Ends of the Earth
You're ready for the word this morning. Okay, if you got a Bible, you can open up to Acts chapter number one. And we'll get there in just a couple of minutes, just a couple of minutes. But before we do, let us pray. Father, we love you. We're so grateful for the wonderful opportunity we have to be in your presence. It's a big deal, and we don't take it lightly. And so we pray today that by the power of your Spirit, you will lead us and guide us that you would show us Jesus like we've never seen him before. Because we know it's upon revelation of Jesus Christ. Your son, who came to earth as man, but will still fully God. Live living a perfect life, crucified and resurrected again. That our lives change. It's on that revelation that our lives change. And it's on that revelation that you build it, establish your church. So build your church in us, on us, through us, around us about us in a way that only you can In Jesus mighty name, a man, a man a man, come on, everybody give a hand clap of praise to Jesus, because he's worthy. He's worthy. Give somebody next to you and knock a bump and tell him I'm glad you're here today. Now turn to your other neighbor and say you want to sit by me next week too. There we go. There we go. I do have one more announcement that is very, very important in the life of our church, we've got prayer and fasting that is kicking off on August the fifth everybody. So two weeks from two weeks from tomorrow, we'll be kicking off seven days of prayer and fasting, you should receive one of these cards on the way out, it will tell you all that you need to know about the details of prayer and fasting, we would encourage you strongly to be a part of what God does in and through the life of the church that week in August make plans in Jesus name. Okay. So last week, we got back from Africa. And we decided that we would share a little slideshow with you showed you a bunch of pictures and talk to you about all the amazing things that God did, God said, and God is up to in Africa, but also, we shared with you what he was doing in us. And so we gave a little challenge. And we had Compassion International Sunday last week. And we partnered with compassion and share some details with you here in just a few minutes. But I just thought, Man, I need to continue on and talk about that just a little bit more. I'm gonna say a little bit more. That's what I needed to do. And so just to catch you up if you weren't here. Last week, I shared that. Pastor Carrie and I had the opportunity to go to Uganda. And we, we spoke at a pastors conference with over 1200 pastors present as a part of our next level relational network connection. We had the opportunity to minister to them, teach them and train them. It was, like I said, 1200 pastors from seven different African nations, which was incredible. We also had the opportunity to visit with Toto children's village, which we didn't get any time to tell you about. But man, if you ever have just asked the question, and I'd love to tell you about what todo it was one of the most amazing things I've ever been a part of. But then in addition to that, we were in partnership with Compassion International, who as an organization partners with local churches around the world and provide sponsorships helps provide sponsorships for 2.3 million children who are in need everybody. And we partnered with them last week. And I'm telling you they sent us 200 packets because pastor carry now when we were in Uganda said, Hey, we would love if you would send mercy City Church, the packets from this area because we got to put our eyes on it. And so they found 200 packets and they sent them our way. And 172 of those children were sponsored last weekend, everybody. Come on, come on, come on. Now. I will say some of us took packets and haven't quite signed up yet. Go ahead and do that. Just this is your little some of you left and said I gotta pray about it. This is your little Holy Spirit nudge for Pastor Matt just saying go ahead and do that you know what I'm saying? But obviously there are 28 packets left this morning that you'll have an opportunity to go ahead and grab if you feel led or inspired to do that. And so man, what an opportunity but today like I said, I'm gonna continue on this I felt this stirring in the spirit this week, as as I was praying about the weekend and I want to just dive back into Acts chapter eight, is that okay? Sorry, Acts chapter number one, verse eight. Clear? Are y'all ready for it? Okay, do me a favor first service and link and I'm sure city and pecks crushing it Seward I know it's crushing it. But y'all here in the room, actually just sit up a little bit and lean in. Just sit up a little bit lean in, there we go. Pretend like you're hungry for the things of God. Even if you got to pretend sometimes you just gotta fake it till you make it a little bit. I actually hate that saying Don't fake it, but put faith into it, if you don't mind. Acts chapter number 1x Chapter number one, but use I'm gonna say you will receive power. I love this word power. It is the Greek word dunamis. Okay, where we get our English word dynamite. Okay, so there is dynamic power when you receive the Holy Spirit. And Jesus was so into our success, that what he did was he made a plan, God had a plan from the very beginning that Jesus would come, he would live a perfect life, he would, he would be crucified and risen again. And when he went to heaven, what would happen is the Holy Spirit now would come to earth and empower you. So just for those of us who may not know, when we pray, the prayer of salvation to receive Jesus, we do put our faith in Jesus but we don't receive Jesus, we actually received the person of the Holy Spirit who now dwells on the inside of you, and breathes life into you, you can live a powerful life dunamis dynamite power in your life. So you don't have to be whining about the sin all the devil is out to get me Nam and you can curb stop the devil because of the power that is dwelling on the inside of you, you have power somebody say power. Look at your neighbor and say you will receive power. Come on, say power, power not to be a jackwagon to your wife. Sorry, maybe I should have said that a little bit nicer, I guess. Power to break the chains of addiction, power to break the chains of poverty, power to break the power of sin, power on the inside of you, you will receive power. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, it's not you. It's the Holy Spirit. And you submit say you will be my witnesses, which is what we talked about last week will receive power to be witnesses. How many times have you heard somebody say, Well, I can't really share my faith because I'm nervous. But that's not biblical. It's Biblical for you to understand that you receive power, power in the workplace power in power at school power. So we say power, power, power you will receive. Stay here in Jesus name. Power, some say power, telling people about me everywhere, which is what I want to talk to you about today. Yet last week, we left with this question.
What is my responsibility? This week? We're going to walk away with the question, where do I go? I'm gonna say where do I go? Well, Jesus, let us know where we go. We go everywhere. Everywhere. We go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The title of today's message is to the ends of the earth, to the ends of the earth. I'm gonna say everywhere. It's interesting to me that Jesus felt it was necessary to spell out everywhere, okay, because to me everywhere seems pretty self explanatory everywhere. We say everywhere. I looked up this word and it actually means everywhere. It means that home, you have the power to be witnesses. You have the power to be witnesses of the goodness of Jesus to your wife, to your husband to your kids. You have the power. Well, I just can't handle it. At the end of the day, I'm all I'm all tired and I'm worn out and I just don't have it. Yes, you do have it, you have the power to be the witness that Jesus has called you to be to your wife, and to your kids, I don't have the power, my boss drives me nuts. Yes, you do have the power, you just have to lean into the fact that you have it, you have to recognize that I have the power, say I have the power, you have the power to do everything, everywhere that God has called you to go. I used to think that when my kids played sports, I just didn't have the power not to yell at the umpire. I got kicked out of a few games, everybody. But I just didn't realize that I actually had the power not to be that guy. I would yell at the referees from the football games. And then the stands I mean, stadiums were you know, decently sized. And I started to be, you know, kind of encouraging, like you can do better. You, you can do better, you're better than that. I refuse to believe you're that awful. I didn't realize I had the power not to be that guy. It didn't matter where I went, or what I did, I had the power to be a witness how many more people could have experienced the goodness of God had I recognized that I had the power not to be that guy. And I think that some of us are convinced that we don't have the power to be the person that God's called us to be in the places that he puts us. But the places he puts you, he puts you there on purpose set everywhere. The places you go involve everywhere. You have the power, someone say the power, should we know what everywhere means? I think we should. But oftentimes we don't. Which is why I think Jesus is a master communicator. He knew people and he knew that we would know what it meant. And so what he did was he let us know, this is what everywhere means. And so I got a little map right here, because Jesus said, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And if we don't study that out, we may not necessarily know what that means. But I want to show you here for just a minute if I can, Jerusalem. So this is where they were in the city that they were they were in Jerusalem. So he's saying specifically in the cities, that you live, the places where you are, that's where you're called, to have the power to be witnesses. So where you work, where you live, where you shop, where you go to events, those places, you have the power to be His witnesses, and you should be witnesses everywhere that you go, because you've been empowered by the Holy Spirit. When you go to work, you should be a witness. Well, I don't know, Pastor Matt, because, you know, at my company, if you talk about Jesus, then well, you know, it's, it's a bad look. Okay, but what did Jesus tells you to do? As a believer, he said that you'll have the power. That doesn't mean that you have to preach the gospel, you don't have to stand up on the break room table and preach the gospel. What it specifically means is that God will give you power, he'll give you insights, he'll give you wisdom, he'll give you the words to say he'll give you a way to do it, that won't put people off, but that will draw people in, he'll give you the power in Jerusalem, in Judea. Okay, see this part of Judea. So it's Jerusalem, the city where we live, but it's also Judea, maybe the place where we don't necessarily live but maybe our state or our region, even our country, where God has called us to make an impact. Okay, he goes on to say in Samaria, here, Samaria up here, Samaria is outside of our potential places of influence and impact. Does that make sense? And I wanted you to have just a picture of what this looks like. And then he goes on to say to the ends of the earth. That's where you'll have power to be His witnesses. Some say everywhere. So here's the question. Where do I go? Where do I go? To miss everywhere? Where do where do I go? Everywhere? Well, Pastor man, I'm a teenager. Where do I go everywhere? I'm a business owner. Where do I go everywhere. I am a teacher. Where do I go? Everywhere? I'm a stay at home mom, where do I go? Everywhere? Everywhere? Well, I did. Where do I go? Everywhere? Everywhere. Let me say everywhere. And I know some Y'all not liking me right now but you go everywhere everywhere. Jerusalem is for us to minister to those that are inside our world, our sphere of influence, where we have impact every day, not just our cities necessarily, but our families, we need to make an impact. There are neighborhoods, we