FOR THIS REASON WE COME
OPENING COMMENT: SOMETIMES WE FOCUS ON THE CRUCIFICTION OF OUR LORD JESUS AND WE CELEBRATE HIS SUBSEQUENT RESURRECTION, KNOWING THAT AS A RESULT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. CERTAINLY THIS IS A WONDERFUL REASON TO CELEBRATE AND REJOICE IN WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE. BUT HE HAS NOT ONLY GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION BUT HE HAS ALSO GIVEN US AN ETERNAL PURPOSE, COMMISSION AND MANDATE WHILE WE ARE HERE IN THE EARTH. I SAY THAT IT IS AN “ETERNAL PURPOSE” BECAUSE OUR DEEDS…WHETHER GOOD OR BAD ON THIS EARTH DO FOLLOW US INTO ETERNITY. WHAT IS THIS PURPOSE I AM SPEAKING ABOUT TODAY? THE PURPOSE IS THAT IN JESUS’S DEATH AND SUBSEQUENT RESURRECTION WE, YOU…I, US….THE CHURCH ARE ENABLED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. WITHOUT HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION THERE WOULD BE NO GOSPEL…NO SALVATION….NO HOPE…NO DELIVERANCE….NOTHING. WE WOULD STILL BE DEAD IN OUR SINS IF WE HAD ALL THE EVENTS OF JESUS’S LIFE AND YET THERE WAS NO DEATH, NO SHEDDING OF BLOOD, NO SCOURGING OF THE BODY AND NO RESURRECTION. JESUS’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION IS NOT JUST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL BUT FOR THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE, AND IT ENABLES THE CHURCH…COMPRISED OF YOU AND I AND ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TRULY ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST INTO THEIR HEARTS AS LORD AND SAVIOUR, TO FULFILL ITS MISSION IN THE EARTH TODAY. BUT IS THE CHURCH LISTENING? IS THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BY AND LARGE, IN THE 21ST CENTURY, AWARE AND MOVING WITH PURPOSE IN FULFILLING WHAT IT HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED TO DO OR HAS THE CHURCH BECOME LARGELY SELF-CENTERED AND TAKEN IT’S EYE OFF THE BALL, LOSING ITS SENSE OF VISION AND DIRECTION?
TODAY I PROPOSE TO BACK UP MY COMMENTS WITH SCRIPTURE SO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY JESUS CAME….AND WHY THEREFORE WE COME TO THE HOUSE OF GOD AND TO THE THRONE OF THE LORD WITH PURPOSE. FOR IN THE TITLE OF THIS MESSAGE THESE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED AND A VISION IS PLANTED…..”FOR THIS REASON WE COME”.
I. FOR THIS REASON HE CAME
John 12:27
“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!
A. JESUS CAME TO EARTH FOR A SPECIFIC MISSION. HE CAME TO DIE. HE WAS BORN TO DIE. HIS PURPOSE WAS TO DIE SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. HIS PURPOSE WAS TO DIE SO THAT WE MIGHT NOT ONLY LIVE ETERNALLY BUT THAT WE MIGHT LIVE ABUNDANTLY IN THIS LIFE TOO. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE DESIRES THAT WE HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE AND THAT HE HAS GIVEN US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN BOTH TO LIFE AND TO GODLINESS.
B. MANY PEOPLE ONLY TAKE THE ABOVE SCRIPTURE AND RELATE IT TO SALVATION AND, YES, IT DOES PERTAIN TO SALVATION. IT ALSO DOES ABSOLUTELY PERTAIN TO ETERNAL LIFE WITH JESUS. HOWEVER, OFTEN WE FORGET THAT JESUS ALSO CAME TO EARTH TO ESTABLISH HIS CHURCH. FOR IT WOULD BE THROUGH THE CHURCH THAT GOD’S DIVINE PLAN IN CHRIST FOR MANKIND WOULD BE MADE KNOWN. THE CHURCH…AND THEREFORE THOSE IN IT…. ARE TO CARRY THAT MESSAGE.
