1 00:00:00,002 --> 00:00:01,512 Speaker 8: Well, good morning. 2 00:00:03,752 --> 00:00:04,602 How's everyone doing? 3 00:00:05,852 --> 00:00:06,522 Doing good. 4 00:00:06,642 --> 00:00:10,572 I want to say good morning to Milton and Plymouth and Bethlehem 5 00:00:10,572 --> 00:00:12,432 and anyone watching online. 6 00:00:13,032 --> 00:00:16,582 And if I could get help with a table, that would be fantastic. 7 00:00:17,082 --> 00:00:22,252 Um, I can try to juggle all this, but it wouldn't end well, I promise you. 8 00:00:22,522 --> 00:00:25,102 I think you guys would enjoy that, but I would not. 9 00:00:25,652 --> 00:00:28,672 Uh, it's a blessing to be here. 10 00:00:28,682 --> 00:00:32,631 It's a blessing to, uh, it's always a blessing, uh, when we get to come 11 00:00:32,631 --> 00:00:34,442 home to family at Restoration Church. 12 00:00:34,452 --> 00:00:37,142 For those that do not know who I am, as Pastor Victoria 13 00:00:37,172 --> 00:00:39,262 said, I am Travis Nicholson. 14 00:00:40,027 --> 00:00:43,617 My wife actually works, is on staff here at Restoration. 15 00:00:43,917 --> 00:00:47,487 Uh, but, uh, due to my job, uh, yeah, you can cheer for her. 16 00:00:47,487 --> 00:00:47,807 She's awesome. 17 00:00:50,747 --> 00:00:54,037 Uh, due to my job working with the district, we live in central Maine 18 00:00:54,037 --> 00:00:55,567 and, uh, we're constantly traveling. 19 00:00:55,567 --> 00:00:59,697 So, uh, the, uh, when we're not traveling, we try to make it down here. 20 00:00:59,697 --> 00:01:03,357 Uh, and then sometimes I get blessed and honored to be asked to speak here. 21 00:01:03,357 --> 00:01:07,702 And so, first, let me, uh, Before I continue, just thank Pastor Nate publicly. 22 00:01:08,082 --> 00:01:11,842 Uh, it's not, uh, likely that I take the honor of speaking 23 00:01:11,852 --> 00:01:13,012 in another pastor's pulpit. 24 00:01:13,352 --> 00:01:15,812 And, uh, or on their stage on a Sunday morning. 25 00:01:15,812 --> 00:01:19,382 And so, uh, I want to thank Pastor Nate for his trust, uh, in me 26 00:01:19,402 --> 00:01:20,682 and his trust in this church. 27 00:01:20,972 --> 00:01:24,252 Um, and let's get into it. 28 00:01:25,212 --> 00:01:27,282 Um, actually, let's not get into it. 29 00:01:27,672 --> 00:01:32,512 Uh, because before I jump right into the message, I do want to take just a moment. 30 00:01:33,412 --> 00:01:38,021 And, uh, and offer some recognition and, and honor someone that needs 31 00:01:38,021 --> 00:01:39,491 to be honored within your church. 32 00:01:40,222 --> 00:01:42,842 As Pastor Victoria said, I'm the district youth director. 33 00:01:43,212 --> 00:01:46,382 What that basically means is I just hang out with teenagers and I get paid for it. 34 00:01:46,422 --> 00:01:46,991 It's great. 35 00:01:48,801 --> 00:01:52,632 But part of that is that Speed the Light. 36 00:01:52,632 --> 00:01:55,502 I, I help champion and cast vision for Speed the Light. 37 00:01:55,502 --> 00:01:58,682 If you don't know what Speed the Light is, Speed the Light is within the assemblies 38 00:01:58,682 --> 00:02:00,772 of God, it's teenagers giving to missions. 39 00:02:00,772 --> 00:02:04,647 For And here at Restoration, we've put Speed of Light under Kingdom Builders. 40 00:02:05,337 --> 00:02:08,227 So, uh, your teenagers, when they give to Kingdom Builders, they're 41 00:02:08,227 --> 00:02:09,497 giving to, uh, Speed of Light. 42 00:02:10,396 --> 00:02:14,757 And, uh, for those that, We just want a quick history of Speed of Light. 43 00:02:15,007 --> 00:02:17,937 In 1944, a man by the name of Ralph W. 44 00:02:17,966 --> 00:02:22,477 Harris, who at the time was the National Youth Director, he was in charge of youth 45 00:02:22,477 --> 00:02:28,047 ministries all across the nation, he saw the need to disciple students in missions. 46 00:02:28,287 --> 00:02:31,417 He saw the need to disciple students in generosity, and 47 00:02:31,417 --> 00:02:33,267 he said something can be done. 48 00:02:33,517 --> 00:02:36,437 He said our, our, our missionaries still need help on the field, and 49 00:02:36,437 --> 00:02:37,997 teenagers can be a part in that. 50 00:02:37,997 --> 00:02:42,097 And so in 1944, he created what we now know as Speed the Light. 51 00:02:42,417 --> 00:02:46,387 And since that day, teenagers across our nation have been, uh, 52 00:02:46,397 --> 00:02:49,707 giving generously to Speed the Light year after year after year. 53 00:02:50,392 --> 00:02:55,132 And so this year in 2024, uh, we, uh, developed the Ralph W. 54 00:02:55,132 --> 00:02:56,262 Harris award. 55 00:02:56,542 --> 00:03:01,242 It is an award that is given to a student in our district in Maine, Vermont, New 56 00:03:01,242 --> 00:03:05,782 Hampshire, that we believe not only personifies generosity and missions, 57 00:03:05,962 --> 00:03:08,412 but also inspires others to do it. 58 00:03:09,072 --> 00:03:13,922 When we decided to come up with this award, we knew who we knew the 59 00:03:13,922 --> 00:03:18,432 moment we came up with it, who would receive the inaugural Uh, Ralph W. 60 00:03:18,432 --> 00:03:24,282 Harris Award, because he has inspired not only this church to get into 61 00:03:24,282 --> 00:03:29,112 missions, he has inspired not just those around him to get into missions, 62 00:03:29,112 --> 00:03:31,091 but he's inspired our entire district. 63 00:03:31,757 --> 00:03:34,077 It's it's because of this family. 64 00:03:34,077 --> 00:03:38,057 It's because of this church that we've seen missions and 65 00:03:38,057 --> 00:03:41,656 generosity become a focus across Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. 66 00:03:41,987 --> 00:03:48,257 And so would you please join me in recognizing Benaiah Gagney as the 67 00:03:48,317 --> 00:03:50,966 inaugural receiver of the Ralph W. 68 00:03:51,037 --> 00:03:53,437 Harris Award across all locations. 69 00:04:00,117 --> 00:04:01,187 You are blessed. 70 00:04:01,997 --> 00:04:02,897 You are blessed. 71 00:04:03,402 --> 00:04:05,332 With Pastor Nate as your pastor, you're blessed with the 72 00:04:05,332 --> 00:04:07,872 Gagney family and your church. 73 00:04:07,952 --> 00:04:12,862 You are blessed as a church to focus on generosity and missions the way you do. 74 00:04:13,842 --> 00:04:18,652 And it's because of Restoration, I can't say it enough, that not only is 75 00:04:18,692 --> 00:04:24,082 New England becoming more generous and more mission minded, but the nation is 76 00:04:24,082 --> 00:04:26,032 seeing what is happening in New England. 77 00:04:26,712 --> 00:04:28,262 And so we thank you, Gagneys. 78 00:04:28,302 --> 00:04:29,452 We thank you, Benaiah. 79 00:04:29,482 --> 00:04:30,762 We thank you, Restoration. 80 00:04:31,352 --> 00:04:36,672 Uh, and so, with all that out of the way, let's jump into the Word of God, shall we? 81 00:04:38,842 --> 00:04:39,532 All right. 82 00:04:40,162 --> 00:04:44,832 So, this morning, I know for the past few weeks you guys have been talking about 83 00:04:44,832 --> 00:04:48,252 Kingdom Builders, and this morning I'm going to kind of stay in that same vein. 84 00:04:48,592 --> 00:04:51,452 Uh, but I want to kind of shift it a little bit. 85 00:04:51,902 --> 00:04:57,442 Uh, before we jump into the Word, uh, how many of you know there's an epidemic 86 00:04:57,472 --> 00:04:59,452 that's sweeping across our nation? 87 00:04:59,452 --> 00:05:05,692 Um, And it's called road rage Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know if if you don't 88 00:05:05,692 --> 00:05:09,912 have road rage You know someone who does and if you don't know someone who 89 00:05:09,912 --> 00:05:11,952 does I've got news for you this morning. 90 00:05:12,402 --> 00:05:13,192 It's you 91 00:05:15,462 --> 00:05:19,882 Listen I already warned my wife On our way to church this morning. 92 00:05:19,882 --> 00:05:21,372 I said, hey, hey, babe. 93 00:05:21,382 --> 00:05:25,627 I'm gonna use you in my illustration this morning And she said, well, how? 94 00:05:25,627 --> 00:05:27,257 And I said, I'm gonna talk about road rage. 95 00:05:27,257 --> 00:05:29,147 And she said, Travis, don't you dare. 96 00:05:29,667 --> 00:05:31,307 And I said, relax. 97 00:05:31,907 --> 00:05:32,697 I'm still gonna do it. 98 00:05:33,067 --> 00:05:37,827 Uh, and so, My, I, I typically drive. 99 00:05:38,652 --> 00:05:41,582 Um, just because I have a bit of a control issue. 100 00:05:41,902 --> 00:05:44,462 Um, but also, if I'm not driving, I'm asleep. 101 00:05:44,622 --> 00:05:49,142 Like, if I'm riding in a car, if I'm not physically, like, you 102 00:05:49,142 --> 00:05:50,352 put me in a plane, I'm asleep. 103 00:05:50,352 --> 00:05:51,692 You put me on a train, I'm asleep. 104 00:05:51,692 --> 00:05:53,822 You put me in the passenger seat of a car, I'm asleep. 105 00:05:54,092 --> 00:05:57,072 I can sleep anywhere, and it's usually awesome. 106 00:05:57,432 --> 00:05:58,992 Uh, so, I typically drive. 107 00:05:59,032 --> 00:06:00,862 But every now and again, she'll drive. 108 00:06:01,732 --> 00:06:04,322 Um, or even sometimes while I drive, this happens. 109 00:06:04,732 --> 00:06:07,627 Uh, but We pull up to a red light. 110 00:06:08,627 --> 00:06:10,077 There's a car in front of us. 111 00:06:10,387 --> 00:06:11,777 We pull up behind that car. 112 00:06:12,387 --> 00:06:13,717 The light turns green. 113 00:06:14,907 --> 00:06:16,067 The car doesn't move. 114 00:06:17,137 --> 00:06:20,107 And all of a sudden I have to question whether or not 115 00:06:20,107 --> 00:06:22,277 my wife is truly a christian. 116 00:06:22,557 --> 00:06:23,267 I'm just kidding. 117 00:06:24,347 --> 00:06:25,167 It's not that bad. 118 00:06:25,327 --> 00:06:27,417 It's not that bad, but it is like go. 119 00:06:27,807 --> 00:06:28,445 What are you waiting for? 120 00:06:28,445 --> 00:06:28,623 Go! 121 00:06:28,623 --> 00:06:29,867 I'm like Aaron, it's literally been 0. 122 00:06:29,867 --> 00:06:32,277 01 second. 123 00:06:32,307 --> 00:06:33,587 The light just turned green. 124 00:06:33,587 --> 00:06:34,237 It's okay. 125 00:06:34,237 --> 00:06:34,282 It's okay. 126 00:06:35,602 --> 00:06:39,532 But you know that frustration when you're stuck behind a car and the light turns 127 00:06:39,532 --> 00:06:43,012 green, and you're, you're trying to get somewhere, you're trying to do something, 128 00:06:43,022 --> 00:06:45,942 you're trying to accomplish something, and the car in front of you isn't going. 129 00:06:47,832 --> 00:06:54,902 And I, I, I think sometimes in life, maybe, I could be wrong here, but maybe 130 00:06:54,902 --> 00:06:57,522 God looks at his church the same way. 131 00:06:59,022 --> 00:07:01,882 Where he's like, the light is green, go. 132 00:07:02,307 --> 00:07:03,287 Do something. 133 00:07:03,677 --> 00:07:04,727 The light is green. 134 00:07:04,917 --> 00:07:06,147 I've given you the green light. 135 00:07:06,427 --> 00:07:08,407 Go, go stop. 136 00:07:08,467 --> 00:07:09,377 You're stopped. 137 00:07:09,397 --> 00:07:10,167 Keep going. 138 00:07:11,507 --> 00:07:14,267 And so this morning when, when, when I'm talking about kingdom builders, 139 00:07:14,267 --> 00:07:15,927 I, I want you to hear my heart here. 140 00:07:17,257 --> 00:07:19,267 We should be giving to kingdom builders. 141 00:07:19,947 --> 00:07:24,297 Generosity matters, but kingdom builders isn't just something we give 142 00:07:24,297 --> 00:07:26,547 to kingdom builders is something we are. 143 00:07:27,747 --> 00:07:30,487 You and I are called to be kingdom builders. 144 00:07:32,187 --> 00:07:35,377 If, if you're in this place this morning, you've given your heart to Christ, you 145 00:07:35,377 --> 00:07:38,487 are called to be a kingdom builder. 146 00:07:39,767 --> 00:07:45,067 And so my goal this morning is to show how the mission of God is moving. 147 00:07:45,527 --> 00:07:49,187 It's active throughout our lives since the beginning of time. 148 00:07:49,937 --> 00:07:55,117 If you have your Bibles, you can open them up to Matthew 28, verses 18 through 20. 149 00:07:55,147 --> 00:08:00,177 This is a passage of verses that's typically known as the Great Commission. 150 00:08:00,177 --> 00:08:05,812 If Uh, this is the moment that we kind of get our mission from God. 151 00:08:07,032 --> 00:08:11,862 Uh, this is the moment that we as believers are told, this is what I want 152 00:08:11,862 --> 00:08:13,642 you to do from Jesus Christ himself. 153 00:08:13,642 --> 00:08:19,572 He's speaking to his disciples, but we today take it as a command for us as well. 154 00:08:21,292 --> 00:08:26,282 But the, the verse here, this is after Jesus has resurrected. 155 00:08:27,042 --> 00:08:29,262 All right, he's been crucified, he's been resurrected. 156 00:08:30,302 --> 00:08:33,991 He, he told the women of the tomb, go get my disciples, bring them to Galilee. 157 00:08:34,261 --> 00:08:37,562 And this is at that moment, this is what he says. 158 00:08:37,562 --> 00:08:42,812 It says in verse 18, and Jesus came and said to them, all authority in heaven 159 00:08:42,832 --> 00:08:45,442 and on earth has been given to me. 160 00:08:46,132 --> 00:08:50,842 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the 161 00:08:50,842 --> 00:08:55,482 name of the father and of the son and of the Holy spirit, teaching them to 162 00:08:55,482 --> 00:08:57,392 observe all that I've commanded you. 163 00:08:57,797 --> 00:09:02,427 And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 164 00:09:03,047 --> 00:09:05,287 Father, I thank you for your word this morning. 