need to make an impact there. The people that we're doing life with that we interact with that are concerned, we will consider insiders, we see them we say what's up, we know their name, it's our responsibility to take the power of the gospel to be His witnesses. They're that one person at work that you don't really like they're an insider in your call tool. That one lender that you operate with, but you will that mountain, that's who you call to hear them, Sam, the people that you love, and you're oftentimes overlooked because well, they know that I love them, what do you tell them that you love them? They know that God has a gift on their life? Have you told them that? Have you slow down enough to look them in the eye and deliver the message of the gospel bringing some encouragement to him? Have you operated in the power forum? Everywhere? The insiders? The second place is this, where do I go? Where do I go? The second place is Judea, the outsiders. So maybe people that you see and you recognize, but you don't necessarily know him, you make assumptions about him. Anybody know anybody like that? They're kind of they're not in your inner circle. They're not in your sphere of influence, but just beyond it. And so you know, from a distance, and you make assumptions about them. And so you consider sharing Jesus or sharing the gospel, but you don't really go there because they're an outsider. And you think you know about them, you know enough about them to kind of put the brakes on any opportunity that you might have to share Jesus with them or be a witness for Him. Well, I got power to lead my family. But I don't have power to lead this person. Because of what I know know about them, what I've read about them what I've heard about them. So we can see, we don't consider the fact that we have power, some say power. So Jerusalem, the insiders, those that are in our sphere of influence. Judea, the outside is those that are just beyond our sphere of influence, we have the power to reach both. It's not either, or it's both. And so many times we live our lives limited. Because we feel like we don't have the power. But the lead out statement in this portion of Scripture is you will be given power, you receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. If you said yes to Jesus, you have invited the Holy Spirit into your world, and you therefore have the power. You have the power, God give me the wisdom to employ the power. The third place that we go everywhere, say everywhere, Samaria. Now, this was a little bit tricky. Because it's not just people that we've heard about that. We don't know that we have the power to minister to but these folks are our enemies, they are our opposites, like we do not agree with them. Don't hear them saying they got all fired up about the Democratic National Convention, where they got all fired up about the Republican National Convention. I cannot see how they could possibly go that route. I cannot see or understand why they would possibly have that conversation or vote for that person. I cannot see how we have anything in common. And in in a time and our world and the time in our nation, where the enemy is doing everything he possibly can to pit somebody against somebody else, saying they are my enemy. We're learning through the scripture that God has given us the power to not focus in on our differences, but find the similarities. Where can we unify where can we come together? And how can I potentially minister to somebody who's different than me and not just different than me, but somebody I would consider an enemy. See, because the Jews of this time considered the Samaritans enemies The Samaritans were multiracial, multi ethnic. And so the Jewish the Jews were of pure blood and, and, and they consider themselves to be better. But it doesn't matter what side you happen to be on. We consider our ways better, don't we? And we consider that way flawed. They're flawed, this is flawed. And we say things that are right, especially those of us that are in churches, and we say things like, I just don't understand how they could. And I'll just be praying for him. Can I challenge you, don't pray for him if you're not willing to talk to him. Because you're a hypocrite. This is my pastoral smile, just saying I love you so much. Do not pray for someone you're not willing to minister to. Don't pray about something that you're not willing, willing to step into. Because all that will do is muddy your heart and make you feel more spiritual than you actually are. Only praying about something is not actually spiritual, praying about something and then moving on it. That's actually spiritual. We're called to go everywhere and have power. Some of y'all might be saying, well, I don't want that brand of Christianity. I don't know what other brand there is. You should stop reading your Bible. Actually, you should probably start reading your Bible journal.if your cannot, can I say something nicely. If you're more passionate about the party that you're affiliated with, and willing to say something in support of that party, than you are passionate about your faith in Jesus and willing to say something being bold about your faith in Jesus
that I wonder where your salvation really even stands.