Ephesians 3:8-11 (New American Standard Bible)
8To me, (A)the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to (B)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable (C)riches of Christ,
9and to bring to light what is the administration of the (D)mystery which for ages has been (E)hidden in God (F)who created all things;
10so that the manifold (G)wisdom of God might now be (H)made known through the church to the (I)rulers and the authorities in (J)the heavenly places.
11This was in (K)accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in (L)Christ Jesus our Lord,
WE SEE IN THE SCRIPTURE WE JUST READ THAT THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST IS TO BE MADE KNOWN THROUGH THE CHURCH TO THE PRINCIPALITIES & POWERS, AS WELL AS TO THE ENTIRE WORLD. BUT WHAT IS THE DIVINE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IN THE EARTH TODAY?
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JESUS - A MISSION OF “COMMISSION”
Matthew 28:16-20 (New American Standard Bible)
The Great Commission
16But the eleven disciples proceeded (A)to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but (B)some were doubtful.
18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "(C)All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19"(D)Go therefore and (E)make disciples of (F)all the nations, (G)baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, (H)I am with you always, even to (I)the end of the age." (“end of the age” means this commission did not just apply to the eleven disciples but to all living until the end of the age)
B. Mark 16:14-18 (New American Standard Bible)
The Disciples Commissioned
14Afterward (A)He appeared (B)to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their (C)unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15And He said to them, "(D)Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16"(E)He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
17"These signs will accompany those who have believed: (F)in My name they will cast out demons, they will (G)speak with new tongues;
18they will (H)pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will (I)lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
WE SEE THAT THE CHURCH IS THE VESSEL OR VEHICLE OF EXPRESSING GOD’S WILL AND PLAN OF SALVATION AND HIS KINGDOM UNTO ALL OF THE EARTH. WE HAVE BEEN “COMMISSIONED” TO DO THIS WORK.
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WE ARE CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS (2 COR. 5:17-20)
2 CORINTHIANS 5: 17-20 - 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
VS 17 -IN CHRIST WE ARE A NEW CREATION. WHEN WE COME TO THE LORD THE OLD IS GONE AND ALL THINGS ARE MADE NEW. BUT WHY WAS THIS DONE? IS IT JUST SO WE CAN GO TO HEAVEN? NO! WE SEE THE ANSWER IN THE NEXT VERSE.
VS 18 – GOD GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITIES OF A NEW START IN LIFE SO THAT WE CAN BE RECONCILED BACK TO GOD THROUGH CHRIST….THAT ALL THAT WAS LOST IN RELATIONSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP BETWEEN MAN AND GOD IN EDEN BECAUSE OF ADAM AND EVE’S SINS COULD BE RESTORED…ALL FOR THIS ONE PURPOSE AND WE SEE IT IN THIS VERSE….THAT GOD “GAVE US A MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.”
VS 19 – SAYS IT AGAIN…. GOD HAS GIVEN US A MINISTRY OF RECONCILLIATION.
VS 20 – TELLS US THAT WE ARE TO BE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST FOR THE VERY PURPOSE OF FULFILLING A MINISTRY TO RECONCILIATION.
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BUT WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING TODAY?
A). READ REVELATION 3: 14 – 22. IT IS A MESSAGE FROM JESUS TO THE ONE OF 7 CHURCHES THAT WERE BAROMETERS FOR ALL OF THE CHURCH AGE. JESUS HIMSELF CRITIQUES ALL 7 CHURCHES. OF THE 7 CHURCHES, 5 OF THEM FALED THE TEST AND ONLY 2 PASSED. ONE OF THE FAILURES WAS THE LAODICEAN CHURCH. I BELIEVE THIS CHURCH IS A TYPE OR MODEL OF WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH IN AMERICA IS AT TODAY. LETS READ IT AND THEN THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU READ AND COMPARE IT TO WHAT SEE ON SOME CHRISTIAN MEDIA AND ALSO IN SOME CHURCHES.
REVELATION 3: 14 – 22 –
Message to Laodicea
14"To the angel of the church in (A)Laodicea write: (B)The Amen, (C)the faithful and true Witness, (D)the [a]Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15'(E)I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; (F)I wish that you were cold or hot.
16'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17'Because you say, "(G)I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18I advise you to (H)buy from Me (I)gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and (J)white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that (K)the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19'(L)Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and (M)repent.