165 00:09:05,577 --> 00:09:10,147 I thank you that we get to be here and hear you speak truth into our lives. 166 00:09:10,687 --> 00:09:14,717 Father, I pray right now that you open up the eyes and the ears and the hearts of 167 00:09:14,717 --> 00:09:19,087 everyone that's here, and even those that are not, to see, to hear, and to know the 168 00:09:19,087 --> 00:09:21,077 truth that you're speaking this morning. 169 00:09:21,957 --> 00:09:25,047 Lord, we just pray right now, God, that you give us the strength 170 00:09:25,047 --> 00:09:29,832 and the courage To be the hands and feet of Christ in Jesus name. 171 00:09:29,832 --> 00:09:30,332 We pray. 172 00:09:30,592 --> 00:09:31,132 Amen. 173 00:09:33,032 --> 00:09:36,672 So here in these first few verses, you see the great commission. 174 00:09:37,082 --> 00:09:38,072 What does Jesus say? 175 00:09:38,072 --> 00:09:43,502 He says, go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them. 176 00:09:44,447 --> 00:09:48,517 A lot of the times when, when I, when I hear this message preached or, or 177 00:09:48,517 --> 00:09:52,887 even sometimes when I've preached it myself, I've, I've done so in such a 178 00:09:52,887 --> 00:09:55,697 way to say, Jesus is telling you to go. 179 00:09:56,997 --> 00:09:58,857 Or we, we talk about missionaries. 180 00:09:58,887 --> 00:10:02,987 Jesus is telling you to go to another country or to go to another 181 00:10:02,987 --> 00:10:05,427 state or to go and be a missionary. 182 00:10:05,427 --> 00:10:07,107 Jesus is telling you to go. 183 00:10:08,837 --> 00:10:13,447 But in reality, that's not what Jesus is saying at all right here. 184 00:10:14,797 --> 00:10:19,497 Because if you look at the original Greek in which the Bible in the New 185 00:10:19,497 --> 00:10:24,307 Testament was originally written in, the way that the word for go is 186 00:10:24,327 --> 00:10:27,737 translated here is as you are going. 187 00:10:29,097 --> 00:10:32,447 So when, when, what Jesus is saying here is he's not saying 188 00:10:32,457 --> 00:10:33,927 go therefore and make disciples. 189 00:10:33,927 --> 00:10:37,307 He's saying as you are going, make disciples. 190 00:10:38,177 --> 00:10:39,657 Baptizing and teaching. 191 00:10:40,817 --> 00:10:45,717 The only command in the Great Commission that Jesus gives that we're 192 00:10:45,717 --> 00:10:48,387 not already doing is make disciples. 193 00:10:48,977 --> 00:10:52,047 He expects that we are already going. 194 00:10:52,377 --> 00:10:55,757 He's expecting that the disciples are already going. 195 00:10:56,287 --> 00:10:59,027 As you are going, make disciples. 196 00:10:59,822 --> 00:11:02,592 And as you make those disciples, you will be baptizing them and 197 00:11:02,592 --> 00:11:06,702 teaching them because that is part of making disciples The only command 198 00:11:06,702 --> 00:11:08,352 he gives is to make disciples. 199 00:11:08,462 --> 00:11:11,842 He's not telling us to go this morning because we as christians should 200 00:11:11,852 --> 00:11:16,342 already be going We as christians already have the green light if you've 201 00:11:16,362 --> 00:11:20,822 given your life to christ The moment the day that you said yes to christ 202 00:11:20,962 --> 00:11:23,082 you got to the green light to go 203 00:11:25,582 --> 00:11:30,062 But in life, sometimes we stop at those green lights or we 204 00:11:30,112 --> 00:11:31,542 get stopped by red lights. 205 00:11:32,992 --> 00:11:38,072 I remember not growing up, but I lived in Waterville, Maine for quite a while. 206 00:11:39,192 --> 00:11:44,202 And, uh, there's a, there's a strip on a Waterville, Maine 207 00:11:44,202 --> 00:11:46,592 called Kennedy Memorial drive. 208 00:11:47,292 --> 00:11:52,262 It's about two miles ish from the highway to where our church 209 00:11:52,262 --> 00:11:54,202 was and where our house was. 210 00:11:54,332 --> 00:11:55,702 We lived in the Parsonage at the church. 211 00:11:56,447 --> 00:12:01,977 It's about two, a two mile stretch and there's like eight or nine, uh, 212 00:12:01,987 --> 00:12:04,317 stoplights in that two mile stretch. 213 00:12:05,167 --> 00:12:09,277 And we would always joke when, when we'd get ready to go, are we 214 00:12:09,277 --> 00:12:11,637 going to ride the red wave or are we going to ride the green wave? 215 00:12:11,857 --> 00:12:15,732 Because it never seemed like You, you, you kind of got both. 216 00:12:15,742 --> 00:12:19,162 You either, every light was green, or every light was red. 217 00:12:19,382 --> 00:12:22,452 And so the light would turn green, and you'd go about 500 218 00:12:22,452 --> 00:12:23,822 feet, and the next light was red. 219 00:12:23,822 --> 00:12:25,052 And then you'd have to stop and wait. 220 00:12:25,052 --> 00:12:27,702 And then that light turns green, and then you go, and the next light's red. 221 00:12:27,702 --> 00:12:29,022 And so then you have to stop and wait. 222 00:12:29,622 --> 00:12:30,852 And it's just exhausting. 223 00:12:31,252 --> 00:12:34,342 Going and stopping, going and stopping, going and stopping. 224 00:12:36,792 --> 00:12:38,482 Especially if you're in the car with my wife. 225 00:12:38,817 --> 00:12:39,257 I'm just kidding. 226 00:12:39,817 --> 00:12:40,967 I'm sorry, babe. 227 00:12:41,087 --> 00:12:41,517 I'm done. 228 00:12:41,657 --> 00:12:42,047 I'm done. 229 00:12:42,337 --> 00:12:43,167 She's gonna hurt me. 230 00:12:43,367 --> 00:12:44,177 She's gonna hurt me. 231 00:12:44,657 --> 00:12:45,577 God, forgive me. 232 00:12:45,937 --> 00:12:46,847 Aaron, forgive me. 233 00:12:47,187 --> 00:12:47,757 I'm done. 234 00:12:49,977 --> 00:12:57,907 But, the beauty of Christ, and the beauty of God, is there are no stoplights. 235 00:12:58,997 --> 00:13:00,207 They're all green lights. 236 00:13:01,417 --> 00:13:04,867 We just, we can just keep going, and going, and going. 237 00:13:05,287 --> 00:13:07,317 The problem is, is we stop ourselves. 238 00:13:08,142 --> 00:13:11,642 The problem is, is, is we, we stop at a green light because we 239 00:13:11,642 --> 00:13:12,902 don't really know what's next. 240 00:13:13,832 --> 00:13:16,022 Or we're nervous about cars coming the other way, even 241 00:13:16,022 --> 00:13:16,912 though they have a red light. 242 00:13:17,122 --> 00:13:20,492 We're nervous we might get T boned, or we're nervous we might get side swiped. 243 00:13:23,162 --> 00:13:24,212 And so we stop. 244 00:13:25,492 --> 00:13:28,942 And then we go, and then we stop, and then we go, and then we stop, and then we go. 245 00:13:30,352 --> 00:13:33,362 Something happens in our life, and we stop. 246 00:13:36,292 --> 00:13:39,152 But what Jesus is telling us this morning is to keep. 247 00:13:39,537 --> 00:13:40,117 Going. 