Acts 1:8b
Anchored and Moving Forward with a Heart for the Lost
Two
weeks ago on the first Sunday in 2010 we started a study in the book of Acts
the better part of this Year!
A)We are calling this Study
in the book of Acts the Revolution
Aa) if you follow media trends you know that Revolution is sort of a buzz word in and out of the Church right now -
B)It seems that everyone is
using that word!
C)The reason I picked the
phrase Revolution as the title of our
study in the book of Acts is not because I think we need to
start a Revolution
1)Or that the world is in
need of some
New REVOLUTION
See
Jesus in the first Century AD started a REVOLUTION that continues to this
Very Day!
LOVE REVOLUTION
A)It started when He died on
the Cross technically it started with his birth God invaded a world that was run by
Satan.
B)Jesus came
to rescue man and redeem the world back to Himself
1) [Christmas
series The Invasion] Baby Jesus
in Military Fatigues
C)But the Revolution went
into full force when Jesus died on the Cross in AD 32 and Rose again 3 days
later to Destroy the works of the Devil.
D)That revolution continues to this very day and Jesus works by His Holy Spirit IN & THRU the life of His Church.
1)Our need IS NOT a New revolution but to simply make sure
that we are a part of the Revolution Jesus began
E)A Revolution marked by
loving others more than we love ourselves
1)Marked by lives empowered
by the Holy Spirit living in a Dark world
F)Are we a part of the Jesus
Revolution ?
Now
last week I also mentioned that we are going to divide the book of Acts into 4
different sections See book naturally does this.
A) Chapters 1-5
Focus on the beginnings of the early Church. Anchored and moving forward.
Chapters 6-10 The Power of a
Pure Gospel The
spreading of the gospel to other areas.
Chapters 11-19 The Power of Living for a Mission what happens when we lay down our personal agenda and
pick up Gods.
MAJOR
SHIFTS IN THE THINKING OF THE CHURCH.
Chapters 20-28 The Power of Absolute Surrender focus is on Paul in which
we will examine the impact of one life completely surrendered to God.
This
first section we are calling Anchored and moving forward. That Phrase is sort
of an Oxymoron.
A)Oxymoron: Two opposites
that we put together really dont fit but somehow make sense to us. EXAMPLES
Open Secret
Picture: Act
naturally
Found
Missing
The Larger
half
Now- Then
Unbiased
opinion
Genuine
imitation
Anchored and
moving Forward.
B)We hear the term Anchored
and we think Planted/ still stopped/ secure
1)But in Rock Climbing
Anchored is a Key for moving forward climbing higher
C)That
is where we find the early Church in Acts 1-5 Anchored in their faith in the
Person of Jesus Christ Convinced Messiah the Lord
1)Ready to die
D)And because of that they
were moving forward to carry out the mission that Jesus had commissioned to
them
E)Last time: Focus Moving
forward dependant upon the Holy Spirit.
Today:
Anchored and moving forward with a heart for the Lost! Once again Acts
1:8 Read
Verse
A)One of the things that the
early Church clearly understood that we often forget is that THEY WERE SENT ONES.
B)I asked you to turn to Mark 11{ This is the last week of His earthly life
prior to going to the Cross
C)Triumphal entry Jesus
makes his way to the temple finds that there is a swap meet going on there
temple courtyard { Watch what happens
15 So they came
to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who
bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to
carry wares through the temple.
V.17
He gives an explanation of why he did this:
Then
He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a
house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of
thieves.'"
Now there is
debate as to what Jesus was
angry about- why he would be so incensed
that they were doing this.
A)Some say Jesus doesnt
want us selling things in the Lobby that is
the issue.
Aa)Churches can go overboard
on this but- I dont think that was the issue
B)Others
say it is about Prayer: Jesus was upset because He wants the temple to
be a place of prayer and they werent praying
C)Use
this text to say: The Church needs to be a place of prayer and Jesus
gets upset when we are not praying.
Now
it is true that Jesus wants His people to be a praying people.
A)Prayer mark of intimacy
mark of dependency
B)And there are other
passages that teach us the importance of prayer as a part of the body of
Christ,
but I dont think that is
the primary meaning of this passage or the reason why Jesus was do upset.
C)So
what was Jesus so angry about ? I think the key is in the verse that he
quoted. Isaiah 56:7
1) The temple was to be
called a house of prayer for all nations.
D)The idea of the house of
God being a place for prayer is found all over the OT.
E))But there is only one
place in the OT where the phrase a house of prayer for ALL
NATIONS is used Isaiah 56:7
And
it is that passage that Jesus chose to quote on this particular occasion
which means the key is in the phrase for all
nations
A)He quote from Isaiah 56 a
passage that is all about Gods desire for the foreigner to be able to come to
him and meet with him at the temple.
Aa)Gods plan of Evangelism
in the OT was simple He said build me a temple and I will live there and let the other nations come to me there
B)Those who were seeking me
could come and meet with me there.
C)But over the years that
message had become completely corrupted
1)And by the time that Jesus
came on the scene the Jews were completely hoarding the temple
D)They
said: If you are a Eunich you cant come a woman sorry
Handicapped nada Gentile
NO WAY
A Tablet was found at
Herods temple with this warning No Gentile may enter within
the railing around the sanctuary and within the enclosure. Whosoever should be
caught will render himself liable to the death penalty which will inevitably
follow.
The
Jews completely missed Gods heart and plan for them to be a light to the
others nations.
A)OT model of Evangelism was
to be You bring the lost to the temple and they will find me there.
B)The N.T. model is SENT
ONES
C)Christ doesnt dwell in a
temple!
1)He says we are the temple
D)He lives now in believers.
He is sending us to the world.
Last
week we looked at John 20 Turn Disciples were first born again and indwelt w/
the Holy Spirit.
