kingdom expansion sermon

. Yet, I am not greater than my Master and they called Him the same. They often do not become transformed for a long time, if they do at all. Read also John 14:24. Its all about them. All else is secondary, and should only be considered inasmuch as it does not detract from the true mission. (John 15:4-6). We are just seasons away from fulfilling the Great Commission, and you and I have an integral role to play in it. Name three examples in the Bible of the man of peace.. Pauline doctrine was never meant to be learned simply by reading a series of letters. We Dont Need More Pretenders Yet I am certain to lose some of you now, because I will depart from the mainstream a bit with this teaching. Pray through Luke 11:13 below (ask, seek, knock). 30 For we know Him who said, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY. And again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE. 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Since they are often joining for the benefits and not the vision/mission, it results in more reserves, not more soldiers. Nor are we the center of the battle that continues to rage to this day. The disciples told others to welcome him. They dont understand that he is indwelt by God, and possesses eternal life! The account of John the Baptist speaking of Jesus coming after him is recorded in all four Gospels with slight variation (John 1:33, Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11, and Mark 1:8). If someone struggles with smoking, they may light up and fail for the moment. Because mature believers got involved in the lives of others, the Body of Christ remained robust. Dont throw in the towel and give up, thinking that nothing is happening! It is to bring the wayward person to repentance and restoration. Let me ask youor rather, answer the Lord: have you counted the cost? May it never be! Yet many of our siblings are being deceived by the lies and give their allegiance to Satan. Now that youve gotten a glimpse of the big picture, lets fill in some of the remaining details. (Matthew 7:13-29). So the reader can know they have eternal life. Overwhelmed By Grace a Biblical study of the sovereign grace of God in salvation. When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. We are now Gods possession, no longer bound to our former slave master, Satan, and free to walk in holiness, righteousness, and obedience. On average, 178,000 people convert to Christianity around the world every day! And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and We even fellowship to mutually edify one anotherto encourage each other on the mission (1 Corinthians 14:26). Luke 9:11 But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing. It may not sound very nice to say it, but lets be honestif they would serve without the benefits, would the government even offer them? We have also interspersed a few other great articles by other notable Christian leaders like John Newton and Charles Spurgeon. As you share your faith, trust God to save your friends and family in his timing. . So then, you will know them by their fruits. The Gate is narrow; however, the path is narrower still. We meet in homes, usually either in Rancho Cordova or Natomas. Lord, I pray that your people would learn to hear your voice and eagerly desire to commune with you. Then he must pray. Lets unwrap these factors and more. But what did not expect was the reaction that took place. Clearly, in the end many will claim Jesus as Lord, but in name only. Typically, evangelicals leverage secular philosophies or psychology that is simply Christianized. Oftentimes spiritual maturity is confused with sanctification. Programs, events, structures, and a few formally trained people. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers - and it was not there . Pray for and expect the demonstration of the, 5. Do not attempt to disciple them through a series of meetings and teachings. By two months, they should be discipling someone of their very own. We resist the devil by not giving him a place, or a foothold, which is obeying him at the expense of the Spirits guidance. The systems and gifted individuals are expected to grow them. It is the largest religion on the face of the planet! The next step is to pray for empowerment. The absolute upper limit for a mature saint with full-time commitment to discipleship should be about 10. You will know them by their fruits. Consider it afresh in light of Johns message in First John and the theme of this chapter: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. Because the sooner they engage on the mission, the more likely the vision (living for Gods glory) and healthy spiritual DNA (commitment and obedience to Christ) will make it to the next generation. But also discuss sin struggles and thought life. Insist on full repentance. Lutheran. How could that be? . Have you counted the cost and surrendered everything to Christ? A few of us have been working hard to reach Rancho Cordova with the gospel. Addition models are limiting because each of the folks being added is not expected to add more in and of themselves. Why do so many professing followers of Christ experience the same problems as the rest of the world? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Paul asked Apollos if he had received the Holy Spirit. If there was a single theme that dominated Jesus preaching, it was the kingdom. Tallest Building in the World So, when we begin ascribing a meaning to the birds, and the woman, and the leaven, and the three pecks of flour, we can begin to find all kinds of fanciful interpretations. Leaders, for you to be obedient to the mission at hand and have the greatest impact for the Kingdom you possibly can, you have to start thinking Kingdom, rather than local church (ouch!). Seven childrenyoure done, right? Improving the Mood: Dealing with Irritability and Frustration, Team Building: Eliminating Arguments and Anger. Do we achieve victory living day by day, or moment by moment? Did Jesus just speak by his own initiative or was what He said by design? In looking at the methods that we use to restore a person to wholeness, one would have to conclude that the Holy Spirit is insufficient to transform a life. Through His leading, we walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh and simply repent when we fall short being cleansed by the blood of Christ. I beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. Where was the throne? No. Cut it down! But this much He made clear: discipline has real protocol. However, this is the term used by John the Baptist, Peter, Jesus Himself, and the writers of five books of the Bible. Lord, speak to your people. A Thrill of Hope Sermon Central Share a Sermon Try PRO Free Help Sign In Matthew 13:33, Denomination: Is the kingdom of God advancing through us? Truth be told, the average person is not happy with their life. Always, start by fasting and praying. Who has your allegiance and affection, God or Satan? You will be mobilized towards one aim: fulfilling the Great Commission in this generation. How many years did the owner of the fig tree allow it to grow without bearing fruit before he demanded it be cut down? Signing this document will lay the foundation for His service, and qualify us to train the reserves for the mission. We focus on salvation and the benefits of having some kind of relationship with the Lord. Transformed lives are not made intellectually. Trust God. This is a troubling statement. I think this disconnect can be traced back hundreds of years. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. Quietly and steadily, Gods people are touching lives and changing lives by representing Him in the world. Dont let this scare you. Hmmm. You cant be overly critical or domineering. Journaling about what to read, as suggested, will be helpful in confirming their understanding of Scripture and in seeing that the Holy Spirit is teaching them and leading them into greater obedience. Until we are ready to sign this document, we are not fit to serve in His Kingdom. (1 Corinthians 5). That must have been how the first disciples felt at the beginning as well. 4. If they fail to repent, then a second person accompanies the offended to make clear to the offender that the claim by the offended is substantiated. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS. Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (1 John 2:3-6), Do not love the world nor the things in the world. It wasnt your typical pastor up front preaching. Meditate on these truths. There is much unlearning to be done if you are trying to instill fresh Kingdom DNA in someone who has a history of church DNA. Prior to May, 2012 these messages were delivered in a house church setting. Then address needs as they arise. 3 Give us each day our However, if we continue to sin, it just shows we are carnal, not abiding in Christ, grieving the Spirit. Christian leaders would do well to read this book and implement its principles into their ministries. So after a while, they stop pulling. Paul made the case that the church must discipline sinners. Luke 7:28 I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.. Gods kingdom people are not recognized by the rest of the world. Get beyond traditions, denominational persuasions, how to fellowship, and surrender everything for the Pearl of Great Worth. Do we present the truth and the necessity of counting the cost? Note the word impossible. Repentance is a one-way street. Read and meditate upon the material presented in each chapter. Did no one condemn you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, I do not condemn you, either. We are dead to sin, having partaken in Christs death and resurrection. When you fail to show kindness, to speak honestly, to be authentic, to share the gospel message, to listen, or to display patience, admit your fault and ask for forgiveness. Now, with Jesus putting so much emphasis on the kingdom, the twelve disciples must have been very confused. Matthew 13:44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. This should not be surprising to us if we read Jesus teachings. (Galatians 5:19-21). What is a stronghold? . Lord God Almighty, I pray that your glory will cover the whole earth. Then the unity of the allies is reestablished and loyalty to the King reaffirmed. Under normal circumstances, the pattern below would be followed: These methods are, in practice, only marginally effective with the churched and religious. Yet in the same letter he says if we are born of God, we cant go on sinning! From there, bathe yourself in the teachings of the New Testament, obeying what you read, and disarming the darkness by shedding the light of the truth on that darkness. Granted, this is a partial truth, but I believe this portrayal of Gods Word seriously diminishes its true intentwhich is to point us to Him. We should expect people to take time to ask questions and to express doubts. 2. According to 1 John 2:15-17, can someone love the world and the things of the world and still have the love of the Father in him? In them, Paul told the believers to eagerly seek the greater gifts (prophesy specifically), and not to forbid the speaking in tongues (both practices forbidden by many today in spite of Pauls admonition). However, this does not mean that we can disregard the standards set forth in First John (it is Gods Word, after all). Now go out there and spark an unquenchable fire of Kingdom expansion! What happens to the one who hears His words and does not act on them? I think the mystery of salvation is best understood like this: do not ask a person for intellectual assent to determine whether or not the person is saved. Now, we understand that these numbers include everyone who makes any kind of a profession of Christianity, Catholics and Protestants alike, irregardless of whether they are born again or not. The baptism may or may not be accompanied by speaking in tongues; allow the Holy Spirit to do what He wants. 