SO MUCH MORE: Reaching Beyond Our Grasp

2020-02-02 

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Key Verse: Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think

We all have a responsibility to reach beyond our grasp when it comes to the Gospel. God has entrusted us with a great calling and great opportunity to reach this world for Christ. If we are going to see God do infinitely more in the days ahead, we must be faithful in carrying this message outside of our comfort zone.

1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

Matthew 4:19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”

The Importance of Reaching

1. It is COMMANDED BY GOD

Mark 16:15-16 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned

2. It is GOD’S PLAN FOR US ALL

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent

3. His love COMPELS US

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them

4. The world NEEDS JESUS

Ephesians 2:1-3 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

5. Time is SHORT

Matthew 24:36 However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows

Reasons Why We Don’t Reach

1. We don’t know the GOSPEL OURSELVES

2. We don’t care where people spend eternity

Hebrews 9:27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment

3. Weworry about what THEY MIGHT THINK

Let’s Remember the Gospel 

1. God is our LOVING CREATOR

John 1:1-5 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

2. His creation IS FULL OF SIN

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

3. Jesus paid FOR OUR SINS

Romans 3:24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins

John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life

4. We receive this payment THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST

Romans 3:25a For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…

5. The result of our faith is ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD

Romans 3:25b-26 This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus