I preached twice this weekend. On Saturday I used the same basic message that I used in Palenque. On Sunday, I needed something new. So I decided to type it here and blog it, and will probably use this over and over. So here it is (basically).
I woke up this morning, asking God what he wanted you to hear. I believe these words were given to me by God. This is not something I can do because I am special, God wants to give all of us words. I asked God for words, and I sat down with my bible and prayed and listened and strained and wrote. So I believe this comes from God through me to you.
It is a privilege to be standing here again today. As I said yesterday, it is a miracle that I am standing here. It has been a long journey to this spot. My journey began in South America. I was born in Bolivia, almost 32 years ago. My parents were missionaries in Cochabamba for 2 years. We moved back to the United States before I turned one year old. Since then, I have had an interesting life. I have had some successes and many failures. God put a heart for adventure in me. We are supposed to have God’s heart beating in our chests. I believe I have been given a heart for adventure, because our God has a heart for adventure. God has given all of you a heart hungry for adventure also. I have always loved sports, travelling, and learning, but I never believed I would be a missionary. The truth is, God made me for this.
The truth is, when God made the earth and everything in it, he knew I would be standing here today. God planned what I would say at the same time he spoke the heavens into being! When Jesus walked on earth, he loved to talk about his kingdom. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”, he knew this kingdom would include Diriamba. Jesus knew, even as he spoke, that all of us would be here today, his kingdom people, his family, brothers and sisters, worshipping and praying together! How cool is that? This was all known from the beginning because our Lord knows all! He knows what you are thinking right now! He knows every thought you have ever had! Since the beginning of time, God has known the doubts and fears you are having right now. He knows your worries.
Jesus knew, when he created us that we would sin. He knew we would hate him. He knew we would spit on him. He knew we would reject him. He knew we would crucify him. Jesus knew that we, even as believers, as his people, we as christians would forget about him. Jesus knew we would lose our love for him. Jesus knew we would go astray. Jesus knew, even when he commanded us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength- that we would break this command. He knew we would not obey. When Jesus commanded us to love each other as we love ourselves, he knew we would not love each other. He knew we would even have trouble actually loving ourselves! Jesus knew this, and still he died for us! Jesus died for us because he loves us! This was his plan from the beginning of time, that he would be able to show us his love for us!
When Jesus walked on earth and taught his disciples, when he taught the multitudes, he knew they did not understand. He often spoke of his kingdom. He spoke of his leaving, and his returning, and the people did not understand. The gospel of Matthew alone speaks of the kingdom 50 times! The kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven. The people expected a military kingdom, a government on earth. Even when Jesus died, his own followers had no expectation of a resurrection. They did not get it! And then there he was, alive. He was around for 40 more days, and again speaking of the kingdom. On the day Jesus ascended to heaven his disciples asked if now was the time when he would establish his kingdom (Acts 1). In response to this question, Jesus promised a helper, power and authority, to be witnesses even to the ends of the earth. Then Jesus ascended to heaven, and two angels promised them he would return.
Now, almost 2000 years after Jesus ascended to heaven we are still following his command. I tell you the truth, this command was not to a select few, but to all his followers. Jesus did not ask us if we would like to do this, he commanded it. We are required to expand his kingdom. He did not say, now be good, try to be a nice person. He said expand my kingdom. Be witnesses to the ends of the earth!
Jesus is coming back. He promised. When Jesus came to earth the first time, he came humbly. As a servant. Jesus came as a teacher. He was despised. His own family did not understand him. Jesus talked about being ready when the bridegroom returned. What was he talking about? When Jesus returns, he is coming as a mighty conqueror. He is coming as a warrior. Jesus is coming as King. Jesus will destroy those who oppose him. All nations will be subdued. Jesus will rule the new earth from Jerusalem, every knee will bow. Nicaragua will bow to Jesus. Jesus will bring justice to the world. Jesus will judge those who oppressed the poor, the weak. Jesus will judge those who were corrupt, those who took advantage of widows. Jesus will also call us into account. What have we done to expand his kingdom? How have we spread his word? How have we shared his love? What have you done with the talents he has entrusted to you? Does your life bear fruit? Fruit that lasts for eternity?
Jesus will establish his throne on earth. In Matthew 19:28, Jesus says that “at the renewal of all things, when he son of man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me… will also sit on thrones… and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mothers or children or fields for my sake will recieve a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Jesus promises amazing rewards for those who follow him, amazing blessings on earth in this life, and for eternity.
Jesus also promises hardship. Jesus promises suffering. Jesus promises persecution. Jesus said that his word would bring a sword. Families would turn against each other because of him. But for all of this we will be rewarded. (Matt. 5:12)
So how does this apply to all of you? Yesterday we talked about the lies Satan uses to hold you back, today what is God’s words for Diriamba? How do you press forward? How do you take your street? What does God want for your barrio? Your city? What does God want for Nicaragua? What does God want for your family? What does God want for you?
How do you expand the kingdom of God here? How will you be assured to hear at the end of your time, “Well done good and faithful servant”? How will you claim Diriamba for our King?
Number 1. PRAY! Prayer is the foundation for any of this. Ask God for direction, learn to listen to his voice. Learn to say yes to God. Learn to say yes and take the next step he is directing you to. Jesus often went off to pray. Jesus heard his father’s voice. Jesus obeyed his father. Jesus knew what he had to do, in the Garden of Gethsemane he actually sweat blood because of where he was being led. At this same time Jesus seems upset that the disciples could not even pray for one hour! In John 8:28 Jesus says that he speaks what the father has taught him. Jesus said that with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. James says you do not have because you do not ask, and when you do ask, you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives!
