is worse for the Gospel than for someone to profess Christianity without possessing Christianity or to try to win unbelieves to Jesus by talking the talk without walking the walk. But, nowhere does the Bible give us the right to just walk the walk and not talk the talk!

2.     Pray for sensitivity and boldness.

Ephesians 6:19–20 (NIV84) — 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

·      Pray for sensitivity to recognize opportunities.

·      Pray for boldness to seize opportunities.

Ø  Honeymoon - witnessing to night vendor at fruit  market.

3.     Pray for the right words.

Ephesians 6:19–20 (NIV84) — 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Pray that God will help you say the right thing during the opportunity.

4.     Pray for confirmation.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NIV84) — 1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

Pray that God would supernaturally attest to what you say through the sovereign working of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:5–8 (NIV84) — 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

INVITATION

1.     Do you want to know this Jesus who so desperately wants you to know Him?

2.     Are you wiling to pray for God to use you to tell others about Jesus?

Rise Up and Walk, Luke 5:17-26, June 3, 2007

Rise Up and Walk…! (Luke 5:17-26)

Hillcrest Church, June 3, 2007

Text

"¹⁵ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. ¹⁶ But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. ¹⁷ One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. ¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹ When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. ²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." ²¹ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" ²² Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? ²⁴ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." ²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. ²⁶ Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."" (Luke 5:15-26, NIV)

See also Mark 2 and Matthew 9.

Introduction

Text introduces several new things in Luke's Gospel:

· First mention of Jesus as the "Son of Man." (Underscores the way He operated in the miraculous – as a man anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit, i.e., "…the power of the Lord was present to heal.") Note: The presence of supernatural healing power immediately follows the reference to the private prayer life of Jesus…!

· First mention of the word, "faith".

· First mention of the Pharisees, who will become fierce opponents of the ministry and the message of Jesus.

1. As I follow Jesus, I will experience change.

Jesus and his followers brought about change everywhere they went…!

One of the biggest criticisms of Moses as a leader was the fact that he was instituting change ("leeks and onions"). When that spirit entered the people, not even divine provision could keep them from grumbling… (Manna).

One of his biggest challenges as a leader was how to process change in an orderly fashion ("only as fast as the very young and the very old could travel"). Try as he did, he was unsuccessful at leading them into the Promised Land, not because of a lack in his leadership, but because of their innate resistance to change.

This was the reason they experienced such fierce criticism, opposition, rejection, and persecution.

· Pharisees resisted stylistic change.

· Sadducees resisted sociological / social change.

· Scribes resisted theological change.

· Kings resisted political change.

· Merchants resisted economic change.

· Practitioners of the occult resisted spiritual change.

Jesus knew change was difficult, but He also knew change was sometimes necessary.

"No one who has tasted old wine wants the new…!" and "New wine will break the old wineskins and the new wine will be lost…!"

No human being likes change, but change is an important part of life, and change is an important part of following Jesus.

· I have changed since Teresa and I were married 23 years and about twice that man pounds ago…!

· When the Israelistes left Egypt for the Promised Land, only those who embraced change were able to cross over Jordan into their destiny. …!

Jesus knows my deepest thoughts.

Jesus cares about my deepest needs, even those I do not know I have (forgiveness as well as healing)!

Jesus is able to meet my needs today through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus loves me too much to leave me the way I am…!

2. As I follow Jesus, I will lead others to Him.

Jesus saw their faith…!

The four men (Mark's Gospel) had faith in Jesus. The paralyzed man had faith in them.

Here is how we lead others to Jesus:

· They must believe I love them..

· They must believe I want to help them.

· They must believe I speak truth to them.

· They must believe I believe in Him.

Here's how we should pray…

· Lord, lead me to someone who will listen to me.

· Lord, confirm my words through the Holy Spirit's power.

The authority (ἐξουσία [exousia /ex·oo·see·ah])^[1] and power (δύναμις [dunamis /doo·nam·is])^[2] of Jesus to work miracles proved His power to forgive sins. We still need supernatural proofs to establish the truth of the Gospel…!

3. As I follow Jesus, I will discover the true meaning of life.

· I live a supernatural life.

Miracles happen today.

· As I do what I must do, He does what only He can do.

Miracles never remove our responsibility for action.

· He meets needs through me that I could never meet on my own.

Miracles are given in response to legitimate human needs. (Needs-centered paradigm of spiritual gifts.)

invitation

1. Do you need to begin a personal relationship with Jesus?

2. Do you want to lead your friends to Jesus?

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^[1] 1849 ἐξουσία [exousia /ex·oo·see·ah/] n f. From 1832 (in the sense of ability); TDNT 2:562; TDNTA 238; GK 2026; 103 occurrences; AV translates as "power" 69 times, "authority" 29 times, "right" twice, "liberty" once, "jurisdiction" once, and "strength" once. 1 power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases. 1a leave or permission. 2 physical and mental power. 2a the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises. 3 the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege). 4 the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed). 4a universally. 4a1 authority over mankind. 4b specifically. 4b1 the power of judicial decisions. 4b2 of authority to manage domestic affairs. 4c metonymically. 4c1 a thing subject to authority or rule. 4c1a jurisdiction. 4c2 one who possesses authority. 4c2a a ruler, a human magistrate. 4c2b the leading and more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates. 4d a sign of the husband's authority over his wife. 4d1 the veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself. 4e the sign of regal authority, a crown. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 970, bia; 1411, dunamis; 1753, energeia; 2479, ischus; and 2904, kratos.See entry 5820 for comparison of synonyms.

^[2] 1411 δύναμις [dunamis /doo·nam·is/] n f. From 1410; TDNT 2:284; TDNTA 186; GK 1539; 120 occurrences; AV translates as "power" 77 times, "mighty work" 11 times, "strength" seven times, "miracle" seven times, "might" four times, "virtue" three times, "mighty" twice, and translated miscellaneously nine times. 1 strength power, ability. 1a inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth. 1b power for performing miracles. 1c moral power and excellence of soul. 1d the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth. 1e power and resources arising from numbers. 1f power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 970, bia; 1753, energeia; 1849, exousia; 2479, ischus; and 2904, kratos.See entry 5820 for comparison of synonyms.