Teaching from Curwensville Alliance (Pastor Steve Shields)
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Pastor Steve continues his series on COMMISSION.
Interdependence permeates our existence. Our differences strengthen us. God made us to need one another.
In order to walk deeply into the pathway of interdependence you must let go of fear. You must let go of your pride. You must let go of your judgement and instead give grace. Grace is essential in interdependence.
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Listen as Chaplain Branden Root speaks on how you can showcase the Gospel by understanding your commission.
You can walk in a manner worthy of your calling.
You can be unified in your mindset.
You can embrace the humility of Christ in all that you do.
You can exalt Christ above everything else.
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Jesus came to serve. The example He gives us is to serve and not be served.
By His example we are to serve in humility.
By His example we are to humbly serve with compassion.
We are to serve Jesus sacrificially.
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Living your commission requires you abandon careless, sloppy thinking and begin to pursue intentional living.
There is an evil spirit of the age. It is relentless and seemingly timeless. The world seems blind to the zeitgeist.
Intentional living tests the spirits by asking some questions.
What is the source? Where did it come from?
What is the direction? Where is this heading?
What is the end? Does that take me to Jesus?
Intentional living means walking in wisdom. Live intentionally regarding your time. Live intentionally regarding your resources. Live intentionally regarding your heart.
Intentionally direct the thankfulness that comes from your heart to express your appreciation for Christ by the way you live.
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Everyone wants to make a difference. But the difference isn’t a matter of size; it’s a matter of commission.
Making a difference requires a clear vision of your commission. Resist the temptation to “be somebody”. Productive ministry can happen is small, personal ways.
Making a difference that matters means you need to separate yourself from sin.
Making a difference that matters means you need to love God’s instruction and God Himself.
Making a difference that matters means you look for ways to influence others.
The difference we make has an eternal blessing. God uses it to restore value to human lives. God uses it to prepare others to stand in righteousness. God uses it to change lives by bringing His presence.
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Our commission regards Kingdom interests. The promises of asking anything in God’s name and receiving it are given in a certain environment. They are given to “disciples”, people who are following Christ. The promises are given in the context of Kingdom ministry.
Human political movements are not the solution to humankind’s greatest of needs. Instead, we need to look to the greatness of God’s power.
Mountain moving faith trusts God.
Mountain moving faith rescues people from evil.
Do you have some mountains that need moving? Personal spiritual mountains are things that keep you from being who God wants you to be. Personal ministry mountains are the things that keep you from doing what God wants you to do. Collective ministry mountains are the things that keep us from doing what God has for us to do.
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Jesus had an outward focus. We see this in His becoming human, His Kingdom teaching and His going to the cross.
When we look at the life of Christ we can see the patterns of His outward focus.
Jesus’ pattern entailed going. He went to where the people were. That’s part of being outward focused.
Jesus’ pattern entailed connecting. Influencing someone toward life change almost always entails connecting with them personally and genuinely.
Jesus’ pattern was to engage people on a spiritual level both relationally and clearly.
How can you live your commission based on the pattern of Jesus? Get off the couch! Risk rebuttal. Engage personally and authentically.
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C in commission is for call. Coming to Jesus changes your life. There is a better life to come, and it is for certain! The future affects how you live now. It affects how you live with others in this life, and it affects how people view you in this life. You are motivated by the love of Christ.
What does living your call look like?
You see people from a different perspective, from Christ’s perspective. You see the kinds of changes God makes in the lives of people. Christ changes people through the Gospel.
God has called each of us. He has commissioned us. The call of God in your life is a pretty big deal! The seriousness of the situation influences the expectation of participation.
Indifference to the call is a warning sign that you may need a reboot. You may need to ask God what He has for you and to see from His perspective.
Some healthy motivation to respond to the call is knowing that you are Christ’s ambassador as stated in Corinthians 5:20. You can make an eternal impact. You can make a personal impact. You can give your life to Someone greater than yourself.
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Cynics are on a cycle that starts with a disappointment, which leads to discontentment with life. Then they decide to protect themselves, which leads to a cynical spirit. Then a negative experience happens, which leads to disappointment, and the cycle continues.
Cynicism effects your faith. It causes some to jump ship. It causes some to stay put but to stop hoping. Disenchantment robs their faith of its enchantment. It causes some to erase the miraculous from their faith. They and their faith are dis-enchanted.
The use of enchantment is to speak of the opposite of mundane. Mundane is lacking interest or excitement or of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one.
Our faith is enchanted. Our faith is founded on the supernatural. A virgin birth is not mundane. Our faith is enacted by the miraculous. The atoning work of Christ on the cross, and His resurrection is anything but mundane.
Our faith is of the Spirit of God. Communicating with God in Spirit and in truth is not mundane.
What factors contribute to disenchantment? Arrogance, ignorance and fear all contribute to disenchantment.
What steps can we take toward re-enchantment?
Drill down to what Christian faith is. Real Christian faith is found at the cross. At the cross, Jesus loved his neighbor as Himself, His enemies and His Father in heaven.
Look into your own heart. The problem of many who are disenchanted is not their lack of faith, but their abundance of arrogance.
Radically open your heart to wonder. Release God from your demands. Look for the miracles and expect them.
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Have you ever had feelings of futility?
The definition of futile is having no constructive effect, achieving nothing of value.
Everyone experiences futility at some point. These futile feelings are rooted in the mundane.
When we look in Ecclesiastes 1, we see Solomon’s perspective on futility. You cannot escape futility through education, pleasure, wisdom or keeping busy. Instead, you find satisfaction when you make God central in all things.
Some questions to think about. Is the Lord central to my faith? Is the Lord central to my mission? Is the Lord central to my family?
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