Number 2. Become a disciple! Learn to walk in your identity. This means learn who God made you to be. Not who you want to be. Not who your parents want you to be. Not who your spouse or your children or your friends want you to be. This might even mean, not who your religion wants you to be! This means LEARN! I have been learning about God my whole life, and it seems like after 31 years I am learning more than ever. As I get older, I am learning how much I don’t know. Take every opportunity to learn from the teachers and leaders God has given you. When a cell group is held in your barrio, get there. There is nothing more important in your life than this. God has given us all limitted time on earth, don’t waste your teacher’s time.
Number 3. Be strong and courageous. Our Lord said this to Joshua (Josh.1:1-9), that no one would be able to stand against him all the days of his life. God will give you everywhere you set your feet! This comes with another command and another promise. Study God’s word day and night. Meditate on it. Memorize God’s word. Do what it says! How many of you dream of being a failure? None of you. We dream of success! God promises that you will be prosperous and successful if you study and obey his word. So be strong and courageous. This means you, it doesn’t matter your age, or if you are a man or woman. Young couples, single women look at our team! Parents, grandparents, raise your children with knowledge of the possibilities! Teach your children to be strong and courageous.
Number 4. You can not do this alone. You need to spend time with other believers everyday. Not just at church, on the weekends, but every single day. We are all one as Jesus bride, we are all parts of the same body, and we need to spend time together. You need to spend time with the other believers in the houses next to you, even if they go to a different church! As we walk through the barrios, it seems every house either believes in Jesus or is hungry for him, spend time praying and worshipping with your neighbors. Do this every day. The early church in Acts did this with great power! Start cell groups in your homes, all you need is faith. Do this for the sake of your children, for the sake of your grandchildren, that they will know what love and joy is! Make your own house a house of praise, people will see miracles because of this. Parents, teach your children. God has given you special authority in your childrens lives and has given you the responsibility to train them in the way they should go.
Teach each other. God wants to give you wisdom, God wants to give you revelations and visions, God has given you his word. Pray for wisdom and read it. Then share with each other what you have learned. Pray for a hunger for God’s word. Ask questions, study together. Pray together, God says where two or more gather in his name and agree he is there! Pray for your town! Jesus died to give you blessings. Jesus is waiting to bless you. The blessings are there, Jesus says just ask! Jesus is waiting to hear from you!
Understand that we have been pulled by God, from all over North America, and out of all the churches in the world, we have been directed to your church. This is not by chance, it is because God wants to bless you. God wants to see you grow and prosper. God wants to open heaven on Diriamba, God says now is the time. It is God’s timing, don’t reject this opportunity! Some of you sitting here are being called right now to a new life! Some of you are holding keys you don’t even know. Keys to your family, to your barrio, your city, your country. Some of you may be holding keys to the nations, maybe even somewhere in Southeast Asia! One of these children sitting here might be holding the keys to Nicaragua, you just have to believe and ask God!
Jesus says to store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and rust and thieves don’t destroy. Jesus says not to worry about your food, what you will eat. Not to worry about your drink, or your clothes, what you will wear. Jesus says to seek first his kingdom and all of these will be added to you! Jesus kingdom is people, you are Jesus kingdom. I have found in my life that as I have attempted to follow Jesus first, other blessings do follow. Blessings of every kind. Blessings on earth, and I also know that treasures are being stored for me in heaven, where nothing can destroy them. No sulfuric acid in the air from the volcano can rust out our houses in heaven! So be doers of the word and not hearers only!
If any of you are not ready for Jesus to return come up now. Let us pray with you, now is the time for a new life, for a new eternity. Come make a decision for a new future, for you and for your family. Come and tell God yes, this decision will effect the destiny for generations to come, your decision will change the destinies of all those around you!
God has given your leaders an incredible vision for Diriamba, the harvest is ripe, but the workers are few. Ask how you can help, there is too much work here for them to do alone. Ask how you can advance God’s kingdom.
In Revelation 3, John writes Jesus’s words to the church in Philadelphia. You are this church, Jesus is pleased with your faith, he sees it. You believe you have little strength, yet you are keeping his word, you have not denied his name, and because of this you have been given an open door. Jesus has opened a door for you that no one can close. Jesus has opened the door for you for wherever you set your feet! Jesus has opened the door for people from this church to go to the nations! All you have to do is say yes, and then step through the door. A yes today does not mean you leave tomorrow. A yes today sets in motion the events which will lead you to the destiny God has for youl
The rewards will last for eternity. Will you go? Will y ou say yes? Be strong and courageous. Men be the warrior God has called you to be. god has not called you to be passive, he has called you to be strong and courageous! To set captives free! Women God is calling you, children need your love everywhere. Children are dying every day with out love. If you desire this, come forward.
Jesus says he who has an ear let him hear. This message is not for someone else, it is for you!
Then I asked Glenn, Lynn, and Manuel to come forward. I have done this every time I have preached, because I believe these are the shephers of the flock, and we are here to encourage this relationship and this vision.
Glenn came forward and layed it to his people personally, I almost felt bad, he really sticks it to his people. He will not stand for mediocre faith in his people. After Glenn spoke, we had everyone in the church come forward, and everyone was praying for everyone for more of God. It was really cool.
