Momentum - Week 2
Last week we kicked off our sermon series from the book of Acts. When I say “Momentum” I am hoping that all of us will experience the definition. I want you to experience:
Momentum:
Transformation gained by a series of personal wins
Throughout this series, I want to help you gain personal wins in your life that builds momentum.
Growing up in Bumpus Mills, we had a small hill that we explored daily. It was overgrown with Kudzu, bushes, briars, weeds and trees. Every now and then, a neighbor would mow it all down with his tractor and bushhog. Sometimes we would try to ride down the hill on our bikes, but the terrain was too rough to build up momentum to keep going. Then, my dad brought home an old 50-gallon burn barrel. It took about thirty minutes for my brother and me to push that barrel to the top of the hill, stick our youngest brother inside it, and push him down the hill.
Now, unlike our bikes, the weight of that metal barrel and brother handled the stumpy terrain like a boss, and with just a nudge, that barrel took off with Mike inside it. While the barrel rolled faster and faster, gaining momentum, his arms and legs flopped out of the opening.When we finally caught up to him at he bottom, he probably had a concussion, but we talked him into going down again.
Momentum in life is easy when everything is going downhill. When my brother and I were grunting and rolling that barrell uphill, we had ZERO momentum, but that sucker had a whole lot of momentum going down hill. I hope that this series keeps you rolling in the right direction and helps generate serious momentum in your life.
Acts 1:6-11 (NLT2)
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
There were two plans in this passage of scripture for the lives of the disciples. The disciples had their plans, and Jesus had his plans for them, but only one of those plans was going to be realized. The disciples had BIG plans now that Jesus defeated death. They believed that Jesus would declare himself as King over Jerusalem. They believed they would be in leadership positions under this new Kingdom, serving on the right and the left of the man who defeated death. They believed that their path forward was now EASY. They could coast. They would no longer have to follow Jesus around, sleep in the fields, and travel from house to house, city to city. Now, they could live in a castle, have dominion over their enemies, eat the finest foods, and make all the rules for life. I mean, they were going to reign with the man who raised himself from the dead. They would reign with the man who took the worst punishment possible. Jesus' back was ripped open through the scourging, he was nailed to a cross, then stabbed through the heart, and then died. They knew the world could not overthrow the Kingdom that Jesus was about to establish on this earth, and they would be right there with him, ruling and winning. So, if you are looking to build momentum in your life, understand that…
MOMENTUM STALLS WHEN WE SEEK CONTROL
Acts 1:6
The disciples had their plans, but Jesus had other plans for them.Jesus told them his plans in this conversation when he told them, “No. I am not establishing a Kingdom on this earth right now. In fact, I am leaving the planet. And the way you lead in my Kingdom is to tell everybody about me.”
If you are already a follower of Jesus, meaning you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior. You have become a born-again follower of Jesus, and you have already surrendered CONTROL of your life to HIM. And since you surrendered control of your life to Him, the plans for your life changed, too!
Jesus was very clear with his disciples that their new plans was a mission to carry the message of hope into the world wherever they went. And the mission of Jesus is now your Mission too. Because Jesus came to seek and save the lost, it is now your mission as well.
At Beach Church, we are not confused about why we exist as a church. Because Jesus came to seek and save the lost, the mission of Beach Church is to lead people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus. It is not our mission to grow a large church. It is not our mission to make a difference. It is not our mission to feed the hungry, provide stoves for the Mayan people, build homes for people in our community, take care of orphans, or have a great kids ministry.
Our mission is to lead people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus. The mission of Jesus comes first and is the reason for every single thing we do. We feed the hungry, provide stoves, build homes, take care of orphans, TO lead people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus. And as a church, the more we understand and focus on our mission, the more God provides the resources to continue the mission.
Three years ago, Beach Church was in a downward spiral of giving and attendance. But because we refocused and refined our mission, God has blessed with the resources to continue his mission. It is not karma that it works out like that; it’s a result of the promise Jesus made to his followers. He said,
Matthew 6:33 (NLT2)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
We seek the Kingdom of God by leading people to a lifechanging relationship with Jesus, and God provides for us. If you want to gain momentum in your life and build momentum by stringing together little wins, you must put the Kingdom of God first in your life, because
PURPOSE POWERS
MOMENTUM IN LIFE
1 John 2:6
There is something about living for the greatest purpose in all of life that powers momentum.
