The Missing Key
Notes
Transcript
One of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century was the sinking of the Titanic in the chilly North Atlantic Ocean on April 15th, 1912. Over 1,500 people died in the frigid waters of the Atlantic during the maiden voyage of this elegant ship that was believed to be unsinkable..
The cause of the catastrophe is commonly understood to be the ship’s hull being ripped open by a largely submerged iceberg, but the tragedy occured primarily because of a lesser-known yet more strategic reason.
David Blair was the second in command, scheduled to make the journey from South Hampton, England to America. However on the day before the scheduled departure, Mr. Blair was reassigned. Mr Blair had in his pocket the key to the crow’s news locker, which contained the high-powered binoculars that were used by the crew-member who watched from the elevated crow’s nest for any potential dangers.
Because Mr. Blair inadvertently kept the key with him, the binoculars were unavailable at the moment they were needed most. Thus, the iceberg was not visible in the distance as it would have been had the binoculars been available. This ultimately led to the deadly crash we know today as the sinking of the Titanic.
If it wasn’t for the missing key, the tragedy could have been averted.
Similarly, a key is missing in Christianity today.
It is a critical key — its absence has resulted in weak, defeated believers, family disintegrations, ineffective churches, and a decaying culture.
Without the full use of this , key, followers of Christ lack the tools needed to fully live heaven’s representatives on earth.
What is the missing key?
Discipleship
Discipleship
Kingdom disciples are in such short supply, that powerless christians, attend powerless churches, resulting in a powerless presence and impact in the world.
Until this key is recovered and utilized, we will continue to fail in our calling to adequately live as heaven’s representatives on earth.
The power, authority, abundance, victory, and impact promised in God’s Word to His own will be ours only when whe understand and align ourselves with His definition of discipleship. Until then, we can anticipate that disappointments and losses will be the norm in spite of all the Christian activities we engage in.
Surrender to Christ’s lordship
Obedience to His rule of love
are the grooves that make up the key and when used rightly will unlock the power to bring heaven to bear on earth.
A kingdom disciple:
A believer who takes part in the spiritual developement process of progressively learning to live all of life in submission to Jesus Christ.
The goal is the have a transformed life and to replicate God’s kingdom values in the lives of others.
Through His kingdom disciples, God exercises His rule from Heaven to earth.
The Need For Committed Followers of Christ
After he rose....he took steps to ensure that there would be followers.
He immediately called a meeting.
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Lets read the minutes of this meeting:
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Authority = He possesses the legal right to wield that power.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
His will is done in heave:
Completely
Perfectly
No questions
No objections
No debate
Satan and the evil angels are the only ones to ever challenge God’s will in heaven and their doom was forever sealed.
So Jesus’ plan is that there would be a group of people who function as His legal representatives to reflect and implement God’s will on earth.
This is our role and responsibility.
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
If visible authority is not being exercised then the full understanding of the purpose of discipleship is not being understood and experienced.
Our Role Occupy!
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
“Do business till I come.’ NKJV
The purpose of the church is not just to add names to the role.
The Great Commission
The Great Commission
In the original language, there is only one command: “make disciples.”
Three participles (action words ending in “ing”) explain how to do that one command.
They involve
Going
Baptizing, and
Teaching
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
A new soldier has a new master that dictates every detail of his life!
Ready to Upset the World?
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
120 in the upper room...
It’s not the number in attendance
It’s not the number on the role.
It’s the number of disciples!
When those people showed up:
People either got
Real nervous
or angry
or they got the Holy Ghost!
Often when Paul came to town a riot broke out!
Sharing, Growing, Equipping
Sharing, Growing, Equipping
SHARING New Life in Christ
SHARING New Life in Christ
Such as I have...
We cannot but speak what we have seen and heard...
Freely you have received...
Evangelism
Community
GROWING as Disciples of Christ
GROWING as Disciples of Christ
EQUIPPING for the Work of Christ
EQUIPPING for the Work of Christ
Our God’s name is Savior
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.