FBCPS
Sermons, teachings, and podcasts from First Baptist Church in Powder Springs, Georgia.
FBCPS
Devoted to the Mission | Acts 5:42
Have you ever signed up for a gym membership with the best of intentions, only to watch your commitment slowly fade away? That's exactly how many of us approach our spiritual lives—starting with enthusiasm but letting distractions pull us away from what truly matters.
Drawing from the example of the early church in Acts 2, Pastor James challenges us to examine what we're truly devoted to. Are we giving our best time and energy to things that have eternal significance, or are we allowing ourselves to become distracted by the temporary?
The early believers were devoted to three essential elements: God's Word, biblical community, and God's mission. They didn't just attend services occasionally or read Scripture when convenient—they made these practices central to their daily lives. Yet today, studies show only 9% of people read their Bible daily, while 38% never open it at all.
Through powerful illustrations and biblical truth, this message exposes Satan's tactics of isolation and independence, contrasting them with God's design for multiplication and community. Whether you're curious about community, already connected but drifting, committed and growing, or ready to lead others, your next step is to engage more deeply with God's mission.
Don't wait for better conditions to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. If Corrie ten Boom could be devoted to God's word and community while in a Nazi concentration camp, what's stopping you from living on mission in freedom? The time to choose devotion over distraction is now.
Will you make the decision today to follow God's mission, or will you continue to let distractions pull you away from the life He's designed for you?
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Amen. So years ago probably when I was maybe 19 or 20, I had this. I knew that I wanted to change. I knew that I needed to change and I needed to change now. And so I knew that I was kind of eating a lot of cookies, eating a lot of cake, and I was like I need to get more fit, lot of cake. And I was like I need to get more fit. And so I had, you know, the genius idea that I'm going to join a gym. I'm going to change my life.
Speaker 1:So I go to the gym. This was when I was in Charlotte, north Carolina. So I go to the gym and these guys were at the front desk and they're like, well, hello, sir. And I'm like, oh well, thank you very much. And so they talked to me and they're thinking about what I'm like, oh well, thank you very much. And so they talk to me and they're thinking about what I'm interested in and all those things. And so I walk in interested. Then I walk out, having signed a 12-month contract to the gym, and so I was devoted.
Speaker 1:I was devoted to the gym. I was devoted to waking up early, getting the protein shake in, getting to the gym, getting it in. Going back home the next day, day after day after day devotion Somebody say devotion, I was devoted, yeah. And then one day, you know, I woke up and I was like ugh, I really don't wanna go. So I took a day off, all right, I took a day off to the gym, so what? But then I took the next day off, I took the month off, and I was like you know what? I need to cancel. I am not. I don't wanna do this anymore. So I go there to the gym and I'm like hey. And they're like hey, mr Wilson. I'm like hi, I would like to cancel this membership because I just want to cancel. You know, they don't need to know, don't be nosy. I need to cancel. And they're like all right, sounds good, mr Wilson, all you need to do is write a handwritten letter on why you want to quit the gym and then mail it to our headquarters. I'm like wait, what, what'd you say? Like you couldn't do that on the computer, couldn't click a couple buttons. So there I was writing a very embarrassing letter going. I'm so sorry I have to quit the gym. I like cookies too much. However, I was able to get out of that contract. But boy oh boy, did I start devoted and then just kind of fizzled.
Speaker 1:So this morning I asked you the question what are you devoted to? Are you devoted to your job? Maybe you've been working there for quite some time, or maybe you are currently looking for a job. Wherever you are, you are devoted to that job. Or maybe kids, teenagers you're devoted to Netflix. Maybe you're devoted to YouTube You're on there all the time. Maybe you're devoted to sports and hobbies, or, for some of you, maybe one person. Maybe you're devoted to social media. Maybe you check Facebook a couple times. Or maybe you're devoted to family. Maybe you're devoted to being here, coming to church, maybe you're devoted to your Bible, maybe you're devoted to God, and some of you probably maybe are going like, well, I really don't know. I haven't thought about it. You just kind of go day to day. But the thing I'd like for you to think about this question here is whatever you said, is it most worthy? Does it have an eternal impact? Because, does your time reflect your answer? Does your time reflect your answer? Does your time reflect your answer? Think about how you've spent last week and the time pockets that you have, of being busy and all of the things, but does your time reflect the devotions that you said that you have?
