The Stewardship of Vision
Pt 1 ¡V Called, Appointed, Anointed
Exodus 3:1-12
I had planned to wrap up our focus on stewardship last week ¡V but God had other plans. As I sought the Lord for what I should share with you this week He led me to another area of stewardship that I want to share with you for the next several weeks. The stewardship of Vision.
As we focus on the vision of building our Family Life Center ¡V it¡¦s important that we look again in a focused way on the vision God has given us for Hughesville. Look with me for a moment at a day in the life of Moses ¡V a day that would change his life forever, a day when he became the steward of the vision of God. Exodus 3:1-12
Moses came to the realization of three things in this passage that we as the Church of Jesus Christ need to come to today if we are to be stewards of God¡¦s vision. Moses realized that He was Called, Appointed and Anointed.
1) Called ¡V what a wonderful idea ¡V to be called by God. V10 Moses is invited to become a part of the plan and vision of God for His people. God could have done this without Moses ¡V but He invites Moses to be a part of the action. In a wonderful moment God calls this young man Moses ¡V raised in a royal household but reduced to the position of Shepherd ¡V to rise up and become the voice of God to Pharaoh and to his people. I believe that you and I take the idea of being the church too lightly. We are a people called by God. I Peter 2:9 says ¡§¡Kyou are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.¡¨ We are the Church called out of darkness and into his wonderful light. We live with purpose ¡V we walk with direction ¡V we stand in promise because we have been called by God. We like Moses have been invited to be a part of the plan and purpose of God.
2) Appointed ¡V v10b ¡V Moses had a job to do. He hemmed and hawed about it but finally accepted. God had called him and He appointed to Moses a Task. Moses would dedicate the rest of his life to the accomplishment of that task. He set himself to the purpose and plan of God. God has called us to a task as well. Moses had His burning bush ¡V but we have the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in our hearts. Our vision as a church is ¡§To provide a place for people to meet the living Christ; and to train and support believers in carrying the ministry of Christ into the world.¡¨ This vision is summed up in three primary tasks to which we have been called.
„« Reaching Up ¡V As a church we believe that we have been called to be Great Commandment Centered. Jesus great commandment to the church is that ¡§YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.¡¨ We are called to reach up to the living God in worship, in devotion, and in love. We are called to reach up to Him for power, strength, direction, and hope. But we are called to live, love, and minister with Christ as the center of all. As we do this we become a place where people meet the living Christ because when they are here they can¡¦t help but meet Him. When our hearts are so engaged with Christ people will be drawn to Him simply by walking into this place.
„« Reaching Out ¡V As a church we are called to reach outside of our own experience, to reach outside our own limitations, and grow into the people that God has called us to be. Spiritual Growth is at the heart of who we are. We are called to be a place of training and supporting people to become all that God has called them to be. Spiritual growth is the heart of Christian ministry. That means helping people discover their spiritual gifts and how those gifts can be used in ministry.
„« Reaching People ¡V As a church we believe that we are called to be Great Commission Driven - Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. We are not called to the task of building a big church or having the most programs, or even being the most talented. We are called to build the kingdom of God. We are called to the task of changing lives. Christianity is about changed and transformed lives. It¡¦s about finding peace in this life and about finding life in Christ for eternity when it¡¦s over. Three words stand out ¡V GO ¡V MAKE ¡V TEACH. We are to go into the world ¡V sharing the love of God in such a compelling way that people become disciples ¡V and then teach them about living life in the fullness of the Spirit of God.
3) Anointed ¡V v12 ¡V When Moses was called he was also anointed for the task at hand. We also have been anointed for the task. We are¡K
„« Empowered by God ¡V Through signs and wonders God worked to empower Moses to bring the most powerful government of the earth to it¡¦s knees. A man who considered himself a living God ¡V finally came to submit to the one true God. God has empowered us to be His witnesses in the world around us. It is through His power that the strongholds that fill the lives of those in this community will be torn down. Jesus said to his disciples ¡§you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.¡¨ Even as the apostles were empowered for the early church that apostolic gift is now ours through the Spirit of God ¡V We simply have to begin to move and live in it.
„« Blessed by God ¡V Moses walked in the provision and blessing of God. From the parting of the Red Sea to the provision of Mana for food, to the Divine guidance of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, God provided for Moses. He will provide for us. His promise is that ¡§no weapon formed against us shall prosper.¡¨ That if we ¡§seek first the kingdom and His righteousness¡¨ that all the things we need will be provided.
„« Effective For God ¡V Moses led his people out ¡V not by his own ability but in fact, despite it. Effective does not mean big. Just because a church is large does not mean it is effective. Many of the largest churches in our country are drawing great crowds and they are highly effective entertainers but not highly effective churches. Effective does not mean wealthy. Churches can sit on tons of money ¡V literally tens of thousands of dollars in the bank ¡V all saved for a rainy day ¡V they may be effective fund raisers, effective money collectors, or even effective banks ¡V but they are not necessarily effective churches. Effective does not mean popular. Churches can have the favor of all the community making everyone happy by watering down the gospel ¡V avoiding controversial subjects ¡V and accepting any and all ideas as equal ¡V they may be highly effective politicians but they are not highly effective churches. Effective means that lives will be changed, eternities impacted, and the kingdom expanded as a result of our living in the calling of God.
Proverbs 29:18 says ¡§Where there is no vision, the people perish¡K¡¨ We have a vision ¡V God has called us, God has appointed us for such a time as this, and He has anointed us to do the work. What I want to know is if you will join me in completing the vision ¡V will you run the race that is set before us ¡V will you fight the good fight ¡V will you stand among those who have given their all for the cause of Christ. Are you willing to sacrifice, sweat, and endure for the cause of Christ in this community?
