Embracing Our Mission: Local and Global Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Expanding Our Mission Beyond Borders

In our journey of faith, we are called to look beyond our immediate surroundings and recognize the global need for the Gospel. While it is important to be active in our local communities, we must also be aware of the desperate needs around the world. Thousands die daily from preventable causes, and it is our responsibility to extend our reach and live out the Gospel both locally and globally. This dual focus ensures that we are not just writing checks for overseas missions but also actively living out our faith in our communities, embodying the Gospel in our daily lives. [05:23]

"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’" (Acts 13:47, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your local community can you reach out to today, and how can you also support global missions in a tangible way this week?

Day 2: Standing Firm in Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is a reality, with Satan actively working to disrupt God's work in our lives. Yet, we are reassured by the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. This calls for perseverance and a steadfast focus on Christ, who is our constant amidst life's challenges. Rejoicing in the Lord provides stability, as He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. In times of trial, we are called to stand firm, knowing that our strength comes from Christ alone. [07:32]

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life feels like a spiritual battleground right now, and how can you actively put on the armor of God to stand firm?

Day 3: True Worship and Confidence in Christ

True worship involves serving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and glorying in Christ, not placing confidence in our own achievements. Paul, despite his impressive credentials, counts all his achievements as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This challenges us to evaluate where we place our confidence and to ensure that our worship is centered on Christ alone, not on external rituals or personal accomplishments. [15:49]

"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'" (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What personal achievements or external rituals might you be placing too much confidence in, and how can you shift your focus to truly glory in Christ?

Day 4: The Call to Know Christ Deeply

Knowing Christ is not just about experiencing His power but also sharing in His sufferings. This fellowship in suffering brings a unique intimacy with Jesus, a bond that is forged in the crucible of trials. Many have found that in their deepest suffering, they experienced the closest fellowship with Christ. This challenges us to embrace suffering as a means to draw nearer to Him, recognizing that the biblical gospel is about following Jesus even if it costs us everything. [23:38]

"That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embrace a current trial as an opportunity to deepen your intimacy with Christ, and what might that look like in your daily walk with Him?

Day 5: Embracing Suffering for Greater Intimacy

Embracing suffering as a means to draw nearer to Christ challenges us to recognize that the biblical gospel is about following Jesus even if it costs us everything. Many have found that in their deepest suffering, they experienced the closest fellowship with Christ. This perspective invites us to see suffering not as a punishment but as a pathway to greater intimacy with Jesus, where we can experience His presence and comfort in profound ways. [38:57]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of suffering in your life that you can begin to view as an opportunity for deeper intimacy with Christ, and how can you invite Him into that space today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, it's crucial to remember that our mission extends beyond our immediate surroundings. The Global Ministries conference serves as a reminder that while we often focus on our local communities, there is a world out there in desperate need of the Gospel and our help. Thousands die daily from preventable causes, and it is our responsibility to extend our reach and live out the Gospel both locally and globally. This dual focus ensures that we are not just writing checks for overseas missions but also actively living out our faith in our communities, embodying the Gospel in our daily lives.

Reflecting on recent challenges, it's evident that spiritual warfare is real. Satan is actively working to disrupt the good that God is doing in our lives. Yet, we are reassured by the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. This calls for perseverance and a steadfast focus on Christ, who is our constant amidst life's ups and downs. Rejoicing in the Lord provides stability, as He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever.

In Philippians 3, Paul emphasizes being consumed by Christ, where everything else pales in comparison. He warns against those who divert our focus from Jesus, labeling them as "dogs" and "evildoers." True worship is not about external rituals but about serving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, glorying in Christ, and placing no confidence in the flesh. Paul, despite his impressive credentials, counts all his achievements as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

The call to know Christ is not just about experiencing His power but also sharing in His sufferings. This fellowship in suffering brings a unique intimacy with Jesus, a bond that is forged in the crucible of trials. Many have found that in their deepest suffering, they experienced the closest fellowship with Christ. This challenges us to embrace suffering as a means to draw nearer to Him, recognizing that the biblical gospel is about following Jesus even if it costs us everything.

