The God of the universe desires missional activation in the lives of His sons and daughters - children imparted to and receiving of the gifts, abilities, and assignments He’s lovingly prepared for us to carry out. It is a part of His very good plan to fill both the earth and our lives with His glory when we understand how His plans for us and His plans for the world coincide.
Lost Souls & Burning Hearts
Speakers
Ashley Bassoppo-Moyo
Missions & Outreach Pastor
Worship
Notes
First Time Guest? Let us know!
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The God of the universe desires missional activation in the lives of His sons and daughters - children imparted to and receiving of the gifts, abilities, and assignments He’s lovingly prepared for us to carry out. It is a part of His very good plan to fill both the earth and our lives with His glory when we understand how His plans for us and His plans for the world coincide.
A loving God didn’t create you with useless capacity.
Psalm 34:8 (NIV)
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
Sacrificial mission is transformation expressed.
Apathy: a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
1 Samuel 15:22 (BSB)
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.”
We have to trade the dance between boredom and sensationalism with long-term overflowing from Christ.
Luke 14:13-14 (NIV)
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people… The purpose of Sacrificial Mission is to glorify God.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
Acts 1:4-5, 8 (NIV)
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Luke 24:32 (BSB)
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
When His fire burns in our hearts, as we live from transformation, we make living in obedience our highest aim.
Our decision to live on sacrificial mission isn’t borne out of wanting to be sacrificial, it’s out of obeying Jesus, for whom are hearts are ablaze!
Imagine the impact a burning heart can have.
Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Stone does not burn.
1 Kings 18:38 (NIV)
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
Hearts of stone CANNOT BURN…unless the Spirit burns it up.
Your assignment is to burn for the Lord.
You are a torchbearer in the Kingdom - taking the fire He has placed inside you, the spirit of fire that lives on your heart, and dropping embers wherever you’re sent.
Where will our embers fall?
Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Lost souls are looking.
Luke 19:10 (NIV)
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
Matthew 9:36-38 (TPT)
When he saw the vast crowds of people, Jesus’ heart was deeply moved with compassion, because they seemed weary and helpless, like wandering sheep without a shepherd. He turned to his disciples and said, “The harvest is huge and ripe! But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in. As you go, plead with the Owner of the Harvest to thrust out many more reapers to harvest his grain!”
Acts 5:42 (ESV)
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
We have the opportunity to burn and drop embers on the hearts of these lost souls.
His fire has the capacity to burn up their hearts of stone.
What if we allowed ourselves to be concerned with the spiritual formation of our neighborhoods, our city, our nation, our world?
Our assignment is to go and tell - in His heart to seek and save the lost.
If the commander assigns, then you go.
When you understand your overall assignment, it’s not a question of if, but where. Instead of “is it my assignment” it becomes “where is my assignment to be expressed?”
There are lost souls waiting for you to show up to your assignment.
A burning heart, a torchbearer to lost souls.
Proverbs 11:30 (BSB)
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.
Making the most of every opportunity - we have a Kingdom to expand.