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches., 20 And again he said, To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? Enjoy the conversation. Read John 14:16 and 16:7. Who did Jesus say He would send to the disciples after He went to the Father? Name *. Its all about the mission. You were created for a time such as this. This robs God of His glory. Some were so highly privileged that they would not taste death until they saw the kingdom. Now notice what it says in Ephesians 4:11-12: all saints are mission workers, not just the paid ministers or simply the gifted. We are all soldiers on the mission. in the building, advancement, and expanding of this great, Christ-centered kingdom? Who are the two powers battling for our affection and allegiance? These parables were His way of telling them not to despise the day of small beginnings. They say that a mustard plant was never intended to be a tree. All they see is that guy sitting at the next table over eating a cheeseburger, or driving in the car next to them, or sitting at the desk next to them. One does not necessarily need to lead to the other. We have turned it into information and meetings, rather than a walk empowered by the Spirit.. We have sins in every room: unforgiveness, anger, sexual sins, idolatry in many forms, addiction, worldliness, and much more. What do you suppose Jesus would do if He were facing the same woman in the court the next day, having been caught in the same sin? John MacArthur, Jr. has written an endorsement on the back cover. Be An Accurate Representative of Christ! Satan rebelled against (divorced) God and was kicked out of the house (heaven). But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Sinners God is working on are eerily attracted to the counter-cultural lifestyle of Kingdom saints. Principles from the Lords prayer from Luke. Why does it even use up the ground? And he answered and said to him, Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down. (Luke 13:1-9). I pray against any strongholds limiting their perspectivereligious or otherwise. This deceptive training concept is similar to what happens to northern pike when they are captive in fish tanks. Is the one who builds on rock the one who believes in Jesus, or the one who hears His words and acts on them? Yes, simply enjoy each others company. Pray for your disciple to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 20 Being asked by the Main Idea: Recognizing by faith the merciful work of Christ results in overwhelming gratitude. Here Jesus was constantly preaching about the kingdom, and talking about the kingdom, and sending them out to preach about the kingdom, but where was it?! This concept is no different with spiritual warfare as compared to carnal worldly warfare. We place an extremely high value on the Word of God, so we consider the context and intent of the original author to his readers before we bring present day application. (Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV), Anger is a natural emotion that does not have to lead to sin. It will help him to practice day after day, year after year, because he knows where it will lead. We justify the sin and encourage others to likewise disobey so that we do not feel shamed or convicted that we are the only one disobeying (Romans 1:32). Christian Church Sacramento & Rancho Cordova, CA. Jesus goes on now to tell a second parable that expands on the first one. The oil change Now I have seen this verse used in popular evangelism methods, with absolutely no reference to the content of the letter itself. I pray that the enemy would cringe at the advancement of your glory. Our allegiance and affections are sought to glorify one or the other. What was the result of David not repenting when he should have seen his sin? We oftentimes walk around in bondage as a result of similar training. Set goals and provide accountability. However, I hope that irritation to your soul births a pearl, and ultimately the Pearl of Great Worth, that ignites an unquenchable passion for expanding Gods glory. Do you think government welfare or the wonderful works the oil rich Muslim nations do throughout the world glorify God? I think a lot of that stems from our understanding of the process. (1 John 2). When we begin to give meanings to all of the details in the parable, we end up following after fanciful interpretations. Not the result of political activism or a better structure or doctrinejust transformed lives given a clear vision for the times and a strategic and actionable plan for their involvement in the mission. Now this certainly does not line up with our experience, so how can it be true? Christian Missionary Alliance, I was at Family Camp at Delta Lake early this week. Do you think if she was caught in adultery the next day, He would forgive her again? 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 5. Read John 14:15, 14:21, and John 15:10. I pray that your laborers would storm the gates of hell, and initiate an unstoppable movement of radically transformed lives. Since we are slaves to the one we obey, if we still sin, to whom do we enslave ourselves? 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. (Matthew 18). And do the same for your disciples. I chase the King with reckless abandon. They have to learn to see the Christian experience as the Kingdom lifestyle, and not simply a part of their life. How many generations of disciples constitutes a disciple-making movement? Receive what is from the Lord to mobilize the Kingdom saints, and please overlook the eccentricities of my imperfect delivery. read more, Scripture: At that point, we can just walk in freedom, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, for we are cleansed and not subject to the lies of the Accuser of the brethren (Satan), because the TRUTH has set us free.. How many converts will an evangelist make if he makes one a day for twenty years? The Bible tells us to test ourselves to see whether we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12, emphasis added). One Christian teacher shared a great analogy about the mystery of sanctification that has stuck with me. Now its getting tougher. Understanding these truths certainly compels us to remain fruitful and on-mission to continually glorify God! The leaven would cause the bread to ferment, and expand, and bubble up, until it had caused the entire 50 pounds of flour to rise. Lord God Almighty, I pray that you will open minds and hearts, and remove anything that hinders your Spirit from reaching the heart, and allow your truth to sink in deep into the soul. Let me explain. If not, pray Luke 11:13 and ask a Spirit-filled brother to lay hands on you and pray for you until you are baptized in the Holy Spirit. We repent of sin, renounce strongholds, and release victimizations. They fear that honesty will lose peoples respect. However, you must remember that even if you receive the grace to be saved, it comes with the edict to sin no more. The gospel tells us that we are loved, valued, adopted, freed, and forgiven in Christ. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. They fled. Discipleship Training Manual was Pastor Brians attempt to provide some material to enable an older believer guide a younger believer into a growing and more obedient relationship to Christ. This task is not relegated to pastors and teachers of a discipleship class (thats an oxymoron if I have ever seen one). http://www.nec.org.au/listen-to-a-sermon-series/kings-series/ They seemingly experience the same cycles of failures and struggles. A talented teacher named Apollos taught accurately concerning Jesus and definitively demonstrated that Jesus was the Christ. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. That Magnificent Kingdom Mark 4:21-34 This message shows how God's kingdom advances, one soul at a time. In so doing, he gets his grubby footprints in every room. Jesus destroyed the devils work (1 John 3:8). . Frustration, anger, or force will only push those people away. That the book gives us a very selective account history 400 years covered This is a simple, practical, biblical, comprehensive, and effective pattern for launching an unstoppable disciple-making movement. We engage with our minds and not our spirits. Read John 1:33, Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11, and Mark 1:8. Between meetings, one of the assignments can be to study the Scriptures about the baptism and to pray for this gift. I recommend a fast one day per week, specifically to focus on finding a disciple of their own to share in the faith journey. Once you have been cleansed through repentance, renouncing, and releasing, maintain a clean slate by walking in a constant state of repentance, being cleansed by the blood of Christ, listening to Gods grace at the Spirits leading. What if God asked you to sign a blank piece of paper, permitting Him to take what He wants? It doesnt. After reading the above passages, who do you think the verse was addressed to, believers or unbelievers? Not my words, his. . But rather look at their life for the fruit of authentic faith indicating they are being saved. This is what Christ demands from His disciples! It is a shame that we try to unlock that mystery with systematic theologies and statements of faith. The house has changed ownership, yet we still have a few items that we try to keep hidden. What was the theme of Jesus teaching with the disciples for 40 days after His resurrection? Therefore, our raison dtre in life and ministry is to glorify God, and nothing more. Implicit with the command of baptism is repentance, because water baptism is called a baptism of repentance. No repentance, no salvation: period. A radically transformed life is required to transform others lives. Read Romans Chapter 6. According to 1 John 3:3-10, did Jesus come to take away the penalty of sin, or sins? It was only going to be a few poor, unlearned, fishermen and tax collectors that would believe in Him. The disciple must repent to allow cleansing. Hmmm, Pentecost marking the beginning of their ministrydo you see a pattern here? 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Next Steps; Serve; Connect @ Woodlands. I mean, do you have a disciple whom you personally led to Christ, that you are personally discipling into obedience by sharing your life? Lord God Almighty, show us our freedom and empower us to lead others to freedom. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15, NIV). by Jeff Long | Jan 30, 2022 | Sermons & Talks. The enemy keeps us clinging to the chains, when all the while, we have been granted freedom from them. It ends with from now on sin no more. From this we see that repentance is not just saying you are sorry, but being sorry enough to not do it again. Engage in ministry (service or otherwise) with your disciple to see if the next generation candidate emerges. Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! 3. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. This may seem obvious, but too often when Christians share the faith, it turns into a heated argument. We believe this lie even though Jesus said wide is the way that leads to destruction, and narrow is the way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). And when they are deployed, they are ready to fight with valor and precision. At some level we seek ministry success to satisfy our desire to accomplish a lot for God; however, the aim is misguided by our insecurities and deep needs, rather than motivated by Gods glory. ", James Madison Weve staked our future on our ability to follow the Ten Commandments with all of our heart.. You see, Satan does not have authority to operate in our lives when we are cleansed, because we are no longer subject to the law of sin and death. If we were honest and looked at our hearts, we might even find that our ministries minister to us. Conversion without transformation seems to rescue some from a fiery end. This is very irresponsible. The message we share with people is not about hell, morality, or the church. Are we AWOL, too? Although the kingdom began very small and obscure and inconspicuous, it will have a glorious ending, spreading throughout the world, and influencing peoples from every quarter of the globe! 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Absolutely not! 18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. The Roman emperors did everything they could to destroy Christianity, but it just kept growing and spreading every year. This is an unfortunate reality in modern Christendom. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. Through much introspection and prayer, they must literally write down all recurrent sins, past strongholds, areas of victimization, and so on. Read 2 Samuel Chapters 11 and 12. Repentance, which cleanses the offender by Christs blood, releases the foothold and restores their right standing with God. Posts Categories Adult Discipleship Opportunities - General 2; Adult Discipleship Opportunities - Men 1; Adult . . I rebuke the enemy and command him by the authority of Jesus Christ to stay away from your people.

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