Do You See What I See by Pastor Fee Soliven Luke 24:45-49 Sunday Morning February 8, 2015

Luke 24:45-49 (New Century Translation) 45 Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that a change of hearts and lives and forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I will send you what my Father has promised, but you must stay in Jerusalem until you have received that power from heaven.”

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Luke 24:48 (New Century Translation) "You are witnesses of these things."

What does a Heart for God look like?

1. A Desire to Know Him

Philippians 3: Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead...

2. A Desire to Obey Him

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (New Century Translation) 4 We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments 5 and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.

3. A Desire to Share Him

Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”

Romans 1: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

God intends for Every Person to Hear the Gospel.

John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”

1 Timothy 2:3-5 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus...

4. Enables Us to Encourage others Undergoing Persecution

2 Corinthians 9:8-9 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."

2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Mark 16: And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Psalm 119:160 "The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever"

John 17: They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

God’s Plan is the Missionary Church

1. The Person of Jesus Christ

Matthew 11:4-6 4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

2. The Power of God through The Holy Spirit

Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

3. His Program

Acts 17:1-6 1 Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica where there was a synagogue. 2 Paul went into the synagogue as he always did, and on each Sabbath day for three weeks, he talked with his fellow Jews about the Scriptures.

3 He explained and proved that the Christ must die and then rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I am telling you about is the Christ.” 4 Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, along with many of the Greeks who worshiped God and many of the important women.

5 But some others became jealous. So they got some evil men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot. They ran to Jason’s house, looking for Paul and Silas, wanting to bring them out to the people.

6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers to the leaders of the city. The people were yelling, “These people have turned the world upside down, and now they have come here too!

What Exactly does a Missionary Church look like?

1. Has a vision for the world, not just its own city. 2 Responds obediently to Jesus’ command by sending out missionaries. 3. Clearly proclaims Christ’s message of redemption for mankind.

4. Challenges those who are called by God to carry the message wherever He sends them. 5. Supports those who are called to take the gospel to the mission field.

1. What is your concept of sharing Christ with the world?

2. Do you automatically think of having to go to a foreign country?

3. Who has had the biggest impact on your thinking in regard to sharing the Lord with those who don’t know Him?

4. How can you share with someone you know about the many ways God blesses and guides you and your family throughout the year?