401 Understanding Your Mission

First of all, we are all ministers. Jesus did not come to our world and live here so we could just come to church and hang out, He came to empower us to change the world.

Why did God create us?

Let’s review God’s purpose for creating us in the first place.

1. We were made to have a relationship with God

Genesis 1:26 NLT

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

God created everything but we are the only part of creation that was made in his image. We are not like animals. Humans are different… unique. We are made in God’s image. We are a triune being… Body, Soul, Spirit. We have a moral conscious and freedom to choose out behavior. We have the ability to talk with God.

Ephesians 1:4–5 NLT

4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Before you were ever born, you were known by God and were adopted into His family. He created you and I to be in a family relationship with him. When you fail to have a relationship with him, you miss out on the very reason you were created.

2. We were made to become like Jesus

Romans 8:29 NLT

29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Being like God is different from becoming god. Satan tempted Adam and Eve into believing they could become equal to God… they were wrong. The bible dies teach that we are to become more and more like Jesus… to become godly in our thoughts, words and actions.

Romans 8:29 The Message

29 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.

So God’s first two goals for your life are to have a relationship with him and to become like him… specifically like Jesus.

3. We were made to serve His purpose

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God created you and I to DO good works.

4. We were made to last forever

One day our bodies will. wear out and we will die. But that’s not the end. At that point we will be more alive than ever before in the presence of God. Death is not the end of your life. You WILL live forever … either in heaven or in hell.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

Ephesians 1:10 The Living Bible

10 and this was his purpose: that when the time is ripe he will gather us all together from wherever we are—in heaven or on earth—to be with him in Christ forever.

If you ever wondered how the world ends, there it is. Jesus comes and gets us.

We were made to have a relationship with him, to be more like him and to serve him until he comes back and gathers us together with him.

This life is preparation for eternity.

The next thing we need to look at in regards to our mission is what was Jesus mission on earth? IOW

Why did Jesus come?

The bile teaches that God sent Jesus to earth because we got ourselves into a mess. By our own choice we have chosen to go our own way and severed the relationship we were created for. When we broke that relationship, we became enemies of God.

Isaiah 59:2 NLT

2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

The problem is

Our sin has broken our relationship with God.

However, God knew all of this in advance and was prepared. He knew we would sin before we ever sinned. So before we were even able to make the wrong choices, he had decided on the solution.

God’s solution was

God took the initiative to bring us back to himself

John 3:16 NLT

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:19 The Living Bible

19 For God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself, no longer counting men’s sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.

That’s what Jesus came to do… to restore us to our relationship with God. Look at these verses

Luke 19:10 NLT

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

John 18:37 NCV

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king!” Jesus answered, “You are the one saying I am a king. This is why I was born and came into the world: to tell people the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”

John 10:10 NCV

10 A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.

John 12:46 The Living Bible

46 I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in the darkness.

Luke 4:43 NLT

43 But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.”

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Tell people the truth. Give Life. Shine in the dark world. to tell people the good news...

Here is why this is important. Your mission is the same as Jesus mission. Once you become a Christian, they are the same.

Here are 10 reasons why Jesus mission matters to us...

10 Reasons Jesus mission matters to me

1. If I want to be like Jesus, His life mission must determine my life mission.

Jesus prayed to his father in John 17 and he said...

John 17:18 The Message

18 In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.

God is the mission… we tell others about him.

2. Jesus expects ME to continue his mission.

Jesus doesn’t just suggest we continue his mission, he demands it.

He gave us a command… a commission… a Great commission 5 times.

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15 The Living Bible

15 And then he told them, “You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.

Luke 24:47 The Living Bible

47 and that this message of salvation should be taken from Jerusalem to all the nations: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.

John 20:21 NLT

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

3. Sharing the good news is my responsibility

Ezekiel 3:18 NLT

18 If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.

People around us are headed for self destruction and eventually hell and the prophet says that it’s our responsibility to tell them.

If I am a Christian, Jesus’ mission is not optional

4. Sharing the Good News is a privilege

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 The Living Bible

18 All these new things are from God who brought us back to himself through what Christ Jesus did. And God has given us the privilege of urging everyone to come into his favor and be reconciled to him. 19 For God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself, no longer counting men’s sins against them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20 We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God.

Describe ambassador in Biblical times

Romans 1:16 NCV

16 I am not ashamed of the Good News, because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and then to save non-Jews.

5. I am grateful for what Jesus has done for me.

Sometimes we forget just how GOOD the good news is.

Ephesians 2:12 NCV

12 Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel, and you had no part in the agreements with the promise that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God.

That was a miserable life. Full of hopelessness, strife … But Jesus changed all of that. We need to be grateful for that… to the point is gives us a sense of obligation to share it.

Romans 1:14 NLT

14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike.

If I found the cure for the Corona Virus, I would sure be shouting it from the housetops. if I didn’t I would be a criminal.

We have the answers to life’s problems… it’s a relationship with Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

6. People are hopelessly lost without Jesus.

Acts 4:12 NCV

12 Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one else in the world is able to save us.”

Romans 10:13–14 NLT

13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

Someone has to tell them…

1 Corinthians 9:16 NCV

16 Telling the Good News does not give me any reason for bragging. Telling the Good News is my duty—something I must do. And how terrible it will be for me if I do not tell the Good News.

7. God wants everyone to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:4 NIV

4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9 NCV

9 The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised—the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives.

God wants everyone to know him personally.

8. God will reward you for eternity.

Colossians 3:24 NLT

24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

There are rewards for leading people to Jesus.

9. God’s timetable for end times hinges around us completing Jesus mission.

People always wonder when Jesus is coming back. But Jesus has said several things about his return. One of them is...

Matthew 24:14 NCV

14 The Good News about God’s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come.

Nation is more like people groups around the world. There are multiple people groups in different countries. We have more than 10 groups here… then throw in Georgian and Texan into the mix...

Even before Jesus went into heaven the disciples were wondering when he would return.

Acts 1:6–8 NLT

6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When the disciples asked a prophecy question, Jesus basically said none of your business and answered with an evangelism answer. Jesus told them they would go out and witness.

It starts with Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria and the whole world.

Jerusalem - home… family… those close

Judea - people who live around our area

Samaria - people who are different that us… people groups… etc.

World - everyone else.

In Matt 24 Jesus said no one knows when he is coming back, so when people give a date for it, dismiss it. But we do know what will happen before that time… the Good News (Gospel) will be preached to every people group.

10. I will be glad when I see people in heaven.

Luke 15:7 NLT

7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Knowing all of this, what should be my response?

Acts 20:24 GW

24 But I don’t place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.