Go: The Door is Open

Store Security Locks

Many items are locked away in stores

Sometimes very inconvenient

You need someone with a key to open the door and give you access

SLIDE: JESUS HAS OPENED THE DOOR FOR ALL TO BE REDEEMED.

Series vision

The church is not an option among options, it is the vehicle God chose to preach the Gospel to the world.

Jesus has opened the door for His followers to GO

READ: MATTHEW 28:17-20 ESV

SLIDE: YOU WON’T GO UNTIL YOU KNOW

VERSE 17

EVEN SEEING JESUS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD SOME DOUBTED

THE WORD USED FOR DOUBTED IS USED ONLY ONE OTHER TIME IN THE NT:

READ: MATTHEW 14:25-33

English Standard Version Chapter 14

25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

THEY WEREN’T DOUBTING HIS RESURRECTION

THEY WEREN’T READY TO LET GO OF WHAT THEY BELIEVED GOD WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE IN ORDER TO EMBRACE WHAT GOD HAD DONE.

THIS IS WHY SOME WORSHIPED AND SOME HELD BACK.

WE AREN’T TOLD WHO DOUBTED, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE LAST TIME PETER SAW JESUS, HE WAS ON TRIAL AND PETER DENIED HIM 3 TIMES.

THE SAME DISCIPLE WHO JESUS CALLED OUT ONTO THE WAVES AND WHO BEGAN TO SINK.

WE KNOW FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL ACCOUNT THAT JESUS RESTORES PETER

HOW DO WE LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE?

SLIDE: WE CAN’T GIVE WHAT WE DON’T HAVE.

PETER DIDN’T FEEL WORTHY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAD DONE

JESUS MADE HIM WORTHY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAD DONE

WE MUST RECEIVE THE GOSPEL FIRST BEFORE WE GO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS

YOUR HESITATION TO GO DOESN’T COME FROM A LACK PRAYER OR KNOWLEDGE, IT’S A LACK OF FAITH.

YOU CAN TRUST THAT JESUS IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HE’S DONE

SLIDE: THEY WON’T KNOW IF YOU DON’T GO

VERSE 18

ALL NATIONS

DID YOU NOTICE THAT DURING JESUS MINISTRY HE DID NOT GO OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL

THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF THE LAND THAT COME TO HIM

THE FIRST TIME JESUS SENT OUT HIS DISCIPLES THEY WERE ONLY GIVEN AUTHORITY TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

NOW, SOMETHING HAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE CROSS AND HIS RESURRECTION

DEEPER STUDY: GEN 10-12, DEUT 32:7-9

ISRAEL WAS MADE TO PRODUCE A PERSON WHO WOULD SAVE NOT ONLY ISRAEL BUT ALL THE NATIONS AS WELL.

JESUS IS GOD’S FULFILLMENT OF THIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM AND AS HIS DISCIPLES HE IS SENDING US OUT TO TELL THE WORLD THAT GOD HAS COME TO US SO THAT WE CAN BE WITH HIM.

THE CHURCH IS THE VEHICLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS

THEY WON’T KNOW IF YOU DON’T GO.

THIS IS THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH.

YOU WEREN’T MADE TO BE A CONSUMER OF ENTERTAINMENT, YOU WERE MADE TO DECLARE FREEDOM TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CAPTIVE TO SIN AND WORLDLY DECEIT.

YOU’RE MORE THAN A CONSUMER, YOU ARE COHEIRS WITH CHRIST

YOU’VE GOT TO GO!

SLIDE: YOU WON’T GROW UNTIL YOU GO

COMING TO THE GATHERING WITHOUT GOING TO THE NATIONS IS MAKING US UNEFFECTIVE.

PLEASE DON’T COME HERE TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

COME HERE TO HEAR WHAT GOD HAS SAID, BE STRENGTHENED, AND TAKE IT EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

SLIDE: YOU WILL NOT GROW DEEPER THAN YOUR OBEDIENCE

THE GATHERING IS ESSENTIAL BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO GROW YOUR FAITH

YOU WANT YOUR FAITH TO GROW? GO SHARE WHAT GOD HAS DONE WITH SOMEONE

YOU WANT YOUR FAITH TO GROW? GO SERVE SOMEONE WHO CAN’T REPAY YOU

YOU WANT YOUR FAITH TO GROW? START PRAYING FOR GOD TO USE YOU HOWEVER HE CHOOSES

YOU WANT YOUR FAITH TO GROW? YOU HAVE TO GO

INVITATION

LAST WEEK I ASKED YOU TO GET SOMEONE IN YOUR MIND WHO NEEDS TO KNOW THE GOSPEL

WHO’S GOING TO TELL THEM? YOU ARE, BECAUSE JESUS HAS OPENED A DOOR FOR YOU

YOUR SUCCESS AS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS IS NOT BASED ON WHETHER PEOPLE ACCEPT THE GOSPEL, YOUR SUCCESS IS THAT YOU WERE OBEDIENT TO GO WHEN GOD SAID GO.

THE DOOR IS OPEN, JESUS HAS MADE THE WAY, IT’S TIME TO GO

PRAY