248 00:13:40,187 --> 00:13:43,817 As you are going, I want you to be making disciples. 249 00:13:44,067 --> 00:13:47,077 As you are going, I want you to be baptizing and teaching. 250 00:13:47,117 --> 00:13:50,467 As you are going, I want you to be living a life on mission. 251 00:13:51,477 --> 00:13:54,357 At no point does Jesus ever ask us to stop. 252 00:13:54,967 --> 00:13:57,737 At no point does Jesus ever say, Hey, actually, just take a 253 00:13:57,747 --> 00:14:03,317 break right here, and just wait a second, there's a car coming. 254 00:14:03,627 --> 00:14:04,577 No, he's like, go. 255 00:14:05,047 --> 00:14:06,047 You have the green light. 256 00:14:06,067 --> 00:14:09,432 You Keep going, keep going, keep going. 257 00:14:11,992 --> 00:14:13,562 The mission is in motion. 258 00:14:14,632 --> 00:14:16,082 The mission doesn't stop. 259 00:14:16,512 --> 00:14:20,142 The mission continues to go and go and go. 260 00:14:21,632 --> 00:14:25,142 And the thing that we need to understand is the mission has been 261 00:14:25,142 --> 00:14:28,002 in motion for a very, very long time. 262 00:14:28,002 --> 00:14:31,452 And I'm not talking about just from this moment when Jesus tells the 263 00:14:31,452 --> 00:14:34,002 disciples to go and make disciples. 264 00:14:34,292 --> 00:14:36,672 I'm talking about since the beginning of time. 265 00:14:37,292 --> 00:14:39,492 Because the mission is in our DNA. 266 00:14:41,142 --> 00:14:44,432 If you flip all the way to the front of your Bible into Genesis chapter 267 00:14:44,432 --> 00:14:50,432 one, scroll down to the bottom of Genesis chapter one in verse 28. 268 00:14:52,672 --> 00:14:57,372 It says this, it says, and God blessed them, them being Adam and Eve. 269 00:14:58,712 --> 00:15:05,192 And God said to them, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. 270 00:15:05,632 --> 00:15:10,412 And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over 271 00:15:10,442 --> 00:15:13,072 every living thing that moves on the earth 272 00:15:17,212 --> 00:15:22,342 In the new testament we see christ's command to his disciples to go 273 00:15:22,342 --> 00:15:26,962 into all the nations And make disciples in the old testament the 274 00:15:26,962 --> 00:15:28,422 very first chapter of the bible. 275 00:15:28,422 --> 00:15:34,792 We see god's command To his creation to be fruitful and multiply God has 276 00:15:34,792 --> 00:15:40,087 always been a god of multiplication God has always been a God of addition, 277 00:15:40,397 --> 00:15:42,527 never division, never subtraction. 278 00:15:43,737 --> 00:15:46,987 We see it time and time and time again. 279 00:15:47,897 --> 00:15:50,407 He created us to multiply. 280 00:15:50,927 --> 00:15:53,847 He created us to add to our family. 281 00:15:54,267 --> 00:15:57,287 He created us to add to the kingdom of God. 282 00:15:58,472 --> 00:16:00,722 In the Old Testament, it's physically in the Old Testament. 283 00:16:00,722 --> 00:16:04,502 It's it he, he, he's saying, be fruitful and multiply on the earth. 284 00:16:04,742 --> 00:16:07,862 And then in the New Testament, we see it's spiritual. 285 00:16:08,942 --> 00:16:11,342 Go into all the nations and make disciples. 286 00:16:12,092 --> 00:16:17,042 Multiply yourself as a Christian, multiply yourself as a believer, 287 00:16:17,222 --> 00:16:18,842 and create new believers. 288 00:16:21,502 --> 00:16:23,602 My boss, the superintendent of the Assemblies of God, 289 00:16:23,602 --> 00:16:25,672 he says often the fruit. 290 00:16:27,442 --> 00:16:31,652 of a healthy tree, the fruit of a healthy apple tree is what? 291 00:16:32,942 --> 00:16:33,482 Anyone know? 292 00:16:34,882 --> 00:16:35,492 Apple? 293 00:16:36,302 --> 00:16:36,922 Not quite. 294 00:16:37,512 --> 00:16:41,582 The fruit of a healthy apple tree is another apple tree. 295 00:16:43,082 --> 00:16:45,152 Yeah, you might get an apple from it, 296 00:16:47,922 --> 00:16:52,392 but what we want is another apple tree, because that apple is going to drop a 297 00:16:52,392 --> 00:16:55,852 seed, and that seed, you plant it, and another apple tree will come from it. 298 00:16:57,292 --> 00:17:01,722 The health Or, or the, the fruit of a healthy Christian 299 00:17:02,252 --> 00:17:04,352 is another healthy Christian. 300 00:17:06,972 --> 00:17:08,132 We're meant to multiply ourselves. 301 00:17:08,132 --> 00:17:10,692 We're meant to add to the kingdom of God daily. 302 00:17:13,262 --> 00:17:19,061 And there's this juxtaposition between Adam in the Old Testament 303 00:17:19,082 --> 00:17:20,521 and Christ in the New Testament. 304 00:17:20,521 --> 00:17:24,821 Because really what happens directly after this in Genesis is Adam and Eve do what? 305 00:17:24,832 --> 00:17:26,082 They disobey God. 306 00:17:26,946 --> 00:17:30,137 They, they, they take the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 307 00:17:30,137 --> 00:17:32,657 They, they eat of it and they're, they're banished from Eden. 308 00:17:34,207 --> 00:17:38,317 And it's, it's in that moment that God spends the rest of his, his 309 00:17:38,427 --> 00:17:45,147 creation chasing after us, hoping to come back into alignment with 310 00:17:45,147 --> 00:17:47,087 us, hoping to be reunited with us. 311 00:17:47,327 --> 00:17:50,067 And that's a whole nother sermon for a whole nother day. 312 00:17:51,097 --> 00:17:55,037 But because of Adam's disobedience, death enters. 313 00:17:55,967 --> 00:17:57,267 Into the equation. 314 00:17:59,447 --> 00:18:04,587 But when christ comes onto the scene and because of his obedience at the cross 315 00:18:04,617 --> 00:18:11,167 because remember christ prayed to the father If it's your will take this cup 316 00:18:11,167 --> 00:18:18,477 from me Christ christ didn't want to be crucified But he knew what needed to be 317 00:18:18,477 --> 00:18:24,957 done and through his obedience through his crucifixion life enters the equation 318 00:18:27,407 --> 00:18:35,087 No longer do we have to live in death, but we are conquerors in Christ through life. 319 00:18:36,147 --> 00:18:39,587 That's the gift that Christ gave each of us this morning. 320 00:18:40,067 --> 00:18:43,517 Across the locations, across New Hampshire, across the 321 00:18:43,517 --> 00:18:44,867 country, across the world. 322 00:18:45,277 --> 00:18:49,187 Christ has given us life through his death on the cross. 323 00:18:52,517 --> 00:18:55,887 And what can be hard sometimes is, is, is when we talk about 324 00:18:55,887 --> 00:18:57,327 the mission being in our DNA. 325 00:18:57,517 --> 00:18:59,837 You don't always get to choose your DNA, right? 