How We Lost the Mountains Session 1 Os Hillman
Church-based Ministry 7 Mountains Strategy History Workplace Ministry ICWM 1998 Spirituality @Work 1997 HCAW 2001 7 Mtns Marketplace Leaders 1997 97 Half Time 1995 95 Social Transformation Pinnacle Forum 1995 95 Ed Silvoso,, Billy Graham, Henry Blackaby,, Peter Wagner CBMC 1930 Workplace Ministry C12 1992 CMDL 1991 91 FGBMFI 1951 Executive Ministries 1960s ICCC 1985 FCCI 1977 Evangelism Theology of work
August 1975, Boulder, Colorado Why no progress since 75? Bill Bright, Campus Crusade for Christ Loren Cunningham, Youth with a Mission
Why? They stopped at evangelism. Contributed to pluralism in calling - sacred/secular hierarchy support raising contributes to a poverty mentality
Josh 1:10-11 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, "Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.'"
Displace 7 Enemies (mountains) to take the Promised Land This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out 7 enemies before you including the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and the Jebusites (Joshua 3:10).
7 Nations Greater and Mightier When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou (Deuteronomy 7:1).
But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16
Seven is the perfect number in scripture. It is the number for completion. # 7 mentioned 387 times in Bible Made the world in 7 days. Made man to have 7 needs. Week = 7 days Joshua walked around Jericho 7 times Joseph: 7 years prosperity, 7 yrs famine 7 loaves of bread, 7 baskets left over 7 churches Revelation 7 lampstands Hotel: 7 Concourse Parkway 7 Enemies! 7 hole in ones!
7 Areas of Personal Influence 5 4 6 Nation City/Community Local Church 3 2 Work Family World 7 Jesus 1
Rev 17:9-10 10 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings.
Understanding the Assignment
Dominion God s Original Intent
The earth is the Lord s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24: 1).
God s First Instruction to Man And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Gen 1:26
All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Col 1:16-18
Through Christ all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:3-4)
God s Original Intent Individuals and Nation s to obey God Dt 28 To prosper in every way Fulfill their unique purpose Fulfill God s overall plan To receive your God-ordained inheritance All creation to reflect His glory
Accomplished through Obedience If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. - - Deut 28:1-2
Original Intent through Moses Not to establish a religion but a nation of people who would love, serve, and honor God. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Dominion was lost in the Garden Jesus came to reclaim what Satan took in the garden For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross Colossians 1:19-20.
Our Assignment is to Disciple Nations And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. -- Matt 28:18-20
Head vs Tail The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. - Deut 28:13-14
Life Work Societal Transformation Matt 6:9-10 "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Church Nation City
God Is Over All There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Eph 4:4-6 Societal Transformation Illustration used by permission: Word In Life Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Jesus, Lord Over All Domains of Influence (not just Lord over salvation) 1. King of Kings the Lord of Justice 2. Jehovah Jireh Lord of Economics 3. Father, Lord of the family 4. Creator God, Lord of science & technology 5. Living Word, Lord of communication 6. Potter, Lord of the arts & beauty 7. Great Teacher, Lord of education
Abraham Kuyper 1837 1920 Netherlands "Oh, no single piece of our mental Dutch leader father of 7 children entrepreneur Publisher/businessman Pastor, theologian Scholar, editor and writer, an educator Visionary speaker and statesman. Prime Minister from 1901 to 1905. world is to be hermetically sealed His greatest legacy was the fact that he pioneered the idea of applying off from the rest, and there is not a square inch in the whole domain Christian worldview to all of life, including family, business, economics, politics, arts. of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all,, does not cry: 'Mine!'"[1]
We must have a biblical worldview
Only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview. The Barna Update, "A Biblical Worldview Has a Radical Effect on a Person's Life," December 1, 2003.
The Most Christianized City in America British television documentary
TV Documentary Most Christianized City in America Dallas, Texas Criteria: More people in church per capita on Sunday than any other city
Comparisons Life in Dallas was examined in a variety of ways: Health care Hospitals Emergency care Contagious diseases Infant mortality rate Job availability General economics How easy is it to get a job? How easy is it to get housing? The relationship between potential income and potential housing. Homelessness Racism The existence of abuse Crime rates Economic discrepancies
Results The city was one of the lowest ranking cities in the nation providing core services No one would want to live in a city in that condition.
Dallas Pastor Responses Those things do not concern us. We are spiritual leaders
A gospel that does not deal with the issues of the day is not the gospel at all. Martin Luther
Prov 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
Would the community notice if your local church shut its doors tomorrow? Would your workplace notice if you were no longer there? Is your industry different because of you?
#1: Why we lost the 7 mountains? Disobedience If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. - - Deut 28:1-2
We gave up dominion when Adam and Eve fell
Deut 8:19-20 Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.
Why we lost the mountains Deut 28:15-19 Disobedience However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.
Our enemies didn t have to kill us, we simply disobeyed God which entitled our enemies to take our mountains.
Reason #2: Satan s Key Strategy The Gospel of Salvation Vs The Gospel of the Kingdom
#2 Gospel of Salvation vs Gospel of the Kingdom And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony as a testimony to the whole world, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
Kingdom of God A kingdom is the sovereign rulership and governing influence of a king over his territory, impacting it with his will, his intent, and his purpose, manifesting a culture and society reflecting the king s nature, values, and morals.
Kingdom A kingdom is the governing impact of a king s will over a territory or domain, his influence over a people, and a government led by a king. -- Myles Munroe, Kingdom Principles
An Incomplete Gospel For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Luke 14:29-30 Gospel of Salvation Proclamation evangelism Addresses only the Soul Rapture escape mentality Sacred vs Secular Focuses on Transaction Nigeria Gospel of the Kingdom Soul and body Impacts all aspects of society Material, social, earthly, secular Influence through servant, godly leadership, active faith Focuses on taking dominion Possess the Land Almolonga
Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. KJV Jesus wants to return to a mature church, not a weak and defeated church a mature bride
Early Gospel Transformed Israel Transformed Roman Empire Laid Foundation for Western European Nation s Prosperity
Failed Evangelical Strategies Product boycotts Political activism Discipling Nations And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry... Eph 4:11-12
Christians have become more known as a political action group rather than a people modeling the love, power, and servanthood of Christ. Early church changed Rome by living the gospel in an ungodly culture.
Politics reflect culture, but doesn t affect culture. Culture changes when ideas are adopted, institutionalized, and lived out. Will never legislate moral behavior
Reason #3 Unbiblical View of Work and Ministry
Key Issues/Barriers Sacred/Secular Equality in Calling Defining Ministry Local Church as Equipper
England We are convinced that England will never be converted until the laity use the opportunities daily afforded by their various professions, crafts and occupations. Towards the Conversion of England (1945)
Work IS Ministry Work TO Minister Meet human needs Ministry equates to Service diakonia Col 3:23-25 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward WORK of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Platform Give $ Work is worship Avodah Influence - societal transformation
Moses Staff But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it." Ex 4:17 Delivered a people from slavery
Wrong Assumptions Believed we could change culture through Religious Mountain: Prayer conferences Spiritual warfare conferences Pastor and church unity gatherings Evangelistic Crusades
Reason for Lack of Christian Influence Not engaged in the culture Evangelical sub-culture network not part of mainstream key networks of influence Lack of social and economic capital to influence Flawed eschatology Its only going to get worse, why bother?
Summary of Why We Lost the 1. Disobedience Mountains 2. Gospel of Salvation vs Gospel of the Kingdom 3. Unbiblical view of work and ministry
I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his house, and he will minister before my anointed one always (1 Sam 2:35-36). Will you be one of these?
Prayer