Missional Church: God’s Plan Your Purpose 260125
Missional – God’s Plan – Your Purpose
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5: 18-20
WE ARE BLESSED
Loved worshipping today – sense of belonging as we gather
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that as Jesus Followers this morning just how blessed we are
When you focus on being a blessing God makes sure you are always blessed (Joel Osteen)
GOD’S PLAN
Church, know this this morning that you are loved, loved beyond measure
Scarlett thread of redemption that takes us to where we are today
Bible is clear we were created for relationship and Gen 1 reminds us that God walked around the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day looking for contact with Adam and Eve
Due to Adams sin, stubbornness and rebellion God out of love made an alternative plan. A rescue plan, and that plan was Jesus.
RELATIONSHIP – HEBREWS 11 GREAT MEN OF FAITH
RELATIONSHIP – GOD STARTS WITH THE ONE – ABRAHAM – FRIEND OF GOD
In the OT God put everything in place so that mankind can live in harmony with the living God, but also live in harmony with each other! That’s impressive!
JESUS –
He sent his only son Jesus to be the sacrifice that expressed itself in the form of a cross. A cruel death.
The Bible says that He took upon himself our sins, our iniquities (ultimate and final sacrificial lamb. A Isiah 53 )
Jesus took the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:18)
So that you and I can have our sins forgiven and find new life in Jesus
Finally, the door is now open for you and me to find new life in Jesus
In faith with Jesus we can have a better life, a life living in relationship with a living, loving God who quite simply loves you
A God who has plans for you which are for good and not to harm you, plans to make you prosper you, (Jeremiah 29:11)
This is truly astonishing – we don’t deserve it, we can’t earn it, we can’t buy it
Salvation in Jesus is God’s ultimate gift to you and to me
As believers and more to the point ‘Followers of Jesus’ we have much to thank God for.
Like Abraham – God sees you as a friend
God sees you as a son and daughter
We have been –
- Saved
- Sanctified
- Set apart
Thank God today for His mercy and grace upon your life and mine
CHRISTMAS GRATITUDE
We have just said farewell to Christmas 2024. A time when we together celebrated Jesus, God’s ultimate and perfect gift.
This gift was given from heaven to earth. The everlasting Light
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, to us a Son is given and the government will be upon his shoulders. He will be called, wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
John 3:16
God so loved the world that He gave….
WHAT A GIFT
Jesus is the best gift anyone could ever have. We have been adopted into the family of God.
No longer aliens no longer remote, afar off, but through Jesus we are divinely connected to the living God
In 2025 Holy Spirit is reminding us with a LOUD VOICE ABOUT BEING A MISSIONAL PEOPLE
THE CHURCH IS NOT JUST A BUILDING – NOT A RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE – PEOPLE MOVEMENT – YOU ARE A PEOPLE MOVEMENT
BE THE GIFT
THE NOW WORD IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT JUST THANK GOD FOR THE GIFT
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY BE THE GIFT
It’s a divine call to participate in the Missional call to represent Jesus inside and outside of these four walls.
We all have a gift, we are each one unique, we have impact, we all have our own expression faith and service that brings honour to Him.
WE STAND TOGETHER IN OUR PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST – THERE’S NO OTHER WAY IN WHICH MAN MAY BE SAVED
WE KNOW SHARING THE GOSPEL CAN BE TRICKY IN THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE. MAN’S HEART SEEM’S CLOSED AND COLD
Stand against those negative voice that shout out we are not good enough, trained enough, skilled enough, know enough
If we are thinking about missional call, then we have to look at the Early Church as recorded in the scriptures
THE CHURCH IN CORINTH
BACKGROUND mainly gentiles. All sorts of things going on
Disunity
Immorality
False teaching that threatened to destroy the church and hinder the expansion of the gospel
There was no church in Corinth – Paul left and later wrote to them!
2 Corinthians 6:11/12 – NEGATIVE SELF TALK
V11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, our heart is wide open,
v12 You are not restricted by us, but you were restricted in your own affections
We are restrained by our own feelings. Affections = Greek – Emotions
Feelings are our own worst enemy’ disappointments
Corinthians – who did God call not rich, educated, wise
Open my eyes Lord
God doesn’t hold us back
We talk ourselves back, we are held hostage to our thoughts, feelings and emotions and past negative experiences.
The wonderful thing is that on our transformational love walk with Jesus, we don’t walk alone, far from it!
Working together with God
Sometimes we have to remember the word! Who did God call – HE CALLS YOU AND ME
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are co-workers in God’s Service, you are God’s field, God’s building. Jesus lays the FOUNDATION and we play our part to build the structure into something that’s beautiful and glorifies God.
We work together with God and he needs me!!!!
Called ones Have God’s power
Acts 1: Power of the Holy Spirit
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sameria and to the ends of the earth!