I love you everywhere, even your enemies, even people who don't like you, even people who stand against you, even people who oppose you. That's Christ. Like it doesn't mean that you agree with them. Maybe your point of agreement is that you disagree. I just can't see that. But it's much more admirable and respectable to disagree with somebody that you're willing to talk to than somebody you're not having to get to the next point. Actually, what bring the team back let's bring the Holy Spirit back in Come on everybody.
Last but certainly not least, the ends of the earth. Those who are no ciders, so you got Jerusalem, the insiders? Judea the outsiders. Samaritans who are our enemies were opposites. But then the ends of the earth, those people that we hadn't even thought about. And even thought about I don't even know you were here. How many of y'all can relate living in Nebraska? travel the country travel the world than you say Nebraska. Where is that? Exactly? It's the ends of the earth bra. You know what I mean? This really jumped on my radar in 2019 when we traveled to Bulgaria, I had heard of Bulgaria before, but I could not have shown you where Bulgaria was on a map. And then I began to think about all of the places that God had really sent me over the years. And I went on a trip to Haiti, which almost everybody knows where Haiti is now especially on the heels of, you know, a lot of the things that have been going on, but I didn't know where it was. And then I had the opportunity to go to South America to Guyana, and I had no idea Guyana was even a country. I was okay. Bulgaria. No idea, man. No idea. And then Uganda had I literally I was like, okay, got a fair I heard of it before, you know what I mean, but I didn't know where it was. And if I'm being honest, and I hadn't always been super passionate about going to places that I wasn't familiar with, or ministering to people that I, you know, like, if I'm being honest, I just hadn't even thought about it. And I thought that I was being real spiritual by saying, You know what, God, you call me to Lincoln. Nobody else wants to come to Lincoln. So I'll just hold it down here. And I will, I will, I will work hard and Lincoln, and we'll do it, we'll do it in Lincoln. And you hear things like, Well, why? Why do we have people going to Africa? Well, we got problems in America. Praise God for you guys. I hope nobody had mercy cities like that. Or if you're in God's changing your heart.You got other people that are like, Why would you do anything in America, we got so many problems around the world. It's not either, or it's both. Because those of us who are believers were called everywhere, everywhere. But that doesn't mean that you're going to get on a plane or boat or whatever. And you're gonna go to Africa, and Europe and Asia and all these different things, but maybe just maybe, through the opportunities that are provided to you, you'll find something new about something that I can make an impact, with my $42 a month to change somebody's world and be a witness for Jesus, maybe I won't go there. But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't think about it doesn't mean that my heart shouldn't be open to it doesn't mean that I shouldn't operate in compassion. And that's where I was. I realized and past secure, and I realized that even as we traveled around the US, our compassion levels had gone down. Instead of up, we were more disconnected than we were connected. In the kingdom of heaven had become so small. But those of us who are in the kingdom, those of us who are empowered by the Holy Spirit, are called everywhere. So part of my challenge is your pastor. And I know that if I was struggling, many of us in our rooms are probably struggling. We cannot be people that it's us for and no more. Well, we're good. We're we're holed up here in Lincoln and sewer. And we got no, we can't be those people. It's not the kingdom. It might be cute church, but it's not the kingdom of heaven. That we're called to be people of the Kingdom. In fact, I think that many of us, our problems have become so big. Because that's all we focus on. We focus on our stuff, my house, my cars, my kids, my marriage. All. But I wonder if we lifted our eyes? And if we begin to focus on what about their marriage? What about their family? What about those kids? What about that city? What about that region? What about that country? I wonder if God could expand our world in such a way that we began to pray away. But he would bless at home. I've seen it in my world. I've seen it in my life take place. And I think God wants us to do it as we go to the ends of the earth. It's not either or. It's both. And I remember several years ago, we had this family that was connected at our church and they were driving from the south side of Lincoln, which, you know, you drive from the south side of Lincoln to the north side of Lincoln, you might as well be driving Africa, in the minds of many people. You don't I mean, and I remember I remember they said to us, they started going to another church further south and they just said, you know, we just haven't been able to connect with many people like us. And I thought, well, you're at the wrong church anyway, because that ain't even the heart. That uh, Couple months later, I heard that they were going on a missions trip going to Mexico. And I thought, how messed up is that? You won't drive across town to be with people that aren't like you will you'll go to another country to encounter people like you that aren't like you. how messed up? How small