Reliant Investment

What do you think of when you think of Church?

An activity that some people do on Sunday to feel close to God and others.

An opportunity to feel encourage and edified to live a better life.

An outreach to show God’s love and care to lost and hurting.

A place where families can stay connected on the weekends.

A place to learn and grow in spiritual things.

I could go on and on about the reasons why people come to church. But this was not the original vision of Christ had in mind when he established the body of Christ. Christ had a vision to save the world. He gave a mission of good news that was to be spread throughout the entire known world.

This mission would take them out of the comfort zones, go against the status que, and cost most of them their lives. Owning the vision is much more than building church building to make people more comfortable, but the willingness to become uncomfortable so that people may be reconciled to God.

The Vision of Christ for the Church is different:

It is the answer for salvation and forgiveness of sin through Jesus.

It is the gateway to reconciliation and relationship with God.

It is the source of wonderful and miraculous power through the Spirit.

How can I make a difference by "Owning the Vision."

To make a community investment, you must have a vision of loving people right where they are so you can lead them to Jesus.

To make a worldwide investment, you must have a vision of love that extends past your comfort zone to people who are not like you.

To make a personal investment, you must have a vision of God's love and desire for you to make the changes necessary to grow in Christ.

To make a Reliant investment, you must have a vision of brotherhood, allowing you to achieve more together than you could ever achieve on your own.

Vision Statement: "Producing Jesus followers of faith that expand God's Kingdom."

Mission Statement: "Bringing generational transformation through the power of the gospel."

To “Own the Vision” God has given us three pillars in our lives. The pillars give us the ability to maintain balance in our lives as we give our lives for the vision of Christ through the local church.

Three Pillars for making a balanced investment for the kingdom through Reliant.

Time, Talent, and Treasure. We say this all the time, but I want to take you from the known to the unknown today. I want us to discover how we translate these pillars into real life to produce Jesus followers through generational transformation to Purpose, Power, and Passion.

Time = Purpose

Time is such a precious commodity.

It is limited for every person, and you don't know how much you have. Time makes up the moments of which we capitalize or waste our lives. What do you do with the time you have been given, with the moments afforded to you?

The Bible equates time to our lives.

James 4:14 ESV

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Time passes by so quickly.We have just a fleeting moment to make our mark on the world, to have an impact on others, to make a difference.

What you choose to do with your time determines your purpose in life.

A Christian should find purpose and meaning in the things of God.

Kim is going through the book of Colossians on Wednesday mornings and just covered Colossians chapter 3.

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Christians have been taught to compartmentalize their lives and give God a piece instead of losing their lives and God becoming their purpose.

To own the vision of producing Jesus followers through generational transformation, it must become more than a project but your purpose.

Giving your time must be more than serving a "serve team," but a determination of your purpose in life. If you can't give your life to the cause, you should find a different cause to chase after.

Talent = Power

The Spirit empowers us as instruments of righteousness.

Power is produced when we yield to the Spirit and become an instrument of righteousness.

Romans 6:12–13 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

The Spirit empowers us to accomplish His will.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 ESV

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Your talents and abilities will never accomplish the will of God.

"To own the vision, you must bring your Spirit-empowered game to the table."

Treasure = Passion

People sacrifice for the treasure of their heart. We spend our life on the things we want most. The definition of passion is sacrifice. “The passion of the Christ.” Christ willingness To sacrifice and suffer for mankind.

Your treasure determines your passion.

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Treasure has the ability to lure your heart. When our passion is for treasure in heaven, we will sacrifice this world's goods to obtain it.

I have a dear pastor friend in Washington, D.C., that once told me, "Money is a tool to be used for today." It has no value in Heaven.

Your treasure determines your focus.

Matthew 6:22–23 ESV

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

If we get focused on money, it becomes a sin. "For the love of money is the root of all evil."If we stay focused on the kingdom, we use money as a tool to build it.

If we are going to Own the Vision, we must sacrifice our treasures for treasures in heaven.

Decisions:

To be balanced you must have continually give all three of these things. You can say I will give my time and not my treasure. Anything less is cheating Christ out of the vision and life he gave you.

What good is it to know your purpose with no power, or passion.

What good is it to have passion with no purpose, or power.

What good is it to have power with no passion, or purpose.

Determine the purpose of your life.

If you have been raised from the dead, then walk in new life.

Choose to yield to the Spirit to be empowered by the Spirit.

Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

The Spirit translates your righteousness into power for the kingdom.

Determine your heart's desire for treasures on earth or treasures in heaven.

You might need to refocus your passion.You must be willing to sacrifice for kingdom treasures.

Colossians 3:1–3 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.