32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,
“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”
- Hebrews 10:32-37
"The Afterlife"
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
- 2 Timothy 4:6–8.22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
- Philippians 1:21–24.The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
- Isaiah 35:1-2
"Angels and Demons"
THERE ARE TWO REALMS, THE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
- Colossians 1:16
ANGELS AND DEMONS ARE AGENTS ON ASSIGNMENT
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
- Psalm 34:78 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
- 1 Peter 5:8
THERE ARE ONLY TWO SOURCES OF SPIRITUAL POWER, GOD AND SATAN
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
- Ephesians 6:12
ANGELS SERVE WHILE DEMONS DECEIVE AND DESTROY
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
- Psalm 34:710 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
- John 10:10
ANGELS ARE EMPOWERED BY PRAYER AND DEMONS ARE DEFEATED BY PRAYER
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
- Acts 12:1-717 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
- Mark 9:17-28
"The Pursuit of Pleasure"
The pleasures of this world are both fleeting and misleading.
16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:15-1711 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
- 1 Peter 2:11
The greatest pleasure we could ever experience is hidden in God.
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- Philippians 1:20-21You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
- Psalm 16:11
We need to grow our desire for God.
“...but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
- 1 John 2:15-17
"In the Zone"
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
- 1 John 2:15-17
Perfection is a spiritual problem that we can’t solve
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
- Romans 3:20
God can make us whole only when we admit we aren’t perfect
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
- Romans 3:21-24
Comfort is unrealistic
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33
“Approval Addicts”
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
- Proverbs 29:25
People can be addicted to approval.
“You shall have no other gods before me.”
- Exodus 20:310 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
- Galatians 1:10
God’s love sets us free from our addiction to approval.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:202 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12:2
"Living with Eternal Perspective"
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:15-16
Loving the world will cost you
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 1 John 2:15-163 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
- Revelation 2:3-4
The world is passing away
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:17
Focus on eternal things
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:17
"Living Under the Influence (of God)"
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
- Psalm 1:1-3
Obedience
3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go
- 1 Kings 2:3
Trust
17 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
- Jeremiah 7:17
Humility
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
- Matthew 23:12
"Impact of One"
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- Matthew 9:35-38
See what Jesus saw
Feel what Jesus felt
Pray as Jesus prayed
Do as Jesus did
9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
- 2 Chronicles 16:919 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:19-20
Disciple Maker vs. Great Evangelist
| Year | Disciple Maker | Great Evangelist |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2,000 |
| 2 | 4 | 4,000 |
| 3 | 64 | 6,000 |
| 4 | 256 | 8,000 |
| 5 | 1,024 | 10,000 |
| 6 | 4,096 | 12,000 |
| 7 | 16,384 | 14,000 |
| 8 | 65,536 | 16,000 |
| 15 | 1,073,741,824 | 30,000 |
EACH ONE REACH ONE EACH YEAR
“Impact in Groups”
God intended for His people to experience life and discipleship in groups.
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
- Matthew 3:1620 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
- Matthew 18:20
You can make a great impact in a small group.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Hebrews 10:24-25Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
- Proverbs 27:1742 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- Acts 2:42
Our Church is greatly impacted by small groups.
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- Matthew 9:37-38