There is no greater purpose than to seek the Kingdom of God by leading people to Jesus. And when you make the decision to put God’s Kingdom first, you will begin to LOVE people and show the love of Jesus to others. And, when you show the Love of Jesus to others, it means you interact with others the same way Jesus interacted with others. That means: Don’t trample on others. Don’t point out the faults of other people. Don’t make it your mission to judge everybody else for their actions.
When purpose powers your momentum in life, you don’t shame others for what they wear, decisions they make, or mistakes they have made. Jesus came to this earth on a mission to SHOW people that there was a God who created them, who loved them, and he would show the fullness of His love for people by dying for their sins. And if we are followers of Jesus, we are to SHOW that we love others too.
LOVE is the most excellent way to live
1 Cor. 12:31
Love is defined and described by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1.
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1 (NLT2)
31 ….But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. 1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
The very best way to live out the mission in life to lead people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus is through love. We could build homes, take care of orphans, feed the hungry, lead people in worship, but if we didn’t love them, we could never lead them to Jesus because we would only be as obnoxious as a clanging cymbal!
Now imagine if you were serving in a soup kitchen, cooking, preparing the food, and serving the food to those who were hungry. But while people came through the line, as you served them their food, you insulted them, called them names, and made fun of them. That would be crazy.
Yet, people who focus on their purpose, without operating in the power of Jesus love, do just that. They fall into the trap of judging friends and family. They become known as “bible thumpers”. They become skilled in knowledge. They become excellent apologists – but they are irritating because they are not loving other people. They may often say things, “The truth hurts.” “If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t say it.”
That doesn’t have to be you! I have found that when that little Pharisee in me begins to raise his little head, the more I pray, the more I become like Jesus in my actions. And since LOVE is the most excellent way to live, the more you genuinely love others, the more you use your influence to lead people to Jesus, and the more you lead people to Jesus, the more God provides for you, and the more God provides for you, the more momentum is built in your life because you stop worrying about the necessities in life, because God is keeping his promise and providing for you!
And, as the momentum begins to churn in your life…
Pray for family, neighbors, coworkers
As you talk to the Lord, the greatest thing you can do is mention another person’s name as you talk to God. Rather than simply talking to the Lord about your own needs, you include the names of other people in your life who need to experience the life-changing power of the Love of God. What an incredible way to love and honor somebody else, when you mention their name to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I am humbled when people tell me that they are praying for me. To learn that when other followers of Jesus are mentioning my name and my needs to God during their personal quiet time – it is such an honor. When you pray for your family, your neighbors, and your coworkers, you are going to see God begin to build momentum in their lives. You are going to see God interact with others and use your love to impact them.
Now, let me point out the end of this passage of scripture to you. As the disciples stood there staring up into the sky, and watched until Jesus disappeared from their sight, angels showed up and said something significant. They said, “Why are you standing here staring – just as you saw him leave – he is going to return.
By faith, I believe that one day Jesus is going to come back.
Some people predict dates and times that Jesus is going to come back – and they never come true. Why? Jesus said that not even he knew when he was going to return to the earth – so I immediately doubt anytime somebody says that they know when Jesus is going to come back. In fact, if somebody says a date that Jesus is going to return – I can guarantee He will not return on that day – because Jesus said he his going to return like a thief in the night – unexpectedly!
So the date and time is not important – but this truth and question for you is:
ARE YOU READY
FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS?
Acts 1:10-11
I am ready for Jesus to return because I know Him as my Savior. By faith, I have been made a new creation through the GRACE and FORGIVENESS of Jesus death on the cross. By faith, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, that he rose from the dead, went up into heaven and will one day return. But I am not ready based on what I believe. I am ready because I have RECEIVED the free gift of forgiveness.
In 1991, I knelt beside my youth pastor, and I asked Jesus to forgive me, and I invited Jesus into my life. I had already KNOWN what Jesus had done for me. But I never received him as my Savior. The Bible says in 1 John 1:12:
John 1:12 (NLT2)
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
Have you accepted Jesus? If you haven’t, I invite you to pray with me right now and ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. Say something like this:
Dear God.
I am ready to receive Jesus as my Savior. I believe that Jesus paid the punishment for my rebellion and sin. I believe he suffered, died, and rose from the dead. I believe he went up into Heaven and will one day return. God, I give you my life and accept Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for forgiving me!