vision, how short sighted? How absolutely void of the kingdom is that? Within then on the flip side, we've had people ministering here at home to the to the homeless in the down in the outer. But then providing opportunity to go maybe on an international trip or maybe cross the state lines trip. And they say, Well, no, I'm doing ministry right here. Who on earth ever convinced you that it had to be either or? I've convinced that if somebody convinced you that it had to be either or that person convincing you was empowered by somebody who's not the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit empowers you to go everywhere, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We don't stop short. And we don't look beyond we look everywhere at everyone because everyone always belonged. That's the heart of God. That's the heart of the kingdom. That's the compassion that we are called to operate it. That's it. That's it. That's it. Someone asked you this morning as we wrap it up. Have you been stuck? Last week, we left and I said what's our responsibility? Let's pray about this. Some of us were vexed in our spirits were like, oh, man, I'm sensing something. But I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go. I don't know how to handle this. And it was because we couldn't reconcile the where should I do it here? Should I do it? There? Should? Wagon? So I just want to put your minds at ease. I want to let your spirits rest? The answer is yes. The answer is ever. Don't over commit. But I wonder if you would with every I close every head might be in here today and say pastor man, I've been stuck. I took I took a packet last week. And I didn't make the next step because I'm just stuck. I believe this is your moment to get unstuck. Where do I go? What do I do? Everywhere? Not all at the same time. But God will show you what your next step is. If that's you, you just felt stuck. And I haven't known where to go. I haven't know what to do. I didn't know what my responsibilities come on and all of our rooms would you just lift your hand right where you're sitting, but just lift your hand. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for your boldness. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Wow, thank you, Jesus. Come on. If that's you, we just live both hands. Father, thank You for every hand that is lifted. Thank you. For every heart that is open wide. I pray in the name of Jesus, that as we felt stuck. And maybe as we felt stuck, we've been frustrated. Sensing on the inside of us. There's something else there's something more there's a next step gotta pray that you would break the chains, that you would unstick our wheels that we might be able to move forward in our life. For something more, something new, something real, something powerful, something life giving something life altering. Do in us. Oh god do through us. Oh God, what only you can? In Jesus mighty name. Amen. Amen. Amen.
What is my responsibility? This week? We're going to walk away with the question, where do I go? I'm gonna say where do I go? Well, Jesus, let us know where we go. We go everywhere. Everywhere. We go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The title of today's message is to the ends of the earth, to the ends of the earth. I'm gonna say everywhere. It's interesting to me that Jesus felt it was necessary to spell out everywhere, okay, because to me everywhere seems pretty self explanatory everywhere. We say everywhere. I looked up this word and it actually means everywhere. It means that home, you have the power to be witnesses. You have the power to be witnesses of the goodness of Jesus to your wife, to your husband to your kids. You have the power. Well, I just can't handle it. At the end of the day, I'm all I'm all tired and I'm worn out and I just don't have it. Yes, you do have it, you have the power to be the witness that Jesus has called you to be to your wife, and to your kids, I don't have the power, my boss drives me nuts. Yes, you do have the power, you just have to lean into the fact that you have it, you have to recognize that I have the power, say I have the power, you have the power to do everything, everywhere that God has called you to go. I used to think that when my kids played sports, I just didn't have the power not to yell at the umpire. I got kicked out of a few games, everybody. But I just didn't realize that I actually had the power not to be that guy. I would yell at the referees from the football games. And then the stands I mean, stadiums were you know, decently sized. And I started to be, you know, kind of encouraging, like you can do better. You, you can do better, you're better than that. I refuse to believe you're that awful. I didn't realize I had the power not to be that guy. It didn't matter where I went, or what I did, I had the power to be a witness how many more people could have experienced the goodness of God had I recognized that I had the power not to be that guy. And I think that some of us are convinced that we don't have the power to be the person that God's called us to be in the places that he puts us. But the places he puts you, he puts you there on purpose set everywhere. The places you go involve everywhere. You have the power, someone say the power, should we know what everywhere means? I think we should. But oftentimes we don't. Which is why I think Jesus is a master communicator. He knew people and he knew that we would know what it meant. And so what he did was he let us know, this is what everywhere means. And so I got a little map right