It takes regular Scripture reading and prayer to attaingospel fluency. I reject these interpretations. Satan tested whether or not Job indeed signed by going after one line item on the sheet at a time. But we, being tenants in the house, can still open the door and let folks in and allow them to take thingseven though they are rightfully the property of the owner, and not us the tenant. It doesnt. He has laid out the simple plan of the gospel in a way all of us can live it and move it forward. Christian Church Sacramento & Rancho Cordova, CA. This is a stronghold, or the willful sinning or practicing sin described in Hebrews 10 and 1 John 3 (discussed later). He leads us and simply wants us to follow His leading. In Acts 11:15 and 16, what did Peter call this experience? Philippians 2:5-8, the single best discourse concerning the mystery of the incarnation, indicates that He voluntarily emptied Himself of His divinity and took on the form of a man. It is an ongoing cooperative relationship. Sharing your faith tells the world that you care about them. Satan knows full well that an unfruitful believer makes a mockery of the cross, denies the power of the Spirit to change a life, and makes the faith unattractive to outsiders. Be glorified. However he was a pretender who constantly sought to tha short-cuts. Nothing short of a radically transformed life brings God glory. Marcs solution is to get back to the model of the Early Church, when leaders led by example, not by charismatic personalities. Main Idea: Prayer is the hopeful expression of faith in the Son of Man. Prayer is the continual expression of Main Idea: The kingdom of God has come and is coming. Can it get any easier than this? Jesus Himself concluded that the greatest bottleneck to the fulfillment of the Great Commission is the lack of workers. That means you need to seek and find a disciple to whom you will cast the vision and continue spreading Gods glory. Sometimes they reluctantly sign up, almost as if they are doing their recruiter a favor. It forces us to take what He has imparted by the Spirit, and reduce it to human terms. Where were the armies? For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Introduction We submit to his authority. He is granted a foothold. Many believe and find the Gate, but few persevere to walk the narrow path unto fruitfulness. Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. We dont just have a building, we have a kingdom awaiting us. I personally believe that the early church had an advantage by not having the canon. According to 1 John 2:3-6, is someone who says they know Christ and does not obey His commands honest? Seeking, Finding, and Qualifying New Disciples. Be careful in targeting the churched. If day by day, we too easily justify our sin by saying, Ill quit when this pack is gone. Glory goes to Satan rather than God. For disciples caught in destructive lifestyles, teach them the difference between friends and acquaintances, and encourage them to temporarily disassociate with acquaintances who would inhibit them from refusing temptations. Many verses have been provided at the end of this text concerning truth and lies, and light and darkness. Let me ask youor rather, answer the Lord: have you counted the cost? All of you in that little house? 4. It is reported that 16,000 Muslims convert to Christianity every day, and 6 million Muslims convert to Christianity in Africa alone every year. We cant confess Him with our mouths and deny Him with our lifestyles. If we mobilized just a fraction of the reserves we have now (just 1 million saints)five years flat! Luke 3:23 tells us that His public ministry did not begin until He was about 30 years old. Inaction and disobedience is sin (James 4:17). 6 adults began meeting in May of 2011 for the purpose of glorifying God by making disciples. by Jeff Long | Jan 30, 2022 | Sermons & Talks. Journaling about what to read, as suggested, will be helpful in confirming their understanding of Scripture and in seeing that the Holy Spirit is teaching them and leading them into greater obedience. . Our freedom from sins power results in sanctification, which leads to eternal life (verse 22; notice the consistency with previous chapters: no sanctification means no eternal life). Read Mark 8:34-38 and Luke 14:25-33. What about your family? Required fields are marked *. And, thats how it is with Gods kingdom in this world. Then the unity of the allies is reestablished and loyalty to the King reaffirmed. 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:11-13). It all starts with you. The mentor leads him to obedience. In Jesus name, Amen. It is to bring the wayward person to repentance and restoration. As a result, we live our lives and design and execute our ministries with people in mind, rather than God. Are you ready to unleash the flood of laborers? Can we love Jesus and not obey His commands? Satan is still permitted to access those dark corners. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. All rights reserved. But there is no substitute for Gods Word. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. I know that these words can offend. And they tell lies about the good parent, designed to keep their allegiance. Would you surrender your title? It is the Great Commission. What keeps believers from sharing their faith? Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Just a little study of the beliefs of the very early church (Ante-Nicene writing) will show that for hundreds of years Christians obeyed the New Testament writings quite literally, with special emphasis given to Jesus teachings and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 through 7). Are you personally walking the narrow path of fruitfulness, doing the will of the Father and abiding in Jesus by obeying His words? Here in the West, we have the complete Bible and many, many other resources telling us what it all meansmaking us knowledgeable far beyond our ability to obey. Do these truths encourage us to sin more, or repent? We tend to work on ourselves for an extended period of time, slowly (and not so surely) improving ourselves. However, I want you to know that we all have been given opportunity for complete and total freedom from sins powerits just that we fail to receive it. If the disciple is taught Kingdom DNA (such as the centrality of Gods glory, total obedience, being a doer and not just a hearer, engaging on the mission immediately, everyone a soldier, wartime mindset, listening to God, holy living, Christianity as a way of life, complete freedom from sin, and so on) and sees another practice at church, they will be predisposed to adopt the lesser of the two. What was the theme of Philips teaching? We are living in the second-to-last scene of a great adventure. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16 THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,, 17 AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.. So what words in the Bible are the most important? Then Jesus pulls up in a stretched limo, opens the door and says, Hop in! If you dont have leaven, what you get will be dry, flat, hard crackers. However, even this can be stopped right here. As soon as you catch the vision, accept the mission, repent, obtain freedom from both the penalty and power of sin in your life, release strongholds, and are empowered by the Holy Spirit, you need to engage in the mission. I also recommend fasting one day per week, specifically for your disciple(s). This was a clear pattern in Jesus ministry and in the ministry of the Apostles. The best place to identify disciples is by ministering to needs in your community. However, I trust the Holy Spirit to finish where I have left off. without holiness no one will see the Lord, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age. Receive what is from the Lord to mobilize the Kingdom saints, and please overlook the eccentricities of my imperfect delivery. Read some of our stories here, Here you will find blogs geared toward the believers spiritual life and growing in grace. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway. It speaks about how by ourselves we are helpless. We are at war. Now, when the kingdom first began, it didnt have much of an influence on the Jewish religious leaders or on the nation of Israel. You and I, and this church are only one tiny piece of one leaf on that mustard plant. A radically transformed life can only occur when sins power is defeated entirely. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? Confused? Message This is your kairos moment. Now imagine the transformation: when we surrender to God, our repentance cleans the house through Christ. June 10, 2018. Paul made the case that the church must discipline sinners. Lord, speak to your people. Pray 15 minutes a day for a disciple. Pray and fast for a disciple. The first casualty of war is truth! INTRODUCTION: As we come to Gods precious Word today, I have titled todays message: Expansions. Now, there are some good types of expansion and some bad. (1 Corinthians 5). The next time you are struggling to share your faith with someone God places in front of you, remember that the benefits far outweigh the costs! Much of what I have presented here is not part of the institutional church DNA. Our allegiance and affections are sought to glorify one or the other. In Jesus name, Amen. In Luke 17:20-21 the Bible says, Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, Look, here it is! For example, in the Gospel of John the Holy Spirit was imparted to the disciples as a clearly distinct event prior to the baptism at Pentecost. Satan will work hard to keep them distracted with other affairs. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Most of us have been taught that if we enter the Gate, we are in. The apostle Peter preached that the resurrected Son of God is, (17:14 and 19:16). They become spiritual. This spiritual person never doubts, worries, or sins. They will sap your energy, effectively halting a disciple-making movement. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. Believers scream dont judge me, and God is merciful. I will not judge, but Gods Word, which all believers claim is inspired, authoritative, and their guide for all matters, will certainly condemn them. Most of us presume that because of Jesus divinity, He simply operated in, by, and through His own innate power. Text: 1 Chronicles 4:9 10 A stronghold is formed. There is a war raging on between God and His foe, Satan, for the hearts and allegiance of men. That the book gives us a very selective account history 400 years covered To have serious conversations with some people, you need to gain a certain level of trust. Sometimes we look around and grow despondent because Christianity seems to be waning. 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Chronicles 15:2-3, 2 Peter 3:9, Acts 1:8, Matthew 10:1-42, Matthew 28:18, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. If we were honest and looked at our hearts, we might even find that our ministries minister to us. God reveled in the glory given to Him through His righteous servant Job, even boasting to Satan. This passage reminds us that, in God's kingdom, we don't need more pretenders. In the Bible, how soon after repentance were people baptized? God is on the move and enlisting the willing. But, if we are faithful, there will come a day, when a few disciples are made who are making other disciples, who make other disciples, who make other disciples, and eventually, new churches are planted that start other churches. This points to the unbelieving peoples of the world that will benefit from Christianity, even though they are not Gods covenant people. Read John 14:16 and 16:7. Who did Jesus say He would send to the disciples after He went to the Father? Ask them what the Lord is speaking to them. