GO: CULTIVATE VISION (David Livingstone)

Transcription

1 GO: CULTIVATE VISION (David Livingstone) Matthew 28:19 20 (NLT) Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. I. INTRODUCTION: Our intent behind this sermon series is to re-charge and remind, refreshed and reassure us of our most elementary assignment. We call it The Great Commission: A commission is an order or an assignment given and the recipient swears to commit and carry out the duties of the order. a. I am convinced that there IS NO other way to live than to live on purpose in pursuit of carrying out this GREAT COMMISSION. b. It s all about JESUS. AT THE END IF THE DAY nothing else matters. Jesus at the center of it all. Everything revolves around you Jesus. From the beginning to the end it will always be and has always been about YOU JESUS. i. Romans 14:11 (NLT) For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.'" ii. Isaiah 45:23 (NLT) I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to me." II. RECAP a. Compassion Fuels Passion: 1

2 i. Friends, are you pursuing Christ? Is what you have with Jesus casual or serious? Is it platonic or intimate? ii. A platonic relationship will never reproduce His likeness. John 14:16: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 8:31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Jesus is the TRUTH. Knowing JESUS (A committed, intimate relationship through love and obedience) is the KEY TO BEING FREE iii. Are you playing, pretending and perpetrating or ARE YOU COMMITTED? b. Commitment changes culture: Pastor Shawn followed up and spoke to you about commitment and how it has the potent power to change culture. Committed people are forward thinking, resilient, not satisfied status quo. i. Commitment is both an engine and an anchor. It drives and propels you forward, yet it gives you a staying power so you are not tossed to and from with every wave of distraction. ii. Commitment gets God s attention iii. Psalms 37:5 (NLT) Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you iv. Proverbs 16: 3 (NLT) Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. Another word for Commitment is Steadfast. In this scripture the writer is encouraging us to be Committed or steadfast, always abound (being fruitful, varied and abundant) 2

3 c. I Corinthians 15: (KJV) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. CULTIVATE VISION (SESSION THREE OF THE GO SERIES) 1. YOUR IDENTITY (POINT ONE) o Cultivation: Means to perform the functions of farming in order to produce a harvest. We are his Field (I Corinthians 3:9) For we are both God's workers. And you are God's field.. Tilling, sowing, fertilizing, irrigation, nurturing to ensure the greatest success for the best harvest o There is fruit that God wants to produce in your life. He desires to cultivate vision in you so that he can get the intended harvest through your life. Do you know who you are? Because God wants to honor your uniqueness so that Jesus can be preached through your life o John 15:5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.(unable to produce) o We identify with Christ through baptism (Romans 6:3-6) Our identity is in Christ. The outward experience of baptism is a representation of an inner CHANGE IN IDENTITY (Gal 4:19 Christ be formed in you) The immersion in the water symbolizes death and burial, and when we come up out of the water, it symbolizes being raised in the newness of life. II Corinthians 5:17 if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and behold all things are become new. 3

4 o Our identification with Christ is so complete that God reckons us as having experienced co-crucifixion, co-burial, co-resurrection, coascension and co-glorification. Galatians 2:20.I am crucified with Christ.. Romans 6:3 baptized into his death, buried in baptism and raised in the newness of life.. Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: o This is the way God sees us. Then should we not see ourselves in the same manner? b) I want to cultivate your identity today and help you understand the power, influence and access you possess. c) Your assignment is to GO and cultivate it in others. THE REPUTATION OF THE GOD-HEAD (promote the reputation) d. Baptism in the NAME because his name carries with it his reputation, authority, access and power e. COLOSIANS 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. f. ACTS 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. g. Credible reputation increases influence h. He was intentional about his name providing the insight to his character. i. The credibility of your father should be such that your greatest strength is your naivety you believe any and everything he says. This is Faith being cultivated to fruit bearing maturity 2. VISION (WHERE YOU FIT IN) a) I need you to CORRECT your sight picture. 4

5 b) Life and trouble and stuff can obstruct your vision and even blind you. What happens is when you can no longer see, you stop SEEKING, EXPECTING c) Military Reference: the correct sight picture is important because it significantly improves your accuracy when firing your weapon. Once you did, you were ready and able to hit the target CONSISTENTLY d) Vision must be attainable in order to be reproduced a. II Corinthians 4:4 the god of this world has blinded the unbeliever b. Habakuk 2:2.. without vision, the people perish CLOSE: IT IS AN HONOR TO GO "If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" David Livingstone For David Livingstone after accepting Christ, he began to grapple with the question: "What shall I do with my life?" The Great Commission had come to have personal meaning. As he pondered the text in Matthew 28, he thought: "All authority is given unto me." The same power is available! "Go and evangelize all nations." The same program is operative! "Lo, I am with you." The same Presence is assured! He had completed his medical education and was ready for some high call to which he could give his utmost. His eyes were fastened upon the speaker, Robert Moffatt and his earnest and urgent concern for Africa's perishing millions. The young man s soul rose up to meet the challenge of the missionary. The missionaries words painted a picture that captivated his entire being. He made the decision then and there, that he would go to Africa! David Livingstone, The Pathfinder of Africa. After hearing Robert Moffatt who would later become his father in law, young Livingstone's mind was haunted by the vision of African villages without the saving Gospel. His favorite passage in Matthew 28: compelled him to act. He once said, Sympathy is no substitute for action One day the chief, in one of the villages, called all his people together and listened to Livingstone s message. "This is wonderful," exclaimed the chief. "But my forefathers 5

6 were living, at the same time yours were. How is it that they never heard of the love of God and of Jesus the Savior? Why did our fathers pass away into deep darkness? Does not the Lord's command require obedience? Does not the king's business require haste? David Livingstone became an effective, committed difference maker who became ignited by a vision he received from a forerunner with great influence, who later became his father in law. Livingstone cultivated that vision with diligence and passion. The lives he both healed and saved were many. 6