It is time for the church to move! We need to be willing to reflect and ask ourselves the tough questions:
1- What Moves You? (Acts 20:10..."Paul went down...")
*Matthew 9:36 makes it clear that God's heart is moved by compassion for the lost and hurting
-->Are we seeking, striving, praying, and pursuing to be moved by the same things that moves God?
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO LOVE JESUS, BUT WE MUST LOVE LIKE JESUS--HOW HE LOVES AND WHO HE LOVES!
*1 John 4:20--> we must be moved by love and compassion for God's children!
2- What Are You Investing In? (Acts 20:10..."Paul...threw himself on him...")
-->It is very easy to find ourselves throwing ourselves into every little thing, investing ourselves into so much: things that aren't necessarily bad; things that may even be necessary; nevertheless, things that have no eternal value.
IF WE INVEST EVERYTHING INTO THE TEMPORAL, WE'LL HAVE NOTHING TO INVEST IN THE ETERNAL!
*Mark 8:36--> it doesn't have to be a bad investment to be the wrong investment
GOOD INVESTMENTS DON'T ALWAYS EQUATE TO GOD INVESTMENTS!
*Matthew 6:25--> We have to invest in what is more: eternal currency--LIFE!
IF LIFE AND SALVATION AREN'T AT THE FOREMOST OF OUR CONCERNS, WE HAVE MADE POOR INVESTMENTS!
*1 John 3:16-18
INVESTING IN JESUS'S INVESTMENTS WILL MOVE US WITH JESUS'S HEART!
3- What Are You Embracing? (Acts 20:10..."Paul...embraced him..."
OUR INVESTMENTS ARE A REFLECTION OF WHAT WE EMBRACE!
*John 15:8--> the fruit we produce will reflect what our hearts embrace
--> If you desire to glorify God, bear His fruit--love His children, serve His children, and reflect His nature
--> Invest in His investments and embrace His nature
WE CAN'T REFLECT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW. WE WON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T VALUE. WE WON'T VALUE WHAT WE REFUSE TO EMBRACE!
*Matthew 4:4--> Embracing God's Word is what produces His fruit and allows us to EXPERIENCE the fullness of His life!
4- What Are You Speaking? (Acts 20:10..."Paul...said, 'Don't be alarmed, for his life is in him!'"
-->Our words are releasing power
WE MUST USE WISDOM AND CARE OVER THE WORDS WE SPEAK!
*Proverbs 15:28
SPEAK GOD'S WORD: SPEAK LIFE!
*John 6:63
SPEAK GOD'S WORD: SPEAK ENCOURAGEMENT!
*Ephesians 4:29
THE ENEMY NEVER HAS THE FINAL SAY WHEN GOD'S AUTHORITY IS ON YOUR LIPS!
*Luke 10:17-19
-->The authority we've been given should always be used for the lost and against the darkness!
--> The authority we've been given should be cushioned with compassion for, investing in, and embracing God's children!
IT IS TIME FOR THE CHURCH TO MOVE!