Final Sermon

Final Sermon at FCOF

“Today is not a farewell—it’s a commissioning. Just as Jesus prepared His disciples and sent them out two by two, this moment marks a sacred sending. I’ve preached in this place, prayed in this place, and wept with you in this place. But now, the Spirit says, ‘Go.’ Not because the work here is done, but because the work ahead is divine. So let’s open the Word together one last time—not to say goodbye, but to say, ‘Here am I, Lord. Send me.’”

Acts 5:29–39 CSB

29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.

29¶ Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 “The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 “God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” Gamaliel’s Advice 33¶ When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the menfn to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 “Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 “After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 “So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 “but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.

This scripture is a great explanation of why we're all sitting here this morning! He said look there's been several of these radical guys pop up and if Jesus is the same as these other guys then back off it'll play out and it'll die out but if it's of God then there's nothing you can do to stop it and here we are this morning because it was God because it is God and because it continues to be God.

 At the very beginning the very foundation of our Christian faith is spirit filled son's and daughters burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit and excited about the relationship they have with Jesus and telling others about Jesus, speaking the gospel, living the gospel, being transformed by the gospel, at the foundation of our faith is Jesus telling us to be salt and light to the earth So we see that we are here this morning because of people understanding the mission. Someone told each one of us about Jesus in different ways at different times in different places in different fashions but the result is the same because God almighty is the same yesterday, today and forever more, we're all called to follow Jesus, we're all called to spread the gospel, were most importantly called to live out the gospel, we're all called to be the salt and the light, we're all called to stand bold in the Spirit, we're all called to be sanctified Holy , set apart, we are all called to surrender and church this morning I'm preaching my last sermon as your assoc pastor because God has made it clear to Laura and I that Jesus is bringing us into the next season of the ministry God is working through us in a unknown land, hours from our families and friends, and out of our comfort zones but church if I could leave you with anything I would want you to say he wasn't just talking about obedience he was living in obedience he told us over and over that God calls us out of our comfort zones and I am standing here this morning telling you that God has called me and us out of our comfort zone and I am OK with that, im not saying all this in arrogance or to brag im saying all this because the ones of you who truly know my heart know that im saying it as a final lesson that what I have preached and proclaimed to you is truth and when you live surrendered the Truth will set you free! It sets me free from needing to know what ,when, why and how, that freedom enables me to pray and seek God’s direction and discernment and then knowing God is at work in whatever it is putting my faith in His will and His plan and being content with knowing that God is leading me. And I know that when God is leading me there's times when he calls for me to step out of the boat. So this scripture just shows us the God gave us the ministry of reconciliation and he calls pastors and evangelists and Sunday school teachers and every single Christian who is truly covered in the blood of Jesus to tell others about him and I don't care what kind of persecution we see it cannot and will not be stopped because God cannot and will not be stopped.

So let's look it probably the most preached verse at Franklin and see how God equips us to do this task that we just have seen is for all of us to do.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [1]Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 CSB

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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- NEVER DONE IN OUR OWN POWER

- SPENT 3 YEARS PREPARING AS STUDENTS

- AFTER 40 MORE DAYS AND 10 DAYS IN PRAYER HE GAVE THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT\ WE NEED UNDERSTANDING AND SPIRIT BOLDNESS

So we see from the very beginning Jesus training prepare hearing and sending guys out and girls out Paul used a lot of women as a matter of fact Paul's letters would not have gotten to the churches if it hadn't been for women but that's another sermon but we see that the sanhedrin is trying to stop Peter from preaching the gospel and we see that we're literally here this morning as I am going out to another church to another town to another state to preach the gospel and to pastor God's sheep and then we see that from the very foundation God never intended for us to do it in our own power it's always the power of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 10 Paul stresses the importance of sending out pastors.

Romans 10:13–15 CSB

13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.,

14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.[2]

Leaving your family it's hard moving to a new community it's hard to do but if you've read the Bible you've seen time and time again then it's about the most scriptural thing that a church that a flock that a body of Christ can do leaving you guys is hard but God has called me to preach the gospel he's called me to pastor this flock and although it's hard it's biblical and although we're going to miss each other you as a flock should know that me going out is the fruit that we saw in the early church with Paul and Peter and Timothy. The more I studied to preach this morning the more God has showed me that it's really amazing to carry on the way they did it from the beginning. This call is for all of us church! You may not be called to go to a different state but you are called to live out and carry the gospel to every person you encounter!

Church we stand in obedience. We’ve been redeemed and restored—not just from sin, not just from shame—but from silence. God didn’t resurrect you to sit. He raised you to run. He didn’t fill you to float. He filled you to flow like rivers of living water. He didn’t call you to comfort. He called you to carry out the great commission which says

Matthew 28:19–20 CSB

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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.[3]

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives in you. And if He raised you, He intends to release you. You are not just saved—you are sent. You are not just healed—you are heralds. You are not just restored—you are ready.

So go—go with fire in your bones and the gospel on your lips. Go with love that breaks chains and truth that breaks silence. Go into the streets, the schools, the homes, the highways. Go into the broken places and speak life. Go into the dark places and let your light shine.

Because you were raised to rise. You were filled to be spilled. You were called to carry the cross and the commission.

And as you go, remember: You are not alone. You are not unequipped. You are not unworthy. You are chosen. You are charged with a Holy mission from the one and only throne of God. You are covered in blood of Jesus and filled with spirit the Holy Spirit

So lift your voice. Lift your feet. Lift your eyes. And go.

In the mighty matchless name above all names, the name that every knee will bow and tongue will confess to one day go in the name of Jesus. Amen