Our mission, as given to us by Jesus in the Great Commission is: TO MAKE DISCIPLES (2MD). Someone may approach you and ask the very relevant question, "Why are you supposed to make disciples?" Or they may say, "For what purpose are you making disciples?" At Mooresville Church of God we believe that the verses above from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 give us the answer to those questions: The purpose, OUR PURPOSE for making disciples is RECONCILIATION. From the moment that humanity rebelled against God and sin entered the world, God's primary task has been to reconcile humanity and all of His creation back to Him! To restore, redeem and reconcile all creation back to it's original, perfect relationship to Him! Our purpose in making disciples is so that every person will be reconciled to God and also reconciled to each other!
This call to be ambassadors of reconciliation presents us with an obvious choice: We can either choose reconciliation in our own life or not. We can either be ambassadors of reconciliation in our world, or not. That choice is scripturally laid before us in Romans 8:5 which says: "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." This quickly brings to mind additional, important questions:
- What does the sinful nature desire? We'll look at original sin to answer that one (Gen. 3:6-9)
- What does the Spirit desire? We'll look at the beginning of the Spirit's ministry for that one (Acts 2:41-47)
The Sinful Nature Desires...
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:6-9
1. The Sinful Nature Desires Self Obsession
Adam and Eve wanted what they wanted (knowledge and power) more than they wanted what God wanted (perfect relationship with them). As a result of their self obesession, reconciliation with God is now necessary for all of us.
2. The Sinful Nature Desires Isolation
When sin crept into the world the immediate reaction of Adam and Eve was to isolate themselves first from each other (fig leaves to cover themselves) and then from God (hiding from God). This is always the outcome of sin! It rips apart, divides and causes division! Our need for reconciliation with God and each other becomes even more obvious!
3. The Sinful Nature Desires Hell
God calls out to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" When God can't find you...you are eternally lost. And being eternally lost means being eternally separated from God. At this point we become desperate for reconciliation with God and with those who are already reconciled to Him!
The Spirit Desires...
Those who accepted his (Peter's) message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:41-47
1. The Spirit Desires Reconciliation with God
After the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early church and they were empowered to do the work of reconciliation, the first thing we see after Peter's first sermon are 3000 people being reconciled to God! This is always priority number 1 for God and His people!
2. The Spirit Desires Reconciliation with People
Immediately after these 3000 people are reconciled to God you see this beautiful community begin to form where they worshipped together, ate together, prayed together, learned together, sold their possessions so no one would be in need! God's presence in their lives led them into life-giving and healing relationships with each other as well!
3. The Spirit Desires Heaven
"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Doesn't that sound like a little glimpse of heaven to you? The final and eternal act of reconciliation with God and His people is when your time on earth is complete and you are in God's presence...in heaven! Once you are in heaven then the original plan God had when he put Adam and Eve in the garden can be lived out to perfection! Perfect relationship, perfect union, perfect world! That's what reconciliation with God brings!
Our purpose: RECONCILIATION! God longs for us to be reconciled to Him, to each other and to become ambassadors of reconciliation in this fallen world! Will you join us in fulfilling that purpose?
In His Grip,
Pastor John
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