Because We Love God We Love His World!

2 Cor. 5:17-20

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

Introduction

How will we love God’s World? We will be a Witness.

Pray, Give, and go.

Praying for missionaries and Mission Fields.

Giving to local, state, world missions.

Going On Mission Trips, in the state, In the Continent, In the world. Answering the call of the Lord to be a Career Missionary.

Well Why Do That.

We Love God’s World Because He . .        Changed Our Lives.

    We Love God’s World Because Of His . .                Control.

        We Love God’s World Because Of Our . .               Conversion

                We Love God’s World Because Of What He . . Commitment To Us.

1.   We Love God’s World Because He. . Changed Our Lives. 5:17

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

       A.   The Change Occurs To . . All People In Christ. 17a

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; . . . ”

       B.   The Change Occurs To . . All Things. 17b

“. . . old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Illustration

A group of men were talking about how they came to Christ Jesus. And one man said, six or so years ago his life had hit rock bottom. Heavy drinking caused him to lose his family and his job, and he lost everything. He was devastated.

But then something happened. When the music started, he felt the presence of Jesus and tears flooded his eyes. The message was on God's forgiveness, and that's exactly what he found! The very next week he was singing in the choir, and now he faithfully prays for the people sitting on the back row of the balcony.     PowerPoint Ministries and Dr. Jack Graham, please visit www.jackgraham.org

Application

God changed my life and If Your saved He changed your life.

We Love God’s World Because He . . Changed Our Lives.

2.We Love God’s World Because He Is In . . Control. 5:18a

18a Now all things are of God, . . .”

A.   God Is Lord Of All.

2. lord (Heb. °Adon), an early word denoting ownership; hence, absolute control.

3. Adonai (Heb. °adonay), emphatic, "the Lord"; many regard it as the plural of no. 2. It is used chiefly in the Pentateuch-always where God is submissively and reverently addressed

4. lord, Master (Grk. kurios, "supreme"), This title is given to God, the ruler of the universe, both with the article ho kurios (Matt 1:22; 5:33; and without the article (Matt 21:9; 27:10; Mark 13:20; etc.). The title is also applied to Jesus as the Messiah, since by His death He acquired a special ownership of mankind and after His resurrection was exalted by a partnership in the divine... (Acts 10:36; Rom 14:8; (New Unger's Bible Dictionary..)

Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Isaiah 45:5-6 (NKJV) 5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other;

Daniel 4:34 (NKJV) And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

Lk. 12: 19-20 19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."' 20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' NKJV

Illustration

Old Model “T” Ford stuck beside the road a man in a nicer car all dressed up in a suit got out and fixed the car. Owner said, “how did you know how to fix this car.” I am Henry Ford.

Why should we love the world? God said so!

Application

We Love God’s World Because Of His . . Control.

3.   We Love God’s World Because Of Our. . Conversion 5:18

18 “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,

A.   Note . . Who Did The Reconciling. v 18a

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us . . .”

              'Reconcile yourselves to God.' The word is passive.

              He did the work not us, We Can embrace the offer.

B.   Note . . How He Did The Reconciling. v 18b

      “. . . reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, . . .”

       1.    He Did it through Jesus Christ

Illustration

Oscar Cervantes is a dramatic example of Christ's power to transform lives. As a child, Oscar began to get into trouble. Then as he got older, he was jailed 17 times for brutal crimes. Prison psychiatrists said he was beyond help. But they were wrong! During a brief interval of freedom, Oscar met an elderly man who told him about Jesus. He placed his trust in the Lord and was changed into a kind, caring man. Shortly afterward he started a prison ministry. Chaplain H. C. Warwick describes it this way: "The third Saturday night of each month is 'Oscar Night' at Soledad. Inmates come to hear Oscar and they sing gospel songs with fervor; they sit intently for over 2 hours; they come freely to the chapel altar.... What professionals had failed to do for Oscar in years of counseling, Christ did in a moment of conversion."

Application

We Love God’s World Because Of Our . . Conversion

4.   We Love God’s World Because Of What He. . Commitment To Us. 5:18c -20

18c “. . . and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

       19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to

       Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has

       committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we

       are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading

       through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled        to God.

       1.    The word is used twice in verse 18, twice in verse 19 , and once in verse 20.

       2.    A. T. Robertson said:    The task of winning the unreconciled to God is committed to us. It is a high and

              holy one, but supremely difficult, because the offending party (the guilty) is the hardest to win over. We must be

              loyal to God and yet win sinful men to him.

              (Robertson's Word Pictures.)

       3.    Notice These Verses, Col. 1:19-22 (NKJV)

              19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to

       Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And

       you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has  reconciled 22 in the body of

       His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--

HELL IS NOT MENTIONED! It is not reconciled.

Illustration

Several Families took a mission trip to Chian. One of the youth wrote about it.

Day 3: We go to the orphanage. The kids crawl all over us. There was one kid who will not let go of me. I play with him a lot.

Day 6: Tonight is our last night handing out Bibles.

Our team gave away 750 Bibles this week. Bible distribution was definitely my favorite thing we did. It is fun to see people make a big decision in their life. They are so excited to get a Bible. We don't get that excited about a Bible in Texas -- maybe we should.

Then those who distributed the Bibles Prayed:

"Dear God: I pray for all the Chinese people here today and everyday that they will hear and read Your Word. I pray that because of one Bible we hand out, 10 people will read it and at least half of them will come to Christ. In Jesus Name, Amen."

Application

Love Our World

Pray For Them..

Witness To Them.

Contribute To Mission Causes.

Go To The Mission Field To Tell Others About Jesus.

We Love God’s World Because He . .        Changed Our Lives.

         We Love God’s World Because Of His . .                Control.

             We Love God’s World Because Of Our . .               Conversion