As we get closer to "Sending Forth" Sunday, I have fewer opportunities to challenge you to become the best. Today, I plan to share four spiritual goals I hope you will adopt for your life. These four goals reflect HOPE's foundation. The four goals are: Pursue God. Know yourself. Do church. Multiply yourself.
PURSUE GOD.
Do whatever it takes to get to know God better. Read and study your Bible. Don't settle for what others have discovered. Find truth for yourself. Pray . . . a lot. Hang out with God. Hang out with other pray-ers. Make it real. Don't settle for going through the motions. Be a real Christian.
In the same way you chase after whatever it is that makes you happiest, chase after God. Don't be casual with God. The author of Hebrews wrote:
Hebrews 12:1 . . . Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. {2} Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. {3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
There are four obvious lessons:
- Loose the baggage. Shed every sin that trips you. Set aside the extra weight of stuff you do not need. Know that you'll run faster and farther if you carry less stuff.
- Run to win. Don't play games with Jesus. Faith walking is a life and death matter. If you want a hobby, collect stamps or butterflies. Jesus and the church deserve serious attention.
- Focus upon Jesus. The world is filled with distractions. Learn to avoid them. Learn to look the other way. Wear blinders like Amish horses. Don't look to the left. Don't look to the right. Don't look over your shoulder. Keep your eyes forward on your goal, focused upon Jesus Christ.
- Follow Jesus' example. Jesus willingly faced the enemy, wore a crown of thorns, suffered and died in our place. Jesus refused to follow the easier path or the crowd. He stuck to His intended course. We should imitate Jesus. A single-minded approach to life will help us remain faithful to the end.
KNOW YOURSELF.
Do whatever it takes to know who you are. Be honest. Look in the mirror. Be honest about who you are becoming. Ask others about yourself. They may be much more honest than you are. Choose brutally honest people. Study the Scriptures. Look for yourself in the Bible. Make necessary changes as God directs. We read in Romans:
Romans 12:3b . . . Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. {4} Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, {5} so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. {6} We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. {7} If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; {8} if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
There are three observations to keep in mind as you serve God:
- God designed you.
- God gifted you.
- God placed you in Christ's Body.
Getting to know yourself should include looking inside in search of personality and character and ideals. Ask God to reveal to you what makes you tick, what gets you excited. Define your passions. Live your daily life out of your passions.
There are three steps for making the most of yourself:
- Plan to be content with who you are in Christ. God designed you to be you. Don't want to be someone else!
- Discover your gifts, graces and abilities. Experiment. Try new things. Allow others to help you find yourself. Perfect your skills and abilities.
- Acknowledge that you are but one part of the church, that you are not the "all in all." And thank God that you are who He designed you to be and not that other guy.
DO CHURCH.
Refuse to merely sit, to take up space in the pews. Volunteer! DO NOT wait around for someone to ask or to beg you to serve the church. Volunteer!
And refuse to fall into the trap of thinking that "doing stuff" for God is enough. God wants you to attend church. There are people who claim to be Christians, who serve in Jesus' name, but who fail to make church a priority. I'm not sure "what" they are, but they disobey the commands of Scripture:
Hebrews 10:19 . . . Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, {20} by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, {21} and since we have a great priest over the house of God, {22} let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. {23} Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. {24} And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. {25} Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
With your permission, I would like to overlook the theology that is in this passage. Verses 19 through 23 provide the reasons for mutual encouragement and for attending church. Because of Christ's sacrifice, we have access to the heavenlies. We have access to God's goodies. We have access to faith and cleansing and better lives. It would be silly to waste these precious gifts.
Notice two commands:
- Encourage one another to make the most of our faith walk. "Spur one another on" to be all you can be in Christ. We are to serve as one another's cheerleaders in life.
- Go to church. Others skip church. DO NOT be like them. Church is not punishment. Church is not busy work. Church is not optional. Church is God's designed tool for reaching the lost and equipping the found.
My hope and desire is that you will do church. Don't just attend. Do church. Be there and participate. Pray for the church, pastor, people, ministry. Give: tithe and beyond. Serve: use your gifts.
MULTIPLY YOURSELF.
Tell others about the Jesus who saves. You know the truth. DO NOT keep it to yourselves. That would be a sin! The apostle Paul wrote:
Romans 10:11 . . . As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." {12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, {13} for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." {14} How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? {15} And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Be, or become, the kind of person known by God as having beautiful feet.
There is only ONE way to get saved, and that is by faith in the Cross-work of Jesus Christ. But there are many witnesses. I am to be a witness. You are to be a witness.
I have a three step outline for witnessing:
- Ask God to show you who He wants you to speak to about Jesus. Pray for them. Ask God to move into their lives.
- Ask God to show you how to develop a real relationship with these people. Live beside them Be a good neighbor. Show kindness. Become their friend.
- Ask God to clearly show you when to speak about Jesus and what to say. If God does the saving, and He does; then we do best at witnessing when we follow His lead regarding when to speak. Listen for an invitation to explain the faith that is in you. And then speak. Don't be a chicken.
HOPE has touched almost 200 people. Most of these people moved on stronger and healthier than when they arrived at our doors. They have taken HOPE beyond Newark, beyond Delaware. And now we have the opportunity to do the same. Personal commitment to HOPE's high ideals for Christ-like living should not cease for any of us. We are not finished. We have just begun. Make this pastor happy: Take HOPE wherever you go.