here, because Jesus said, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And if we don't study that out, we may not necessarily know what that means. But I want to show you here for just a minute if I can, Jerusalem. So this is where they were in the city that they were they were in Jerusalem. So he's saying specifically in the cities, that you live, the places where you are, that's where you're called, to have the power to be witnesses. So where you work, where you live, where you shop, where you go to events, those places, you have the power to be His witnesses, and you should be witnesses everywhere that you go, because you've been empowered by the Holy Spirit. When you go to work, you should be a witness. Well, I don't know, Pastor Matt, because, you know, at my company, if you talk about Jesus, then well, you know, it's, it's a bad look. Okay, but what did Jesus tells you to do? As a believer, he said that you'll have the power. That doesn't mean that you have to preach the gospel, you don't have to stand up on the break room table and preach the gospel. What it specifically means is that God will give you power, he'll give you insights, he'll give you wisdom, he'll give you the words to say he'll give you a way to do it, that won't put people off, but that will draw people in, he'll give you the power in Jerusalem, in Judea. Okay, see this part of Judea. So it's Jerusalem, the city where we live, but it's also Judea, maybe the place where we don't necessarily live but maybe our state or our region, even our country, where God has called us to make an impact. Okay, he goes on to say in Samaria, here, Samaria up here, Samaria is outside of our potential places of influence and impact. Does that make sense? And I wanted you to have just a picture of what this looks like. And then he goes on to say to the ends of the earth. That's where you'll have power to be His witnesses. Some say everywhere. So here's the question. Where do I go? Where do I go? To miss everywhere? Where do where do I go? Everywhere? Well, Pastor man, I'm a teenager. Where do I go everywhere? I'm a business owner. Where do I go everywhere. I am a teacher. Where do I go? Everywhere? I'm a stay at home mom, where do I go? Everywhere? Everywhere? Well, I did. Where do I go? Everywhere? Everywhere. Let me say everywhere. And I know some Y'all not liking me right now but you go everywhere everywhere. Jerusalem is for us to minister to those that are inside our world, our sphere of influence, where we have impact every day, not just our cities necessarily, but our families, we need to make an impact. There are neighborhoods, we need to make an impact there. The people that we're doing life with that we interact with that are concerned, we will consider insiders, we see them we say what's up, we know their name, it's our responsibility to take the power of the gospel to be His witnesses. They're that one person at work that you don't really like they're an insider in your call tool. That one lender that you operate with, but you will that mountain, that's who you call to hear them, Sam, the people that you love, and you're oftentimes overlooked because well, they know that I love them, what do you tell them that you love them? They know that God has a gift on their life? Have you told them that? Have you slow down enough to look them in the eye and deliver the message of the gospel bringing some encouragement to him? Have you operated in the power forum? Everywhere? The insiders? The second place is this, where do I go? Where do I go? The second place is Judea, the outsiders. So maybe people that you see and you recognize, but you don't necessarily know him, you make assumptions about him. Anybody know anybody like that? They're kind of they're not in your inner circle. They're not in your sphere of influence, but just beyond it. And so you know, from a distance, and you make assumptions about them. And so you consider sharing Jesus or sharing the gospel, but you don't really go there because they're an outsider. And you think you know about them, you know enough about them to kind of put the brakes on any opportunity that you might have to share Jesus with them or be a witness for Him. Well, I got power to lead my family. But I don't have power to lead this person. Because of what I know know about them, what I've read about them what I've heard about them. So we can see, we don't consider the fact that we have power, some say power. So Jerusalem, the insiders, those that are in our sphere of influence. Judea, the outside is those that are just beyond our sphere of influence, we have the power to reach both. It's not either, or it's both. And so many times we live our lives limited. Because we feel like we don't have the power. But the lead out statement in this portion of Scripture is you will be given power, you receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. If you said yes to Jesus, you have invited the Holy Spirit into your world, and you therefore have the power. You have the power, God give me the wisdom to employ the power. The third place that we go everywhere, say everywhere, Samaria. Now, this was a little bit tricky. Because it's not just people that we've heard about that. We don't know that we have the power to minister to but these folks are our enemies, they are our opposites, like we do not agree with them. Don't hear them saying they got all fired up about the Democratic National Convention, where they got all fired up about the Republican National Convention. I cannot see how they could possibly go that route. I