Change The World

Proverbs 11:11a  ¹¹ Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted….

Relationships create responsibility.  The church at its best is not the lights, worship and message but the church at its best is when we feel empowered and willing to be inconvenienced and take responsibility and administer healing to someone else’s brokenness. I taught that we must get the do not disturb sign off of our neck and be willing to get down in the ditch.

We must come down so that they can go up. Maybe they were thinking what will happen to me if I stop. The Samaritan was saying what will happen to him if I don’t? Jesus didn’t say what is going to happen to me if I go to the cross but rather what is going to happen to them if I don’t. What would happen if our church from top to bottom said: “what about them?” Your kindness has the potential to being the answer to someone else’s prayer.

Today I want us to think more globally. I want to talk about having a heart for God and a vision for the world.

Text : Luke 24:45-49  ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

A Heart for God—A Vision for the World.  

>>What Does A Heart For God Look Like?

What does it mean to have a heart for God? If I am going to have a heart for you, I am going to have a relationship with you. It is an intimate knowledge.  First of all if you have a heart for God you have:

A.  A Desire to Know Him

So if I have a heart for God then I have an intimate knowledge of him and his ways. No matter what I know about God, I want to know more because there is something inside of me that makes me want to know more.
Do you know where you would be today without the gospel? If someone hadn’t told you about Jesus, you’d be separated from God, living without His help, and facing the prospect of His righteous judgment after death. Sadly, that’s where most people in the world are today. Their only hope is in Jesus because He is the one way to come to the Father.
John 14:6  ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Yet many have never even heard of Him. This is why a church must always be willing and prepared to share the gospel outside the walls of a building.
Believers must have both a heart for God and a vision for the world. It was the last direction Christ gave to His church before ascending to heaven (Luke 24:45-49). He reminded His followers, “You are witnesses of these things” (v. 48) and must share what you’ve seen with everyone.

Like them, we need to remember that whenever God plants a vision in our hearts, He has a purpose and a blessing in mind. If we’ll take the first step of obedience, the Lord will lead us to the second and provide everything we need.

When you have a heart for God, you experience an insatiable desire to know Him. It’s not a matter of learning facts, but rather a pursuit of an increasingly personal relationship with Him. You want to spend time alone with the Lord in intimate conversation to better understand His character, thoughts, desires, activities, and plans. Just as you want to know other people you love dearly, you crave time with the Lord.

When I was growing up, I have noticed some people who don’t  seem very excited about Jesus though they had walked with Him for many years. Their desire for Him had dwindled instead of increased. This can happen to any of us if we get sidetracked and neglect our relationship with the Lord. Some may say: I have been a Christian for many years but I am not excited. Listen, if you are obedient to God and walking with him, you are still going to be excited. The more you get to know him, the more peace, joy, contentment and excitement in your life.

B.  A Desire to Obey Him—three times in the gospel of John Jesus said the same thing. If you love me you will obey me. The night before His trial and crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Why did he say it three times? He wanted us to know that true genuine love for Christ always results in obedience. Would you say that you are an obedient Christian. 

Knowing this, could you honestly say that you love Jesus? Is your life one that is characterized by obedience and submission? Consider how you make decisions about things like spending money and using your time. As a believer, you should always be fully surrendered to His will in every aspect of your life. If I am going to have a heart for God, first I am going to want to know him and then I am going to want to obey him.

C.  A Desire to Share Him—if I have a heart for God, I cannot keep it to myself. If you’re genuinely devoted to Jesus, you’ll want to tell others about Him—the most important person in your life. Jesus is what life is all about so I would be talking about him. Whatever your vocation is, you should be talking about him. You shouldn’t keep Him to yourself because Christ didn’t call followers to private faith. Instead, He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). How could you keep it to yourself? Fear of criticism shouldn’t keep you from telling others about the Savior.  Those you need to share with won’t know how desperate they are if believers don’t share His message. This is the good news of Christ!

>>God Intends For Every Person To Hear The Gospel

Many passages of Scripture are evidence of our heavenly Father’s plan. Remember, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Salvation is a gift He intended for whoever accepts Jesus as Savior; there is no limit to His mercy and grace. The Lord desires that each and every one of us would know the truth.

1 Timothy 2:3-5  ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

That is why He patiently continues to call people to Him so none might perish.

2 Peter 3:9   ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

**Because Jesus paid the sin debt for each of us, we have also been given a lifelong obligation. Christ gave His disciples the job of spreading the good news both near and far—“even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). We are now the ones who carry this responsibility. Although God is the only one who can open a person’s heart to the gospel, our job is to tell others about the Savior—beginning in our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods. However, we can’t stop there because the Great Commission compels us to reach the entire world.

**God’s plan is working. All over the globe, people are being saved, churches are being established, and missionaries are being sent out. We have the message that can transform a person’s life and eternal destiny. That’s why none of us has an excuse for not sharing our faith and our churches are responsible for having a missionary plan for the world.

>>God’s Plan is the Missionary Church.

Since the Lord wants everyone to hear about Christ and has tasked believers with the message, we know He has a plan to accomplish it. This plan involves:

**The Person of Jesus Christ—He is the One who offered His life as a substitutionary atonement for our sins. And by His divine authority, Jesus has commanded us to tell others about His offer of forgiveness.

**The Power—Knowing the job was beyond us, Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to live within believers, empowering and equipping them to carry out the task of witnessing to the world. (Luke 24:49).

**His Program—Because God loves everyone on earth, He desires no place be left unevangelized. The plan was set in motion with just twelve men who faithfully shared the message and led thousands to salvation. And today, millions upon millions of people know Jesus as Lord.

>>What Exactly Does A Missionary Church Look Like?  

**One that has a vision for the world. Not just our city and state but the world.

**A missionary church responds obediently to Jesus’ commission. A church willing to fulfill the Great Commission: Has a vision for the world, not just its own city.  They respond obediently to Jesus’ command by sending out missionaries.

**Clearly proclaims Christ’s message of redemption for mankind.

**Challenges those who are called by God to carry the message wherever He sends them. He supports those who are called to take the gospel to the mission field. We have at least three trips planned this upcoming year. Pray about being a part of one of them.

What is your concept of sharing Christ with the world? he has already called every single one of us to share the gospel. Do you automatically think of having to go to a foreign country?  Who has had the biggest impact on your thinking in regard to sharing the Lord with those who don’t know Him?  How can you share with someone you know about the many ways God blesses and guides you and your family throughout the year?