Speaker 1:We are in a series right now, called Made for More. We're talking about the mission of Jesus. Today we're looking at the early church and just before where we start, there were around 3,000 people who gave their life to Jesus, and now we're gonna focus in on what did it look like, what life did they live and how you can apply it to yours. But before we do that, we need to talk about devotion. Let's get that on the screen.
Speaker 1:Devotion what is the definition? A love, loyalty or enthusiasm for a person, activity or cause. Devotion You're devoted. Everybody say devoted. Hmm, they were devoted to following God's mission. For them, these 3,000 plus people who gave their life to the Lord.
Speaker 1:Acts, chapter five, verse 42, says this and every day in the temple, from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that Christ is Jesus. Now, it doesn't say every once in a while, when they felt like it, when it was convenient, but it says every day. Aw Tozer, he says it this way devotion to God is not just a part of life, it's the heart of life. Devoting your life to the Lord should be one of the most important things. Because, again, if everything else is not worthy that has an eternal perspective, that doesn't have that, then how much more worthy is it to live for God?
Speaker 1:So the question I ask you is are you distracted? Excuse me, are you devoted or distracted? Are you devoted or distracted? I don't know about you. I hate commercials. Okay, I even buy the subscription without the commercials and then they still somehow squeeze a commercial in there. Commercials everywhere, ads everywhere. Everyone is pulling at your time, everyone is pulling at your attention. Are you devoted or distracted?
Speaker 1:Because the big idea is this the whole sermon is said in this one sentence God is calling you to live on mission now. God's not calling you to live on mission next week. He's not calling you to live on mission when you feel like it. He's not calling you to think about it. He's calling you to live on mission when. Now. Live on mission when. Now. Live on mission now. Because here's the thing. All right, just hear me. Now you don't really have your own mission anyway. All right, now I'm preaching it Like I've already went through this this week. Okay, this is already gonna work on me. Okay, I've already got my uppercuts from the Lord, and so I wanna share this.
Speaker 1:But you don't make up your own mission and I say this as a perfectionist, okay, somebody that likes to be in control, because the truth is, jesus gave you one. Your mission is the Great Commission, which is this, as Jesus said in Matthew go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you, always, to the end of age. Now, why does this matter? Some of you already know this. You're like yes, pastor James, I already know this. I know I'm supposed to live on mission, share the gospel and all that other stuff. I know some of you are probably going like okay, when's lunchtime, I'm about to go eat.
Speaker 1:But why is this important? Why, well, the truth is, if you don't get this, then you are going to live unfulfilled and isolated. Then you are going to live unfulfilled and isolated. You're gonna be living your own mission, which is okay, but it's not the mission that God has for you, for you to receive his blessings and for you to bless other people. You're gonna be isolated because you wanna do things on your own. You say I got this, I'm busy and I'll get to it later. Ooh, man, that sounds like somebody else should do that. But what you can do is do what God has called you to do. And before we get started, we're gonna pray and ask God to do a work in our lives through his word. Let's pray, father, god, we thank you for the Bible. God, I ask right now, lord, that you help each and every one of us, god. Let our hearts be receptive to what you have for us. God, Help us to have a transformation, life change, because of you. God, we love you and we thank you In Jesus' name. We pray amen. So the bottom line is this Make a decision to follow God's mission. Make a decision to follow God's mission. Make a decision.
Speaker 1:It's like if you are married in here, or maybe you're dating and you ask each other. You're sitting there and you're like, oh, yeah, where do you wanna eat? Oh, I don't know. Where do you wanna eat? Oh, I don't know. And then it's like, hey, oh, I don't know, but you know what, anywhere's fine. So then you're like, oh, okay, well, what about this place? No, no, no, I don't wanna eat there? No, okay, are you sure? Well, yeah, yeah. Well, what about this place? Yeah, no, no, no, I don't wanna do that again, no. Or if you're trying to watch a show on Netflix, you're just sitting there just browsing through for about an hour, you finally pick a show and then you fall asleep, make a decision To do what To follow God's mission.
Speaker 1:So the first thing to follow God's mission is this devote yourself to the word, to God's word and verse 42, and they again talking about the 3,000 plus people who gave their life to the Lord and they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. They devoted themselves. Devoted here means to persist toward it's this continue steadfastly in. It's this gradual, day-by-day engagement into the teaching of God's word. They were listening to the apostles' teaching. Now listening in marriage counseling. It's called active listening. Active listening is where you are actually engaging. You are putting energy in to what the person is saying. It's not as I'm preaching and teaching right now. You're looking around going, golly boy, it's about 12 o'clock, buddy. But you are engaging. Listen. They didn't hear just for hearsake. They were listening to God's word and letting it change their lives from the inside out. It's to listen and engage with God's word so that you do. The Bible says don't just be hearers of the word, but also be doers. Here's the truth is they had a desire to hear the teaching of God's word. They had a hunger, they had a thirst. It was a discipline to hear the teaching of God's word. They had a hunger, they had a thirst. It was a discipline to hear the teaching. But here's the deal you can hear the teaching but also, if you don't open your Bible and you don't know what it says, then you could just fall prey to anything.
