Intro to the Series
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
In this series, we are illustrating some life principles with scenes from our favorite stories.
We are possibly the most entertained culture in history. If we are not careful, we will content ourselves with watching great lives. But God has called us to live a great life. His challenge to us:
Become a participator, not a spectator!
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37 (NIV)
Last week we began our series with a message titled This Message will “Self-Destruct”… The focus was on the eternal nature of God’s call on our lives. The moment will pass. People will fail. The communication device will self-destruct. But Gods call on your life is forever.
But he doesn’t just ask you to do the impossible, and then leave you hanging. He gives you what you need to succeed. You do have what it takes!
REMOTE CONTROLLED BMW’S AND OTHER COOL STUFF
In the James Bond novels and films, “Q” is a fictional character who supplies the agent with cool gadgets, such as the remote controlled BMW you just saw in the clip. Actually, it is not the name of a character so much as it is a title – “Q” is for “Quartermaster”. A quartermaster is an officer in charge of supplying personnel with quarters, food, fuel, transportation, etc – whatever is needed to get the job done.
When you think about it, it is the tools, in a sense, that make our action heroes somewhat believable. The idea is that an ordinary man can do extraordinary things if given the right tools. The tools allow us to view them as a hero instead of as a superhero. The primary difference between the two is the source of their strength.
A superhero, on the other hand – has special powers that come from within. Superman – Batman – Spiderman – Flash Gordon, etc. God has not called any of us to be superheroes. As a matter of fact – the Bible says that He remembers we are only dust. It is important to understand that we are not superheroes.
Have you ever wondered if you had what it takes to make it in life? In the Christian walk? Have you ever looked at someone that seemed to be doing well spiritually and thought – if I had their personality, or if I had their upbringing – I would be able to do something great for God.
[Have everyone say “Yes”]
You have what it takes to fulfill God’s mission in your life. Jesus is not looking for superheroes. He’s just looking for people to sign up. He’s simply looking for people that can say “Yes”.
Some time ago – I heard a preacher say that disciple is a noun – not a verb. Matthew 28:19 tells us we should go “make disciples”. Today, in the church, we talk about discipling people. I heard the story about a pastor that had a revival and then said, “I almost hope no more new people come in for a while – we’re having trouble discipling the ones we have”.
We’re just a few here today. But it was just a few on the Day of Pentecost, too. 3000 souls were added in that one day, and 5000 more the next day. How did they handle it? They did not try to disciple people, they just made disciples.
What is a disciple? Someone that follows. A disciple of Christ is someone that follows Christ. My responsibility, as a pastor, is to simply help people see Christ, and say “Yes” to him. When they do that – I have made a disciple. All I want people to do is follow Jesus.
[Have everyone say “Yes”]
You see – I’m not trying to make superheroes out of anyone. I’m not trying to make superheroes out of you. All I’m trying to do is introduce people to “Q”. I’m trying to introduce people to the Quartermaster.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19 (NIV)
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. ) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." 11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:7-14 (NIV)
Most of us feel like God is asking for something from us. And He is!
Like the Samaritan woman… We are just going about our business, trying our best to maintain our sanity while supplying the needs of our families, our jobs, etc. And then Jesus comes along and asks for something… What? Church every Sunday? Tithes?
How do we gain the right focus? The key is in the words… “if you knew the gift of God…”.
MEET THE QUARTERMASTER
In our favorite stories – our heroes are equipped with tools that give them the edge. They have a distinct advantage because they are supplied with a few things that most people don’t have. Not supernatural abilities – TOOLS.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (NKJV)
Jesus said that he came that we would have life, and have it more abundantly. What He was saying was – we should have the edge. He gives us everything we need to gain the advantage in every area of life.
ARMOR - PROTECTIVE GEAR
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Eph 6:13 (NIV)
Belt of Truth - Breastplate of Righteousness - Shoes of Readiness - Shield of Faith - Helmet of Salvation -Sword of the Spirit.
GIFTS - TOOLS FOR COMMUNICATION AND POWER
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 1 Cor 12:4-6 (NIV)
Word of Wisdom - Word of Knowledge - Faith, Healing -Working of Miracles – Prophecy – Discernment – Tongues – Interpretation
But eagerly desire the greater gifts. 1 Cor 12:31 (NIV)
FRUIT - RESULTING EFFECTIVENESS
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23 (NIV)
Ultimately – all of this is born out of The Gift of God.
THE POWER OF GODLINESS
…having a form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Tim 3:5 (NIV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Acts 1:8 (NIV)
We must not be satisfied with anything less than God’s supernatural power in our lives. We must have that “edge” that sets us apart from the others. The distinguishing characteristics of a Christian should not be our dress, our conduct, or even our demeanor. It should be our tools. It should be the obvious presence of God in every area of our lives.
God has called us to accomplish the impossible. At least impossible by man’s standards.
Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27 (NIV)
No great work is finished until God has done what only He can do; Until the Spirit has taken you beyond your human ability.
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 (NIV)
Oh, I would that God would baptize all of us again with a thirst for His Gift.
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? Acts 19:2 (KJV)
I ask you that question today…
Example – Samaria (Acts 8) Simon wanting to buy the gift.
And so I finish my message today in the same place that it started – Samaria. A scandalous woman discovered the gift. A drug dealer discovered the gift.
I wonder if there is anyone here that is thirsty?