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. It is a We have to think bigger than we have been conditioned to think. Therefore, Gods redemptive purposesbringing our submission and allegiance to our Creator rather than our deceiverare designed to restore deserved glory to God, not simply to give us a get-out-of-hell-free card. He will simply fill in what He wants you to give when He needs it of you. . We are dead to sin, having partaken in Christs death and resurrection. Let me explain. Write down a list of the most important things in your life (people, possessions, interests, goals, and so on). I think this disconnect can be traced back hundreds of years. http://www.nec.org.au/listen-to-a-sermon-series/kings-series/ Therefore, the cleansing is for past events, and future events still have a bearing on salvation. According to Acts 1:8, what would the disciples do when they received the power of the Holy Spirit? Don't take a passive approach. These folks are normally seekers, and eagerly digest these things. I want to tell people about Jesus perfect life. We will discuss the Scriptures demonstrating the reality of this scenario throughout the remainder of this dissertation. Yes, it truly is. Luke 7:28 I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.. If there was a single theme that dominated Jesus preaching, it was the kingdom. . Salvation Army. As your disciple-making movement unfolds, the sequence will likely be somewhat different, but the elements will be the same. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Your wealth? Christ ushered in the Kingdom. What if I said you would add 1,000 people this yearcould you handle it? Ask them about their prayer life and time in the Word. Well, lets read the parable of the wedding feast (a parable of the Kingdom) in light of this Scripture: But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes? And the man was speechless. To speak to and hear from God, for all of the saints, and to find disciples. He said that our righteousness had to exceed that of the Pharisees. In Jesus name, Amen. At that moment, we are holy (why in Scripture we are called saints, and NOT saved sinners). Develop a solid relationship based on mutual love and respect. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. Who in all creation has the power and authority to steal from God? For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Nothing short of a transformed and obedient life glorifies God. As you can see, the standards are much higher than taught today. . However, the Biblical basis for this argument is suspect. They were expecting the kingdom to come with a lot of pomp and fanfare. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They not only fail to promote the cause, they hinder it by serving the enemys commander. in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution - and it was not there. They dont understand that he is indwelt by God, and possesses eternal life! Life and death, heaven and hell, stand in the balance. Mark 4:26-29, Denomination: So I urge you to meditate on these passages with an open spirit. Further, John 16:7 says: But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. He promised He would send the Holy Spirit! Who among us does not eagerly desire such fruit? Be open to these folks meeting in different ways, not necessarily connected to your church. For the unchurched who have no knowledge of the Gospel, you would share concerning our fall into sin, our deserved punishment, Jesus incarnation, His death as payment for the penalty of our sin, and the resurrection as proof of His power over sin and death. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. You can see why it is so vital that all of our ministry efforts focus on the Lord and His glory, not on us and our plans. The Pharisees, along with everyone else, just assumed that the kingdom would be ushered in with great pomp and power and splendor. Lord, I pray that you will mobilize multitudes to get on the mission. Rather, my life and the Spirit must bleed into this text for you to catch this. Lord, empower your saints and embolden them for your mission. In John chapter eight, Jesus encounters a woman caught in adultery who stands condemned. In Jesus name. As you share your faith, trust God to save your friends and family in his timing. Gods grace has power to save if we walk by the Spirit. Methodist. This person has been prepared by God to reach their sphere of influence. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Christian leaders would do well to read this book and implement its principles into their ministries. It was only Marcs reputation for sincerity and integrity that compelled me to lay aside my concerns and take the time to read it. One at first, up to a maximum of about 10. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise. After much teaching of the Kingdom laws, Jesus commanded his listeners (which includes us): Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). 18 He said therefore, What is the kingdom of God like? He will expand His kingdom. Sharing is great!If You've been blessed by our sermon on 7 ways of advancing, expanding & building the kingdom of Godplease share it with your friends.Email them the browser link. However, it fails to bring God glory. A better figure would be each saint making 6 disciples per year; the Great Commission would be fulfilled in just 13 years starting from scratch. So does the freedom from sin grant us eternal life, or is it the holiness derived from the freedom from sin that grants us eternal life? Fellowship in homes? These folks do not carry the vision to the next generation (and if they did, it would be the wrong DNA). People need Jesus. . It is much easier to read a foreign language than to speak it. Not my words, his. We think if only we had a Christian as the President. (Acts 10:38 emphasis added). This is for ALL believers. What book of the Bible was written to so that the readers can know they have eternal life? Do they know that they are asked to surrender everything to God for the mission? We Charismatic. Does not the Spirit within you leap with these words? The kingdom influences slowly and steadily. We are very near to the end, and the mission is at hand. Be sure to avoid the temptation to itemize the sins they will have to give upjust go for unconditional surrender. He also says if you have one ounce of worldliness, you do not know God. We must learn from this analogy. Thomas Jefferson"I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. Jesus Himself simply took on 12 and circumstantial evidence suggests Paul took on less than half that number. So the reader can know they have eternal life. 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