Series Overview
Week 1 The Passion
We read through the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane right before he was betrayed by Judas
And in that story we saw Jesus praying and asking the Father if there is any other way, please take this cup of suffering from me.
And it was through this story we learned that Jesus’ passion wasn't for the cross. For the cross’s sake. Not that that would be a bad thing but his commitment wasnt to the cross. His passion and commitment was to the will of the Father which ultimately led him to the cross.
Week 2 The Plan
This message picked up directly after week 1 ended.
Judas arrives and betrays Jesus into the hands of the Pharisees.
And every aspect of this story we see Jesus’ submission to the Father
He pre-forgave Judas, and called him friend
He took a tense and violent arrest, diffused it and used it as a teaching point to give glory to the Father.
Through this message we saw that Jesus was 100% submitted to the will and plans of the Father.
Week 3 The Crown
The Crown examined the story of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, his sentencing to death and the resurrection.
In this story we saw the same people who were declaring Jesus their king just a week earlier now handing Jesus over to the Romans and demanding his crucifixion.
The Jewish people sought a political crown for Jesus. They wanted him to rise up as their liberator, overthrow the Romans and establish his Kingdom on the Earth.
But that wasn't the Father’s plan. So they had him put to death.
Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world so he chose a crown of thorns.
But 3 days later he rose again
And because he submitted to the crown of thorns he is now crowned with glory and honor.
Week 4 The Crowd
And in The Crowd we took a step back into an earlier story of Jesus’ ministry
We examined Jesus feeding the 5,000
And in this message we saw how Jesus responded to those who followed him for selfish reasons.
They were fed, many were caught up in spectacle, and they followed Jesus with an entitled expectation that they would get more and more and more.
And what did Jesus do? He didn't give in or make it easy for them, he gave them truth and it offended them.
Jesus was looking for those who were willing to learn. Those that weren't left him.
Even Jesus who was perfect had people who left him
We learned here that Jesus doesn't always make it easy for people, he pushes on our walls and he expects total commitment.
So far in this series we’ve analyzed the life of Jesus and his submission to the Father and the Father’s will for HIM.
To close out this series I want to read through the final days of Jesus’ ministry on Earth and I want to take everything we learned prior from this series and apply it to us in the context of God’s will for US.
Now that leads to the obvious question: What is God’s will for us?
At the very end of his ministry, Jesus reveals a piece of God’s will to his disciples . A piece that still applies to Christians today.
The last two verses in Matthew 28 are known as The Great Commission
The definition of Great is: Of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the normal or average.
And the definition of Commission is: An instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people.
Put those together and what we have is Jesus giving an intense duty to the church that is considerably above normal or average.
“Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit..Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This is God’s Duty for the church. For you and Me. This is God’s Will for the Church.
This is God’s Plan for the Church.
The Plan
Now lets start applying what we’ve learned throughout this series
Jesus was 100% submitted to the will and plans of the Father. Week 2
Who remembers what Christian means? Little Christ, exactly
Meaning we are to be reflections of Jesus Christ
So as Jesus was completely submitted to the Father’s plan for him we are to be completely submitted to the Father’s plan for us.
How do we get to a place where we are completely submitted to The Great Commission, God’s plan for us?
We make a decision to be.
It is that simple! Because submission is making a choice.
Jesus had to make that choice. And we are called to do the same.
So stop overthinking it! Stop making it complicated, it's not complicated.
Make the decision to Submit completely to the Will of God. And go out and make disciples.
The Passion
Now lets talk about Passion
Jesus showed his passion for the Will of his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, so likewise if Jesus was passionate we should be passionate about the Will of God.
We learned that Passion cannot tolerate disobedience, that's why in order for our passion to grow we must first Submit to the Plan God has for us.
But we also learned that it is our job to stoke the flames of passion within us.
So how do we do that? How do we grow in our passion for the Will of God to create disciples?
The answer to this question is found in Luke 24.
Lets read verse 32 again: They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
These two disciples on the road Emmaus had their passion reignited how?
By walking with Jesus, talking with Jesus, spending time in his presence. And not only that, when they were in his presence they went to the scriptures and verse 27 says: Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
They spent time with Jesus, they spent time studying his word and he explained the scriptures to them, revealing the meaning behind what they said. And this stoked the flames of passion within them!
This is how we stoke our passion for the Will of God over our lives. This is how we become passionate about what God is passionate about: seeing people come to know him. Making disciples.
We do not spend enough time in God’s presence, praying, studying his word.
And I'm gonna put an emphasis on studying his word. The words of the Bible are the foundation our life should be built on. This is how we stoke our passion for the Will of God over our lives. This is how we become passionate about what God is passionate about: seeing people come to know him. Making disciples.
