United Devotion To The Mission: Cause and Effect

BECAUSE I AM DEVOTED

TO THE MESSIAH…

1. I WILL DESIRE TO BE LIKE HIM.

Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is

fully trained will become like the teacher.

Luke 6:40 (NLT)

All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death.

Philippians 3:10 (ERV)

  •  Paul’s desire to know was about TRANSFORMATION not TRIVIA.

  •  Becoming like Jesus requires LOVING and REACHING the lost.

“For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to look for and to save from the punishment of sin those who are lost.”

Luke 19:10 (NLV)

We know what true love looks like because of Jesus. He gave His life for us, and he calls us to give our lives for our brothers and sisters.

1 John 3:16 (VOICE)

2. I WILL BE DEVOTED to OBEYING MY LORD.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

3. I WILL DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT DISTRACT ME.

When they had gathered just outside Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives, they asked Jesus, “Is now the time, Lord—the time when You will reestablish Your kingdom in our land of Israel?” [Jesus replied] “The Father, on His own authority, has determined the ages and epochs of history, but you have not been given this knowledge. Here’s the knowledge you need.”

Acts 1:6-8a (VOICE)

We must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.

Hebrews 12:1b (GW)

  •  What DISTRACTS me from my DEVOTION to the mission?

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV)

4. I WILL DEPEND ON, NOT DOUBT, HIS PROMISES.

Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth.”

Acts 1:8b (VOICE)

  •  What do I THINK I need to know before I will GO?

…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20b (NIV)

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:3, 4 (NLT)