JESUS PURPOSE

Ezra 47:9 (NLT) – “There will be swarms of living things wherever the water of this river flows. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters will become fresh. Life will flourish wherever this water flows.”

1. Partner with Jesus to Experience Fulfilment

Luke 10:17 – “The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name!’”

When you participate in God’s mission, you experience joy.

Luke 10:21 (NLT) – “At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and He said, ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank You for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased You to do it this way.’”

2. Participate in Jesus’ Mission and Experience Greater Authority

Luke 10:17b (NLT) – “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use Your Name!”

Luke 10:18 (NLT) – “‘Yes,’ He told them, ‘I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!’”

Luke 10:19-20 (NLT) – “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) – “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

When we participate in Jesus’ mission, we do it in partnership with Him. He promises to always be with us, never leaving or forsaking us, and provides His power and authority to go with us.

Norman Geisler’s book, “Reasons for Belief”

3. Practice the Gospel

A. GOOD

God created for good, for love.

Genesis 1:31a (NIV) – “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”

B. GUILT

Romans 3:23 (NIV) – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 6:23 (NIV) – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

C. GRACE

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Salvation as easy as ABC:

Admit sin,

Believe in Jesus,

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

Romans 10:9 (NIV) – “That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

GRATITUDE: Now that you have received this amazing gift of grace and salvation, how do you express your gratitude to your Savior? Live for Him, find a good, Bible-teaching church, get plugged in, and grow closer to your Savior!

Discussion Questions:

1. Many believers who engage in Gospel activity do so out of a sense of obligation or duty. Have you ever had an experience, like those in the Luke 10 story, where you felt so much joy that it became the driving force for a lifestyle of sharing Jesus? Do you approach Gospel activity with the awareness that it is part of what God created you for?

2. When the disciples walked in faithfulness to Jesus’ mission, they ended up inheriting a new level of authority. Do you avoid engaging in Gospel activity because you think you lack spiritual authority? If you knew you’d receive a new level of spiritual authority when sharing Jesus, would you be more inclined to engage?

3. This story highlights the joy that Jesus and the Father experience when their followers partake in the mission. Have you ever considered the joy you bring heaven when you engage in the mission of Jesus?