08.29.2021 | GOD'S HEART
GOD’S HEART – HUMANITY’S GREATEST NEED, THE CHURCH’S URGENT PRIORITY
Introduction: What’s on the heart of the Holy Spirit? What is humanity’s greatest need? What is the church’s pressing priority in this season? I believe the answers have eternal implications.
1. God’s Heart
A. The salvation of souls
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
John 3:16a, 17 (KJV) – “God so loved the world...For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”
2. Humanity’s Need
A. To hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom
Romans 6:23 (KJV) – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 3:23-24 (KJV) – “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
John 10:10 (KJV) – “The thief comes not but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Jesus is humanity’s only hope. Jesus is heaven’s response to the human crisis. God responded to the human cry by stepping into His own creation to redeem, deliver, and empower it. But they must hear the message.
John 14:6 (KJV) – “Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”
John 3:3b, 7 (KJV) – “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.”
When I was 17 years old, I was in an auto accident with a train. Hell had scheduled my death that day. I was not saved and had no understanding of the subject. I knew I was miserable but did not know how to get out of it.
The other day, I saw a small bird stuck to a sticky rat trap. His legs and wings were fixed to it. I could not get it out of the glue. That bird died stuck to a substance set for a rat.
3. The Church’s Priority
A. To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples of all nations
Romans 1:16-17a (KJV) – “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believe; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed.”
Matthew 9:37-38 (KJV) – “Then saith He unto his disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.’”
Romans 10:13-14, 17 (KJV) – “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher [publisher]?…So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Ezekiel 33:7, 11a (KJV) – “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me…as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”
Luke 4:18 (KJV) – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor.”
On Saturday, the 24th of July, Loyalti Allah, 13 years old, of Monroe, NC, was tragically killed by a stray bullet as four youth opened fire in the area with a dispute against somebody else. On June 28th, three children were shot and one of them died by a drive by shooting in Statesville, NC. How do we end the senseless violence against innocent children? The Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 16:15 (NKJV) – “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.’”
I believe there is such an urgency to preach the Gospel, for souls are at stake.
We must make the necessary changes to address the current crisis – souls! This ministry is making changes to better address this.
4. The Church’s Resources
Before an army advances upon the enemy, that army must inventory its resources, supplies, strengths, allies, support, and possible weaknesses.
Luke 14:31 (KJV) – “Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”
2 Corinthians 3:4-5a (KJV) – “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing…”
We have been graced with resources to execute the King’s purposes and plans. He has entrusted these resources in earthen vessels. (2 Corinthians 4:7)
It’s like we are this container full of powerful tools, abilities, insights, and access to supernatural provisions. As a soldier or police officer has gear or tools on the belt, and means to call for backup, so does the believer in Christ. We have divine resources available to us.
Luke 10:19 (KJV) – “Behold, I give unto you power [authority–exousia] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power [dunamis] of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
A. What are our Resources?
a. Authority
Matthew 28:18b-19a (KJV) – “All power [authority] is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go you therefore…”
b. Holy Spirit
The Person of the Holy Spirit is God in the earth and is everything to the Body of Christ. He is not a tool for victory, but our greatest Comfort, Rest, Strength, Earnest, Power to win in all things.
Acts 1:8a (KJV) – “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”
c. The Word (Logos & Rhema)
Ephesians 6:17b (KJV) – “…Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.”
d. Faith
1 John 5:4 (KJV) – “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world [kosmos]: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
e. The Name of Jesus
Mark 16:17b (KJV) – “In My Name shall they cast out devils…”
f. The Blood of Jesus
Revelation 12:11a (KJV) – “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
g. The Gift of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:4,7 (KJV) – “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirt…But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
h. Power
Luke 10:19a (KJV) – “I give you power [dunimus] to tread upon serpents.”
i. Ministry Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV) – “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”
j. Angelic Assistance
Hebrews 1:14 (NKJV) – “Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”
k. The Body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:25b-27a (NKJV) – “The members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the Body of Christ…”
l. Seated Position
Ephesians 2:6-7 (KJV) – “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 1:21a – “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion…”
m. Bestowed Victory
John 16:33 (NKJV) – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
5. The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail!
Matthews 16:18b (NKJV) – “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates [entrance] of hell shall not prevail [overpower] against it.”
NIV – “…and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
NLT – “…and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
MSG – “…a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.”
Why gates? A gate is a portal, access point, entry way. Gates are also where decisions are made. Gates are a type of courtroom or judgment hall. The lawful and unlawful cases are being adjudicated at the gates. Demands, indictments, or orders of release are declared at the gates. We come to the gates of hell and demand the release of those held captive. We come to the gates and declare what the King (Word) has decreed. We exercise an order of release at the gates of hell.
The enemy lies and deceives. He is the father of lies. “For he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44). One of his major weapons against the Body of Christ is fear. No fear! “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) A sound mind is a well-disciplined mind. We must have the mind of Christ!
There was a soldier who rescued the wounded in WWII by the name of Desmond Thomas Doss. Doss was a conscientious objector but served as a medic. Those who once called him a coward recognized his bravery and knew he would press forward under enemy fire to rescue them. There was a movie about his story, Hacksaw Ridge. It’s reported that Doss saved 75 men trapped at the top of that ridge. In the movie, he would pray and ask the Lord to give him “one more.” He endured what looked like hell for one more wounded soul. He rescued American and Japanese alike. Born 1919; died 2006. We are to advance through the gates of hell for one more soul.
A. What does it take for the true Church to advance through the gates of hell? What must we do and what kind of church will it take to reclaim what the devil has stolen?
a. They who know their God
Daniel 11:32b (NKJV) – “But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
b. They who know their own identity
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) – “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
c. They who possess divine insights and strategies
2 Samuel 5:23 (NKJV) – “Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, ‘You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.’”
d. They who are filled with and led by the Holy Spirit
Acts 13:2 (NKJV) – “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”
e. They who are courageous and fearless (Courageous Leaders & Fearless Followers)
Jonathan and his armor bearer showed extreme courage as they confronted the Philistines.
1 Samuel 14:1a – “Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.’”
1 Samuel 14:6 (NKJV) – “Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.’”
Conclusion:
1. God’s heart is that none would perish, but that all would come to repentance.
2. Humanity’s most urgent need is to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.
3. The church’s pressing priority is to preach, proclaim, and publish the Good News of Jesus Christ and demonstrate His Kingdom.
4. 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”