Reaching and Growing Disciples - With you!

I. Introduction

A. Finishing up series on Reaching & Growing Disciples. The series maybe coming to an end but the mission of this church is just beginning. We are going to make disciples of all ethnicities, baptizing and teaching as we go. We end with a promise!

B. Matthew 28:18-20

C. Presence is a value of this church. We want reverent intimacy. Without the presence of Jesus through His Holy Spirit we are just religious. An awareness and response to His presence changes everything. This is awe inspiring intimacy.

II. With you

A. With you in the call…”Behold” means to look and see, as if you might miss it if you are distracted. Behold is used when the supernatural invades the natural such as angels.

Revelation 1:7 (NIV) 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”  and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”

This terminology of the end of time is the same as daily here. We can experience Jesus daily, supernaturally.

Are we beholding Jesus everyday? How would it change the commission to make disciples if we just followed Jesus daily into what we saw him doing. He was doing it, not us!

Want to see Jesus, he’s over there loving people that no one is loving. Want to see and experience him? Join Him in His call to make disciples by loving them.

B. With you daily… “Always” - “all the day” - the idea is every step of every day.

What would life be like with a daily awareness of his presence? How would our thoughts, attitudes and actions change?

Daily Surrender - Luke 9:23 (NIV) 23 “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

Surrender of everything and everyone to Jesus through the Holy Spirit is how you overcome the barrier of flesh to a Spirit filled life. I have a habit everyone morning to release all to Jesus, to surrender my will to that of the Holy Spirit.

Your flesh denial is the biggest act to open spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear Jesus.

Daily Salvations - Acts 2:47 (NIV) 47 “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

I still have a dream, 365 salvations in a year. 365 individuals deciding to die to themselves and live for Jesus.

The only way this is even remotely possible is by our awareness of Jesus’ presence. To join Him in what he is already doing. We don’t have to create something from nothing, Jesus is working in the lives of those around us.

Daily Strengthening- Hebrews 3:13 (NIV) - 13 “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Everyone is responsible for their own sinful choices, however how many hearts could stay soft toward God in tough situations if they were daily encouraged by another brother or sister. We have a role to infuse courage in each other.

One of our main jobs is to recognize the work of Jesus in each other and encourage each other with what we see. Many time we are blinded to our own progress in Christ. Others can see what we cannot. You can’t see your own fire above your head, Pentecost.

(Share about the greatest struggle in my life and my Wednesday night guys group)

C. With you at the end…”end of the age”

Literally means the end of specified time with certain events and mindsets concluding. I personally believe this happens throughout history and not just the end of time. I believe we are experiencing this right now in our culture.

There will be a second coming of Christ and time as we know it will be transformed into eternity, but every generation experiences an end of an age like what you read in Matthew 24.

Signs of the end of an age…Matthew 24:3-12 - Great deception, Political Financial and Environmental unrest, troubling times and the gospel is preached to the whole world. The world is most receptive in these transition times.

In this gap, between the ages, will you be a part of a great gospel revival or will you watch from the stands?

Jesus will be with you to the end. But in this case it is not until death do you part!

III. Conclusion and Invitation - Sam Roberson