326 00:18:59,907 --> 00:19:02,847 You don't always get to choose, like, like, you didn't choose 327 00:19:02,847 --> 00:19:04,287 the family you were born in. 328 00:19:06,017 --> 00:19:08,207 Some of you are like, yeah, I know, I wish I did. 329 00:19:08,797 --> 00:19:10,487 Don't say that this week at Thanksgiving. 330 00:19:13,137 --> 00:19:15,567 But you didn't get to choose the family you were born in. 331 00:19:18,082 --> 00:19:20,932 And you're dealing with being part of it. 332 00:19:21,132 --> 00:19:22,962 You're dealing with being part of that family. 333 00:19:22,992 --> 00:19:25,122 The good, the bad, all of it. 334 00:19:27,342 --> 00:19:31,022 Christ gives us the choice to enter into the family of God. 335 00:19:32,722 --> 00:19:36,072 But the moment we become 336 00:19:38,492 --> 00:19:42,772 believers in Christ, the moment that we become part of this family of Christ, 337 00:19:43,002 --> 00:19:45,422 the mission is ingrained in our DNA. 338 00:19:48,282 --> 00:19:49,282 It is who we are. 339 00:19:50,132 --> 00:19:54,312 And it's beyond who we are into how we live our lives. 340 00:19:55,052 --> 00:19:56,722 The mission isn't just in our DNA. 341 00:19:56,732 --> 00:19:59,132 The mission is our life. 342 00:20:00,432 --> 00:20:06,372 There's a quote that some people will attribute to this person or that person. 343 00:20:06,372 --> 00:20:08,532 In reality, no one really knows who says it, but maybe 344 00:20:08,532 --> 00:20:09,672 you've heard it this morning. 345 00:20:10,082 --> 00:20:16,772 It says this, it says to preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words. 346 00:20:18,002 --> 00:20:18,692 I'm going to say that again. 347 00:20:18,692 --> 00:20:21,492 It says, preach the gospel at all times. 348 00:20:21,977 --> 00:20:24,847 And if necessary, use words. 349 00:20:29,237 --> 00:20:33,107 When we think of the idea of preaching the gospel, some of us sit back and we 350 00:20:33,107 --> 00:20:36,117 say, Well, I'm going to let Pastor Nate do that because he's really good at it. 351 00:20:37,947 --> 00:20:42,107 I'm going to let Pastor Jeremy or Pastor Victoria or I'll let Travis do it. 352 00:20:43,287 --> 00:20:45,147 You know, God's called them to be preachers. 353 00:20:47,987 --> 00:20:51,097 But the reality is, is God's called us all to preach the gospel. 354 00:20:51,607 --> 00:20:54,107 And you don't always have to preach the gospel with words. 355 00:20:54,107 --> 00:20:57,007 You can preach the gospel and should be preaching the gospel 356 00:20:57,007 --> 00:20:59,937 every day of your life with the way in which you're living your life. 357 00:21:02,477 --> 00:21:06,397 The way that we live our lives speak louder to the unbeliever 358 00:21:06,417 --> 00:21:07,637 than the words we say. 359 00:21:08,727 --> 00:21:12,527 Because if we're not living in truth, they will never hear the truth we have to say. 360 00:21:15,687 --> 00:21:20,727 We have to understand that being the Great Commission, being a kingdom 361 00:21:20,727 --> 00:21:23,797 builder, is part of our lives. 362 00:21:25,177 --> 00:21:29,927 Every day we wake up, it's an opportunity before us. 363 00:21:30,407 --> 00:21:34,997 And how we live our lives and what we do, Are we going to point 364 00:21:36,012 --> 00:21:38,762 Everyone to Christ, or are we going to point everyone to ourselves? 365 00:21:41,442 --> 00:21:44,982 Do we live this life for Christ, or do we live this life for ourselves? 366 00:21:46,502 --> 00:21:49,852 And it can be hard, I get it, trust me, I understand. 367 00:21:50,452 --> 00:21:53,082 It's difficult, and it's not easy. 368 00:21:56,592 --> 00:22:00,472 But I'd never read anything in the Bible where Christ says it's going to be easy. 369 00:22:00,472 --> 00:22:02,462 In fact, He says it's going to be hard. 370 00:22:02,642 --> 00:22:05,892 He says to take up our cross and follow Him. 371 00:22:09,502 --> 00:22:11,712 But I can tell you, it's worth it. 372 00:22:12,162 --> 00:22:15,162 Many of us sitting in this room know it's worth it. 373 00:22:17,407 --> 00:22:19,157 If we look back at the Great Commission, 374 00:22:21,497 --> 00:22:27,777 you go up a few verses before Christ talks to the disciples. 375 00:22:29,317 --> 00:22:33,167 If you look at the beginning, you see that Christ presents himself to the 376 00:22:33,167 --> 00:22:37,247 women at the tomb, and the guards at the tomb see what kind of transpires. 377 00:22:38,077 --> 00:22:40,827 They see that there's no body in the tomb. 378 00:22:42,547 --> 00:22:45,847 And we see what happens with the guards in verse 11. 379 00:22:46,412 --> 00:22:50,992 Same chapter, Matthew 28 verse 11, it says, While they were going, they 380 00:22:51,002 --> 00:22:55,862 being the guards, Behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the 381 00:22:55,862 --> 00:22:58,442 chief priests all that had taken place. 382 00:22:59,402 --> 00:23:04,022 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a 383 00:23:04,022 --> 00:23:06,422 sufficient sum of money to the soldiers. 384 00:23:06,422 --> 00:23:12,752 And they said, Tell people his disciples came by night and stole him away. 385 00:23:13,622 --> 00:23:18,392 While we were asleep, and if this comes to the governor's ears, we will 386 00:23:18,392 --> 00:23:21,102 satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. 387 00:23:21,512 --> 00:23:24,682 So they took the money and did as they were, they were directed, 388 00:23:25,412 --> 00:23:28,942 and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. 389 00:23:32,912 --> 00:23:34,562 There's a contrast that happens. 390 00:23:36,552 --> 00:23:41,522 We see Jesus tell his disciples, Go and duplicate yourselves. 391 00:23:41,772 --> 00:23:44,652 Go and speak truth and make disciples. 392 00:23:46,837 --> 00:23:49,227 And what we see with the guards is the chief priest saying, 393 00:23:49,237 --> 00:23:51,807 Go and lie to the people. 394 00:23:52,717 --> 00:23:54,637 Tell them that Christ hasn't resurrected. 395 00:23:55,827 --> 00:23:57,807 The guards had a decision to make. 396 00:23:58,377 --> 00:24:01,707 Speak truth, speak death. 397 00:24:03,487 --> 00:24:05,107 The disciples had a decision to make. 398 00:24:05,107 --> 00:24:07,517 Speak truth, speak death. 399 00:24:09,497 --> 00:24:12,167 And we see the consequences of those actions. 400 00:24:13,857 --> 00:24:16,087 It affects the generations to come. 401 00:24:17,292 --> 00:24:20,532 We as believers have a decision to make every day of our lives. 402 00:24:20,532 --> 00:24:24,162 Are we going to speak truth that day or are we going to speak death that day? 403 00:24:24,462 --> 00:24:27,072 And we have to understand that that decision has a consequence 404 00:24:27,072 --> 00:24:28,242 for this next generation 405 00:24:31,622 --> 00:24:33,882 and the generation after and the generation after. 