Last week we delve into what it means to to have such a love for God that the love of worldly and fleshly desires has no power in our lives. To experience this love we must turn to Jesus. We will not turn to Jesus until we realize how big our sin is and the price Jesus paid. When this is realized there is a Godly sorrow inside of us that leads to repentance.
This week we are talking about being so filled with God's love that we live the mission of bringing Jesus to the world.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins. And whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus was sent because of God's love. Love was the driving force that propelled Jesus to give up his life so that we could live.
Just before Jesus' death he prays to his Father about his disciples: "But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (John 17:13-18 ESV) Jesus was sent by his Father because of love. Now Jesus is sending us on a mission because of love! God wants to send you just like he sent Jesus because he loves the world. He loves your neighbors, friends, classmates, teachers, coworkers and teammates.
We live in a world that desperately needs God's love. Yesterday a teacher at Episcopal shot the Headmaster and then committed suicide. What is the solution to this tragedy? Is it incorporating stricter management and security? Is it medication to deal with depression? Is it psychological therapy? Nothing can heal or change this calamity other than the love of God. People often say, "You Christians are narrow! Why do you Christians enforce your views?" I like Tim Keller's answer: "You have to be in mission if you love someone! If you see symptoms you've had before that are killing your friends will you in love not tell them what helped you?"
Do you realize that if you know Jesus you carry with you the solution to all your friend's problems? Every student on your campus that is struggling with depression, insecurity, loneliness, despair, lack of satisfaction, hopelessness... is looking for the Answer! They are looking for the Truth! He lives in you!
It is your obligation through love to share this Truth to your friends. As Tim Keller says, there must be both love and truth for there to be a mission. If you have the truth but don't love your friends you won't go on the mission. If you have love but don't have the truth or answer to their needs you can't go on the mission. You must have love and the truth inside of you.
THE RESULT OF MISSION
Going back to John 17, Jesus says, "Father I say these things that their joy may be complete." The result of mission is joy. You know if you're in mission if you have joy! Jesus' mission was to die on the cross and set us free. Hebrews 12:2 says, "For the JOY set before him before him he endured the cross, scorning it's shame!" When Jesus was carrying his cross up the hill of Calvary he saw Caleb, Jacob, Emily, Dorrion, Isabelle, Robert, you, me... Jesus, because of his love had a joy to die for you. This love for you, this joy of one day knowing that we would spend eternity with him propelled him to make the sacrifice.
In John 17 Jesus prayed that we would have this same love for people, this same joy he had. His mission to save us in his love produced an unexplainable joy in him.
THE LACK OF JOY IN YOUR LIFE IS DUE TO A LACK OF MISSION!
We've bought into the philosophy that nothing is more important than our own individual happiness. This has robbed us of our joy because it has taken away our mission to live for something greater. We wonder why our culture suffers so much from laziness, apathy and complacency. It's because we are more concerned about getting good grades than sharing the gospel. We are more concerned about our physical rest and health than we are our spiritual. We are more consumed with trying to be a great athlete than we are being a light to our friends. Do you realize God has placed you on a mission to bring revival to your school? There is something greater than your personal needs in this life!
Tim Keller says, "By exaggerating my significance I've lost my significance. When you seek to find yourself, you lose yourself. When you seek Christ, you find Christ and yourself."
In essence, get over yourself! So many of us have lost the mission because we are caught up in our own self-seeking happiness. I Corinthians 13 says that love is not self-seeking. If you love your friends you won't be concerned about your reputation, popularity meter, insecurities or needs.
THE POWER FOR MISSION
The power for mission is an encounter with God. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah has an encounter with God. Isaiah says that as he sees God he realizes his own sin: "I am a man of unclean lips." Then an angel comes to him and places a hot coal on his lips that burn away the impurities. After this God asks, "Who will go to this wicked people? Who shall we send?" Isaiah says without hesitation: "I'm ready! Send me!" What happened? Why was Isaiah ready to go to this obstinate people? He had encountered God's presence.
In Acts 1:4-8 Jesus tells his disciples to wait till his Holy Spirit came upon them before they went out to witness: " And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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 1:4-8 ESV) Jesus has given us his Holy Spirit to empower us to be his light in the world.
You know you have received this power when you've encountered God and now have a love on a whole new level for reaching people. This love comes from being filled in the presence of God. In Acts 2 the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they go out and start the church, and thousands of people start giving their lives to Jesus.
When was the last time you encountered God's presence? When was the last time you were filled in the presence of God? Once a month or week is not enough! Once a day is not enough. There must be a constant filling. Imagine you being a cup with a small hole and the Holy Spirit being a cup larger than you that never runs empty. Your cup must be filled again and again, because not only is there a hole in you but you need to pour into others. The reason we have nothing to give to our friends is because there's nothing inside us. It's about filling ourselves in our quiet times in the mornings, then refilling in the car listening to worship music, praying, going on prayer walks. How do refill at school? By obeying.
God pulls you in to push you out. You are blessed to be a blessing. God fills you up so that he can pour you out!
If you are not in a place of vulnerability, you are not really living the mission yet. In other words, if you are not on the edge of losing your popularity, your coolness status, your money, your time, etc., then you are not really on the mission.
WHY ARE WE NOT MORE EFFECTIVE IN MISSION?
Jesus says in John 17:17-18: "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." Notice that before Jesus sends them he says "sanctify them." In essence, "make them holy." The requirement for effective mission is your personal holiness. Jesus did not teach his disciples apologetics, evangelism 101 courses or seminary. He taught them holiness, and they changed the world. People are not interested in good sermons and worship. They are interested in life and love!
How will we ever change the world if we are stuck in our own lust, laziness and pride? If your life is dull, boring, lacks purpose and joy, what makes you think the world would want what you have?
DO YOU LOVE HIM?
In John 21, Peter is asked by Jesus: "Do you love me?" Peter responds, "Of course I do, Lord" Jesus says, "Feed my sheep." Three times this happens. Notice the number 3. Three times Peter earlier, in fear, denied Jesus. I believe Jesus was making a point. Every time you've succumbed to the pressure and failed to be a light to your friends Jesus said: "Do you love me?" And every time you still do: "Do you love me?... Then feed my sheep."
If you love God nothing will stop you from feeding the sheep. Peter later on says to the church of Ephesus: " So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." 1 Peter 5:1-4 ESV)
Will you receive this crown of glory when the Chief Shepherd appears?
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