Authorized

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:16-20 (day five)

The interesting thing about God’s sovereignty is that we often attribute His work to happenstance, when all along He planned things to unfold that way. When I was evangelizing alongside Mike Gahan years ago, we called coincidences “God-cidences” and said that God was simply choosing to stay anonymous. I would add that He only stays anonymous if we fail to speak up and give Him glory.

I think God waits for us to acknowledge Him in situations we assume were under our control or merely happened by “chance.” Even the “God-cidence” of being asked to write this blog post this week, and how the leadership “chose” this curriculum, is not without God’s hand upon it. Especially after “I chose” this past Sunday to be Missions Sunday! Do you see?

Can you trust God’s sovereignty and see Him at work everywhere and all the time? Or do you still claim authority and control over your day-to-day life?

Jesus the Messiah has ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth (Matt 28:18). You do not. You can pretend to be the king of your universe and make decisions, but God directs your steps. You can sin, disobey His commands, and refuse to bow the knee to His rule and reign, but He is still King. There is no one who can challenge His authority, and there is no other name under heaven by which mankind must be saved (Acts 4:12).

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands” (Jn. 3:35). “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9–11).

Missionary work is about going in this Christ-given authority to make disciples of people and cultures that deny the authority of King Jesus. We begin by proclaiming the truth of who He is and their need to surrender to Him. This is why we are called ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). People must be reconciled to God and made into new creations who are spiritually able to bow the knee in worship to the King as adopted sons and daughters. Eventually everyone will be forced to. A missionary seeks to make worshippers of God’s enemies and see them born again before the Judgment. There’s an urgency to the mission of God.

How do you live your life? How do you make your decisions? I say “your,” but I hope you realize that your life is not your own. “You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies” (1 Cor. 6:19–20). Go through the Great Commission and ask yourself: “Would I say Yes to all that Jesus commanded?”

Live this new life God has given you on your knees before Him. Obey the command to go and make disciples. Do not make excuses. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. God wants your whole heart. In fact, He demands it.

HE IS KING.

Will you live like it?

Go

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:16-20 (day four)

Jesus’ command to “go” is a universal calling for all Christians. This calling to go and make disciples among the nations is not just for missionaries, it’s not just for pastors, it’s not just for those with the finances to join a missions trip. The calling to go is for everyone. Whether you’re a new believer or a seasoned Christian, young or old, introvert or extrovert, bat left handed or right handed – you are called to go.

The question becomes, where should you go? For some, it will be the other side of the world. For others, it will be on the other side of their city. And for many, it will be the other side of their street. Our faithfulness to this calling to “go” is not measured in the distance we travel but in our willingness to preach the gospel and make disciples wherever the Lord sends us. Spend time in prayer this week asking the Lord where he is sending you. Do so with an open heart and mind to whatever he may say. Through the power of the Spirit, he has equipped you to fulfill this calling no matter where it leads.

Chain Reaction

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:16-20  (day three)

19 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, 

It is an incredible and awe-inspiring thing to look back through Church history and see how God spread the Gospel to all nations. I am so grateful for the obedience of all the men and women who have gone before me that spread the Gospel and took to heart what Jesus commanded to make more disciples. We are part of a chain reaction to this moment in history when Jesus said, “Go.” There had been moments before this where the number of Jesus’ followers had grown, but this is really where Jesus opens the gates wide and tells the disciples to begin. From there, generations of believers were told of His goodness and salvation and then learned of Jesus’ command to spread it. And here we are, some two thousand years later, as another generation of believers continuing to follow this command. It’s amazing!

This past Sunday, we celebrated all that the Lord has done through the missions groups during this past year. During our evening celebration, we heard another generation of believers (our first through fifth grade RAs and GAs) proclaiming the Good News and taking to heart the command that Jesus gave to us. We also heard of accounts from all over the world where more disciples were made this year. It was all still part of that chain reaction of the first disciples making more disciples. I hope you were there with us and that you were encouraged to “Go!” It was an incredible Sunday. Now it’s our turn. Who are you telling? Where are you going? Are you sharing the Gospel and following Jesus’ command for us to “Go”?

Some Will Doubt

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:16-20 (day two)

When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. v.17

As you go, some will doubt. This verse gives me a great amount of comfort. How could the disciples possibly doubt Jesus at this point? What more could they possibly need to see, hear, witness, experience to acknowledge they had been in the presence of the Son of God? If Jesus’ closest companions had doubts, it shouldn’t surprise or hurt you when others don’t believe what you are telling them. So what do you do with that? First, recognize it is not your job to make anyone believe. Your job is to love the Lord your God with everything you have, and to love others. In so doing, you will share with them the testimony of how Jesus has saved your life. This is the gospel lived out. The responsibility for whether or not they receive that testimony will never rest on your shoulders. As you go, give a clear witness; and if some doubt, keep going.

