“Victorious Living”

God’s Purpose- part 5of 6

Is 14:24 (p494) & Selected

God’s Presence - God’s Passion - God’s People - God’s Power - God’s Purpose - God’s Promise

·         Review briefly each part... In looking at living in victory, we must know God’s Purpose!

·         Everything God created has a purpose... God had a purpose in mind when He created you!

·         Throughout history we see man’s attempts to find satisfaction and peace apart from God... some here may be seeking

·         The great Pharaoh of Egypt tried to do it his way (Jewish slavery) but we see God overriding his human efforts.

·         Throughout the Word of God we see the vain efforts of man in trying to conquer or achieve greatness thru self-effort...

·         Whether it’s Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans, Americans or the Russians, no power can go against God’s purposes.

Isaiah 14:24 The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.

·         The Lord Almighty says TRUTH – “as I have planned, so it will be”!  Victorious Living begins by living in God’s plan!

·         God has a divine plan, a Sovereign purpose for each of you that are here this morning!  God brought you here!

·         God calls everyone born in this world to a new relationship with Himself!  Pastor Barry will speak about this shortly.

Just before Jesus ascended back to heaven... He spoke to His disciples, and to us...

Matthew 28:18-19 “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... teaching them to obey all I command you... ” 

·         Jesus claimed all authority, the official right & power given Him by the Father...

·         Then Jesus commands every believer to “go make disciples” on the basis of that authority... We have authority in Him

·         Go – make disciples – baptize – teach – obey = Go – make disciples – baptize – teach – obey = ... etc., etc., etc...

·         We’re also told by Jesus to open your eyes and look at the fields of lost souls... people ripe for coming to salvation!

John 4:35 “...open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest

	Jesus is speaking of spiritual vision and perception of people around you. Being aware of their eternal state.
	People are hungry for truth in a world that is filled with lies... people are ready to be set free – to live victoriously!
	Jesus said if He be lifted up, He’ll draw all men unto Himself... Always be lifting up Jesus – The Truth.

	You see, God is reliable, He is trustworthy... His purpose and plans stands forever... seen in Creation & History!
	Do you know what God’s eternal plan is for your life?  Does your life have meaning and purpose?
	How does God’s purpose tie in “go and make disciples” and with “fields white unto harvest”?
	When our plan fits within God’s plan there is tremendous blessing – Victorious Living... living out God’s purpose!
	Because human race has fallen in sin, all have sinned, all have broken God’s Law – all told lies, stolen or lusted...
	In Adam all have sinned & died but in Jesus Christ you can be forgiven and made alive! (Rom 5:12-20) -RU saved
	God’s purpose stands forever... In light of so many various passages of scripture we can sift it down to basics...

	God’s passion for everyone to be saved... God’s not willing that any should perish... 2Pet 3:10
	If God’s number one heartbeat is to see the conversion of the souls of men... that should be ours also!

	David served God’s purpose in his own generation – we need to do the same NOW – in our generation!
	God took the initiative and redeemed us... thru Christ commands us to go make disciples... utmost urgency!
	Jesus said what good is it if you gained the whole world, yet lose your soul for eternity in hell (Mt 16:26)

	Jesus said people are hungry to hear truth, but the workers are few... Oh God, raise us up as your servants to go!
	Fulfilling the Lord’s Great Commission and the Great commandment will grow a Great Church!
	To be a Loving and a Going church!  We Serve the Lord as David did by reaching the world in our generation

	Jesus has commissioned every believer to go make disciples – it’s not an option but a flat out command!
	Let’s take this one step further... Just how do we reach people?  How do we take the Word of Truth to them?
	Go – make disciples – baptize – teach – obey - Go – make disciples – baptize – teach – obey... etc., etc., etc...

	Jesus calls us to “follow Him” and as we do He makes us “fishers of men” – they became a disciple.
	“Disciple” is a learner and follower of Jesus... we learn of Him and obey Him by fishing for men.
	“Come, follow me” was a call to service... if you belong to Christ, He calls you to get fishing! Let’s Go!

Fishing for Souls like Jesus...

Ø       Know your Fish!

·           When you go fishing, you need to know what you’re fishing for... catfish, bass, trout, walleye, bluegill... carp!

·         I teach about CrossCreek Charlie in Class 101.  We must understand also there are all types of people

·         Young, old, married, divorced, wealthy, poor, educated, professional – look around at our area – thousands

·         Within one mile of Cross Creek there are 3,400 people, 3miles – 34,000; 5 miles – 104,000 people – fields white

·         The four biggest complaints about church are: 1.) Sermons boring & don’t relate to my life 2.) People are unfriendly 3.) All they want is my money     4.) Poor childcare

Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  

·         To reach people with the Gospel we must make every opportunity... (Suffering from deadly sin disease! Mk 2:17)

Ø       Use Right Equipment!