406 00:24:35,572 --> 00:24:39,092 And I know this to be true because I've witnessed it myself. 407 00:24:40,492 --> 00:24:43,872 But I also know it to be true because I've come across something that that's 408 00:24:43,882 --> 00:24:45,422 pretty cool that I want to point out. 409 00:24:48,362 --> 00:24:51,482 About sometime last week, we're cleaning out the district office. 410 00:24:51,502 --> 00:24:53,742 And for those of you who don't know, You know, I, I work for the Assemblies of 411 00:24:53,742 --> 00:24:55,362 God, our district office is in Portland. 412 00:24:56,212 --> 00:25:00,872 Uh, and that place is full of files from like 1930. 413 00:25:01,842 --> 00:25:04,212 Um, and so we're cleaning stuff out. 414 00:25:04,942 --> 00:25:09,642 And we find a stack of these old directories dating all 415 00:25:09,642 --> 00:25:11,902 the way back to like 1965. 416 00:25:14,152 --> 00:25:17,272 And, and I, I shared them, we, we just had a, a, a youth leaders 417 00:25:17,292 --> 00:25:21,132 retreat, uh, in which some of your youth leaders were, were at. 418 00:25:21,512 --> 00:25:23,562 Uh, but I, but I shared it with the youth leaders there. 419 00:25:24,247 --> 00:25:27,027 And encouraging them, like, look at everyone that came before us. 420 00:25:27,927 --> 00:25:31,387 Uh, and I wasn't planning on this, but as I was looking through, through 421 00:25:31,387 --> 00:25:34,477 one, uh, I came across something. 422 00:25:34,477 --> 00:25:39,177 So, so, so here is the 1965 to 1966. 423 00:25:39,427 --> 00:25:41,037 They called them yearbooks back then. 424 00:25:41,997 --> 00:25:43,297 Uh, it's just a directory. 425 00:25:43,367 --> 00:25:44,647 Fancy term for directory. 426 00:25:45,267 --> 00:25:49,337 Uh, and you can flip through it and you can see the names of every person, 427 00:25:49,677 --> 00:25:56,387 uh, that was a, uh, pastor in, uh, Northern New England, ordained, licensed. 428 00:25:56,807 --> 00:26:05,887 Uh, and so if we go to the ordained list of pastors, if I go all the way down 429 00:26:05,887 --> 00:26:11,777 to the O's, there's a, there's a name that some of you in Dover will probably 430 00:26:12,247 --> 00:26:15,650 recognize, and maybe some in, in some of the other locations will recognize. 431 00:26:15,650 --> 00:26:17,522 It's For 432 00:26:22,002 --> 00:26:25,572 those that don't know, that's Pastor Bob Oberg, who's sitting 433 00:26:25,572 --> 00:26:27,062 right up here on the second row, 434 00:26:33,072 --> 00:26:36,922 who was a minister of the gospel of Christ with Assemblies of God. 435 00:26:37,302 --> 00:26:39,152 This was in 1965. 436 00:26:39,602 --> 00:26:43,422 I went to him before service, and I showed him, and we were talking, and 437 00:26:43,422 --> 00:26:46,112 he said, uh, yo, yes, I remember that. 438 00:26:46,342 --> 00:26:48,772 And he, he knew exactly what his address was. 439 00:26:49,292 --> 00:26:53,412 He, he, he even remembered the day he entered that church was 1959. 440 00:26:55,477 --> 00:27:04,057 65 years ago He's been living a life where every day he chooses to speak truth 441 00:27:05,207 --> 00:27:11,477 and we see the outcome Recognized in this church his children are believers. 442 00:27:11,477 --> 00:27:12,827 His grandchildren are believers. 443 00:27:12,827 --> 00:27:19,417 His great grandchildren are believers now Some are on different journeys, 444 00:27:20,967 --> 00:27:25,357 but generations are affected because of the life that he chose to live 445 00:27:26,477 --> 00:27:30,567 Generations are affected because of the lives that you and I choose to live. 446 00:27:30,797 --> 00:27:35,407 I pray that one day someone can look back and say, Man, 447 00:27:35,507 --> 00:27:38,007 Travis spoke truth every day. 448 00:27:39,217 --> 00:27:41,787 Now I know the reality is, is that's not true. 449 00:27:42,947 --> 00:27:47,987 There are days I wake up and nothing but venom comes out of my mouth. 450 00:27:49,217 --> 00:27:50,787 And you say, well Travis, you're a pastor. 451 00:27:50,837 --> 00:27:54,392 Listen, You know what I'm talking about. 452 00:27:56,612 --> 00:27:58,052 I'm a human just like you. 453 00:27:58,152 --> 00:27:59,782 I have flesh just like you. 454 00:27:59,992 --> 00:28:03,302 And every day I wake up, I have to die to that flesh. 455 00:28:05,952 --> 00:28:08,792 And some days I die pretty easily. 456 00:28:08,792 --> 00:28:12,702 And other days it, God has to kill my flesh a few times. 457 00:28:17,812 --> 00:28:22,252 But what I know to be true is that the impact that we have 458 00:28:22,262 --> 00:28:27,612 today will last generations and generations and generations. 459 00:28:28,092 --> 00:28:31,222 The Great Commission isn't just for the disciples. 460 00:28:31,787 --> 00:28:35,527 It wasn't just when you became a new believer, the Great Commission 461 00:28:35,527 --> 00:28:40,417 is something that we live out day after day after day after day. 462 00:28:41,997 --> 00:28:46,537 The mission wasn't something that was for back then, and the mission 463 00:28:47,187 --> 00:28:50,737 wasn't something that was for the future, the mission is here. 464 00:28:52,037 --> 00:28:53,217 The mission is now. 465 00:28:54,557 --> 00:28:56,417 It's for us this morning. 466 00:28:59,027 --> 00:29:00,977 If we jump over to Acts, 467 00:29:03,267 --> 00:29:04,677 Chapter one, verse eight. 468 00:29:04,707 --> 00:29:07,977 The Great Commission was, was what many believe to be the, the, 469 00:29:07,977 --> 00:29:11,937 the first word, spoken to the disciples after the resurrection. 470 00:29:11,937 --> 00:29:16,217 And then in Acts one, uh, verse eight, these are the last words 471 00:29:16,217 --> 00:29:19,577 spoken to the disciples before Christ ascends into heaven. 472 00:29:21,387 --> 00:29:25,987 Acts one, chapter one, verse eight says, but you'll receive power when 473 00:29:25,987 --> 00:29:27,817 the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 474 00:29:28,027 --> 00:29:31,957 And you'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and 475 00:29:31,957 --> 00:29:33,967 Samaria until the end of the earth. 476 00:29:36,157 --> 00:29:37,757 The mission is in motion. 477 00:29:38,487 --> 00:29:41,157 You and I are going, as we are going. 478 00:29:41,387 --> 00:29:42,827 But where are we going? 479 00:29:43,897 --> 00:29:45,197 To Jerusalem. 480 00:29:46,087 --> 00:29:47,627 You're like, wait, what? 481 00:29:47,697 --> 00:29:49,807 No, I'm not talking about actual Israel. 482 00:29:50,997 --> 00:29:52,237 Your Jerusalem is here. 483 00:29:53,387 --> 00:29:55,717 Your Jerusalem is your inner circle. 484 00:29:56,207 --> 00:29:57,507 It's those people that you see. 485 00:29:57,787 --> 00:30:01,737 Your Jerusalem is the dinner table this Thursday when you gather for Thanksgiving. 