John
20:21-22
21 So Jesus
said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send
you." 22 And when He had said
this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
The
Father sent me I am sending you!
A)You now be the temple
you be the place where sinners can meet with God.
Aa)I will live in you
through my Holy Spirit and you take me to them!
B)NT
plan of Evangelism God sent His son and now the Son sends His
disciples.
C)The New Testament is a
SENDING STORY!
Did Jesus understand that He
was sent? Exercise
John 5:23
He who does
not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent
Him.
John 5:24
"Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life.
John 5:30
I can of
Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I
do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
John 5:36-37
But I have a
greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to
finish the very works that I do bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37
And the Father Himself, who sent
Me, has testified of Me.
John 6:29
Jesus answered
and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
John 6:38-40
For I have
come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but
should raise it up at the last day. 40
And this is the will of Him who sent
Me, that
everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I
will raise him up at the last day."
John 9:4
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day;
John 17:3
And this is
eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
You have sent.
Yea
I would say that I think Jesus was really Clear about the fact that He was sent
A)But on that same night
Jesus introduced the 2nd part of the NT plan of Evangelism John
17:15-18
John 17:15-19
I do not pray
that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from
the evil one.
Note
Jesus doesnt pray that we be taken out of the world
A)That is what some
Christians seek to do Take themselves out of the world
B)Work with Christians
live in a neighborhood full of Christians
1)Groceries Christian store
Gas
../ Restaurants
C)Jesus said I didnt pray
that you would take them out of the world - Safe
16 They are not
of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also
have sent them into the world.
John 17 is easy to outline:
We
are called to be in the world,
but
not of the world,
because
we are sent to the world.
This
was to be the Christian life 2,000 yrs ago and it is to be the Christian life
today.
Fictional Story: Jesus returns to heaven after Rez talking to the Angel Gaberial
people were rough on you werent they yes
Didnt get what you came to
do No
How are you going to reach
them What your plan
See those 12 men that is
my plan those guys Plan B
That
is a fictional story but the point of it is True The Plan of Jesus for
reaching the world is through ordinary pp like you and me
A)Misfits, uneducated, un
articulate, dysfunctional
B)Here is how we can respond
to the Plan There is NO Plan B- wow that is a lot of pressure on me
1)I dont know feel
burdened
C)Or you can look at it this
way! There is no plan B
D)The ways of God are
perfect and true He is the only wise God.
1)This is exciting If I
let Him God will do something with my life that I could never imagine.
D) Sent us into the world
in it but not of it and the Goal is not Survival
God wants to use me Lord
here I am send me - 12 nations shared with 10s of thousands - never imagine shy introverted guy Only 1 year of college{
God would do that with.
Begins
with a Change in our mindset Understanding that we are sent ones
Turn John 4:32-35
Jesus John 4 shares with the
women at the well the disciples come back here is your food - John 4:32-37
32 But He said
to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." -
33 Therefore
the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to
eat?"
34 Jesus said
to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His
work.
Jesus
wants us to experience that same thing to be spiritually satisfied by doing
what He has called us to do.
Being Sent ones How do I
know notice how it continues you
35 Do you not
say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to
you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for
harvest! HARVEST IS NOW!
See
People as a Ripe Harvest: Vista High / Camp Pendleton/ Gym
A)If you are a Disciple of
Jesus you are called to be sent ones
B)If we are the church of
Jesus we will be a sending Church
What
does that look like Practically! 3 Ways
1.We send
people locally. Signs
You are now
entering the mission field.
A)We want you to have a
different mindset about your life.
1))Neighborhood Mission
field do you know your neighbors
Know their names
B)Unsaved Friend who comes
to mind is there someone
C)In some ways it is
understandable that someone doesnt immediately come to your mind.
D)Some
of you saved 10 yrs non saved friends saved or forsaken
1)Safe and secure in
Christian circles Ministry
2)Time to make some new ones
Your
work place not just to earn a paycheck bigger reason Mission field
A)Salt and Light Salt
permeate build relationships
C)Coaching pop warner
football little league baseball not there to win games there to impact
lives parents and kids
D)School {Not just there to
get an education
Start as a Goal Lord build
relationships of those around me
Opportunities this year
Feb outreach with Ebo Elder
April 4 Easter in the Moonlight
April Outreach Victor Marx
May or June Joey Buran
Summer heading into Fall Luis Palau CityFest
All
year local mission fields sending people to
Camp
Pendleton / Jails 20 pp / rehabs / Convalesent homes - Birth Choice / PRC get involved
Matthew 28:19 Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
2.
We send people Globally.
A)Vision for Missions and
Church planting I was the 2nd pastor sent out by this Church in
1991 to Church plant
B)Came back that same
heart - in the last 13 yrs we have sent
out 20 families to go plant Churches or assist in existing Churches here in
the states as well as in other countries 20 families { Count kids
C)Thats approxiamately 70 full time missionaries we have
sent out in the last 13 yrs
1)Dont hype that up that is part of our DNA
who we are as a sending Church.
We
believe in Short term missions For 13 years at least one team a year
A)We have taken approx 800
pp on mission trips.
Close to 200 People to Disaster relief / Haiti
B)Mid term trips Send
teams 5 months supporters of that many of our young people have gone on
those trips
C) BB Russia in May/ This year Ireland Youth this summer Costa
Rica Italy
D)So we send people Globally!
3.
We send money: Last 13 years we have sent well over 1 million dollars to the mission field.
A)Probably enough to build
the new Building
B)This building work Chairs
remodel -
C)5-10k this year in doing
outreaches at Camp Pendleton
C) Some of you give that
is great but dont let that be your only form of Evangelism
Put that all together We
are a part of the Revolution
Starts with the individual
- Heart /burden to the lost
Surrendered -