Unstoppable Purpose Series

We have been talking about what it means to be unstoppable.

We began this series by thinking about things that are unstoppable.

I actually did a Facebook poll a few weeks ago:

Name the first three things you think of when you hear the word UNSTOPPABLE. #sermonprep

I got lots of interesting feedback. Several things that were proposed as unstoppable, were actually stoppable. I didn’t call anybody out.

In week 1 we talked about the fact that every athlete or sports team that has been perceived as unstoppable were stopped at some point.

The longest winning streaks in professional sports history, all came to an end.

Whether it was the Lakers, The Giants, The Penguins, or the Patriots, every winning team, in professional sports, was finally stopped.

They may have been unstoppable for a short time,

but that time always comes to an end.

Every unstoppable business, every legendary icon, every diva, every entertainer, every (you name It), they all eventually fade.

None are truly unstoppable.

The only truly unstoppable force in this world COMES FROM GOD.

That theme began to take shape in my non-scientific poll a few weeks ago.

Several said…

• God is unstoppable

• Jesus

• The Holy Spirit

• God’s Love

• God’s Will

Some talked about the wind, or a tornado, or the waves of the see.

These things all come from God.

They are God’s creation.

I would also add that God’s Church is unstoppable.

The church will never disappear from the landscape.

Jesus promised to build the church.

Satan has done everything he can to stop it, but the church has continued even through unbelievable persecution.

God’s church, God’s purpose, God’s power, and God’s people will prevail.

The only truly unstoppable force in this world COMES FROM GOD.

Week 1 - Unstoppable Faith.

In week 1 we talk about the qualities and characteristics of a man who has had the greatest impact on the history of Christianity than any other human being to have ever lived.

His name is Paul.

Paul clearly possessed unstoppable qualities like determination, integrity, and humility.

These qualities enabled him to live an unstoppable life, with an unstoppable faith, which ultimately leads to an unstoppable future for those who are in Christ.

So, what was behind these qualities that Paul possessed?

Was it Paul’s character, grit, or determination?

The thing that made Paul unstoppable was the SPIRIT OF GOD WITHIN HIM.

Week 2 – We talked about the Unstoppable Church.

Since the church is made up of people, we focused on the QUALITIES OF THESE UNSTOPPABLE CHRISTIANS.

They are FILLED WITH GOD’S SPIRIT.

You can’t be an unstoppable Christian in your own strength.

The victorious Christian life isn’t just difficult…

it’s IMPOSSIBLE if the Spirit of God is not living in you.

You can’t do it on your own.

These unstoppable Christians in the NT were people who were COURAGEOUS.

They recognized that people like Peter and John had BEEN WITH JESUS.

Then last week I asked you to consider what it is that might be stopping you from being unstoppable.

I hope you have been thinking about that.

If you haven’t died out to self and decided to allow the Spirit of God to fill you with His powerful presence, you will never reach your full potential in Christ.

The qualities of the Spirit-filled life are what enables a person to live a life that is truly unstoppable.

Today, I want to conclude this series and transition to where we are headed next Sunday, by talking about our Unstoppable Purpose as the church and as followers of Jesus.

God was up to something in the first-century church and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

It was unstoppable like a tornado, or a tsunami, or a stampede.

It was unstoppable, like the wind, or the waves of the ocean.

Very few things in life are truly unstoppable.

But unstoppable is the word that comes to my mind when attempting to describe the early days of the church.

Conflict and controversy threatened to take out the early church.

But instead of killing it, the challenges seemed to fuel the flame that would spread across the first-century landscape and continues to spread around the world to this day.

Think about the early obstacles the church faced.

Last week we saw how the religious leaders tried to muzzle the message that Peter and John boldly proclaimed.

Several times they were told not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John were filled with the Spirit.

• They wouldn't keep quiet.

• They couldn’t be stopped.

The leaders locked them up.

Look what happened next…

“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life.’" - Acts 5:19-20 (NIV)