486 00:30:04,847 --> 00:30:07,007 Your Judea, Samaria, your community, 487 00:30:09,677 --> 00:30:14,807 multiple locations across New Hampshire, The state of New Hampshire, our country. 488 00:30:14,857 --> 00:30:18,557 Now, now, my prayer is that God is calling some people in this room and 489 00:30:18,587 --> 00:30:23,407 some people across our locations to be missionaries and to go into other nations. 490 00:30:24,417 --> 00:30:27,287 But you don't have to live the Great Commission by going to another country. 491 00:30:27,287 --> 00:30:30,547 You live the commission by just going, sometimes just going across your hall, 492 00:30:31,287 --> 00:30:37,117 in your house, and speaking to your kids, and speaking truth and living truth. 493 00:30:38,937 --> 00:30:43,607 Sometimes you live out the Great Commission and, and crossing the, the, 494 00:30:43,617 --> 00:30:48,787 the aisle of the church or Or going into your workplace or going into your schools 495 00:30:48,787 --> 00:30:53,577 or or just going into your community Living truth and speaking truth at the 496 00:30:53,577 --> 00:31:04,237 same time We are called to be the body of christ the body of christ Now we know 497 00:31:04,237 --> 00:31:09,027 that our bodies are intricate every single part of our body is important, right? 498 00:31:11,387 --> 00:31:15,737 But we are specifically called to be the hands and the feet of christ 499 00:31:17,357 --> 00:31:18,857 I want to tell you this morning. 500 00:31:19,447 --> 00:31:22,457 No one in this room is called to be the belly button of christ 501 00:31:25,572 --> 00:31:27,472 Now sometimes you may feel that way. 502 00:31:28,132 --> 00:31:31,152 Sometimes you may feel like, oh, I'm nothing. 503 00:31:31,322 --> 00:31:34,992 Like, yeah, I'm a Christian, but yeah, I'm not really a part of the body of Christ. 504 00:31:35,502 --> 00:31:37,932 And listen, we all have belly buttons. 505 00:31:37,932 --> 00:31:38,852 We can talk about them. 506 00:31:39,322 --> 00:31:39,952 It's weird. 507 00:31:40,352 --> 00:31:41,992 I get it, but we got him. 508 00:31:42,902 --> 00:31:44,482 Does anyone know what that thing does? 509 00:31:45,242 --> 00:31:45,692 No. 510 00:31:47,122 --> 00:31:48,062 It exists. 511 00:31:48,302 --> 00:31:48,892 It's there. 512 00:31:50,222 --> 00:31:51,672 I'm sure there's a couple people in the audience like, 513 00:31:51,672 --> 00:31:52,602 yeah, I do know what it does. 514 00:31:52,702 --> 00:31:53,022 Great. 515 00:31:53,062 --> 00:31:53,902 That's awesome for you. 516 00:31:54,002 --> 00:31:55,312 You're ruining my illustration. 517 00:31:58,472 --> 00:32:01,312 But the reality is we don't know what the belly button does. 518 00:32:01,862 --> 00:32:03,972 But we know what the hands and the feet do. 519 00:32:05,132 --> 00:32:06,862 The hands and the feet are in motion. 520 00:32:09,302 --> 00:32:11,532 God's calling you to be the hands and feet of Christ. 521 00:32:12,532 --> 00:32:16,232 To do something, to go, and keep going. 522 00:32:19,892 --> 00:32:24,382 God's calling you to, to go into your workplaces, to go into your 523 00:32:24,382 --> 00:32:27,262 families, to be the hands to reach out. 524 00:32:30,882 --> 00:32:38,092 I think what can be hard sometimes as Christians, as believers, whether 525 00:32:38,092 --> 00:32:42,922 you're a new believer, or you've been at this for 65 years, what can be 526 00:32:42,922 --> 00:32:46,042 hard sometimes is that it gets tiring. 527 00:32:48,082 --> 00:32:48,972 It gets tiring. 528 00:32:49,417 --> 00:32:53,987 Spreading the gospel, speaking truth over, especially when, when you're hearing no's. 529 00:32:54,217 --> 00:32:57,857 Especially when, when you invite someone to church and they just keep saying no. 530 00:32:58,697 --> 00:33:00,757 It can get tiring and it can get hard. 531 00:33:02,577 --> 00:33:05,237 But we have to remember when it gets hard, we have to remember 532 00:33:05,237 --> 00:33:07,067 how hard it was when we were lost. 533 00:33:08,047 --> 00:33:09,097 It was far harder. 534 00:33:09,737 --> 00:33:13,597 My life before I came to Christ was far harder than it is 535 00:33:13,857 --> 00:33:15,867 spreading the gospel every day. 536 00:33:16,797 --> 00:33:22,597 My life before Christ was far harder than it is speaking truth every day. 537 00:33:22,982 --> 00:33:27,982 Yeah, it's hard to die to my flesh some days, but my life before Christ was far 538 00:33:27,982 --> 00:33:35,032 harder than dying to my flesh, because I was lost, I was alone, I was confused. 539 00:33:38,532 --> 00:33:43,352 When it gets hard, we have to remember that Jesus says, rest your 540 00:33:43,352 --> 00:33:45,292 cares on me because my yoke is easy. 541 00:33:46,692 --> 00:33:49,602 When we get tired, we have to remember that Jesus says, 542 00:33:49,602 --> 00:33:51,182 rest in the shadow of my wing. 543 00:33:54,622 --> 00:33:58,712 It can get hard, it can get tiring living out the Great Commission. 544 00:33:59,012 --> 00:34:04,572 If we truly want to live out the Great Commission, if we truly want to follow the 545 00:34:04,572 --> 00:34:07,722 words of Jesus, He's not telling us to go. 546 00:34:07,872 --> 00:34:10,982 He's already expecting that you and I are going this morning. 547 00:34:11,742 --> 00:34:14,101 And as we're going, we're making disciples. 548 00:34:14,101 --> 00:34:18,225 But if we look back at the Great Commission, if we look back at 549 00:34:18,225 --> 00:34:19,992 that last verse in verse 20, 550 00:34:24,851 --> 00:34:29,242 because it can get hard, it can get tiring, it can sometimes be lonely. 551 00:34:31,417 --> 00:34:42,107 But Jesus says in verse 20 and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 552 00:34:43,447 --> 00:34:46,947 I am with you always to the end of the age. 553 00:34:46,947 --> 00:34:50,257 When it gets hard, when it gets tiring, when you feel lonely, when 554 00:34:50,677 --> 00:34:53,447 it feels like all hope is lost. 555 00:34:55,757 --> 00:34:57,507 Christ says, I am here. 556 00:34:58,567 --> 00:35:00,397 He didn't just say, Hey, go do this. 557 00:35:00,607 --> 00:35:01,237 Peace out. 558 00:35:03,797 --> 00:35:05,317 In fact, he said, Hey, go do this. 559 00:35:05,347 --> 00:35:07,497 I'm gonna give you the Holy Spirit to live within you. 560 00:35:07,667 --> 00:35:10,217 So then you have the strength and the courage to do it. 561 00:35:10,427 --> 00:35:12,247 Oh, but by the way, I'm still gonna be here. 562 00:35:13,637 --> 00:35:14,917 I'm not gonna leave you alone. 563 00:35:19,517 --> 00:35:22,157 Christ is with each and every believer this morning, 564 00:35:24,967 --> 00:35:27,807 turning every light green that we come across. 565 00:35:31,062 --> 00:35:34,822 And we have a decision to make as believers. 