Vision: Energize to Engage
Watch on YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgekrcLmVuE
As promised, I’m going to share with you today, the fullness of the vision God laid on my heart at the beginning of the year. It started with the word, “change.” But later when the Lord laid on my heart the second word of the vision, which is to “engage.” It was then I realized I had a problem.
First, both begin with different letters, and you know how I like to keep these points with the same letter, or what I learned in English as an alliteration. But what would be the words.
But, before I get there, I had another problem; nothing connects the change we go through when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, which in religious circles is called “transformation,” and our need to engage our society, culture, and the world with the good news of Jesus Christ, which in religious circles is also known as evangelism/discipleship, which in our vision is called “engage.”
That is when the Lord opened to me a third word, a word that connects them both. In other words, what moves us from transformation to evangelism, or from change to engage, or you could say from the Great Commandment to the Great Commission. And the word He gave me was “energize.” Like what keeps the energizer bunny going.
And when this word came, not only was my second problem solved, that is what moves us from change to engage, but it also solved the first problem of making the first letter the same for each. So, “change” became “exchange.” Like the great exchange, which is at the heart of the whole transformation process, where we move from the kingdom of darkness, Satan, and this world – TO – the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God, and in the end, the kingdom of heaven.
And so, the three words of this vision, which will take us into 2025 is “Exchange - Energize - Engage”
In today’s message, and then in the messages that will come afterwards, that is, prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas, I would like to explore with you, how, through this great transformation, we can get and keep ourselves energized so we can truly engage with this world, that is, to become fully devoted disciples, followers, of Jesus Christ and share His good news with the world around us.
Now, between digital technology and its rising complexity, there’s more information and more requests coming our direction. And it’s faster and more relentlessly than ever before. Unlike computers, however, human beings aren’t meant to operate continuously, at high speeds, and for long periods of time.
The Lord Himself acknowledges this reality and what He has given to us to counter it.
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” (Psalm 127:2 NLT)
I’ve heard it this way, “If we’re burning the candle at both ends, then we’re not as bright as we think we are.”
What we need to understand is that we have been designed by God, but not with unlimited energy, but limited. And the reason is so that we regularly go to God and plug ourselves into Him, and get recharged, and that on a regular basis.
We are “designed.” We have been designed us as finite creatures fearfully and wonderfully made and formed by an infinite Creator. And what wisdom demands is that we recognize our limits and limitations, and at the same time that God is without limits and limitations.
Therefore God wants us to live balanced lives and not to be always working. So, instead of adding more to our plate, the Lord is more likely to take some things off so we can slow down.
I’ve heard it said like this, “If we don’t stop to smell the roses now, then God make us smell them later in the hospital.”
Like a pacemaker a doctor places inside of us to regulate our heart, we need the Lord to be our pacemaker. He’s the one who formed us and therefore He’s the one who knows what pace we should be living our lives at.
What caught my attention is when I recently read that the older we get, our limitations begin to cascade. What the writer said is that we have cascading limitations. Personally, that didn’t thrill me, and it is wrong. But there will be a time when this body dies, that is a reality, but until then I want to use all my capabilities to their fullest capacity, while I have them, to serve the Lord.
Now, the first thing I’d like to say to the age debate, is that we’re “Never Too Old.”
Reading the story of when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple to offer their sacrifices, there were two individuals they met, Simeon and Anna. We are not sure of how long they had been there in the temple, or how long they had been waiting for the coming Messiah.
Let’s first look at Simeon. The Holy Spirit promised that he would see the Messiah before his death. After seeing the baby Jesus he said, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35 NKJV)
Anna was a prophetess, and it says she was “of great age,” which they recorded at being around 84 years old. After her husband death, at a young age, she remained in the temple praying, fasting, and serving God for the remainder of her life. And when she saw Jesus, she realized what it was for, and that is for the coming Messiah, who would be the Redeemer (Luke 2:36-38).
For me, this speaks to our being used by God, and that our usefulness doesn’t diminish with age, but like Simeon and Anna, even in our old age, even when we are close to death, God will use us as like never before. And I can say this, because Simeon and Anna are forever recorded in God’s word for their actions.
Our usefulness to God is never finished until we die, and after that we’ll be with Jesus, forever young in heaven. Therefore, our final years on earth can be our best, if we devote ourselves to seeking God.
Therefore, let me put forth this analogy, and that is we need to be like fine aged wine, NOT OLD AND BOTTLED, but rather we need to have “Aged Faith.”
Let’s take a moment and consider a guy by the name of Caleb.
Caleb was 85 years old when he told Joshua, “Hey, I may be 85, but my strength hasn’t waned, especially my strength in God.” (Joshua 14:6-12 paraphrased)
Let’s look at the Scripture. He said, “Behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, … and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day … It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” (Joshua 14:10-12)
Wow, 85 and still going strong. Maybe like me, you are growing older, and the body parts don’t work as well as they once did, but we can still do mighty exploits for God.
How, through faith in Jesus Christ! Our faith never grows old; rather it just like aged wine, that is, it matures and gets stronger. And so, while our bodies may not be as strong as they once were, our faith should be stronger than it ever was.
The Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).
Similarly, in Ephesians 6:10, Paul confirms this connection of our strength being provided supernaturally by Christ, saying, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10 NKJV)
In other words, we can do what God has called us to do and to accomplish because of our faith in Christ who gives us the strength.
So don’t let your age (young or old), your gender (male or female), or your race (Jew or Gentile), keep you from fully following after God’s promises for you.