The world doesn’t like Jesus, Christians or the church
Boy we need the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.
To be fully effective Missional people we need the help, support and direction of the Holy Spirit.
His function is to prepare the way for the gospel, prepare the way for ministry.
Sharing Jesus is a work of the Holy Spirit. HE IS OUR TEACHER, OUR COMFORTER, OUR GUIDE
HE IS THE ONE THAT GIVES US COURAGE AND STRENGTH.
I LOVE THE EARLY CHURCH
Whatever the world says or demands or believes or acts
1 Corinthians 1:22f
We preach Christ Crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to Gentiles but to those who are called both Jews and Greeks. Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God
For the foolishness of God is wider than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men
AND GOES ON TO SAY
For consider your calling brothers not may of you were wise according to worldy standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
BUT
God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose the week in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, event things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are so that no human being might boast in the presence of God
V30 and because of Him, guess what
You are In Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that it is written ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’.
Church God has chosen You and me!!
We may feel week, inadequate, lacking in everything under the sun, well, we are in good company
It’s a reason then to boast in the Lord. Jesus it’s all about you. May God be glorified when our knees are shaking and our hands are trembling.
If we are going to boast, then boast in the Lord
Church, we all have a gift our own unique way of serving, there’s no two of you, no two of me!
We are all operating by God’s love and grace
Ephesians 4:7 and 8
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift, when he ascended on high he led a host of captives and he gave gifts to men
Grace given to each one of us
You have received grace
V11 Gifts APEST equipping of the Holy One – believers. Be the gift for every believer.
V12 for the work of ministry build up the body of Christ. Equipped to use the gifts that God has given to you.
THIS REMINDS US THAT THE LOCAL CHURCH OF COURSE HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO LEAD AND SUPPORT THE PROCLAMATION, TEACHING AND THE NUTURING AND SUPPORT TO NEW BELIEVERS AS THEY COME TO FAITH IN JESUS.
We all have gift and ways of service in a myriad of ways
Rise to the occasion for every Christian – grace has been given to each one of us Holy Ones, believers to the work of ministry
Gift of God in us to be the gift to others
I WILL SAY IT AGAIN WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN GIFTS TO BE THE GIFT
We are missional people called to serve what a privilege we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
We are called to Go
To people in your world cannot physically see Jesus. But they can see Jesus in You and Me
The bible says that we are known and read by ALL men (2 Corinthians 3:2)
Paul as we have seen has a lot to say about the Corinthian Church. The Corinthian believers are a living testimony to the effectiveness of Paul’s ministry
As you live life in this world –
We all have a wonderful opportunity for service in this house
I want this church to be the best that it can be on both sites
A house where everyone plays their part. I thank God for everyone that is faithfully serving the Lord in this place
But there is room for more.
Want the house to shine brightly
Be a light on a hill
Be Jesus t a lost world who for the most part know nothing about Jesus
There’s a now call to be the gift
I don’t know about you but I want to live in the overflow
Recognise who we are in Christ
We are people of the word, grounded and standing on the word of God
Psm119:105
Your word is a light to my feet and a light to my path
We are anointed and commissioned to go into ‘all the world and preach the gospel to every creature Mark. 16:15
We have been filled and equipped by the Holy Spirit
Anointed separated.
We are missional people we have a wonderful privilege to work with and for Jesus
We also have a wonderful opportunity to be Jesus to your world
Jerimiah 17:7f
Blessed is the one who TRUSTS in the Lord whose confidence is in Him they will be like the tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of drought for it does not cease to bear fruit
I want to walk in an overflow
Overflow of Love for God, gratitude for his saving grace, thankful that my name is written in the lambs book of Ife
Walk in an overflow of worship and service to the body of Christ here at Bether
Walk in an overflow of sharing Jesus outside of these four walls
I say it again, We are a people movement
Anointed/filled with the Holy Spirit standing on the word, operating in an overflow, drawing people to Jesus.
The challenge to me is simply
LET GOD BE GOD. LIFT THE LID ON CONTAINMENT.
WE ARE NOT CONSTRAINED BY OUR PAST BUT TODAY WE ARE BEING RELEASED TO NEWNESS OF LIFE IN JESUS WHO CAN DO MORE THAN WE CAN EVER ASK OR THINK!
THANK YOU THIS MORNING FOR JESUS, GOD’S GIFT AND LORD IN YOUR MERCY AND GRACE GIVE US THE HEART AND BOLDNESS TO BE THE GIFT TO THIS GENERATION
ALL OF WHAT I SAY MAY NOT MAKE SENSE. BUT KNOW ONE THING.
YOU ARE LOVED, THERE IS AN INVITATION, A CALL TO COME CLOSER. A CALL TO COME INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH JESES. HONESTLY, HE IS ONLY A PRAYER AWAY