Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Oct 8, 2006
If Not You, Who?
Making a Difference
· The world’s population, time of Christ – 300M, 1960 – 3B and today is just over 6.5 billion people
· There are 150,000 deaths per day, 6,390 per hour, 107 every minute or nearly 2 people per second...
· In an average lifetime of 70 years there will be 3.9 billion people slipping off into eternity...
· God calls each of us to action... we are salt & light soldiers fighting in the battle for the souls of men!
· “As fire exists for burning, the church exists for a mission” – a mission to reach our world for Christ.
· We ended the “Impact your World” series with, If not here, where? If not now, when? If not you, who?
· In obedience every believer is commanded by our Lord to GO make a difference in the souls of men...
Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
How do people come to Christ?
· 2% through tracts or literature
· 6% through the pastor
· 6% through evangelistic events
· 86% through family & friend relationships
· From CEF – age coming to Christ: 1% before 4yrs, 85% between 4-14, 10% between 15-30, 4% after 30
· The Great Commission was the last recorded personal instructions given by Jesus to His disciples... us
Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
· This is a personal calling to EVERY believer... to step out in faith & spread the “Good News”
· The Lord is doing some wonderful things in the lives of individuals throughout Cross Creek...
· The original Greek has one main verb that points us to our primary mission or goal (make disciples).
· It’s supplemented by three participles (go, baptize, teach) pointing to what’s involved in making disciples.
· Making disciples is the core or heart of the G. Commission accomplished by going, baptizing & teaching.
· We must do something that puts us in contact with people so we can win them to Christ and begin the process of making disciples... go out into our Jerusalem, Judea, Sam., entire earth (Acts 1:8) – missions
· We also hold special events... Chili cook offs, bonfires, fall festival, Friend Day, Special services, etc...
· Both words, “go” and “make disciples” are in aorist tense which, in Greek, makes the action definite and urgent. The idea is “go and perform your calling.” As you are living your life BE making disciples.
· Baptizing is a single act, while teaching is a continuous process lasting your entire lifetime.
· Disciples need to be baptized - an evidence of salvation - 1 Corinthians 1:14-17; 15:3 shows that baptism, though important, was not a part of the Gospel message... Public demonstration of an inward life change.
· A disciple is one who bound himself to another in order to acquire his knowledge and understanding...
· Are you a mature believer? Are you reproducing yourself in others? Mentoring someone?
· We are to make disciples - learners and followers of Jesus Christ... walking in obedience to His Word.
As you are Going...
1. Be Armed with His Power. v18 (Acts 1:8)
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go
· Jesus said He has ALL (exousia) authority, power, strength...
· Acts 1:8 says by the Holy Spirit we receive POWER (dynamis) - dynamite
· As we go and grapple for the souls of men, we are armed with His mighty power... God does the saving
2. Be Aligned with His Purpose. vs 19-20a
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
· Christ gives us clear instructions to follow... He calls us to share the “Good News” with others.
· Missionaries in remote villages to the mission fields right outside your front door... outside these walls
· We must remain aligned with God’s plan for mankind – that all should come to repentance and be saved.
3. Be Assured of His Presence. v20b
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
· Christ is with you wherever you go, job, people you meet, etc... God the Holy Spirit dwells within you!
· Be assured of His presence... As His child, He’ll never leave you or forsake you. He empowers you!
Verses to Ponder...
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
o God tells us, you are wise if you win souls for Him... turning many to righteousness (Dan 12:3)
John 4:35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
o Jesus is telling us to look around and see the harvest field of lost souls needing to be saved.
o Christ died for everyone of them – “Ask the Lord to send out workers into His harvest field” Mt 9:38
Matthew 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
o Jesus says as a disciple (follower) He will make you fishers of men. I like going fishing!
o Right bait, tackle, time, location, know your fish – you will catch fish... same for souls of men!
o As you are following Christ, as you are going, you will be making disciples... catching fish!
Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
o Acts 1:4 Jesus tells His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit... you CAN’T do it yourself
o God has to do the convicting, God has to do the saving... we are just vessels He works through
A member of W. E. Sangster’s (1900-1960) church in Scarborough, England (the Queen St. Church) was a barber and felt it his duty to witness to his customers, but he wasn’t always careful. One day he lathered a man for a shave, picked up the razor, and asked, “Sir, are you prepared to meet your God?” The poor fellow fled with the lather still on his face.
· We just got back from the SuperConference at Liberty University... it was awesome! God is working!
· Why can’t God do a great work here at Cross Creek? HE CAN and HE IS!
· Look around and see God working... so many lives being touched and changed for eternity – PTL!
· I do not believe we have seen anything yet... New building will begin this spring... it’s only a building...
· The church is made up of believers... not wood, metal & stone... Jesus is building His church! AMEN!
· It’s not about intellect, degrees or debate skills... it’s ALL about Christ power within us... Turn with me...
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
· I asked Andy & Jeff to share briefly about what God is doing in Celebrate Recovery & teen CrossRoads...
· God is working mightily in these two men’s hearts... they’re growing, going, sharing the Good News!
· I believe a fire is burning in your soul also... allow Christ to explode in you - affecting lives for eternity.
If Not You, Who?
· Surrender
John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
o Not your eloquence, wisdom, intellect, cleverness, dynamic personality but your surrender
o Fishing for souls is not about manipulation but a humble yeildedness to the Spirit of God.
o Bearing fruit, catching soul fish is all about abiding / surrendering to Christ.
· Motivation
Matthew 16:26 And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul? NLT
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
o The awesome value of a human soul + the unfathomable love of Christ = Compels us to GO.
o If you don’t take your Christian life seriously, the devil certainly will we’re living in enemy territory
o Much apathy, someone else will do it, deception, plain old laziness, fear... Who will go and tell?
· Willingness
o Turn to Isaiah 6 - The spiritual condition of Israel was declining; they were self-centered, materialistic, alcoholics, living immoral lifestyles, lifted in pride, practiced new age occultic teachings... Then Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne, high and exalted... he heard the multitude of angels crying out, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory”. Isaiah became acutely aware of his sinfulness and was cleansed... then he heard God speak to him...
Isaiah 6:8-9a Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 9 He said, "Go and tell this people...”
o God will hold us accountable for those He brings into our paths – show your faith/tell your story
You’re going to Heaven because someone cared enough to tell you about Christ.
o Who have you cared enough to tell? Who are you taking to heaven with you? Who R U Praying for?
Some years ago a young girl was very sick and not expected to recover. Because of her love for Jesus, she was troubled that she had not been able to do more for Him in her short life. Her pastor suggested that she make a list of people in their little town who needed Christ and pray that they might put their faith in Him. She took his advice, made a list, and prayed often for each person.
Some time later God began to stir a revival in the village. The girl heard of the people who were coming to Christ and prayed even more. As she heard reports, she checked off the names of those who had been led to the Lord.
After the girl died, a prayer list with the names of 56 people was found under her pillow. All had put their faith in Christ—the last one on the night before her death.
Such is the power of definite, specific, fervent prayer for the lost. Who are you praying for? Do you have a prayer list?
Henry G. Bosch, Our Daily Bread, March-May, 1996, p. for April 3
· The world is far more ready for an invitation than we are ready to invite.
· Who are you burdened for? You can’t be vague or it’s never going to happen. You need to get specific.
· One way to do this is to write down the names of three people you want to take to Heaven with you. They may be friends, family, or co-workers. They’re people you care about, people you can invite to church, or people you can share the Good News with.
· George Gallup did a survey that said in America there are 34 million people who said, "I would go to church if somebody invited me." Do you think you might know one of those people? Probably!
My Responsibility...
To pray for and Invite: ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
· Write down the names of three people. Then pray and ask God to give you an opportunity to invite them.
Invitation...
“Dear God, I believe you sent your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins so I could be forgiven. I'm sorry for my sins, and I want to live the rest of my life the way you want me to. Please put your Spirit in my life to direct me. Amen.”
Go and Tell, making a Difference!
Fall Festival – Friday Oct 13th 6:30pm
Friend Day – Sunday Oct 15th 8am & 10:30am
Spiritual Renewal – Dr. Dave Earley, Nov 4-5