Week 3 - City on a Hill

When I was in the Army, we would have what is called Mission Briefs -

This is where I stayed for 10 of 15 months when I was in Iraq…

If we were on foot going on a walking patrol, then we would meet here…or here:...

If we were in vehicles going on a mounted patrol or a mission, then we would meet here:...

After we would receive the mission...

And we knew what it was - we would load up then roll out...

Because what was the point of knowing the mission - and going over all of the things that we went over - if we just went back to our beds and hung out...

If we didn’t do something about it - then knowing it didn’t really matter...

AND THE SAME IS TRUE WITH THE MISSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN…BY GOD…our responsibility...

Now that we know what the mission is...

Now that you know that God created you…that he placed YOU…right where YOU are...

For a reason and a purpose - already GIVING you…everywhere your foot steps...

So that you could:

Have a relationship with him…Acts 17, showing that everything in your life…has been so that…you would be in the best position possible in order to reach out for God…and possibly find him…and even still…there are still people that reject him...

So that you can take care of his creation…be responsible for what he has created…Adam was…and failed...

So that by and through…having a relationship with Jesus - and taking care of his creation - you can let everyone know who Christ is and what he has done - so that everything and everyone might be reconciled back to himself...

Of course we know that that wont happen - but we operate in a way that believes that - meaning - everyone that I meet and come into contact with - that is unsaved…I am interacting with in a way that could potentially lead to them accepting Christ...

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO

I don’t care how old you are…what status…what family…where you were born…the house that you live in…I don’t care...

God placed YOU where YOU are - so that YOU would find him - so that YOU could take care of creation…and so that YOU can point others to HIM

Because NO ONE can point those in your sphere of influence to Christ…better that YOU - regardless of how fire my message could be…or Eli…or Pastor Vince…YOU...

_______ can’t tell your friends about Jesus more efficiently and affectively than ________

THAT IS YOUR MISSION! Amen?!

But here is the thing…ready…it is awesome that you know your mission...

It is awesome that you know your purpose...

BUT…if you KNOW but don’t do something about it…then simply KNWING…doesn’t really matter...

You MUST be willing to GO

Just because I know that I have to take the garbage to the curb on Friday morning…doesn’t mean that my knowledge will be enough to get it there...

What do I have to do? Do it…right?

Jesus tells us…to...”GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES...”

That is for all of us…that isn’t for just Pastors…or just leaders...

He is saying that…knowing 1-3...

Knowing that you can have a relationship with him…that in having that relationship with him…you are responsible for taking care of his creation…and in THAT…you have the opportunity and responsibility to share the gospel with those around you...

You can take ALL OF THAT…put it in a bag…AND NOW…execute…now…go…and do...

YOU…as a teenager…he isn’t just telling grown folk…remember - YOU have more influence where God has placed you then I do...

And so Jesus says this: Matthew 28:18-19

Matthew 28:18–19 (ESV)

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples (or someone that follows Christ and learns from him and his example) of ALL nations...”

I love that he says GO - it is a commanding word…it isn’t a word that you can hear…and just stay…or sit around and do nothing…no…he says GO - because Jesus knows that if the gospel was to spread…if it is to spread - we MUST…GO...

There is only so many people that you can “make disciples with” if you aren’t willing to GO…you feel me? - ifall you are you doing is staying inside…not talking to anybody…not stepping outseide of your comfort zone…not interacting with others...

I love what Paul says in Romans 10:14-15

Romans 10:14–15 (NLT)

But how can they call on him (JESUS) to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

That last part comes from Isaiah 52:7 that says:

Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

And so Paul is saying, who is going to go and share the good news with the world around them - for noone can go unless they are sent...

One person - writing about this passage says:

To be “sent” suggests at least two things: that one operates under a higher authority and that one’s message does not originate with oneself but is given by the sending authority.

And so, we know that in our mission - we have been commanded to GO and MAKE disciples by none other than Christ…who we know from Matthew 28:18…has all authority in heaven and on earth...

GO and MAKE followers of Christ…and check this…because remember - who does this apply to? Who is commanded to “GO and MAKE disiples”?

You right…? So if that applies to you…then so does this...

Ready?

Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Let me stop there…who in here has gotten baptized?

YOU…students…are able to baptize one another...

Nowhere in the Bible does it say…if you are a disciple yourself…go and make disiples…and baptize them IF you are age 18+…no…really the only guideline that I see as I look at Jesus’ command is…you mmust be a follower of Christ…because it is impossible to make someone a disciple…if you yourself are not a disciple…this command is given to those that ARE ALREADY disciples...