Monday Re:Vlog – 6/1/26

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:16-20 (day one)

Join us as Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and  Minister Megan Langan walk us through Matthew 28:16-20 in our New Re:Verse Series: “Deepening Disciples: Formation Through Relationships.”

To watch the Re:Vlog video, Click Here!

Graduation

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day seven)

As we wrap up this series in Psalms today, we also wrap up another year in school bringing us to Senior Sunday. Pray Psalm 93:5 over these students with me today:

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O Lord, forevermore. Psalm 93:5

In a world that feels like rising floodwaters, we may not  control the waves nor the storm that surrounds us, but we can cling to a Word that will not move. The Word of God is our anchor. We stand on His testimony knowing His promises always come true.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Holiness is found in the House of the Lord. God has chosen us to be a part of His Household in heaven and on this earth. Holiness is made easier when we begin to see heaven here on earth, and that starts with His Church.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 NLT

God is reigning on His Throne now and forever! The quicker we recognize this, the quicker we are to get our priorities in order. With Him on the Throne, we can trust His plan and His will over our ways completely.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

 

 

God’s Reign

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day six)

Tomorrow is Missions Sunday.  We will celebrate and exalt the God who reigns over every nation, every people, and every language. Psalm 93 reminds us that the Lord is King, not merely over Israel, but over all creation. His throne is established, His reign is unshakable, and His purposes cannot be thwarted.

This is what makes missions so compelling. We are not inviting the nations to consider a new philosophy or adopt a better way of life. We are announcing a reality: our God reigns. The church has been entrusted with the joyful task of proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth. From San Antonio to Kenya, from our neighborhoods to Pakistan, we bear witness to the King who is reconciling all things to Himself through Jesus Christ.

As you gather for worship tomorrow, pray that God would enlarge our vision of His Kingdom and deepen our willingness to participate in His mission. The nations belong to Him, and by His grace, we have been invited to join His work. Our God reigns.

More Hope than Trouble

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day five)
We end our study in the Psalms with two great truths:  The Lord Reigns and The Floods Roar (lift up their voice and waves). God’s throne is set side by side with the sea (vs 4). Makes us feel small and not in control (of either). Most of us don’t like that at all. Yet, here we are, small and in the midst of two great truths- neither of which we can predict or regulate. What I notice about this Psalm- there’s no first person. No human mention. These are both larger and longer truths and realities. God’s sovereignty (Throne) and evil/suffering (floods/sea).

However, one is immeasurably greater than the other. The Throne and Sea are seen again side by side in the Scriptures. Revelation 4. The sea looks completely different. Completely conquered. Does that bring assurance and hope?  It should. There is always more hope than trouble found in the scriptures. There will always be both. But we will always need to be reminded of the eternal hope and power of the Lord.
“God’s sovereignty is not the stuff of controversy, it’s the stuff of worship.”- Matt Mason

Thunder

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day four)

When I read verse 4, “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters…” (NIV), my mind immediately goes to John 12. Jesus says, beginning in verse 27:

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

This Psalm feels like the Father speaking to the Son for everyone’s benefit. Yahweh effortlessly glorifies Himself through the mighty sea and the awesome weather around us. All creation sounds out praise. Even when those made in His image choose to glorify themselves, He is no less praised or glorified, because He needs nothing. He is completely self-sufficient and independent. “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” What a mighty God we serve!

After the Father’s voice thundered from heaven, Jesus said:

“This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:30–32).

This is how the Father is glorified. Jesus came to glorify the Father. The Holy Spirit glorifies the Son by revealing and reminding us of what Jesus wants us to know (John 16:14). And we glorify the Father by bearing much fruit, showing ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples (John 15:8).

Let’s join with all creation in bringing Him glory!

Remember

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day three)

1 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

In the moments of my life that I have felt the most anxious or worrisome, I can recognize that these are the moments that I have lost sight of the fact that God is, always and forever, sitting on His throne and ruling over this world. It was (and still is) in these moments that the Lord gently reminds me through his Word that there is nothing to fear (Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 93; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:11; and Joshua 1:9 to name a few).

Psalm 93 reminds us that God has ruled from the beginning of time, and that His reign will be forevermore. In a world that is chaotic and uncertain (like the waves of the sea), He is our stay. He is the anchor that holds fast. We end our fantastic study of Psalms with this reminder: in the midst of an uncertain world, God is steadily in control and will be forevermore. May we be reminded of that all the more and never forget who sits on the throne!