Key Takeaways

1. Global and Local Mission: Our mission is twofold—reaching out to the world and living out the Gospel in our local communities. It's not enough to support overseas missions; we must also embody the Gospel in our daily lives, ensuring that our faith is active and visible in our immediate surroundings. [05:23]
2. Spiritual Warfare and Perseverance: Spiritual warfare is a reality, with Satan actively working to disrupt God's work in our lives. However, we are reassured that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. This calls for perseverance and a steadfast focus on Christ, who is our constant amidst life's challenges. [07:32]
3. True Worship and Confidence in Christ: True worship involves serving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and glorying in Christ, not placing confidence in our own achievements. Paul, despite his impressive credentials, counts all his achievements as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. [15:49]
4. The Call to Know Christ: Knowing Christ is not just about experiencing His power but also sharing in His sufferings. This fellowship in suffering brings a unique intimacy with Jesus, a bond that is forged in the crucible of trials. [23:38]
5. Embracing Suffering for Greater Intimacy: Embracing suffering as a means to draw nearer to Christ challenges us to recognize that the biblical gospel is about following Jesus even if it costs us everything. Many have found that in their deepest suffering, they experienced the closest fellowship with Christ. [38:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:20] - Global Ministries Conference
[05:23] - Living the Gospel Locally
[06:22] - Reflecting on Challenges
[07:32] - Spiritual Warfare and Perseverance
[08:14] - Philippians 3: Consumed by Christ
[09:00] - Rejoicing in the Lord
[10:17] - Warning Against Distractions
[12:26] - True Worship and Confidence
[15:49] - Paul's Credentials and Loss
[18:28] - Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
[23:38] - The Call to Know Christ
[30:37] - Embracing Suffering
[38:57] - Intimacy Through Suffering
[43:18] - Baptism: A Commitment to Christ

Sermon Clips

It didn't make sense that God would want his people just kind of gathering and having Bible studies with each other, you know, because most people don't have the luxury of doing that sitting around and just talking Theology and and arguing with each other and thinking wow we're really serving God. [00:04:45]

Spiritual warfare is a reality, with Satan actively working to disrupt God's work in our lives. However, we are reassured that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. This calls for perseverance and a steadfast focus on Christ, who is our constant amidst life's challenges. [00:07:01]

Paul here is talking about just being absolutely obsessed with Jesus Christ, just consumed absolutely consumed where everything is about Jesus. It's not about balancing your life and making sure you add a little you know religion to your no it's just he's all that matters this is all about Jesus 100%. [00:08:23]

True followers of God were the ones that trusted in him they gloried in him in what he did and not in their own actions and then Paul says something really interesting he starts he starts saying you know what those guys that are bragging about that stuff he goes I've done more than them. [00:16:14]

Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for his sake I've suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law. [00:18:18]

I want to know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings becoming like him in his death that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Paul goes you know what I just want to know him I want to know him and I want to camp on that for a second. [00:23:19]

The biblical gospel has never been about I'll come to Jesus if I'll believe in Jesus if it's about I'll follow Jesus even if even if I lose everything okay even if it means I lose my family even if I deteriorate even if people are throwing rocks at me even if I lose everything I own. [00:25:47]

There is a beauty in this of it's interesting because when that word for may share his sufferings this this word for share is the word coinonia where we get the word Fellowship to Fellowship in his sufferings and I'll be honest with you when I first first heard about Christianity and started following Jesus. [00:30:38]

Paul was so consumed with Christ which we ought to be also and see him as such a great treasure and this idea of if suffering will Draw Me Closer to Christ if there's a closer Fellowship in that that I'll experience through suffering then I want that because I want Jesus and I think about this Fellowship. [00:32:40]

I found in Christ something so great that I think the more I suffer for his name's sake the more Christ I'll get and Christ is so good and I rejoice in Christ and this is Paul writing about Christ while he's in prison chain to a guard and go man give it to me cuz Christ is better than all that stuff. [00:39:00]

We run from suffering because we don't believe that Christ is better than our comfort we'll say we want the sufferings of Christ but we'll do everything to avoid the sufferings of Christ we'll avoid persecution by just not sharing our faith we don't want the persecution of Christ and because we don't wanted the persecution of Christ. [00:40:08]

Understand the commitment you're making it's not hey come follow Jesus and maybe he'll give you everything you want everything you want no follow Jesus and maybe he'll take you take away everything you want and give you something better understand that Jesus Christ is the prize okay Jesus Christ is better than all of that other stuff. [00:43:59]

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