deanrush.net

The spirit of GO

Matthew 28: 19
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age

God has called us to GO – into the world
Unfortunately – most people just want to stay where they are
The spirit of Go is the Holy Spirit
If you have the Holy Spirit – you will have some GO in you

5 keys to getting the spirit of GO

1. Catch the vision of GO
The vision of GO is to respond to the great commission
To go out into the world
Psalm 72:19 May the whole earth be filled with his glory
Who would be interested in seeing the world filled with the glory of God?
There is a world out threre that needs help
And yohe an be part of that
We need to catch a vision of our world changing

Who will represent Christ in this world? The church working together – the body
Jesus is looking for people who are available
Are you available in 2012?

2. Have a go
Step out
When was the last time you tried something new?
When was the last time you took a great step of faith?
Don’t just do the same old same old – Who wants the same old life – same job – same friends
You were created for more
Have a go for God in 2012 – take the step of faith

3. Fight for the cause
Don’t just help – fight
We are in a battle – not just any battle – the battle for hearts and minds
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
We are fighting for eternity
For our eternity – for our families and the people in our city
The devil won’t stop fighting his battle
Where are the fighters? Will you make a stand?
Fight for the cause of Christ in 2012

4. Make some disciples
The kingdom fruit is disciples
That is the commission – go into the world and make disciples
Every connect leader – don’t just connect with people – make disciples
Every person in church – make disciples in 2012
Don’t let your disciples fall
Hold them up – keep them up – keep them walking and keep them close
Don’t be distracted by a busy life – Make some kingdom fruit

5. Be relentless
Christians give up too easily – this is a fight for your life
Hebrews 10:35, 36 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Moses kept going – Pharoah hardened his heart – but Moses kept coming back
Imagine if he gave up after the locusts
But he was relentless and he city’s he great exodus
Imagine if Joseph had given up in Pharoahs prison
Imagine what your future could look like if you don’t give up
Be relentless in your pursuit of God’s call in 2012
Get the spirit of GO on the inside

A new year

It’s a new year and it feels like anything is possible

There is an amazing feeling that each new year brings

In Isaiah 43:19 it says
See, I am doing a new thing
The first thing you have to do is see what God is doing
What is God trying to do in your life in 2012?
God is the God of the new thing
He wants to do a new thing in your life
Let him do it

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
He wants to bring the new thing now
Are you perceiving that
Be ready and willing in 2012 for what God is wanting to do

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
As we are faithful to God he will cause a breakthrough to come in our lives. The things that seemed so difficult for us are going to become areas of blessing.
Be faithful to God and allow him to out work his promise

2012 could be the greatest year of your life!
Pursue God and his purpose and discover what God has in mind for you
It’s got to be good!

Don’t forget the Sabbath

Exodus 20: 8 – 11 The fourth Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day

The term “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which means “to cease”

Don’t forget to have God’s day of rest

We forget because our life is crazy busy – we forget because everyone else forgets

Common sayings in our world

I wish I had the time, I’ve run out of time, I’m trying to find the time, when I have time, If only I had time, there’s never enough time, I’m pressed for time, I’ll try to find time……

NZ article said this week: Let’s face it, stress is the blight of our generation

God is not wanting busy stressed out Christians!

The Sabbath was made to benefit and restore people

The Sabbath has been observed by God’s people for thousands of years

Remember to observe the Sabbath, Don’t put it off – Don’t forget it

By keeping it holy

Sunday is the new “it” day – Everything happens on a Sunday now

You have to make a choice in your life

Will you follow the path the world takes – or will you honor God’s day to rest and to seek him

Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

It was the custom of Jesus to go to the house of God on the Sabbath day

Don’t pursue your own interests, don’t turn a God day into a golf day – how many people today should be in the house of God but they are in the club house or their own house?

We make no room for God – no wonder we don’t experience God like we should

Worship: Worship renews our spirit – Stop working and let God work on you

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God

The principle is one in seven is a day off

Hebrews 4: 9 – 10 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his

Make it a habit in your life – One day a week you give to God

On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

Don’t work: Don’t mess with God’s day off

God says no work!! – on Sunday don’t run your business, don’t work, honor God

Don’t have your kids out doing everything, teach them the value of honoring God

The Sabbath is a day to rest our body

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day

Rest: God rested on the seventh day – God rested and we also need to rest

The Sabbath is about Gods plan for rest and replenishment

Everyone talks about burning out – if they did it God’s way they would be refreshed

God asked us to work and then have a day of rest

The Sabbath is a day to seek God and rest

David understood the revelation of rest and seeking God

In Psalm 23: 1 – 3 he wrote: The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths

He wants to restore your soul

How do we keep the Sabbath: Seek God and rest

Make the Sabbath a priority in your life!!

10 promises to give you hope and change your world

Speak these scriptures over your life and your circumstances everyday and you will never be the same!

Psalm 34: 19 A righteous man has many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all

Proverbs 16: 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed

Isaiah 54: 17 No weapon that is formed against you will prosper

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future

Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to those who love God

Philippians 1: 6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ

Philippians 4: 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus

Galatians 6: 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up

2 Thessalonians 3: 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one

James 1: 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him

Disciple Making Part 2

The greatest thing on Christ’s agenda is making disciples

Without making disciples the church is left with attenders

Attenders never have & never will change the world – Attenders will never make the sacrifice to build the kingdom – but disciples will

6. Discipleship happens on the move

Discipleship is not a date – it’s a journey

The best way to disciple someone is as you are doing something together for God

Paul takes Timothy with him on ministry trips and church planting campaigns

Get your disciples to help you with what you are serving in around church

These are the best places because you are on the job serving God and building the church

Demonstrate your Christian life – a demonstration is better than a conversation

In the gaps – great conversations can take place

7. Build up your people

People don’t need advice or a few pointers – they need leaders and mentors to walk through a situation with them