cannot see or understand why they would possibly have that conversation or vote for that person. I cannot see how we have anything in common. And in in a time and our world and the time in our nation, where the enemy is doing everything he possibly can to pit somebody against somebody else, saying they are my enemy. We're learning through the scripture that God has given us the power to not focus in on our differences, but find the similarities. Where can we unify where can we come together? And how can I potentially minister to somebody who's different than me and not just different than me, but somebody I would consider an enemy. See, because the Jews of this time considered the Samaritans enemies The Samaritans were multiracial, multi ethnic. And so the Jewish the Jews were of pure blood and, and, and they consider themselves to be better. But it doesn't matter what side you happen to be on. We consider our ways better, don't we? And we consider that way flawed. They're flawed, this is flawed. And we say things that are right, especially those of us that are in churches, and we say things like, I just don't understand how they could. And I'll just be praying for him. Can I challenge you, don't pray for him if you're not willing to talk to him. Because you're a hypocrite. This is my pastoral smile, just saying I love you so much. Do not pray for someone you're not willing to minister to. Don't pray about something that you're not willing, willing to step into. Because all that will do is muddy your heart and make you feel more spiritual than you actually are. Only praying about something is not actually spiritual, praying about something and then moving on it. That's actually spiritual. We're called to go everywhere and have power. Some of y'all might be saying, well, I don't want that brand of Christianity. I don't know what other brand there is. You should stop reading your Bible. Actually, you should probably start reading your Bible journal.if your cannot, can I say something nicely. If you're more passionate about the party that you're affiliated with, and willing to say something in support of that party, than you are passionate about your faith in Jesus and willing to say something being bold about your faith in Jesus
that I wonder where your salvation really even stands.
I love you everywhere, even your enemies, even people who don't like you, even people who stand against you, even people who oppose you. That's Christ. Like it doesn't mean that you agree with them. Maybe your point of agreement is that you disagree. I just can't see that. But it's much more admirable and respectable to disagree with somebody that you're willing to talk to than somebody you're not having to get to the next point. Actually, what bring the team back let's bring the Holy Spirit back in Come on everybody.
Last but certainly not least, the ends of the earth. Those who are no ciders, so you got Jerusalem, the insiders? Judea the outsiders. Samaritans who are our enemies were opposites. But then the ends of the earth, those people that we hadn't even thought about. And even thought about I don't even know you were here. How many of y'all can relate living in Nebraska? travel the country travel the world than you say Nebraska. Where is that? Exactly? It's the ends of the earth bra. You know what I mean? This really jumped on my radar in 2019 when we traveled to Bulgaria, I had heard of Bulgaria before, but I could not have shown you where Bulgaria was on a map. And then I began to think about all of the places that God had really sent me over the years. And I went on a trip to Haiti, which almost everybody knows where Haiti is now especially on the heels of, you know, a lot of the things that have been going on, but I didn't know where it was. And then I had the opportunity to go to South America to Guyana, and I had no idea Guyana was even a country. I was okay. Bulgaria. No idea, man. No idea. And then Uganda had I literally I was like, okay, got a fair I heard of it before, you know what I mean, but I didn't know where it was. And if I'm being honest, and I hadn't always been super passionate about going to places that I wasn't familiar with, or ministering to people that I, you know, like, if I'm being honest, I just hadn't even thought about it. And I thought that I was being real spiritual by saying, You know what, God, you call me to Lincoln. Nobody else wants to come to Lincoln. So I'll just hold it down here. And I will, I will, I will work hard and Lincoln, and we'll do it, we'll do it in Lincoln. And you hear things like, Well, why? Why do we have people going to Africa? Well, we got problems in America. Praise God for you guys. I hope nobody had mercy cities like that. Or if you're in God's changing your heart.You got other people that are like, Why would you do anything in America, we got so many problems around the world. It's not either, or it's both. Because those of us who are believers were called everywhere, everywhere. But that doesn't mean that you're going to get on a plane or boat or whatever. And you're gonna go to Africa, and Europe and Asia and all these different things, but maybe just maybe, through the opportunities that are provided to you, you'll find something new about something that I can make an impact, with my $42 a month to change somebody's world and be a witness for Jesus, maybe I won't go there. But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't think about it doesn't mean that my heart shouldn't be open to it doesn't mean that I shouldn't operate in compassion. And that's