2010 and the Biblical Mandate By David Oakley Ambassadors in Sport

Gen 12 v 1-3 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Mission was in God’s heart from the beginning - Know the Lord deeply and trust Him like Abram did. There is nothing exceptional about Abram except he took a chance on God to be a blessing and take up the challenge of Mission Impossible…

How can we carry out “Mission Impossible” and be a blessing? - Follow Biblical Principles.

Be effective in your mission to be a blessing by following the principles of  Creativity (Genesis 1:24-28 )  Stewardship (Exodus 35:4-35)  Influence (Daniel 1:1-21)

Genesis 1 Context?  Origins and Relationships => Refuting of Wrong Ideas  Day 6 Creative activity – Insights on possibilities for human beings  Reflect the Creator by being Creative in 2010 and beyond.

Plurality v24+5 Plurality v24+5 Purpose v28 Pinnacle V26+27 Reflect the image of God by being creative

Nature shows God’s diverse work Diversity of God’s blessing : His Names and Names of Jesus His revelations to different people Jesus’ healing ministry Imaginative variety is GOOD

Creation was very good with humans Image of God implications ? Characteristics of God Representative of God Valuable to God PLUS rational, spiritual, authority, social and creative.

Stewards of the Earth to: Fill the Earth – Increasing Influence Subdue it - Maintain order Rule over – Delegated authority PROBLEM – Lost Control to Satan Kingdom battle to recover Mandate

 What makes you feel alive?  When do you feel God’s pleasure in your life?  What are the 3 best times of your life?  What do these things show about you?  Write a one-sentence description of yourself as a result of the answers to the above questions This is the way God made you – Inner constraint that will drive you

Exodus 35 Context?  Journey into being God’s people => Learning about worship  Tabernacle creation work – Spiritual yet required the physical.  Use talents to create something beautiful.

Sacrificially v4-9 Willingly giving in beauty & variety Skilfully v10-29 Using God given talents & abilities Specially v30-35 Application in teaching & training

v. 4 Whole community involvement v. 5 Willing cooperation vv. 6-9 Wide contribution Use or bury what you have been given?

Particular People for Particular Jobs v. 10 Skilled use of the resources vv Skills released. Colossians 3:23 – Work as unto God. See the significance of what God has given you and offer it back to Him.

Specialists set apart (v. 30) to: v. 32 Deliver on the job vv. 34 Develop others AND v. 31 Spirit Driven New Testament Specialists? – Paul Today’s Specialists? – to do & to teach

vv 1-2 Be holy and pleasing to God as part of spiritual worship vv3-9 Use gifts and talents as a living sacrifice vv10-21 Responding to others in contemporary culture

Blessing of Influence – not a role in church but vital ministry. Invisible power over people’s minds & actions Invisible power over people’s minds & actions

circumstances education, provision & fitting in Stand to be distinctive in a helpful way Excellence, learning & use of skills

v.1 Accept Circumstances v. 2 Accept Reality of Situation. Daniel is in his late teens had everything that was familiar was stripped away … Yet he didn’t survive, He thrived!

vv. 3-4 Adapt to pagan culture v. 4 Adapt to pagan education v. 5 Adapt to foreign food vv. 6-7 Adapt to new name & identity For 3 out of 4 of the above, Daniel accommodated what was on offer.

v. 8 Dan rejected the food – why? vv Favour and understanding. vv Grace filled response. vv God honours the stance. Stand for something or you will fall for everything.

v. 17 Natural and spiritual gifts. vv Opening because excellent. v. 21 Pillar of government for decades under 4 different rulers. Anchor of Salt and Light influence. Dare to be a Daniel in your participation in 2010!

a) Results of mission v 1&2 Growth and fruit b) Rights of ministers v 3-12a Sowing spiritual seed c) Renouncement in mission v 12b-18 Integrity and denial d) Replication in mission v Culturally sensitive

i. New Ministry ii. Foolish Ministry 1 Corinthians 1 v 27&28 Message considered foolish v Means can be a stumbling block v Method of using the foolish v 26-31

Church growth through ministry will require unity in: Grounding v4-6 Goal v12-16 Gifting v7-11 Grace v1-3