● Mission ● Vision ● Strategy

"I want all of you who are affected by me to be men and women of God! Anything else is a waste of time"

But why would you want to live such a hard life by going all the way for Jesus? (2Tim 3:10-12; Act 14:22) - Because I’m asking you to sign up for the supreme adventure of a lifetime. I’m asking you to sign up to live for the only thing worth dying for. (2Cor 1:7-10, 4:7-10)

The Adventure

For the sake of Jesus I’ve been Loved and hated promoted and dishonored; I’ve been given favor before many, and I’ve been made the loneliest person on the earth. I’ve had some hug me, and others for this same Jesus, I’ve had scream in my face. I’ve have two rocks thrown at me, about four times I’ve had the police called on me. Once I was threatened to have the Bible in my hand beaten in my face if I didn’t shut up. A number of times I’ve had demons manifest before my eyes as I stood for Jesus. Often, I’m in danger on every side, and in trouble for Jesus every time I turn around, (2Co 11:26). But I’ve taken on the adventure that has completely amazed and captivated me! I’ve seen the power of God as He gives revelations, and performs miracles before my eyes! I’m getting a hold of the Living God! After much hardship, I can wholeheartedly say it has all been worth it though I’m not even done with my race yet…

I will give you my analysis

Following Jesus is sometimes fun, often painful, and never boring. It’s been more painful than I would have thought, but more exciting than I could have ever dreamed.

Mission

The mission is twofold:

1. To connect you to Jesus and
2. To connect others to Jesus through you.

• When we meet together, it is to be infested with the uncontainable favor and fire of Jesus.
• We come together to Truly get a hold of Jesus, so that we will intern infest every one else with this same zeal.

Vision (What does it look like?)

People that are recklessly devoted to righteousness and the Scriptures. People that don’t just play church but who take Jesus for real and do what He says. They spend their life on Jesus and others to the point that they can’t afford to waist it on the addictions to entertainment and worldliness found in their culture. They live righteously because they hear God’s calling on their life, and His voice in their ears. They have become overwhelmingly addicted to Jesus. They know no other pleasure except that which is found in Him.

Imagine being so close to Jesus that you hear His voice on the everyday decisions you make. Imagine waking up every day and the first thing on your mind is Jesus, and going to sleep every night thinking of ways to get closer. You pray hours every day because you are unswervingly convinced that God has called you to greatness in His kingdom.

• To be born to be a prince, or a prominent world leader. (This puts a sense of seriousness, dedication, and destiny into your heart)
• If you knew that you where going to be as influential as Billy Graham, the purpose and identity of your life seams to change.

The potential excitement and strong anticipation puts something inside your heart (motivationally) that could not be reached otherwise.

Imagine that God uses you to make serious impacts on people’s lives for Him in powerful ways in His kingdom. God has gifted you in a way that is unique to you; you have something to offer the body; you have purpose in God’s vineyard. Imagine with me what it would be like to be a man or woman of God, who has Jesus’ amazing power at work within him or her.

 This is what life dedicated to Jesus is all about (being like Moses… like Abraham… - Read Heb 11! -)

Strategy (How to get there)

To become connected with Jesus, The Vine, by being exposed to His commands and taught to obey them…

• We are so often unexposed to a lot that He says… (Ex. The cost of Discipleship, Judging the Church, Divorce & Remarriage, War, Dating, etc.)
• For those that are young I don’t want you to wait until your 40 to know what He says, and then (typically) you have a heart that’s too hard to change.

How do we get there? By being personally challenged to change specific areas of life, including bad habits and practices, other sins, and everything else that is not Biblical, and by ripping roots of darkness out of our hearts. Not by giving you exterior doctrines that function like makeup that make you look like you know more, but allowing an infiltration and takeover of Truth that changes and affects the deep core of who you are.

Then afterward, for the sake of being specific and intentional…

Measurable Goals: (Think of how they relate to the "Mission")

These goals being more long term, gradually introduced, and primarily so to the most serious students of Jesus

1. Devoted to read at least 1 chapter of the Bible a day. (Self  God).
2. Spend at least 1 hour in prayer each day. (Self  God  Others)

   A. Why an "hour"? Act 3:1, Mt. 26:40-41 / Mk 14:27 & 37-38, Act 1:14, 6:4, 10:30

   (This is not a law, but a starting point based on Biblical ideas and attitudes)

   Some Biblical themes relating to this Are: going to "The House of Prayer" (in Jerusalem) for "The Hour of Prayer" & having "Songs of Assents" on the way.

   B. If you want to be a man or woman of GOD and "shake nations" then you’ll be

   self / God constrained to do more than the average church person is doing.

   C. Although there is no Biblical support for praying less than an hour/ day, it may be necessary to start off with at least 30 min/ day because of weakness.

   C. Do you want to be like Abraham, Moses, & John the Baptist…?

   Ex. …everyone else is going out to eat, but you will stay back and pray.

3. Devoted to the Body (Self  Others)

   A. By now your connected with God, so you want to connect others to Him

   (See Heb 10:24-25)

   ?B. Go to Church and get around the right people that specifically push you to Jesus

4. Not be under the law, doing the minimum of all these things.

   (Self  God, Goes back to the vision to have God’s favor)

5. Devoted to Holiness.

   A. Committed to not pursue romantic relationships until marriage.

   (See "No Dating Scriptures" Bible Study)

   B. Not to be entertained by anything bad, "No bad thing before my eyes"

   (See Psalms 101:2-5)

6. Witness to at least 1 person/ week