Disciple making is about building people up – helping them become strong in faith & life

It brings the best out of you and the people you disciple

Disciple making produces people that will stand for Jesus Christ – and not fall or run when the pressure is on

8. Keep people accountable

Disciples need accountability – it is one of people’s greatest needs

A bit of advice now and then is not going to produce a disciple – you need to keep them accountable

Make sure they are in the word and seeking God, that they are living an appropriate life style

Give them an evaluation on their performance in church – help them become servants

They need to hear your voice – I am not shy about speaking into those I am discipling

Make sure they get into church every week

Psalm 92:12-14 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

If you can get people locked into church – it will be one of your best pieces of leadership

9. Believe in them

1 Corinthians 4: 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

Paul became a father to the church leaders under him & a father to Timothy

The reason so many Christian leaders don’t make it – they have no fathers

Help people break down the giants in front of them & breakthrough into God’s anointing

Everyone needs someone that believes in them!

The power of your voice is huge to your disciples

Everyone needs someone telling them that they can make it!

Give them permission to succeed – be a father – be a leader

10. Be around to help the changes take effect in someone’s life

It is the most rewarding thing to be able to input into someone and to see them succeed

If you are going to disciple people – be committed to it – don’t leave your people hanging

Be around for your people, be an inspiring leader

Timothy becomes more than a disciple to Paul, he becomes a son and successor

He takes over from Paul & leads the church of Ephesus which grows to 60,000 people

I am passionate about my disciples – I believe in them and I want them to succeed

To think that God could use our flaws and failings to build up other people’s lives is amazing

Disciple Making Part 1

In such uncertain times in the world we need to be doing what Christ has asked us to do

In the last words of Jesus – he has asked us to make disciples

Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

1. Before you can make disciples you have to become one

You can’t teach something you don’t really have yourself

Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The number one thing on Christ’s agenda is making disciples

But there are many Christians around who talk about God, even go to church, but never get around to the will of the Father

The will of the father is that we would become disciples and go on to make disciples

Decide to become a disciple – which means a learner – be a follower – be teachable –

Be a great disciple – discipleship can be fun – enjoy it – someone is inputting into your life

2. Choose some people

Matthew 4: 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Find some people you care about and have on your heart

Jesus saw these two brothers and thinks – I like those guys

Maybe they were really passionate about their job – he thought they would be great disciples

Find some people that you could get passionate about training

3. Disciple the willing people

There are projects and then there are disciples – Disciples are the willing

What made Peter and Andrew great disciples is that – they left their nets & followed

They heard the call & responded –some people have all the potential but just won’t respond

You can’t teach someone who doesn’t want to learn

Look for a willing spirit in your disciple

4. Invite them into your world

Many people never disciple anyone because they won’t invite people into their world

They’ve got a neat and tidy life and you don’t want to mess it up with new people

It’s so lucky Jesus never felt like that when he sacrificed his life for them

Some of the greatest people you ever meet with be those Jesus brings to you

Jesus invited the most unlikely people: Jesus disciples included 4 fishermen, a tax collector and a zealot – religious politician

He invited himself to lunch with Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector – who had a radical conversion because of meeting Jesus

Open the doors and invite someone into your world

5. Speak into their lives

People don’t need advice or a few pointers – they need leaders and mentors to walk through a situation with them

Share the truths, disciplines and experiences that have helped shape your life

What has God done in your life? – pass on the lessons you have learned

Listen to people and encourage them on the next step of their journey

Don’t allow people to get into trouble or go off track

Challenge the way they live their lives – this is real leadership

Don’t justify people in their behavior – but challenge them to live a Godly life

Invest what you have and you will see a harvest one day

Qualities of a great disciple

1. Disciples follow
In Matthew 4: 18 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to be his disciples
What made Peter and Andrew great disciples is their willingness to follow him
They left their nets and followed him
You can’t be a great leader until you can be a great follower
So many Christians struggle to follow anyone, but if they can’t follow a leader they won’t follow God
God will ask more from you than any leader will

2. Disciples learn
The Greek word for ‘disciple’ is ‘math-ey-tes,’ which means ‘learner or student.’ In biblical times a disciple would attach himself to a teacher. He would follow him day and night, interact with him and learn – If we are going to be disciples we need to be willing to learn
Every believer needs to be in a discipleship relationship
Who are you learning from?
God will always put someone in your life, if your willing to see it and embrace it
A disciple will seek out people to learn from – will put themselves in positions where they can learn from others

3. Disciples commit
Luke 14:27
And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
There is a cost to following Jesus – the idea is great – the reality costs us something
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Salvation is free, … but discipleship will cost you your life.
Great Christians who advance the kingdom have always paid the price
Stick around long enough to see what God can do with you

4. Disciples grow
Have a hunger to grow and develop
1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation
Aim to grow every year in your spiritual walk – don’t be trapped in the same issue and the same challenges
Great leaders will help you grow and go to the next level

5. Disciples honor
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
The kingdom of God has a culture of honor
We honor God, we honor people, we honor those over us
Kingdom people are honoring and gracious
Whoever is your leader? – are you honoring them? – bless them, help them, serve them

6. Disciples produce fruit
John 15:8
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
Disciples are fruitful – we should be aiming to produce fruit
There should be new life sprouting up around your life
Are people getting saved or revived around your life? – are they coming to church?
To produce fruit we need to plant seeds now – maybe it’s time to start planting

7. Disciples become like the master
Luke 6:40 Students are not above their teacher, but all who are fully trained will be like their teacher
When fully trained, disciples are like their master
How awesome is that –if you do the training –if you are a disciple you will become like Jesus
That is the test of a disciple – are you becoming more like Jesus?