Empowered Nations Camp
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Intro and tension
Intro and tension
Honour Ps. Josh | Has faith | Thanks | Honour to share
Ps Mat | Fun Fact - I preach, really fast | Use heaps of Scripture | Born in Busselton, moved perth 4 years - Had father, got told at 10 not father - Twin brother, complete opposites | I am married with 7 children (Beautiful emma) 2 kids together | *Salvation story* -
don’t fit regular “Church” as organisation - but called to “Church” as organisim. The Way Jesus intended.
Amazing - Anyone, Regardless background invited into Body of Christ - Jesus has beautiful picture:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
Straight off bat - We see bigger plan and purpose than your past | Drafted to team | Joined to be agents to push Kingdom God forward:
How does Revival Start? In THE Church:
A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
Doesn’t matter where you come from | Past | What matters is that if you call Jesus Christ Lord and Saviour - You been Called, Drafted, Placed here, in local church, on purpose.
So question is: to do what?
Title: The greatest calling of all time
Letter from the Royal Family | Written specifically to us, on camp | Want to see it |
I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Some Dissapointed | But from King of Kings | What I want to do today - See the Hope that Jesus has for His Church | See how a Church missed it | End witha choice for us.
**Pray**
Ps. Josh said… Nothing off table | Preach what Lord has put on heart - So we are going to go to revelation . | Let’s go for it | Say Amen.
1st thing to know: We serve Risen Jesus | Not meek, mild Jesus from Galilee - Sits on Throne of God.
John - writer of Rev | In Patmos 85-90 yrs after Resurrection
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
Lampstands = Churches.
First point: Jesus is in the midst of His Church.
And he is the head of the body, the church.
Jesus is the HEAD.
The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Risen Christ | What does John do? fall down dead
K o K & L oL - This is King we serve.
Almighty | Holy | On throne
Asking something of His church today
Written 63ish years after Jesus’ death | Fairly Young. | First Church is Ephesus, which is where I want to Zoom in today |
Planted by Paul - Handed to Timothy - John there- Jesus’ mum | Imagine those stories.
“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
Good stuff (List them)
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.
2 missing things | Love and works they had at first.
Do you remember 1st love?
First Saved - Obsessed - Still obsessed -
Jesus said: Love your lord God with all your Heart.
This is a call for you and HIS Church:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Church = Called out ones |
Paul writes to same church:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
What a purpose | When come together = glorifies God. Paul goes on to say;
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Equip the saints - You are saints”
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
What do we know?
Remember first Love | Love Each Other (Lay down lives | Power in coming together | Work to do, only can be done together.
Jesus, through revelation is urging church to remember this | Been called to Body of Christ - Equipped, Gifted - Not organisation - Organism, Jesus as Head:
USe to play Hockey- Not fast, but good stick skills - Put me up top - Knew exactly what to do with me.
We have greatest ever Coach | Who has a gameplan - Want to know what it is?
He tells Peter;
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
You are part of more than just an organisation; I love the scripture in hebrews | Do not forsake meeting together - There is power;
Heart attack - Doctor in the house - Amazing testimony
When you come and meet together, and worship together, and do life together, and do mission together, it is a foreshadowing of Heaven, but it’s also working in the greatest team ever assembled.
Come expectant - That’s exactly what happened when God first poured out His Spirit at Pentacost.
Holy Spirit gets poured out | Peter preaches | 3000 get saved | Didn’t have time to set up programs, and systems;
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Do you see it; They where DEVOTED. Awe came upon every Soul - Many Wonders and signs done.
This is what being the Body of Christ looks like:
Devoted to Word of God = Leads to Life.
Fellowship = Koinonia
Breaking of Bread = Lord’s Supper and eating together
Praying Together.
Lego by itself, serves no purpose.
But what does being devoted to these 4 things do?
Lego Car - You become a vehicle for God’s Purposes through this Church.
Main Point: We lay down our lives for Jesus and those in His Church, because Jesus laid down his life FOR you and His Church.
One more Church Quickly:
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Neighbour town - Hierapolis - Hot Springs - Healing
Other Neighbour town - Colosay - Cold Refreshing water.
Leadocia - Dirty, lukewarm water - making Jesus vomit.
What is Jesus saying?
You’ve forgotton Source and what it’s for - now your deeds are nothing - not healing or refreshing.
*Grab Lego car*
Church is meant to be a place for healing | Helping | Giving God Glory
In Acts 4 - Everyone gave everything to the Church. Laid it at apostles feet - Everyone except 2: Annanias and Saphira…they where holding back…and it cost them their life.
Jesus gives us this invitation:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
He is in Midst of His Church | 7 stars in hand & holes in wrists - proclaiming Grace.
Question today: Have you been holding back, from knowing, you are part of the Body of Christ | It might be a simple decision to say: Yes, God is still number 1 - but I am a part of the Local Church. I will not forsake meeting together, I will stir up for love and Good works:
We lay down my life for Jesus and those in His Church, because Jesus laid down his life FOR me and His Church.
**Altar Call**
