Pastor Jon Burgess
March 31, 2019 - W1913

All Authority

CoMission

Pastor Jon Burgess

March 30 & 31, 2019

[Video – Pastor Jon Burgess At the Oregon Coast]

Welcome, New Hope! I’m here 210 feet above sea level on the Oregon Coast, at the Heceta Lighthouse—all I can say is Wow! Our God is amazing at what He does! Being up here reminds me of the moment after Jesus conquered sin, death, and hell! Before ascending into heaven, Jesus brought His 11 disciples up to the Mount of Olives; and as they were looking out over the city of Jerusalem, He gave them the famous charge known as The Great Commission in:

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV, “¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

The word authority comes from the Greek word exousia, which has a couple of meanings: Permission and Influence. Basically, Jesus is saying I'm giving you permission for this mission: He tells His disciples that His Spirit is influencing them to be an influence on the world around them! Jesus also calls upon us to look out at the world around us; and to understand that He is with us, and has given us His authority and influence to move with Him. So, if we desire to change the lives of others around us in a positive way, we cannot stay where we are! We need a relationship with Jesus—He is the authority and influence we need. 

In other words, Jesus is saying to His disciples this is my planet—my earth! I give you authority and permission to go into the dark world and shine the light that is in you, to shine through you, much like this lighthouse:

Think about the purpose of the Heceta Lighthouse on the Oregon Trail: It was built in 1894, and sits hundreds of feet above sea level and is the brightest light on the Oregon coast! The lighthouse has continued to shine into the darkness for hundreds of years (through storms and rough waves) to keep ships from being rocked onto the shore! I love the fact that Jesus is saying to you and me “I am the light inside of you so you may be a lighthouse and light the world around you! I give you permission and authority to help those living in darkness to safety!” But what would happen if we’re too afraid, shy, or simply choose not to let our light shine in this dark world?

Jesus decides to take His disciples 20 miles outside of Galilee to Caesarea Philippi, to have a conversation with them and to ask some very important questions. These same questions will also help us focus our light and walk in our authority to the world around us: 

1. Who Do You Say Jesus Is? A New Foundation

Before you can walk in the authority that Jesus has for you, He must first lay a new unshakeable foundation of faith and belief that comes through a relationship with Him—this is key! So that no matter how anyone would crash against you like the waves and say you don't know what you're talking about, that Jesus is just a crutch, but because you know Him and have a personal relationship with Him, it won't shake your faith!

Matthew 16:13-15 NIV, “¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’  ¹⁴ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ¹⁵ ‘But what about you?’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’” 

Before you share the Good News to the world, it's important that you are able to first answer this question: 

•      WHO IS JESUS TO YOU (Who do you say is the Son of Man)? 

Everyone has an answer as to who Jesus is to him/her. Some just have a religion with Jesus, and not a relationship. God is giving us His authority to step into a relationship with Him; and to shine our lights into the darkness—that’s relationship with God! When we know who He is to us then we can finally find out who we are and what we are made of! 

[End Video]

2. Who Does Jesus Say You Are? A New Identity 

If we are insecure about our identity, we will try to prove ourselves and think that we're the center of the universe—when really it's the God of the universe who lives inside of us! Peter is saying,  “I'm taking this little rock, and putting it on the big rock.”  We're not the focus; He is!  We just get to be a part of what He is doing.  In fact, Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:5 NIV, “You also, like living stones (same word, little pebbles, little rocks, talking to the church) are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

It’s important that you and I understand that we are not the foundation stone—Jesus is! We often struggle with our identity because we place ourselves at the center of our world. But when we place God at the center, and choose to follow His light, then we can shine our light. He is the big rock; we are the little rock!

Matthew 16:16-18 NIV says, “¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ ¹⁷ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’”

There's another rock that couldn't overcome Jesus either—the empty tomb!  More proof that the prophecy about Jesus in that moment was absolutely real: A huge rock was put in front of the tomb but it could not hold him!  

You and I get to rejoice in the fact that we serve a living God; and we are living stones representing Him to the world around us, through Jesus Christ who conquered sin, death and hell on the cross! 

Easter will be here before you know it—then it will pass! So I invite you to join me on a Seven-Day Spiritual Journey to Resurrection Sunday, starting on Monday, April 1^st.

If you don’t have the app, text the number 7 to our church phone number (842-4242), and you will get the app. This app will give you seven days of journals from Pastor Wayne, centered on the Easter story and what Jesus taught us. We can then prepare our hearts on Resurrection weekend to get a revelation from the Holy Spirit on what it really means to serve a living God.  With this revelation, we will rejoice that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God!  

What are you facing? What seems larger than you right now? Whatever it is, you are serving a God that has already overcome it. Over the course of seven days, will you join me and, perhaps, fast of a meal or two, or fast from social media? You could spend the fasting time journaling and praying over the giant rocks you are facing; pray to overcome them; be reminded that Jesus has already overcome them! That leads to the final question:

3. What Does Jesus Tell Us To Do? A New Assignment

Jesus speaks to Peter in:

Matthew 16:19 NIV, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Can you believe that Jesus trusts the disciples with the keys of the kingdom of heaven? He knew that the disciples would mess up; yet, He gave them the keys, saying there's no one else to do this—I'm entrusting this with you!  

Jesus is saying that what’s true in heaven is true on earth, if we will walk in the authority that He has given us; that it does no good to have authority if you don’t use it! Jesus wants us to walk in that authority and not run from the gates of hell! Don’t play it safe; risk it all for God! 

Our new assignment is not about making ourselves look good or shining a light on ourselves! It is to shine our light to keep people from losing their lives on the rocks of sin. Jesus has given us the keys so that we can return to the lighthouse, unlock the door and, finally, turn on the light that’s been residing inside us the whole time! 

I encourage you to let boldness rise up from within! Pray and invite others to our Easter services. Use your light and the keys that God has given you. He has entrusted you with His authority, even though He knows you may make mistakes along the way! 

There is no Plan B (a fall back plan). We are it! So let’s be bold. Let us not run from the gates of hell; let us run right to them! Instead of keeping distance from those you hesitate about (people at work, school, neighbors, family) let’s start praying for them, asking God to give you a holy boldness, and look for an opportunity to walk right up to them and invite them to join you at one of the Resurrection services. Watch what God can do! 

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. Who is Jesus to you?
2.  Do you have a religion or a relationship with Jesus? Explain.
3.  What does Jesus want you to do?
4.  How can you take a situation you have kept distance from and use prayer to find an opportunity    to see what God can do?