The Orders Have Not Changed

INTRODUCTION: The danger of getting “off center” // or off true north.

Maybe you have (or maybe you haven’t) heard of the term “spatial disorientation.” It is the term used when pilots flying aircraft lose their bearings so-to-speak. Due to poor visibility, lack of instrumentation, other factors, it’s possible for the brain to become disoriented and the pilot to lose a sense of altitude, direction, what is up, what is down. They can actually be flying upside down—especially at night or in thick fog—and think that they’re right side up. Aviation experts believe this is what ultimately led to John F. Kennedy Jr.’s plane crash.

A pilot experiencing spatial disorientation can wind up crashing his plane and—worse—losing his/her own life. In other words, losing your bearings/disorientation can be fatal.

It isn’t just fatal for pilots. It is fatal for churches. When a church loses its purpose for existing then it isn’t long before it ceases to exist.

There are a few people here tonight—who are now members of Locust Fork—who are very very special to me. Andy Loftis was the chairman of the pastor search committee that brought me to Taylor Road. He was actually the first person I ever talked to from that church. He and Maxanne were such a blessing to my family for about 5 years along with Steve and Sheri Walker…more than I think they’ll ever know. For many years they were a core part of Taylor Road and served in many different capacities.

They were at Taylor Road during really good times/years and they stuck with it through really difficult times/years.

In praying about whether or not to go to TR, I really felt the Lord say in my heart, “I’m going to do something there. You can either hear about it or be there to watch it.” Just to give you a brief glimpse, in 2015, the church was $7 million in debt, had literally lost hundreds of members over a 10 year period…in the nursery, it was literally my kids and, like, 2 other families kids.

And, so, Bro. Randy, when I went for my first in person interview with the committee, we were sitting in the choir and I looked at my wife and said, “I’m about to do everything I can NOT to get this job.”

During that meeting, one committee member said, “We’re not a lazy church. We just don’t have a purpose.” I’ll never forget that. In that moment, I knew the problem…they had lost their purpose.

I want to try a little experiment if that’s ok. I want everyone in here who owns and uses any kind of Apple product to raise your hand.

Apple's mission is “to bring the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software, and services.” And in a manifesto dated 2019 Tim Cook set the vision specified as “We believe that we are on the face of the earth to make great products and that's not changing.”

Why is the Church of Jesus Christ on the face of the earth? Listen, folks, the Church isn’t just another organization among a bunch of other organizations. We’re not on the same level as Apple or Microsoft or Google or Amazon or Walmart…you can name them all. The Church is the Bride of Christ that is advancing the Kingdom of God and this Kingdom is not of this world — it is eternal.

Let me ask you this question--What if we were to ask people in this community what they think about Locust Fork Baptist Church? What if we asked them what you’re known for?

What if I were to ask YOU — what is the purpose of this church? Can I tell you something? Your church, Taylor Road Baptist Church, and every church that is part of the larger body of Christ has ONE purpose and ONE mission. I’m afraid, though, many times we’ve gotten off-mission and forgotten our purpose.

Introduction of purpose statement…I had people asking me what book or SBC program I got it from...right out of Matthew 28.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

1. The Claim of the King

Bold Claims in History — September 12, 1962 at Rice University JFK said that by the end of the decade…and we did it!

In the 5th inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, Babe Ruth pointed his bat toward center field and then on the next pitch he hit a home run.

I told Cindy that I was going to marry Kristy.

“all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

This is, without question, the boldest claim to ever come out of anyone’s mouth.

This is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. This is the one who has conquered death.

King Jesus - the One who has the name that is above every other name and to whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.

King Jesus - the One who Paul says, in Colossians 1, is the firstborn of all creation, the one who created all things in heaven and earth—visible, invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities—and the one who holds all things together.

All of creation is His dominion.

