2010 and the Biblical Mandate

By

David OakleyAmbassadors in Sport

Gen 12 v 1-3The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your

people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Mission was in God’s heart from the beginning - Know the Lord deeply and trust Him like Abram did.

There is nothing exceptional about Abram except he took a chance on God to be a blessing and take up the challenge of Mission Impossible…

How can we carry out “Mission Impossible” and be a blessing?

- Follow Biblical Principles.

Be effective in your mission to be a blessing by following the principles

of

Creativity (Genesis 1:24-28 ) Stewardship (Exodus 35:4-35) Influence (Daniel 1:1-21)

Genesis 1 Context? Origins and Relationships =>

Refuting of Wrong Ideas Day 6 Creative activity –

Insights on possibilities for human beings

Reflect the Creator by being Creative in 2010 and beyond.

Plurality v24+5

Plurality v24+5

Purpose v28

PinnacleV26+27

Nature shows God’s diverse work

Diversity of God’s blessing:His Names and Names of JesusHis revelations to different peopleJesus’ healing ministryImaginative variety is GOOD

Creation was very good with humans

Image of God implications?Characteristics of GodRepresentative of GodValuable to GodPLUS rational, spiritual, authority,

social and creative.

Stewards of the Earth to:Fill the Earth – Increasing

InfluenceSubdue it - Maintain orderRule over – Delegated authorityPROBLEM – Lost Control to SatanKingdom battle to recover Mandate

What makes you feel alive? When do you feel God’s pleasure in your life? What are the 3 best times of your life? What do these things show about you?

Write a one-sentence description of yourself as a result of the answers to the above questionsThis is the way God made you – Inner constraint that will drive you

Exodus 35 Context? Journey into being God’s people

=> Learning about worship Tabernacle creation work – Spiritual yet required the

physical. Use talents to create something

beautiful.

Sacrificiallyv4-9

Willingly giving in beauty & variety

Skilfullyv10-29

Using God given talents & abilities

Speciallyv30-35

Application in teaching & training

v. 4 Whole community involvement

v. 5 Willing cooperationvv. 6-9 Wide contribution

Use or bury what you have been given?

Particular People for Particular Jobsv. 10 Skilled use of the resources vv. 25-26 Skills released.

Colossians 3:23 – Work as unto God.See the significance of what God has

given you and offer it back to Him.

Specialists set apart (v. 30) to:v. 32 Deliver on the jobvv. 34 Develop othersAND v. 31 Spirit DrivenNew Testament Specialists? – PaulToday’s Specialists? – to do & to

teach

vv 1-2Be holy and pleasing to God as part of spiritual

worship

vv3-9Use gifts and talents as a

living sacrifice

vv10-21Responding to others in

contemporary culture

Blessing of Influence – not a role in church but vital ministry.

Invisible power over people’s minds & actionsInvisible power over people’s minds & actions

circumstances

education, provision & fitting in

Stand to be distinctive in a helpful way

Excellence, learning & use of skills

v.1 Accept Circumstancesv. 2 Accept Reality of Situation.

Daniel is in his late teens had everything that was familiar was stripped away …

Yet he didn’t survive, He thrived!

vv. 3-4 Adapt to pagan culturev. 4 Adapt to pagan educationv. 5 Adapt to foreign foodvv. 6-7 Adapt to new name &

identityFor 3 out of 4 of the above, Daniel

accommodated what was on offer.

v. 8 Dan rejected the food – why?vv. 9-10 Favour and understanding.vv. 11-14 Grace filled response.vv.15-16 God honours the stance.

Stand for something or you will fall for everything.

v. 17 Natural and spiritual gifts.vv.18-20 Opening because excellent.v. 21 Pillar of government for

decades under 4 different rulers.Anchor of Salt and Light influence.

Dare to be a Daniel in your participation in 2010!

a)Results of mission v 1&2 Growth and fruit

b)Rights of ministers v 3-12a Sowing spiritual

seed

c)Renouncement in mission v 12b-18 Integrity and denial

d)Replication in mission v 19-23 Culturally sensitive

i. New Ministryii. Foolish Ministry

1 Corinthians 1 v 27&28Message considered foolish v 18-21Means can be a stumbling block v 22-25Method of using the foolish v 26-31

Church growth through ministry will require unity in: