Waiting on God

A blog about people's thoughts, writings, and lives as followers of Jesus waiting on God.

God Has Three Things to Say

Tom sits quietly in his recliner, wondering about his faith. He thinks back to when he first became a Christian. He was fired up with a vision to reach people for Christ. He was a part of the Jesus Revolution of the 1970s. He prayed, asking God to use him and make him a strong witness to others. He saw himself as a champion for Christ, proclaiming victory in Jesus' Name. When he heard calls to missions, he was ready to go and clearly understood and accepted the fact that God could use him in a mighty way.

But somehow, since his conversion to Christ, that vision has faded and become a distant memory. He might still talk about it, and He knows it should be important to him – but if the truth be known, it’s the last thing on his mind these days.

What about you? Take a moment to consider this: in the past week, how often did you think about the idea that God has a purpose for your life and for your church? If you’re like many people, it probably didn’t cross your mind much at all. In this sermon, I want to help change that perspective by sharing something important – you play a vital role in God’s plan for the world. God is ready to empower you to realize this plan in your life and your church community.

In this message, we will examine three areas of God’s vision for the Church in three BLOG postings.

1. Part 1: God has three things to say to you about you and what He wants you to believe.

2. Part 2: God wants you to see yourself as He sees you.

3. Part 3: God wants you to know how you can participate in the vision that He has for His Church

As we move into the new year, I believe God wants to encourage us to expand our thinking beyond our usual limits and inspire us to imagine a brighter future. God has three things to say and wants you to believe Him. I encourage you to write these down and keep them where you can easily find them. Then, when you are at the end of your rope, pull them out and read them to yourself.

FIRST GOD SAYS THAT…YOU ARE COMMISSIONED

What does it mean to be commissioned? Fundamentally, it means someone is formally appointed and empowered to carry out a specific task, role, or duty when commissioned. This usually involves an official ceremony or formal recognition that grants individual authority and responsibility. When you signed up to be a Christian, you also accepted the challenge of God’s commission for your life. This is our commission:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

This commission from Christ to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey was given to Jesus’ disciples 2,000 years ago and is still given to us today. It is not optional, even in the face of persecution. God is telling us today that we are both individually and corporately accountable for fulfilling the mission He has sent us. This is for men, women, young people, children, the elderly, married, single, widowed, and divorced – it is given to everyone, and no one is given a pass. The sooner we understand this and take responsibility for it, the sooner we will begin to experience the renewal God wants us to have.

NEXT GOD SAYS THAT…YOU ARE EMPOWERED

Unlike the government, God doesn’t demand unfunded mandates. You know what I mean? Sometimes, the Federal government will pass rules, laws, or procedures passed down to the States, yet no funding is given.

In the 1980s, I ran an educational program for an Ohio college in a local prison. We had 100s of men taking college courses. I ran the program in a creepy, old, out-of-date prison in Mansfield, Ohio; the prison was the site of the movie Shawshank Redemption. While I was running the program, the State of Ohio built a new one, but a year after completing it was empty of people, furniture, and other furnishings. What happened? They approved the funding for building the new state-of-the-art prison but failed to include money for furnishings and new staff that was needed.

God doesn’t work like that – He never asks us to do anything that He himself doesn’t. He also gives us the resources necessary to accomplish whatever He’s asked us to do.

“But 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 Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 (ESV)

Do you realize that the same power given to the early disciples is available to us today, and that power comes from the Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer? And that power was specifically given to accomplish the vision God had given. I can never excuse myself from service by saying that I do not have the necessary resources–God promises that He will empower me to fulfill the vision.

LAST GOD SAYS THAT…YOUR ARE ENTRUSTED

There is a story about a young man who applied for a theater usher job. The manager asked him, "What would you do if a fire broke out?" The young guy answered, "Don't worry about me. I'd get out okay."

That's how we respond sometimes. "What would you do if Jesus came back tomorrow?" "Oh, don't worry about me. I'd be okay." But you're an usher! It isn't enough to get out ourselves – we’re responsible for helping others. Folks, the world is burning down, and Jesus has entrusted us to tell the good news and help get people out of the fire of judgment. I have said this before, and I will say it again: we are God’s plan for the world's redemption, and there is no plan B.

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. – 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

God has entrusted His vision to us as individuals and as a church – there is no other plan in place – God is counting on you and on me to get the job done.