INTRO
Example of “represent” in a sentence:
If someone such as a lawyer represents a person or group of people, they act on behalf of that person or group.
EXAMPLE: When there is a big profile person – who has a court case coming up – law firms who think they can win the case may compete for that client
RIGHT NOW: OLYMPICS – they are representing their countries
Two AUSSIE men and an American lady won the gold
Look at the AUSSIES – AUSSIE PIC UP – They are in front of their flags they love their country
Tamyra Mensah Stock – American PIC UP – She just won the gold for wrestling
She loves her country and you can see that by how she draped herself in the flag
Who Do and How Do We Represent?
There is a competition going on for Christians:
Christians are being PULLED from/by numerous places and things – CHOICES are in order
Who are we ultimately representing?
How do we represent who we are representing?
Who do we ultimately work for?
James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. (ESV)
Q: Who is the farmer? Who is the fruit? How does He receive the fruit? What does the rain represent?
The farmer is the Lord
The precious fruit are the people Jesus died to save
The reason the Lord patiently waits? It is precious fruit!
The way He receives the fruit – is when He welcomes the believers into heaven (the spirits of men and women being born-again)
(we will look at what the rain is a little later)
He waits to receive both the early and latter rains (CLUE: The rain isn’t the harvest – though it is needed for the harvest)
OK, so let’s review and summarise:
God is the creator of all things
His prize creation is man
He sent His own Son to die in order to redeem His prize creation
We presently have THE mission of ALL ongoing missions on this Earth
To God, people are the precious fruit of the earth. People are the only reason God is waiting to send Jesus back to earth to take us home. He wants MORE people to come with us!
Understanding God’s heart – His purpose – and how we fit in – give us our purpose – we see the necessity to represent Him
Q: Why is “now” important?
A: Because of where we are in time
PIC of CHART
One of the main things to note: how time periods are broken into 1 and 2 thousand year periods
From the time Jesus rose until now? How many years?
We are in that bracket of 2 thousand
Mathematically speaking – we are close
Understanding how close we are can remove the many fears as we look at what is developing out in the world.
(Look up our redemption is close)
1 Pet. 1:17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favourites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” (NLT)
I will continue with the assumption we have chose to serve Him over all other options
How Do We Represent Him Appropriately?
2 Cor. 5:18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
2 Cor. 5:19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
2 Cor. 5:20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (NLT)
If we understand where we are in time and what our purpose is – it is important that we…
Get Full of the Message and Mission
2 Cor. 5:18b…And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.
2 Cor. 5:19b…And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
We first see how clear our mission is – “the task of…
Secondly we see what to be full of – THE WONDERFUL MESSAGE
WHY? God works with THAT message – No other message was designed by God to speak to the hearts (spirits) of mankind
The same revelation that fuels our dedication also reveals to us and fuels us in everything including our mission.
EXAMPLE of adding the message to other things
2 Kings 17:33 And though they worshiped the LORD, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came. (NLT)
I went through different stages before I was saved
After I was saved
I switched over to the NFL
I made a team and the guys on that team heroes
I could name very player on the football team I followed
It was 50+ players – knew most of the height and weight
What we are FULL of is what COMES OUT consistently, accurately, and fervently
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, ABIDE IN HIM, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. (ESV)
Mounce Greek Dictionary – ABIDE: to stay, to continue, to dwell, lodge, sojourn, to remain, to rest, settle, to last, endure, to survive, to continue unchanged, to be permanent, to persevere, be constant, be steadfast, to abide, to be in close and settled union, to wait for…
We are instructed to ABIDE in Him
There is an abiding that brings us confidence at His appearing
We could say is it ADDITION or SUBMISSION ?
Have we added God to our lives or have we made Him our life
What are we continuing in? dwelling in? remaining in? Full of?
NOTE: Today’s Environment – (I am aware of all that’s going on)
TWO SIDES on many issues – even amongst Christians
If you wear a mask you have no faith – if you don’t wear – you hate people because you are spreading the virus
If you get the vaccine you have no faith – If you don’t get it you hate people because you are spreading the virus
I notice people who are in fear – I have the same temptations as many others – blame the government for getting them into fear
It’s EASY TO BECOME AN ANGRY CHRISTIAN with all that’s going on
The Benefits of Being Full
Quickly here is a true statement for every person who is an Australian and a Christian:
We are citizens of both Heaven and Australia
How do we have our say as a citizen of Australia and at the same time represent Him appropriately?
My TESTIMONY: As a citizen of Australia I am active – in the last couple of months:
I wrote 2 emails to my local MP
I called the local MP
I attended 2 police functions
I marched with a pro-life peaceful protest
Also our church building has been used for the Church and State Summit
So I believe in both representing Him appropriately and speaking out as a citizen – (I WILL CONTINUE to participate)
NOTE: I noticed awhile back I was beginning to angry about certain policy and legislation and everyone heard about it – I experienced this
Q: Why was I angry?
A: I was more full of what I thought the GOV was doing wrong – than THE MESSAGE
1 Tim. 6:1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. (ESV)
BEING FULL of Him and the MESSAGE eliminates our anger, resentment, disappointment, and so on…
REMEMBER who you are representing – our influence depends on it
It’s THE MESSAGE that works on the hearts of people
Our anger about policy and legislation won’t save anyone
I made changes – My daughters both told me they see a difference
Here is the first thing being full of the right stuff does:
One: It Eliminates the Anger
James 1:20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (ESV)
James 1:20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. (NLT)
STORY: Pray for our neighbours salvation – (sheet of PE)
I was talking with one of the neib….Let some anger out politics
I realised after he wouldn’t listen to me share the Message
I have slowly worked back to a place where he will now listen to me
Two: We See Things Through Grace Instead of Law
Rom. 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
Jesus showed up when Mary M was going to be stoned by the Jews
The law required it – Jesus brought grace and forgave her
When we disagree with those who practice sin – even legislate it – How do we leave them?
Would they ever be open to us sharing the Gospel Message to them?
Have we condemned them? It’s the gospel of grace – it’s good news
They need to hear the good message to be saved
Three: We Seek His Rewards
We are Redeemed by His Finished Work – We are Rewarded by Our Ongoing Works
Phil. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (ESV)
Four: We Pray as Instructed
James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. (ESV)
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Mount Sinai and Mount Sion
Zech. 10:1 ASK THE LORD FOR RAIN in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone. (NKJV)
Q: What is the rain? What is the rain symbolic of?
The rain is not the fruit
The rain is what the fruit needs to be ready for harvest
A: It’s God grace, anointing, spirit, presence, ability, power poured out on us and the precious fruit
The latter rain to me is symbolic of the glory of God – the anointing of God – the grace of God that we ALL need to have an abundant harvest
On us to minister
On the fruit to draw them
The Lord is saying what we ALL know: It isn’t by our power or might that we can bring in the harvest
We need Him
ALL over us – on us – His grace, anointing, presence, moves of God
So, lets pray along these lines
We need Him both in the pulpit and the pews
A supply on everyone in the body – to bring in the precious fruit of the earth – the saving of the spirits of mankind