Speaker 1:I was at a prayer meeting one time in Mississippi and this lady was. She wasn't preaching, I'm sorry. She was praying and we're all like Lord, amen, we're all praying, hey, jesus. And she started praying and we're listening like amen, amen, yes. And then she's like and, lord, you know, we're like mm-hmm. Lord, you know that when you tell us to decrease so that you can increase, we're like yeah, yeah, lord, yeah, yeah, yeah, less of me, more of you, god. And she's like but we want to increase, lord, we want more of us. And my eyes opened you know you usually close your eyes during prayer and I'm looking over like what? Like anybody, nobody, hello, that's not what the word says, because I know if I want more of me, I'm a mess. Y'all pray for Allison. My wife, like I'm a hot mess, express my breath stink when I wake up. I don't want more of me, I need more of Jesus. But the thing is, if you don't open that word, then you have to know what God's word says.
Speaker 1:The early church they didn't have all the resources that we have today. You can get the whole Bible on your phone. You can get all sorts of different type of commentaries. You can get tons of different types of variations of it, the message, the international reader's version, the NIV, all these sorts of different type of commentaries. You can get tons of different types of variations of it. The message, the international reader's version, the NIV, all these. But here they were. Hungry with less, hungry with less. Now, don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with these chairs and air conditioning. Praise the Lord.
Speaker 1:But when you say you're so busy that you can't open the word of God or you're so busy that you can't come to church, you gotta check what you're devoted to, because God's word says this all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. The further you are from God's word, the closer you are to sin. And I wanna share a study before we put the. Don't put up the graphic just yet. This is from. This is called. The study is called State of the Bible. All right, state of the Bible.
Speaker 1:It's by the American Bible Society, and what they did is they surveyed 2,600 people 2,600 people and they asked them one question how often do you use the Bible? How often do you use the Bible? How often do you use the Bible? Now, we can put that up there, please. This is what the study said. 9% of the people said that they use their Bible every day. 9% About 6% said once a week. I use my Bible, you know, once a week. They're probably including Sunday. 21% said at least twice a year or less, and then 38% said never. Never use my Bible.
Speaker 1:Now I'll tell you when I was younger, I used to view my Bible as homework. Now, kids or teens I don't know if you love homework, but me bleh but I would walk by my Bible, like my Bible would be sitting there and I would kind of like walk by it. I'm like man, somebody should read that. It's like whenever you're home. Okay, I'm not the only one, but you have like dishes in the sink right, or maybe the trash is full and you're like man, somebody should take that trash out. I'm just being real. That's how I viewed reading the Bible when I was younger, and then God changed me from the inside out to recognize that it's not this homework thing.
Speaker 1:It's a blessing. It's a blessing to have God's word. I can be a better husband. I can be a godly father. I can be a better Christ follower. I can be a better husband. I can be a godly father. I can be a better Christ follower. I can be a better leader, a servant, a disciple, a friend. All of these things I can learn about, not just these stories, but these true events that have happened. I can learn about that. I can learn about a God who loves me, and you can too, by reading God's word, devoting yourself to the teaching of God's word.
Speaker 1:So the first thing is this the first step for you is to take your next step in God's word. Take your next step in God's word Now. Again, that could either be to open your Bible daily. Maybe you increase the frequency that you read your Bible and listen. You don't need candles and like oh, and start trying to like read the whole thing in Greek and Hebrew and all this other stuff. That's not what we're saying. Just read. Start with the Gospel of John. It's a great, easy book to understand. Start there, or on the other side of it. Maybe you need to just make church more of a priority, don't make it so optional.