20'Behold, I stand (N)at the door and (O)knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, (P)I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
21'(Q)He who overcomes, I will grant to him (R)to sit down with Me on My throne, as (S)I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22'(T)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
B. THE QUESTION IS….IS THIS WHERE WE WANT TO BE TODAY AS A CHURCH AND AS INDIVIDUALS THAT COMPRISE THE CHURCH?
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BUT FOR THIS REASON WE COME!
FOR THIS REASON WE COME. TO BE CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS IN THE EARTH BRINGING A MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION FOR ALL MANKIND. NO MATTER WHERE WE GO, WHERE WE LIVE, WHERE WE WORK….WE ARE ALWAYS TO BE AN AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST. AN AMBASSADOR REPRESENTS TO THE WORLD AND TO WHATEVER COUNTRY HE IS SENT TO, THE KINGDOM OR COUNTRY THAT HE COMES FROM. HE SPEAKS FOR THE RULER OF THAT COUNTRY. HE IS THAT RULER’S REPRESENTATIVE WHEREVER HE IS SENT. FOR THIS REASON WE COME….TO BE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM. THERE ARE NO BREAKS. IT IS NOT ONLY A 24/7 JOB BUT IT IS MORE THAN A “JOB”. IT IS A DIVINE ASSIGNMENT. IT IS A DIVINE MISSION. IT IS A DIVINE COMMISSION. IT IS THE REASON WE WERE BORN INTO THIS EARTH AND IT IS FOR THIS REASON WE COME.
* CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE WORLD AND SPIRIT OF THIS AGE
TOO MANY “CHRISTIANS” HAVE BECOME PREOCCUPIED AND DISTRACTED BY THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE. INSTEAD OF REPRESENTING CHRIST’S KINGDOM DURING THIS AGE, THEY HAVE INSTEAD DESIRED TO BECOME A PART OF THIS AGE AND ITS SYSTEM OF THOUGHT, PHILOSOPHY, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, TOLERANCE OF WHAT IS WRONG & EVIL, PLEASURE, ENTERTAINMENT AND GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, THE BIBLE CLEARLY STATES THAT WE NEED TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THAT. WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD THOUGH WE ARE IN IT AND WE ARE THEREFORE COMMANDED TO “BE YE SEPARATE”
John 15:19 (New American Standard Bible)
19"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but (A)I chose you out of the world, (B)because of this the world hates you.
John 17:16
" They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
1 John 2:15
[ Do Not Love the World ] Do not love the world nor the things in the world If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
CONCLUSION: JESUS CAME FOR A REASON. WE ARE ALSO IN THE EARTH TODAY FOR A REASON AND PURPOSE….TO REPRESENT GOD AND HIS KINGDOM ON THE EARTH THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WHO INDWELLS US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. OUR MINISTRY AND COMMISION IS ONE OF EVANGELISM FOR A PURPOSE AND THAT PURPOSE IS TO BRING THE MESSAGE OF JESUS HAVING RECONCILED US BACK TO FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER FOR ETERNITY. IT IS NOT MERELY TO GAIN NEW CONVERTS, BUT TO DISCIPLE THEM SO THAT THEY TOO TAKE ON THIS VERY SAME VISION OF A MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. IT IS SO THAT WE MAY PERSONALLY KNOW THE LORD TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE THIS FELLOWSHIP AND RECONCILIATION OURSELVES BUT WE BECOME AMBASSADORS OF THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS TO OPEN THE DOOR AND PAVE THE WAY FOR OTHERS. ARE WE DOING THAT? WE NEED TO SEEK FOR BEING PLEASING AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD IN FULFILLING HIS MANDATE AND COMMISION FOR US. AT THE END WHEN WE LOOK UPON HIM WE WANT HIM TO SAY TO US …”WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. ENTER INTO TO JOY OF YOUR MASTER!”
MAY THE LORD BLESS THIS WORD TO YOUR SPIRITS.
By Evangelist Mischa Safdie’
Mischa Safdie’ Ministries
136 N. Grand Ave., Ste. 278
W. Covina, CA 91791
(951) 796-3936
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