AN UNSTOPPABLE GLORY
1
CORINTHIANS 2:9,10
However, as it
is written:
"No eye has
seen, no ear has heard, no mind has
conceived what
God has prepared for those who love
him"-- but
God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit
searches all things, even the deep things of
God.”
l The things spoken of that eye had not
seen nor ear heard were and are the Great Blessings of Salvation through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
l Before Jesus came no human being by human wisdom ever
had any conception of the…
GLORY AND GREATNESS
of these blessings.
l SALVATION, FORGIVENESS, REDEMPTION,
SONSHIP, KINGDOM CITIZENS…
… all because of the DEATH, BURIAL, and RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
…in Christ; in the
church-
GOD GIVES US
A KINGDOM VIEW!
l IN CHRIST, WE BECOME KINGDOM CITIZENS
COLOSSIANS
1:12-14
“…giving thanks to
the Father, who has qualified you to
share in the
inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of
light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of
darkness and
brought us into the kingdom of the Son he
loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness
of
sins.”
l Paul tells us that examples of God’s people long ago
and their failure to honor God’s purpose and will,
“…
were written down as warnings to us;
on whom the fulfillment of the ages
has come”
(1
Corinthians 10:11)
l As those REDEEMED; AS KINGDOM CITIZENS –
our view of this world, and our view of OUR PURPOSE FOR LIVING has
forever changed.
Colossians 3:1-4
“Since, then, you
have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is
seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly
things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When
Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in
glory.”
l WHEN WE AS GOD’S PEOPLE BEGIN TO SEEK AN ETERNAL VIEW…
l … Our Lord’s priorities; Heaven’s priorities INCREASINGLY
BECOME OURS!
l In Colossians 3:1, the term ‘SET YOUR HEARTS’,
uses the Greek word
‘ZETRO’
l It is a WORD OF INTENSITY –(and it is in the
present tense, meaning; keep on setting your hearts on heavenly things)
This World Is Not
My Home
l It has been said that when we truly see
“HIS GLORY IN THE
FACE OF CHRIST”
… The Lord “RUINS US FOR THE
ORDINARY”, and we spend our
lives seeking His Glory.
THE SURPASSING GLORY
2
CORINTHIANS 3:7-11
“Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on
stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the
face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry
of the Spirit be even more glorious?”
CONT.
l 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
“If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is
the ministry that brings righteousness!
For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing
glory. And if what was fading away came
with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!”
l Our lives are to be centered on His Glory, becoming
more like Him.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's
glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
l If Jesus is our supreme example; and we are to be like
Him, our VISION and PURPOSE statement is clear.
LUKE 19:10
“For the Son of Man came to
seek and to save
what
was lost."
MATTHEW 9:36,37
“When
he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
l Many congregations have developed VISION
STATEMENTS.
l I have always believed that the Lord has given us our
vision statement.
MATTHEW 28:19,20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age."
l We use such terms as ‘Outreach’ to describe
what the Lord would have us do to be true to His mission.
Why Should We Be So
Concerned About Outreach?
1. Because the Lord LOVES PEOPLE and wants them saved.
JOHN 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
2 PETER 3:9
“The Lord is not slow in
keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Why Should We Be So
Concerned About Outreach
2. The GREAT
COMMANDMENT and
the GREAT COMMISSION are not
suggestions!
Why Should We Be So Concerned
About Outreach
3. GROWTH IS GOD’S
WILL
Matthew 16:18 “I will build my church…”
-The gospel is God’s power (Romans 1:16)
- God will do His part, WE MUST DO OURS
1 CORINTHIANS 3:6
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it
grow.”