where I was. I realized and past secure, and I realized that even as we traveled around the US, our compassion levels had gone down. Instead of up, we were more disconnected than we were connected. In the kingdom of heaven had become so small. But those of us who are in the kingdom, those of us who are empowered by the Holy Spirit, are called everywhere. So part of my challenge is your pastor. And I know that if I was struggling, many of us in our rooms are probably struggling. We cannot be people that it's us for and no more. Well, we're good. We're we're holed up here in Lincoln and sewer. And we got no, we can't be those people. It's not the kingdom. It might be cute church, but it's not the kingdom of heaven. That we're called to be people of the Kingdom. In fact, I think that many of us, our problems have become so big. Because that's all we focus on. We focus on our stuff, my house, my cars, my kids, my marriage. All. But I wonder if we lifted our eyes? And if we begin to focus on what about their marriage? What about their family? What about those kids? What about that city? What about that region? What about that country? I wonder if God could expand our world in such a way that we began to pray away. But he would bless at home. I've seen it in my world. I've seen it in my life take place. And I think God wants us to do it as we go to the ends of the earth. It's not either or. It's both. And I remember several years ago, we had this family that was connected at our church and they were driving from the south side of Lincoln, which, you know, you drive from the south side of Lincoln to the north side of Lincoln, you might as well be driving Africa, in the minds of many people. You don't I mean, and I remember I remember they said to us, they started going to another church further south and they just said, you know, we just haven't been able to connect with many people like us. And I thought, well, you're at the wrong church anyway, because that ain't even the heart. That uh, Couple months later, I heard that they were going on a missions trip going to Mexico. And I thought, how messed up is that? You won't drive across town to be with people that aren't like you will you'll go to another country to encounter people like you that aren't like you. how messed up? How small vision, how short sighted? How absolutely void of the kingdom is that? Within then on the flip side, we've had people ministering here at home to the to the homeless in the down in the outer. But then providing opportunity to go maybe on an international trip or maybe cross the state lines trip. And they say, Well, no, I'm doing ministry right here. Who on earth ever convinced you that it had to be either or? I've convinced that if somebody convinced you that it had to be either or that person convincing you was empowered by somebody who's not the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit empowers you to go everywhere, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We don't stop short. And we don't look beyond we look everywhere at everyone because everyone always belonged. That's the heart of God. That's the heart of the kingdom. That's the compassion that we are called to operate it. That's it. That's it. That's it. Someone asked you this morning as we wrap it up. Have you been stuck? Last week, we left and I said what's our responsibility? Let's pray about this. Some of us were vexed in our spirits were like, oh, man, I'm sensing something. But I don't know what to do. I don't know where to go. I don't know how to handle this. And it was because we couldn't reconcile the where should I do it here? Should I do it? There? Should? Wagon? So I just want to put your minds at ease. I want to let your spirits rest? The answer is yes. The answer is ever. Don't over commit. But I wonder if you would with every I close every head might be in here today and say pastor man, I've been stuck. I took I took a packet last week. And I didn't make the next step because I'm just stuck. I believe this is your moment to get unstuck. Where do I go? What do I do? Everywhere? Not all at the same time. But God will show you what your next step is. If that's you, you just felt stuck. And I haven't known where to go. I haven't know what to do. I didn't know what my responsibilities come on and all of our rooms would you just lift your hand right where you're sitting, but just lift your hand. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for your boldness. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Wow, thank you, Jesus. Come on. If that's you, we just live both hands. Father, thank You for every hand that is lifted. Thank you. For every heart that is open wide. I pray in the name of Jesus, that as we felt stuck. And maybe as we felt stuck, we've been frustrated. Sensing on the inside of us. There's something else there's something more there's a next step gotta pray that you would break the chains, that you would unstick our wheels that we might be able to move forward in our life. For something more, something new, something real, something powerful, something life giving something life altering. Do in us. Oh god do through us. Oh God, what only you can? In Jesus mighty name. Amen. Amen. Amen.
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Posted in Holy Spirit, Jesus, Power, Samaritans, Enemies, Love, Christianity, World, International, National, Acts 1
Posted in Holy Spirit, Jesus, Power, Samaritans, Enemies, Love, Christianity, World, International, National, Acts 1
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