Speaker 1:In 2023, gallup did a study asking people how often do you attend church? 21% of the Americans attend weekly, 11% attend once a month and 26% attend seldom. Like, yeah, we just kind of every couple months, but not you, not anymore, because you are gonna live on mission, when Now, the second thing they were devoted to and what you need to be devoted to is devote yourself to biblical community Acts, chapter two, verse 42 through 46, says this and they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship and the breaking of bread and the prayers, and all came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles and all who believed were say it with me together and had all things in common, and they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need and, day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes. They received their food with glad and generous hearts. What a beautiful picture of biblical community. The truth is, you were not made to do life alone, but you were made for community. You were made for community. I just want to make sure you know that there are some people that whenever you are alone, you're like man. I could do this forever. I don't need anybody stay away from me, but god is calling you to biblical community. This is a beautiful picture of this togetherness of God's word and believers together. God's word and believers it's this awesome couple, this marriage between two incredibly important things. It's kind of like a lock and a key God's word and God's believers is kind of like peanut butter and jelly For the kids. It's kind of like peanut butter and jelly For the kids. It's kind of like Batman and Robin. You need them both together. They attended the temple together. They shared resources together. Haven't you figured out how many times I've said the word together? It's a lot. Why? Because they were together Verse 46 again and day by day, attending the temple together and breaking the bread in their homes. They received their food with glad and generous hearts. Attending the temple together. Does that say in one time a year, once a month? No, in day by day. Because the truth is, god designed you to grow with others.
Speaker 1:Now listen, I'm not saying that if you are not in church, shame on you. You should miss your 10 year anniversary to be here. Bad, miss Sunday, bad. That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is you know in your own heart where your devotion is, that's between you and God, and you have an opportunity to live on mission, to be devoted to God's word and devoted to biblical community. Now there are speaking of community there in Acts in the early church. They were together in the temple. They were also together in their homes and for us, kind of in our context, we can still be together in homes, but we also have groups. We have groups here at the church. Everybody say groups, groups. That's right. We got tons of groups. We got groups for kids, we got groups for students, we got groups for young adults, we got groups for adults, we got groups for senior adults, we got groups on.
Speaker 1:However, there are four stages of groups that are extremely important for us to talk about. And number one, the first stage of group, is called the curious. The curious. You're not in a group but you're exploring. You know you're coming to church and maybe you're hungry for connection, but you just haven't stepped into community yet. You've been thinking about it. You're like man, I am tired of living life alone. I think I should join a group. Now, I don't know about you, but I've been a part of groups and I'm in a group and I have never regretted a group praying for me. I've never regretted the people of God caring for me. That happens in the context of a group.
Speaker 1:The second stage is the connected. So the first one was the curious, the next one is the connected. You are. First one was the curious, the next one is the connected. You are in a group but you've been drifting, you're coasting, you've been there for a while. You know the drill, you know how it's gonna go, you know all right, hey, everybody, good to see y'all. I was good, I was good, good, okay, I see you, john. You just kinda sit down. You're like do, do, do, do, do, okay, amen, all right, all right, see y'all. Man, that was a good group. What are we talking about? I don't know. So you're connected, like you're there, but like you could, if you could just.
Speaker 1:The next stage is the committed. Everybody say committed. The next stage is the committed. Everybody say committed. Wow, okay, let's be committed and saying committed, there we go. Listen, you're in a group and you are growing. You are plugged in. Look at that. God's doing something in you. You can sense it. You've learned just about all that you can learn. There's something that's right on the cusp of you going. I think I should do something about this and that's the next step. The next stage is the commissioned. It's the leadership call. It's the leadership call. It's for you to lead. You've grown. Now, listen, you don't need a PhD to lead a group. You don't need to know Greek and Hebrew to lead a group.
Speaker 1:I've led a fifth grade group. I've led groups for fifth graders at a church, to where I would pour into them and all that other stuff. After school. I've led groups for fifth graders at a church, to where I would pour into them and all that other stuff. After school, I've led a video game group, a group of just guys who love video games. I do a devotion. We would talk and do video games. I've led a group with guys where we would just meet at a coffee shop on a Saturday morning.
Speaker 1:It doesn't need to be this big like ooh, but some of you in here, you have been sensing God telling you to move, week after week after week, that you are too gifted to sit on your hands. And maybe you're in here and you're already leading a group. You're like Pastor James, I lead a group. Great, teach somebody else how to Teach somebody else how to lead the group, because, remember, it's all about living on mission. So, wherever you are in this stage, my prayer for you is to know your devotion to biblical community and to ask God to let you go into that next step.
Speaker 1:Corrie Ten Boom says it this way delayed obedience is disobedience. Now, I didn't like that. When I read that, I said, now, hold on, who's she talking to? But it's true, you either do it or you don't. You're either in or you're out. On your wedding day you don't go. Well, I don't know, I'm not sure. Well, I now pronounce you man and wife. That's not how it happens, it's a yes or it's a no.
