Jesus out Front in 2008
As we step into 2008 …
Where are we in God’s prophetic time table?
What is God doing in the earth today?
What is God saying to us as a church?
Great danger of our day- things are always going to go on as they have been forever.
Luke 17:26-27
26 "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Men did not think that the world would change.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household …
Noah had to respond to God in faith not seeing any physical evidence that the world would be flooded.
The world we live in will change as the end of time approaches- will we be prepared for those days?
Writer of Hebrews- another interesting observation …
Why did Israel wander in the wilderness- 40 years- die there w/o experiencing God’s promised land?
Heb 4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. NASU
United- to commingle, combine, assimilate.
Illustration- pour glass of water into pitcher of water.
The Word was preached to Israel as it is to us today.
It never became part of their lives- it did not change the way they lived.
We must allow it to become part of our lives today.
Reading Lk 5- noticed how people responded to Jesus.
Lk 5:11- Peter, Andrew, James, John
Lk 5:28- Matthew
Lk 19:8- Zaccheus
Phil 3:7-8- Paul
It is true that many others followed Jesus …
out of curiosity,
to be fed a meal,
to see a miracle, even experience a healing.
But that interaction with Jesus never impacted the way they lived their lives/perceive life.
It was never united with faith in their hearts.
Look again at Luke 5- this has always impressed me.
Lk 5:20
What do we see about their faith …
it was visible and alive,
could be seen in their actions, and it
involved risks.
Recently Brett sent an email to his House Church encouraging them in their walk w/God in 2008 …
Referring to a song called Breathe Today by Flyleaf-
You can only move as fast as
Who’s in front of you
When I do things in my own strength I am limited to my 30 years of life and the limitations of my mind and body.
When I focus upon the world around me and its desires and wisdom I am limited to the clouded vision of man.
If I follow Christ, if I make Him first, if I keep Him in front of me, then I will move faster and farther than I have ever dreamed.
Who or what will we follow in 2008? We can …
compare ourselves with others
live in the shadow of how life has always been
be crippled by life experiences from the past or
put Christ out in front and follow Him.
Are we ready to forsake all and follow Christ?
Word from Chuck Pierce- He believes 2008 will be …
*A time of supernatural interactions that will cause you to transcend your faith limitations.
*A year to stay in the secret place so you can be sent forth on key missions.
How does all this apply to us as a church?
We must be ready for what the future holds and allow the God’s Words to mingle in our hearts w/faith.
Shawn Bolz prophetic word- October 25, 2006 …
Watch and see what the Lord is doing there because they are in a transition where the move of God is about to come …
Watch and see those of you from Church on the Rock. There’s been the faithful that have been there, and have been there storming the gates in prayer over their church …
So, watch what happens and Gary is going to get specific strategy.
Watch and see, watch what happens- sometimes we see watching as passive- not so.
Illustration …
Email- Sandy H- believes our understanding of God’s love and learning to rest in His love- key for 2008.
She talked about waiting on God …
I will wait on the Lord, not as someone at a bus stop waits, but as a restaurant waiter or waitress waits – by paying attention to the needs of those there and serving.
Our waiting/watching/resting involves actively paying attention to God and those He has placed us with.
Specific strategies- beginning to take shape.
Tommy Tenny- wrote book- 1993- titled …
The Main Thing … Is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.
My goal for COTR- 2008- keep our main focus clear.
Church motto …
Empower – Release – Advance
Empowered by God
Released into our destinies
Advancing God’s Kingdom
I want this to be our vision statement, mission statement, purpose statement, discipleship process.
Mtt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations …
How we accomplish this is a process and not an event.
To move ourselves/others from being seekers to fully mature disciples- encourage people to participate
in three activities …
Attend- weekend service- Empowered by God
Encounter, Revelation, Worship
Love God
Join a HC- Released into our destinies
God’s call, Spiritual Gifts, Relationships
Love people
Get Involved in a ministry
Take the Gospel out, Minister to others
Serve people
Many opportunities to get involved- limited time.
I encourage- members to be involved in 3 activities.
In the process we will learn to be disciples of Christ.
Empowered by God
Released into our destines
Advance God’s Kingdom
The world is not going to go on as it always has and we need to be ready to count the cost/follow God.
As a church we have great opportunities/possibilities that lay before us to grab a hold of in faith.
