THE PURSUIT

1 Timothy 6:2-12
2These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

Pursue Defn: to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire

Flee Defn: to shun or avoid by flight

Flee and Pursue....

Righteousness: 1343 dikaiosýnē (from 1349 /díkē, "a judicial verdict") – properly,judicial approval (the verdict of approval); in the NT, the approval of God ("divine approval"). cf John 16 - HS righteousness - right-standing; 1 Jn 1:9,2:1

Godliness: 2150 eusébeia (from 2095 /eú "well" and 4576 /sébomai, "venerate, pay homage") – properly, someone's inner response to the things of God which shows itself in godly piety (reverence). 2150 /eusébeia("godly heart-response") naturally expresses itself in reverence for God, i.e. what He calls sacred (worthy of veneration).

What are you fleeing that you could be pursuing?
What are you pursuing that you could be fleeing?

We are having some challenges with our service recordings so we have missed the last two messages but we have the notes for you to refer to....

Matt 28:18-20

* Discipleship is abt how you live your 24/7 life (orthopraxy) not just about what you believe (orthodoxy)

* all of us being commissioned as his disciples who make disciples (no qualifications)


Acts 1:4-8
Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.   John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”   So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”  He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

water baptism & obedience => Rabbi's Yoke = Lifestyle & character

Holy Spirit Baptism => supernatural empowerment for mission

Reference: 'Despooking the Spirit' 2014 series

1) HS is not a dictator - helper/comforter/guide/teacher/spirit of grace
John 14,15,16; 2 Cor 3:17;Romans 8:15

2) Jn 3:34
For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 

We have as much of the HS as we are willing to receive/are willing to surrender to/are aware of.

3) Baptism in the HS is an initial gateway leading into a new realm of supernatural living.

2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Influence:
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.
Impact:
the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.
a marked effect or influence.
Vibrant:
full of energy and life.

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Hebrew concept of disciple:
Follower of a Rabbi: chosen by the Rabbi; live life the same way the Rabbi did; teach the same stuff as their Rabbi
how did it happen: they lived life together for about 18 years; they gave up everything to follow

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

'Yoke' was a Rabbi's interpretation of Torah or their way of life.
Paul later - imitate me as I imitate Christ.

James 1:19-27 NLT

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

What does that mean for us?
Discipleship is abt how you live your 24/7 life (orthopraxy) not just about what you believe (orthodoxy)
D is individual but it's most effective together
It takes time
We need to be discipled
We must give up everything
No area of our life is isolated

Some Q's
Who is discipling you?
Who are you discipling?
How much time do you give to discipleship?
Are there areas of your life that are 'out of bounds'?
Have you been baptised?

Discipleship is our challenge....it's a people thing...
People who are vibrant, influential, impacting....

"We are a vibrant church of influence and impact for Jesus in Kāpiti and the world beyond"

Three key words in this vision statement:
Influence:
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.
Impact:
the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.
a marked effect or influence.
Vibrant:
full of energy and life.
Quivering; pulsating.

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Discipleship is the key for us as we move towards our vision...more next week!

As Kāpiti Impact Church launches, I wanted to look at a key verse that has influenced our culture and my leadership:

Isaiah 42:1-9 NLT 
"Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, and I am pleased with him. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will reveal justice to the nations.  He will be gentle-he will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope. He will bring full justice to all who have been wronged. He will not stop until truth and righteousness prevail throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction."

God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath and life to everyone in all the world. And it is he who says, "I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will guard and support you, for I have given you to my people as the personal confirmation of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide all nations to me. You will open the eyes of the blind and free the captives from prison. You will release those who sit in dark dungeons.

"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else. I will not share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens."

Some thoughts:
* this is a declaration about Jesus - Matt 12:18-21
* so this is a declaration about us
* our source of strength is God - Phil 4:13
* we are chosen by God - 1 peter 2:9
* God is pleased with us
* the Spirit is upon us - Is 61/Acts 1:8
Some things that characterise Jesus followers:
* love justice - Micah 6:8
* gentle
* not attention seekers or troublemakers
* cares for people where they're at
* perseveres/endures/keeps the faith/holds on