Individuals that already have a relationship with Jesus...

I love seeing leaders baptizing students…I love baptizing students…I love seeing parents and grandparents baptizing students…BUT…what I want to see…is YOU…students…looking at Matthew 28…and understanding - that part of YOU BEING RESPONSIBLE for this city…is not only taking care of it - but also pointing people to Christ - going and making disciples - and then baptizing them - so that they can go and do the same...

That is what it means for disciples to make disciples...

And so…Jesus says…that as individuals…in a relationship with me…responsible for taking care of my creation - and pointing everyone around you - in the place that I have placed you…to me…AS YOU GO…and MAKE disciples…and baptize them...

IN ALL OF THAT…ALSO…be:

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

Teaching them to observe (or to obey) ALL that I have commanded you.

This is important…because we are called to teach…them…(the world that we are called to go into…your area of influence)…to obey…all of us…and so how do you teach them to obey? What is the best way to teach someone HOW to obey?

Jesus says:

John 14:15 (ESV)

“If YOU love me, YOU will keep my commandments.

If YOU love me…then YOU will be obedient...

And so, in our obedience…we are able to properly show someone - or TEACH them how to be obedient as well…we show it in our actions...

Paul puts it this way:

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

Follow (me and imitate) my example, as I follow (and obey and imitate) the example of Christ.

Who knows what Christian means?

And this is where Jesus finishes…these are the very last words in the book of Matthew…BE MY EXAMPLE IN THIS WORLD THAT IS BROKEN AND SO FAR FROM ME…YOU HAVE A MISSION TO COMPLETE…DO THIS...

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

He says…you dont have to do this alone...

It is going to be hard…this city is broken…crime runs rampant…on the daily…there is poverty…people WILL moke you…if you stand by MY WORD…you WONT be liked…there WILL be people that want for you to fail…want for you to fall…people WILL reject you…they WILL laugh at you…people WILL support you less and less…the more you lean toward ME…the more the world WILL distance themselves from you…you WILL be called uncaring and unkind…and close minded...

BUT…each and every step of the way…not only have I already given that place to you…BUT…I…AM…WITH…YOU...

See…what I want you all to go through 2023 and the rest of your lives with...the knowledge and understanding that you don’t have to do this alone…he didn’t give you this mission then leave you out to dry...

No…you can move in confidence…KNOWING…that the CREATOR of this universe stands with you - behind you - infront of you - all around you - and surrounding you...

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Have I not commanded you?

GO and MAKE DISCIPLES…baptizing them…teaching them to obey…by way of imiating your obedience in imitating ME…in a world that is completely against ME...

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;

INSTEAD…because God hasn’t given us a Spirit of fear…know that IN HIM…you have power…love…and self control...

do not be discouraged,

don’t be frightened…panicked…or be filled with terror…don’t let someones potential NO…stop you from saying YES to God…don’t let what others could say - stop you from listening to Christ...

DON’T BE AFRAID OF WHAT THE WORLD CAN DO…WHY?

for the Lord YOUR God will be with you WHEREVER you go.”

and then in Deuteronomy 31:8:

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

The Lord HIMSELF goes before you

Before you ever go share the gospel with that kid in the lunch room…he goes before you - before you step in and defend that kid from getting bullied - HE GOES BEFORE YOU - before you stand for truth when the rest of the world bends their knees to lies…HE goes before you - as you get ready for FCWC…HE goes before you…before you wake up in the morning and think…how can i possibly take on this world…when I dont even have the words to say…when I dont even feel worthy enough…or I feel inadequate...

But just as…he told Moses…when Moses pleaded with God…saying…WHO AM I THAT I SHOULD GO AND APPEAR BEFORE PHAROAH? WHO AM I TO BRING THESE PEOPLE OUT OF EGYPT?

will be with you; he will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.

He isnt going to command you to Go and leave you to do it alone... thats why we see this again...

Do NOT be afraid; do NOT be discouraged.

My city…my responsibility...

You all live in a culture that could not be any further from God…I could say that I understand…but I don’t...

We didn’t have to deal with the things that you have to deal with today...

Everywhere that you turn or everywhere you go…your faith is challenged…

It gets harder and harder to share the gospel…but the thing is…the harder it gets…the more important share the gospel becomes...

How ironic…to get people out of the flames…we must run into them…like firefighters…cops…military…with a mission that we must complete...

And it will be scary…there will be days that you feel you can’t do it anymore…IM NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS ON MY OWN...

You’re right…you cant…none of us can...

I want you to carry this with you…

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.