Speaker 1:But what an opportunity you have, because it's this the step is to get devoted to biblical community. Get Either join a group, re-engage if you are drifting, or start one, use the gifts that God has given you. It could be a running group, it could be a fishing group, it could be a specific study on the book of the Bible, it could be a marriage group, a parenting group, group, group group, it doesn't really matter, as long as you do what God is calling you to do. Don't wait until next year, because God is calling you to live on mission now. Live on mission now, and the last thing here is to devote yourself to God's mission. Verse 47, praising God and having favor with all people. And the Lord added to their number and, day by day, those who were being saved, it grew, the Lord added to their numbers. You know how, by them saying something, them sharing the gospel, them telling other people. As Pastor Chip has said, you could be extremely excited about a movie and share about a movie, which is great. You can be extremely excited about food and share about the restaurant, which is awesome, but at the same time, you have an opportunity to share the gospel.
Speaker 1:Now I'm gonna put this quote up, and I didn't like this one. Okay, I had to wrestle with this quote before I put it on there because it made me feel some type of way. But this is what Charles Spurgeon says Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter. Which one are you? And it's not for me to say this is an opportunity. Again, this isn't a oh man, oh no, no, listen, listen, listen. Satan will easily start to make you feel guilty, satan will easily start to make you feel shame, to make you feel bad, and all these things, but God is calling you to move Now.
Speaker 1:I'm so thankful that I was literally skateboarding in a parking lot running away from my life and, as I've shared my testimony before, but I was in a parking lot running away from my life and as I've shared my testimony before, but I was in the parking lot at a church. A guy came out of the van with some kids with skateboards. He was a youth pastor and he was like hey, what are you doing Sunday? Oh no, you wanna come to church, okay. And then, as we were walking, he shared the gospel with me. I am a Christian. Praise God.
Speaker 1:I heard the gospel because a person made a decision to follow God's mission. You never know who you can share the gospel to and that God can use them for thousands. You never know and it's not your place to know it's your place to plant the seed and let God do the rest, because Satan's mission is isolation. But God's mission is multiplication. Satan wants to get you distracted, pull you away with busyness and get you to go from I'm devoted to. Well, you know we'll get all right. Well, it's raining outside. Eh, let's not go to church. Oh, man, I've had a long day. Oh gosh, I'll read the Bible tomorrow. But God's mission is multiplication. Remember, the Lord added to their number and people were being saved.
Speaker 1:Now I want to share some of these objections to living on mission, because even now, some of you are like, yeah, man, okay James, okay, pastor James, I'm going to live on mission, I'm going to read my Bible. Or maybe, like, I'm going to be devoted, I'm going to start a group, I'm going to join a group, I'm gonna be devoted, I'm gonna start a group, I'm gonna join a group, I'm gonna share. And then, like, reality starts hitting and you're like, oh, wait a minute, this is a lot. So I wanna share Satan's mission versus God's truth.
Speaker 1:Satan's mission number one is isolation, isolation. And this is what Satan says to you. He wants you to hear. This is that I don't have time. I don't have time, I'm busy. But God's truth is this but seek first the kingdom, seek first the kingdom. The more time you spend with God, he will give you a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Speaker 1:Here's another one of Satan's mission of insecurity it's I'm not enough. I'm not enough. You don't know what I've done, you don't know what I've been through. You don't know that I'm struggling. I'm sick, we're not financially stable, we're on the brink of divorce, I'm a terrible parent, like all of these things. To make you say I'm not enough is exactly what the enemy wants. But God's truth is this you are the body of Christ. When Satan starts to tell you your story on all the mistakes you made, you refute that and you tell him about his story on the future. You tell him about how good God is.
Speaker 1:And then the last part of Satan's mission is this independence is. I can do it alone. I don't need anybody. I've tried, pastor James. I've tried to reach out and people have let me down. Some of my family have let me down. Some of my kids have let me down. Some of my closest friends have let me down. I have tried to be in community and I'm sick and tired of it. But I wanna tell you God's truth Don't neglect meeting together and that's not my opinion, that's what God says, because we have all fallen short of the glory of God.
Speaker 1:So get devoted to God's mission. Whether your next step is to invite somebody in your group or to start a group, or maybe it's to just share your story to a coworker, just share your story, open your mouth and share, because, remember, the lord added to their numbers. They were sharing the gospel. Be devoted to god's mission because, whatever you do, don't wait, don't wait, don't wait.