Just as a further note, I remembered the Wedding Feast where Jesus turned water into wine. But not just any wine, but the best wine the master of the feast had ever tasted. Listen to his words, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” (John 2:10 NKJV)
Now, you might be wondering how any of does this fits with what we’ve been talking about? Well, the answer is this, “God is saving the best for last.” That was Caleb’s testimony. “Hey, I’m even better now at 85 than I was at 40.”
Therefore, if you think that God is finished with you, understand, He’s saving the best for last. So, let’s buckle up and expect God to do great things in us and through us.
What keeps us going, what energizes us?
Physically: Rest – Work – Ministry
Now, the idea of rest we’ll explore later. But for now, what we find in the Scriptures and medical science is that rest, not sleep alone, but rest, like when we “rest in the Lord,” revitalizes, rejuvenates, and restores.
As it involves work and ministry, Paul uses himself as an example, and one that is available to all of us. In other words, it’s within the capacity God has given, with the understanding that every Christian can grow and expand their capacity for productive labor, so that they can have a productive life.
Colossians 1:28–29: “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
1 Corinthians 15:10: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
Please note, it isn’t in our own power and strength, but it is through the grace of God working in and through us that allows us to thrive and be successful, no matter how young or old we may be.
Now, Jesus knows what it’s like when we get press up against the limits of these flesh and blood bodies, and the bounds placed upon us through our finite existence in a dying world. He knows what it’s like to have limited capacity, and limited time, and at the end the day with unfinished tasks. He knows what it’s like to be wearied physically (John 4:6) and what it’s like to need and carve out time for rest (Mark 6:31). And He also knows what it’s like to have work yet to accomplish (John 4:34; 5:36; 17:4).
And when we look at His life here on earth, He had energy enough to work almost tirelessly, even on the Sabbath, when He encountered those in need (Luke 13:14–17; John 5:16–17; Mark 2:27–28). And through what He did, His works, He not only bore witness to his Father (John 5:36; 9:3–5), but He also presented Himself as the giver and focus of our faith (John 10:37–38; 14:10–11).
Spiritually: (we get energized by) Love, the Holy Spirit, Worship, Reading and Studying of God’s Word, and having our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
Now, that’s a lot, and there’s no way we can handle each of these, even briefly in our time together, but I will deal with them in our time ahead.
But, let me share with you what Paul said about who strengthens us, and how.
In 1 Timothy 1:12 Paul confirms that it is Jesus who supplies us with this strength, saying, “I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV)
And in 2 Timothy 2:1, Paul makes the same connection between spiritual strength and Jesus as the source of that strength, saying, “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1 NKJV)
Conclusion
Now, I started out by using the energizer bunny as an illustration of getting energized, but I realize that it isn’t the best example, because we don’t need something that runs out and needs to be constantly replaced, no matter how energized or durable they may be. Instead, we need an never-ending supply of energy.
So, let’s go back to our first word in this vision, “exchange,” or what is called “transformation.” To transform is to be more like Christ, where it is no longer us, but it is Christ living inside of us. It’s where the Lord God who lives inside of us that strengthens and energizes us to be all that we were created to be.
Let’s look at what the prophet Isaiah said (and I am reading from the Amplified Bible).
“But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP)
We are like Timothy whom Paul had to admonish. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV)
And when we start engaging in our ministry and engaging with this world without being energized through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we won’t last long, and we’ll burn out and finding ourselves on the side of the road broken down.
(My recent experience with the car)
When I’m spiritually not where I should be, my check engine light begins flashing. It’s seen in my short fuse in how I deal with others and my frustration level. I become angry quicker, and I lash out.
As we end our time together, let take a moment to share with you some Scriptures that will energize our day when we take them to heart and believe.
“This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NASB)
Now, this is not what most people say, thereby giving God no glory at all, and doesn’t energize us. I’ve heard people say, “Well at least I’m on this side of the grave,” or “I’m breathing, I can take another breath.”
Instead, every day when we wake up, we should love God so much that we can’t wait to thank Him for another day where we get to walk and talk with Him.
It’s like the song, “In the Garden.” The refrain says, “And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own; and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”
The Bible tells us that our days are measured, that is they are numbered, and God is the one who has numbered them. It also says that our lives are like a vapor, one second it is there, and the next it’s gone. So, we need to make the most of the time we have, and rejoice and be glad in it.
Philippians 2:5-11 tells us that we are to have the mind of Christ who willing suffered and died for us, and so when we’re having a hard day and maybe can’t find a close parking spot, we say, “What would Jesus do?”
It’s a scripture that energizes us to be engaged in this world. Consider how verse 13 reads in the Amplified Bible.
“[Not in your own strength] for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Philippians 2:13 AMP)
And then David in his prayer found in Psalm 86 said,
“I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol (or the grave).” (Psalm 86:12-13 ESV)
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV)
And then in Psalm 136, where the Psalmist lists all these wonders of God, and after each one he says, “God's love never fails.”
Therefore, it’s knowing and experiencing His steadfast and unconditional love that energizes us, which we’ll explore a deeper later in our time together. But for now, consider this last passage.
“The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV)
And so it is, through God’s love, grace, and mercy that He energizes us to engage with His gospel message to the world around us. (Remember, He’s energizing us to engage.) And when we do, then we’ll hear Him rejoice over us with gladness and singing, and His love will give to us that quite assurance that we are His.
And so, it’s the Lord who energizes us that moves us from being transformed in this great exchange that went on when we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, into now engaging with the most life changing message that humanity ever heard, the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