·         Every fisherman knows you must use the right hooks, baits, lures, nets, tackle, boats, reels, etc

·         Serious fisherman even learns to think like a fish... conditions of the water, weather, temperatures, cover, etc

·         Without compromising, Christians too need to use whatever it takes to fish for souls like Jesus did.

1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

·         Paul says he’ll do whatever is necessary in trying to reach people with the Good News... that’s God’s Purpose

·         That’s why we use computers, video projectors, power point, songs, etc on the “big screen”... outreach.

·         We learn and remember 11% of what we hear but 85% of what comes through the eyes!  We're visual people!

·         Jesus was innovated when large crowds came to Him – He got in a boat and floated offshore!  (Mt 13:2)

·         We have grown over 40% each year since we began about 6 years ago!  Truly a miracle in itself – w/ growing pains!

·         We're jammed and in desperate need for more space for classrooms, offices, nursery, sanctuary, activity center, etc.

·         We may be changing our service times to help with the overcrowding in the later service... be in prayer.

·         We’re engaged with surveyors, architects, engineers, then we need approval from local zoning board in order to build a beautiful new building. (Over 14,000 SF seating over 600)

·         If it was up to me, we’d be started already... but red tape moves soooo sloooow – teaching us patience!

·         Our facilities are nothing more than a tool to reach people with the message of Christ!  Not into huge cathedral!

·         What can I do?  How can I help?  I ask you to be PRAYING – GIVING – WORKING. (2 sheets of workers!!)

·         Begin or continue to give to our building fund (presently approx $130,000) systematically each week.

·         How much is your salvation worth? How much is one soul worth? $500,000 building is a tool to reach more souls

Philippians 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

·         The key is being unified in spirit and purpose!  Fulfilling the Great Commission together!  Proclaiming Truth!

·         Every week lives are being touched for Christ!  Wednesday night a little boy got saved in Awana! (Bill Norwig)

·         His name is Austin.  A few months ago Austin’s dad & mom both trusted Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior!

·         I received an email couple of days ago from a Pastor in Bermuda using our resources on the web in great ways!

·         His name is Ed Richardson, in fact, be in prayer concerning his daughter Sacha – high fluid pressure in her brain & recently medivaced to Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Know your fish – Use the right tools...

But most importantly, we must...

Ø       Stay God Dependent!

·         It is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.. God fulfilling His purpose in the world through you and me! He’s using you!

·         To continue to reach people with the message of the Gospel we must remain focused, dependent & surrendered

·         Jesus said, “I will build My church” -Cross Creek belongs to Jesus not Dave or Barry or Deacons, or an individual

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Psalms 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me.

·         It doesn’t get any better than seeing people come to Christ... like a beautiful flower opening into full bloom!

·         Its NOT about you – It’s all about Christ in you!  I’m calling every believer here to stay God dependent!

3.      Faithful Obedience Produces Eternal Results  (Pew Bible page 769)

John 21:1-6,11 ¹ Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ⁵ He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. ⁶ He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish... Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

·         Rough, tough fishermen who left everything they had in order to follow Jesus Christ.. then they saw Him crucified

·         What devastation... Let’s go fishing!  Love to listen in on their conversation that night!!!  Fish weren’t biting either!

·         Friends, fishermen, disciples, followers of Jesus, skilled in fishing came up short. Depressed, empty nets, doubts...

·         In steps Jesus!  Throw your net on the other side... Hey buddy, don’t tell us how to fish – we’re the experts!

·         The world is full of experts, experts with dead orthodoxy, experts with critical spirits, experts in their own eyes...

·         We can be educated “experts” and not catching any fish!  Not listening to Jesus!  Disconnected from the “head”

·         Faithful obedience produces everlasting results! 

Great Blessings of...

·         Healthy Church!

·         Not a prideful church but a humble church... overflowing in gratitude to the Lord!

·         Notice the “nets were not torn” – the people were unified together, not splintered & torn apart

John 17:23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

·         Quality and Quantity!

·         The disciples obeyed the Lord the net was “full of large fish” – Good quality healthy fish!

·         We’re also told they caught a large number of fish, “153” to be exact – Good quantity of healthy fish!

Ephesians 4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

·         It’s usually the pious who say they only want quality people & don’t concern themselves with quantity...

·         My heart is for Cross Creekers to be the most spiritually deep people found anywhere... mature & growing.

·         Every number represents a person for whom Christ died...God’s purpose & ours are to reach the world for Christ.

God + Obedience = Victorious Living

Remember: go – win – baptize – teach – obey = go – win – baptize – teach – obey = ...etc.

Keep pressing on for the Goal... as you know God’s purpose!

Philippians 3:13-14 ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Let’s bow our hearts:

Questions:                 Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Are your sins forgiven?

                                                        Are you fishing for souls of men?  If not, why not?