566 00:35:35,632 --> 00:35:40,632 We can continue to allow Christ to sit in our passenger seat, 567 00:35:42,842 --> 00:35:45,412 yelling at us to go when the light turns green, 568 00:35:47,442 --> 00:35:50,602 telling us, don't wait, keep going, or 569 00:35:53,672 --> 00:35:57,082 just slide on over, let him drive. 570 00:35:58,702 --> 00:36:01,042 Cause I can tell you, Christ is going to keep going. 571 00:36:02,152 --> 00:36:05,602 When that light turns green, there's not going to be a red light before him. 572 00:36:07,037 --> 00:36:07,997 He's going to keep going. 573 00:36:08,127 --> 00:36:09,107 He's going to keep going. 574 00:36:09,247 --> 00:36:10,297 He's going to keep going. 575 00:36:11,197 --> 00:36:13,507 It's when we try to take that steering wheel. 576 00:36:13,507 --> 00:36:17,427 It's when we try to get in that driver's seat that we stop, that fear 577 00:36:17,427 --> 00:36:20,627 stops us, that loneliness stops us, 578 00:36:22,897 --> 00:36:24,457 that circumstances stop us. 579 00:36:28,097 --> 00:36:32,267 Or maybe you're in here this morning and you just feel like you're just 580 00:36:32,267 --> 00:36:38,297 surrounded by red lights, that your life is just motionless right now. 581 00:36:40,427 --> 00:36:43,607 Maybe you're, you're here this morning or you're in one of our locations or 582 00:36:43,607 --> 00:36:49,087 you're online and you've never heard the truth that there's a God that loves you. 583 00:36:49,257 --> 00:36:52,837 There's a God that loves you so much that not only did he create you, but 584 00:36:52,837 --> 00:36:58,227 he sent his son to the earth over 2000 years ago to die a death in 585 00:36:58,227 --> 00:37:05,277 which he didn't deserve for you so that you don't have to walk in death. 586 00:37:05,287 --> 00:37:09,587 You don't have to walk surrounded by red lights that you can walk in life. 587 00:37:13,252 --> 00:37:17,022 If that's you this morning, if you're saying, look, this is the 588 00:37:17,022 --> 00:37:20,922 first I've heard that there's something different for me out there. 589 00:37:21,912 --> 00:37:24,812 That there's life available for me out there. 590 00:37:25,382 --> 00:37:31,462 If that's you this morning, I just ask across our locations, just stand. 591 00:37:35,082 --> 00:37:41,252 If you're saying, I want life for the first time, would you stand? 592 00:37:43,272 --> 00:37:45,572 I can promise you no one's gonna point at you. 593 00:37:45,602 --> 00:37:47,832 No one's gonna pay attention to you. 594 00:37:47,852 --> 00:37:52,952 This is a moment between you and God But you're in the family of christ right now. 595 00:37:52,952 --> 00:37:57,072 You're in the body of christ right now that surrounded you with love So if 596 00:37:57,072 --> 00:38:00,322 that's you this morning you're saying I want to give my life to christ I'm 597 00:38:00,322 --> 00:38:04,902 tired of walking around in red lights, and I just want to go would you stand? 598 00:38:10,492 --> 00:38:14,972 Now if you're a believer in here this morning Maybe you've been a 599 00:38:14,972 --> 00:38:18,872 believer for five minutes Maybe you've been a believer for 65 years. 600 00:38:20,192 --> 00:38:25,332 If you're a believer in this morning, and you're saying, I am going. 601 00:38:26,642 --> 00:38:27,282 I'm going. 602 00:38:30,552 --> 00:38:32,822 I am going, and I'm going to make disciples. 603 00:38:32,822 --> 00:38:36,462 I'm going this Thursday into my family gathering. 604 00:38:36,462 --> 00:38:37,297 I'm going. 605 00:38:38,237 --> 00:38:40,247 In my community, I'm going in my neighborhood. 606 00:38:40,417 --> 00:38:45,277 If, if you're willing to take the mission seriously, that God has for 607 00:38:45,277 --> 00:38:48,647 you and I this morning, if you're willing to go, would you please stand? 608 00:38:48,647 --> 00:38:51,287 If you're a believer and you're willing to go and take it 609 00:38:51,297 --> 00:38:53,727 seriously, would you please stand? 610 00:39:04,257 --> 00:39:08,347 My prayer is, my prayer is that no one stood up because 611 00:39:08,987 --> 00:39:10,197 their spouse pulled them up. 612 00:39:11,227 --> 00:39:15,412 That no one stood up because someone gave him a glaring eye or, My prayer is 613 00:39:15,412 --> 00:39:21,932 that every single person that stood up is serious about living the Great Commission. 614 00:39:22,632 --> 00:39:26,362 About not just giving to kingdom builders, but being a kingdom builder. 615 00:39:27,652 --> 00:39:31,282 If you're not standing, I ask that you please stand now as we pray and 616 00:39:31,282 --> 00:39:35,522 get ready to enter into worship one last time all across our locations. 617 00:39:35,522 --> 00:39:39,052 God, we thank you for this morning. 618 00:39:39,052 --> 00:39:43,652 We thank you, Father, for what your word says, that we are called to be going. 619 00:39:43,652 --> 00:39:43,692 Amen. 620 00:39:44,102 --> 00:39:49,042 To be going to be making disciples to be baptizing to be teaching but God to 621 00:39:49,042 --> 00:39:54,782 be going And lord, I pray right now for those of us in the room Or those of us 622 00:39:54,782 --> 00:39:58,462 across our locations or online who gave their life to you for the first time 623 00:40:00,542 --> 00:40:06,072 Lord forgive them Show them lord that you love them Show them lord 624 00:40:06,072 --> 00:40:10,832 that you care for them show them lord that you Want to be the driver? 625 00:40:12,472 --> 00:40:17,047 God show them lord that you're their father Lord, and I pray for 626 00:40:17,047 --> 00:40:21,847 every single person that stood up that says, I am going on mission. 627 00:40:22,087 --> 00:40:25,717 I am going to fulfill the great commission in my life, wherever that 628 00:40:25,717 --> 00:40:29,287 looks like Lord, give them the strength to keep going when they get, it gets 629 00:40:29,287 --> 00:40:33,047 hard, give them the rest to keep going. 630 00:40:33,047 --> 00:40:34,107 When they get tired, 631 00:40:36,497 --> 00:40:42,617 Lord, I pray that restoration is forever changed because we live on mission. 632 00:40:43,772 --> 00:40:49,342 God, I pray that New Hampshire is forever changed because we live on mission. 633 00:40:49,652 --> 00:40:51,552 I pray that northern New England is forever changed 634 00:40:51,552 --> 00:40:54,012 because we live on mission. 635 00:40:56,802 --> 00:41:00,062 And so God, I lay it all to you. 636 00:41:00,452 --> 00:41:02,132 Have your way in our lives. 637 00:41:02,882 --> 00:41:05,362 We thank you, Father, for leading us to this point. 638 00:41:05,362 --> 00:41:08,902 And we thank you, Father, for leading us on the path ahead. 639 00:41:11,572 --> 00:41:13,502 In the name of Jesus, we pray. 640 00:41:15,492 --> 00:41:15,882 Mike Mayo: Amen.