VISION: Instigating Their Next Steps - Steve Parrish
As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21, ESV
We tend to invest in relationships based on “HOW DOES THIS PERSON BENEFIT ME?” When we see what HEAVEN sees, we invest based on “HOW CAN I BENEFIT THIS PERSON IN HIM?”
Your Perception Leads To An Outcome. Can You See What Heaven Sees?
start seeing: WHO & WHERE THEY ARE:
Stop being narcissistic, Christianity is not all about you! - Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4, ESV
All mankind craves Him - O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1, ESV
The people seemingly the least interested are often the most interested.
Consider the outcome if you don’t act - Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11–15, ESV
start seeing: WHO & WHAT YOU ARE
Your presence means everything - Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us… 2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV
He has placed you exactly where you need to be - …and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:26–27, NIV
They are looking for Him, that’s why God has placed you there - Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. John 4:35, ESV
Your message: what He’s done in your life - But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8, ESV
Get continually powered up - Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21–22, ESV
start seeing: WHO HE IS, WHAT HE DOES
We know what can do, but we doubt His willingness - While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:12–13, ESV
We block God by not positioning Him!
START SEEING: someone new; someone there (work/school/team); someone here (in our gathering)
INVITE THEM: into your space; into your friendships; into a ministry moment