We do not spend enough time in God’s presence, praying, studying his word.
And I'm gonna put an emphasis on studying his word. The words of the Bible are the foundation our life should be built on! And we do not read it enough.
We are too busy, constantly distracted and lack the self discipline to sit down and read the Bible. But when people do, it's obvious.
Now let me briefly address those who feel they have a hard time grasping and understanding the Bible while they read it. Listen to the advice Candace has been giving. Don't rush through it, take your time, pray and ask God to reveal it to you.
Look back to the story in Luke. There were two different verses where Jesus revealed the scriptures to his disciples. Verse 27 which we just read and verse 45 says “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” He does this for us as well.
I know that we don't have Jesus physically here walking us through the scriptures but the Holy Spirit has been sent to each of us who believe! And the Holy Spirit will do the same things Jesus did here for the disciples. He’ll open our minds and explain his words to us. Just give him the opportunity.
So how do we burn with passion for God? A Passion that burns away everything else. A passion that desires to see others come to know him?
By walking with him, talking with him, and taking the time to open our Bibles and letting the Holy Spirit explain his word to us.
The Crowd
Now lets talk about the crowd.
Without Submission to God’s Plan we can't have Passion for his Plan, without Passion for his plan we can’t love the crowd that God has called us to love. That being humanity.
Humanity is hard to love guys! Humanity is hard to maintain hope for. But that's what we're called to do regardless.
God’s will for us is to make disciples of all nations!
The people in your life who do not yet know God, no matter how difficult it is to love them, these are the people God has called you to make disciples of.
So we must evangelize. We have to tell them the good news! Family, friends, coworkers. Understand that they are not in your life by accident!
Romans 10:14 says:
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
We cannot stay silent! For their sakes! We must live a life that reflects and gives Glory to God. We have to be on fire, full of passion because people who are passionate, talk about the things they are passionate about.
But we also have to be ready for the reality that oftentimes evangelism isn't easy, nor is it a guaranteed victory. There will be people that resent and hate you for your message.
John 15:18-20
18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.
When Jesus was on this Earth, he taught people and declared the Good News. We should likewise teach and declare the Good News
Jesus was hated for his message, we will be hated too, we speak the same message. At least we should. But let's not forget that there were also many who loved Jesus and his message as well. There will be people who love us and the message of the Gospel.
Many people followed Jesus, there will be many who will follow us to Jesus. And even though Jesus was perfect there were still many who left him, and there will be many who leave us as well.
We are to be like Jesus! No matter the crowd in front of us. Speak the truth in Love, don't sugar coat to appease a culture that seeks to have its sins justified.
Look closely for those that are willing to listen, and pour into them. Pray and intercede for those that are closed off to the Gospel that God would soften them.
We each have our own crowd. Don't stay silent. How else will they hear?
The Crown
Now lets close out with The Crown
All 3 points before this The Plan, The Passion and The Crowd dealt with the here and now. God’s will for us on this Earth.
With The Crown we look forward to the future rewards that await us for submitting to the Father’s will here on Earth.
When Jesus was on this Earth he pursued a crown of Thorns and because of his obedience he gained a crown of glory and honor as his reward.
But did you know that we are also pursuing a crown? Crowns actually, plural.
The Bible mentions 5 crowns that will be rewarded to believers in heaven. The Imperishable Crown, The Crown of Rejoicing, The Crown of Righteousness, The Crown of Glory and The Crown of Life.
I don't have time to go through them one by one as that could be a whole sermon itself but I encourage you to look into them. It's what you're working towards afterall!
But understand the word crown is figurative language. So not a literal crown but its describing literal rewards we will receive in heaven.
Jesus knew that his kingdom was not of this world. Do you?
Our citizenship here on this Earth is secondary to our citizenship in Heaven.
We work hard for the money to get us by, day by day. How much more should we be willing to work for rewards that are not temporary but will last all eternity.
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
The thing I want you all to take away from The Crown is that we have rewards to look forward to! Get your eyes off of the temporary here and now. There are rewards awaiting us in heaven based on the merit of the work we’ve done here on Earth.
The Bible says The Son of Man is going to come and repay each person according to what he has done. And that he is coming back soon.
Change your mindset to the mindset Jesus had! He knew the Fathers will for him, he submitted to it, he had a passion for it, he pursued it and knew the rewards that awaited him for it.
Submit to God’s Plan for you, stoke your passion, love people, store up your treasure in heaven and take those in your crowd with you.
Because that is The Great Commission God has given us!