Speaker 1:Our application for today and, as we talked about in the beginning, with them being devoted to the apostles' teaching, these applications aren't just for you to be like, oh well, that's super cute man, I could do that. No, these applications aren't for you to go like, wow, somebody should do that, somebody should start that group. But these applications the apostles' teaching it was for them to hear it, to engage with it and to do, and so I pray that God does a work in your life to where you don't just write these down, but you have life change. Number one of the application is get devoted to God's word. Whether that's your own personal study time, maybe you were hot on fire with your devotion and it just just life happened. Or maybe you were coming to church and you're like man, this is great, and then you just got busy. Get devoted to God's word. Number two get devoted to biblical community.
Speaker 1:Don't just attend, belong, join a group. Don't settle for isolation. It's not worth it. It may be enticing to come in, kind of do what you need to do and get out. It may be nice to just kind of go and coast, but that's not the church. We should bear one another's burdens, love one another, serve one another, devote yourself to biblical community.
Speaker 1:And then, number three get devoted to God's mission. Share the gospel and you know what? Just start with one person. Start with one. And for you who are in here, who are Christian, think about the person that shared it to you. Somebody shared it to you. Start with one. Ask God to help you. Why does this matter? Because if you don't do this, you will be distracted, but if you do this, you'll be devoted, because living off mission is actually disobeying God. You're not in his word, you're isolated and you're not sharing the gospel. But not you, not anymore, because you are called to live on mission.
Speaker 1:Now, corrie ten Boom. I'm gonna share a story about her. Can we put the picture up please? Corrie ten Boom and her sister. They were thrown into a Nazi concentration camp for hiding Jews. Actually, the barracks were so overcrowded and infested with fleas that Corrie hated them. But her sister, betsy, she actually told Corrie she's like thank God for the fleas, and Corrie's like what, thank God for the fleas? Why would we thank God for fleas? It wasn't until they realized that the guards of the Nazi concentration camp, of the prison the guards would not enter the room because of the fleas. And because they didn't enter the room, these women were able to gather pray. They even smuggled in a Bible to read. The fleas that they hated were actually the reason that they could live on mission.
Speaker 1:So what situation in your life are you thinking that's the worst that God can use? Because here's the truth If Corrie could be devoted to the word, if she could be devoted to community in the darkest place, if she could live on mission in prison. The question what's stopping you from living on mission in prison? The question what's stopping you from living on mission in freedom? Don't wait for better conditions, don't wait to feel ready, because God is calling you to live on mission.
Speaker 1:Now, everyone, please close your eyes and bow your heads. And maybe you are in here and maybe you have already given your life to the Lord and you are a Christ follower. But you are recognizing that you once had a hot passion for the word, a passion to come to church, a passion to share, and just slowly it's just fizzled. You were devoted and now you're distracted. Well, if that's you, I wanna pray for you right now. I wanna pray for every Christ follower that has been devoted, but now they're distracted.
Speaker 1:Father God, we thank you, lord, for your mission. God, I ask, lord, that you help us. God, give us a fresh wind. God, give us a vision, Lord, that we can trust and follow you. God, help us to push all distractions aside that aren't eternal and aren't worthy of our time here. God, our precious time here on earth, lord. God forgive us for making time with you optional. Father God, we ask that you help us to be devoted to you, devoted to your word, devoted to each other and devoted to reaching people.
Speaker 1:And maybe you're in here today and you can't say that prayer because you haven't given your life to the Lord. Maybe you have tried things over and over and over. Now is the time to surrender, and I just want to let you know that you have a tremendous opportunity to give your life to the Lord. The Bible says confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved. So if you're here this morning and you haven't given your life to the Lord, I can't do it for you. But but I can guide you, I can help you, and all you need to do is say this prayer with me and believe it in your heart, and I would just ask you, just repeat after me. You can say it out loud or you can say it in your head, but let's pray to Lord.
Speaker 1:You just say Jesus, I believe in you. Thank you for dying for my sins. Forgive me of my sins, jesus, I believe you rose from the dead. Jesus, be the Lord of my life. Help me live for you. Help me to live on mission and help me not to live distracted but to live devoted. So in Jesus' name, we pray amen. All right, everybody, put your hands together for anybody that gave their life to the Lord. God is so good. Our worship team is going to come back out and we're going to continue to worship, but it's all about living on mission, and what an opportunity to just worship God today, as you don't wait until next week, you don't wait until next month, next year, but you live on mission now. So, everybody, come on and stand up. Come on and stand up and we are gonna worship the Lord together.