Living in Reality
Into the heart of Jesus : Bible is one long love story – God's love for us!
Jesus said that the greatest love a man can show is to lay his life for the one whom he loves. He demonstrated that just by His sacrifice on the Cross there by reconciling us back to God. We became His bride in this process. The test of our commitment to Jesus is in how depth we involve in what concerns Him the most—world evangelism. The primary task of every Christian is to extend the Gospel to every people group on earth.
The most important message is given just before someone leaves. Lets look at His final message to His disciples:
6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 9Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Act 1: 6-9)
We must have a world vision that reaches to our own “Jerusalem” as well as our “Judea, Samaria and unto the ends of the earth.”
Is the reason why Jesus has not yet returned for His Bride, the Church, our failure to fulfill the task He left behind for us?
... repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46–49).
As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21–23).
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; (Matthew 28:18–20).
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15–18).
Are we living for eternal realities, or is our life centred around getting more of the things of this world or protecting what we already have? → The more we're close to Jesus, the better we can walk in the reality.
Why is world-evangelism in the heart of Jesus?
Heaven & Hell are real – we need to be reconciled back to God
Left on our own we go in 'wicked-ways' – selfish, prideful & destructive!
Why did Jesus left us with His 'Great Commission' ?
We're His body – and His only body! (Eph 4:4)
We're Christ’s ambassadors: the ministry of reconciliation:
--- with the seal of Holy Spirit!! (Eph 1:13, 4:30)
--- to bring our neighbours back to God. (2 Cor 5:18)
What did Jesus teach?
37Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' 40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Mt 22:37-40)
Love Should Rule! → Why is there division in the body?
Unity in Christ: we’re all building the same house(kingdom) but satan has deceived most into thinking that only they are building the kingdom (or the right one!). Once we understand that we have only one King and we’re building only one kingdom, we should be able to start praying and working with everyone. We do not have to protect our association, denomination, ministry, race or vocational calling from other believers!! → Do not understand how the body functions!
What has begun in the spirit cannot be perfected in the flesh – guard our hearts for 'holiness-pride' - lack of humility!
How do we extend the rule of Christ in
our chosen career—to our boss, co-workers, competitors and peers?
in the lives of our spouse and children and parents?
How can we live in reality?
We have to keep in mind that
Walking in the Spirit
we're on our pilgrimage on this earth (Heb 11:13-16)
the spiritual warfare or the race of faith is real
We need to see things as He sees it!
We are called to a life of conflict and confrontation.
But it must be with the real enemies, not with fellow believers!
Practical test of Maturity: aka WWJD in practice:
does this fulfil the Great Commission?
Or will this help bring His kingdom – to build up His kingdom?
We should ask God to, “Stamp eternity into our eyes!” → same perspective as Jesus
We're all in full-time mission!
But, God is not calling all of us to leave our jobs and go into 'dedicated full-time service'
How cab we Involve in World-evangelism?
1. Prayer: become an informed intercessor: get updates about ministries in evangelism
2. personal involvement:
by campaigning get others to become sponsors for missions.
sponsor a missionary ourself
Help arrange for mission activity
a united annual festival of missions for our whole community/
a missionary conference at our church
3. Evangelize representatives of unreached peoples in our community
Many students and visitors from closed countries are short-term visitors to our shores.
4. Go to the mission field as a short-term volunteer
5. Go as a missionary ourself. If the Lord calls for it!!
Others may think that we are throwing your life away, but if we obey, God will open doors to places where we can be effective and used of Him on the front line.
Jesus' Mission is Loving others = caring & sharing.
Millions of Christians are still in spiritual kindergarten because we have been taught only to acquire and receive rather than practice true love by sharing.
We're all being brainwashed into consumerism by this world! Think about this: Even the poor people of the 3rd world countries, even when they cannot read or write, knows what “Coca-Cola” or some other famous brand is! Or film star/football player, but do not know Jesus!
How Much Is a Soul Worth? What is the value of a homeless/ beggar ?
Doer of the word and not just talker!
15If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (Jas 2:15-17)
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Simplicity of heart! (Act 2:44-46)
44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
We've to find our own road to detachment and simplicity to be free from materialism!!
Pray before spending not just when to give to charity/mission
How Jesus spend the money ?!
Jn 13:29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.
Jesus was living on Scriptural principles:
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack (2 Cor 8:15, Exo 16:18).
We need to make a decision - to live as Christ would in our financial affairs.
Maybe that means that we should live on less if that’s what it takes to be obedient!
This freedom from covetousness and greed would allow us to escape the frenzied “earn, spend and consume” syndrome that drives our culture. This is the merry-go-round that Satan now uses to hold our families, churches and society in economic bondage.
Meditation:
1. How real is my walk with the Lord?
2. What changes are needed in attitudes & actions to make it more real?
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