Daniel 7:14 (ESV)

14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

John 17:2 (ESV)

2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Romans 14:9 ESV

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Ephesians 1:20–22 (ESV)

20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Colossians 2:10 (ESV)

10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

1 Peter 3:22 ESV

22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” (Abraham Kuyper)

Of all the rulers, kings, presidents, dictators who have attempted to build worldwide empires and kingdoms—Caesar, Nero, Nebuchadnezzar, Napoleon, Hitler—only one has the rightful claim to all authority and universal dominion and only one is still alive and on the throne.

Early Christians & Caesar…we owe our allegiance to ONE—not Trump—King Jesus.

>>This King, who holds all authority, has given his people<<

2. The Command to be Carried Out

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

At Taylor Road, we have reworded this for our purpose and mission statement—we exist for the glory of God to INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO JESUS and TEACH THEM TO FOLLOW HIM.

Luke records this great commission in Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

8 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.”

This is the mission of God. This has always been the mission of God—that His glory and His name would be made known to every tribe, language, and tongue in every corner of the earth.

This is why He chose the nation of Israel—that they would be the way in which His glory was made known to the nations.

Habakkuk 2:14 ESV

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

It is not so much the case that God has a mission for his church in the world, as that God has a church for his mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission. {Christopher Wright}

Introduce people to Jesus

A theme that has just kind of taken off at TR in the last year is “Only Jesus.”

Churches can get fixated on “good” things but abandon the “main” thing. We can be so fixated on thinking, “We need cutting edge children’s ministry so we can attract young families.” “We need relevant Bible studies. We need the most up-to-date music with lights and staging, and facilities.”

Can I tell you something? Those things are fine. There’s nothing inherently wrong or bad about them. But people who are lost and dying and going to hell don’t need more exciting things to be invited to at a church. What people need is Jesus.

The people all around you that are dealing with a marriage in crisis, dealing with depression, anxiety, etc. They don’t need a spiritual version of what the culture is offering. What our culture needs is the truth of the message of the cross.

The lostness is vast. There are people all around this church—in your community—who are lost and separated from Christ and are headed for an eternity in hell.

Teach them to follow Him...

The problems that we’re dealing with in the church are discipleship problems.

Discipleship isn’t teaching a class. That’s typically what we do with young believers isn’t it? Somebody gets saved, let’s stick ‘em in a Sunday School class. They’ll learn there.

Illustration — probably the most integral members in our church right now.

Van & Jean Segars — Will & Hannah Moore — their Life Group.

Is every small group here a Great Commission small group?

You want this church to grow? Take disciple-making seriously.

Older believers—who are you bringing along with you?

The King with all authority and power has commanded His people to carry out his mission.

Who are we to say “no.”

As you go…literally, as you are living out every day of your life, live on mission to make disciples. This happens on an individual level. Living on mission.

You may say, “well, I’m not a pastor. I’m not a ‘minister.’ I’ve not been called into the ministry.

Luther & Vocation // Priesthood of all believers. If you’re a believer, you have a ministry.

This happens on a corporate level, too. As you go as a church…as a body. Every ministry, every small group, everything — is it centered around/defined by the Great Commission?

Does this serve our purpose?

3. The Completion of the Task

The mission will not fail. God will accomplish His purposes.

The success of the mission does not depend on who is in the White House. Kingdoms have risen and fallen. Empires have come and gone. Rulers have lived and died. And the Kingdom of God has continued to grow and has outlasted them all.

Jesus empowers the mission. Jesus tells Peter, in Matthew 16, that he WILL build His Church.

Listen to me…God will build His church…he will grow His kingdom with or without us. Do you want Locust Fork to experience revival and blessing from heaven? Seek first the Kingdom of God. Join Him in His mission. God isn’t going to bless a church that isn’t gospel-centered and mission focused.

We look at Pentecost when the Church was born. Why did the Holy Spirit come? To empower the believers for the mission. That’s what the whole book of Acts is about.

Back to the “claim” and the promise.

The apostle John got a glimpse of the “end” — masses upon masses of people from every tribe, nation, language, tongue around the throne of the Lamb

ENDING: The mission matters most // Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — the orders have not changed