WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:04.580 In the 1960s, following the success of his first 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:07.940 amusement park in Anaheim, California, Walt Disney 00:00:07.940 --> 00:00:11.480 had a vision. Walt Disney saw something in what 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:14.640 most people considered to be unusable land in 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:18.480 Central Florida that no one else could see. What 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:22.640 he saw in the swamp and all the heat with all 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:28.300 the mosquitoes and this undesirable place. was 00:00:28.300 --> 00:00:30.879 something special. Walt Disney was able to see 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:34.259 past what it was and envision what it could be. 00:00:34.659 --> 00:00:36.700 You're probably familiar with it. You may have 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:42.219 even been a few times. But Walt Disney's vision 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:45.740 was more than just a bigger or a better version 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:49.159 of his first park. It was a place. It was a place 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:51.579 that families would return to again and again, 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.619 a place built on wonder and imagination and joy. 00:00:56.270 --> 00:00:58.310 It was a place where dreams could come true. 00:00:58.710 --> 00:01:01.609 You see, Walt sold this vision. He dreamed it. 00:01:01.689 --> 00:01:03.950 He believed it. He spread the word about what 00:01:03.950 --> 00:01:05.989 it would be, what it could be. He raised the 00:01:05.989 --> 00:01:11.569 funds to make it happen. But then in 1966, Walt 00:01:11.569 --> 00:01:15.549 Disney died. At that point, Disney World wasn't 00:01:15.549 --> 00:01:19.579 open. It wasn't even built. The land had been 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:22.040 purchased, the work had begun, but the dream 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:24.939 was still incomplete. And that left a very important 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:31.000 question. What happens to a vision when the visionary 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:35.560 is gone? What happens to it? Does it die? Does 00:01:35.560 --> 00:01:40.099 it just kind of fade away? Does it cease to exist? 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:42.599 What happens to the vision when the visionary 00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:45.980 is gone? You see, what many people didn't realize, 00:01:46.219 --> 00:01:48.819 though, is that Walt had already answered that 00:01:48.819 --> 00:01:51.379 question. You see, before Walt Disney died, he 00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:53.560 placed the responsibility for the project in 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:57.959 the hands of his brother, Roy Disney. With that 00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:01.180 responsibility, Roy had options. He could scale 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:04.140 back the project. He could alter the vision and 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:06.159 make it what he wanted it to be. He could have 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:08.939 really made it his own. He could have even put 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:12.569 his own name on the gates. And it could have 00:02:12.569 --> 00:02:15.590 been Roy Disney World, but Roy did the right 00:02:15.590 --> 00:02:17.810 thing. He carried his brother's vision forward. 00:02:17.990 --> 00:02:20.229 He didn't open Disney World until it was done 00:02:20.229 --> 00:02:24.590 right. And when it finally opened in 1971, Roy 00:02:24.590 --> 00:02:29.650 made sure it was called Walt Disney World. You 00:02:29.650 --> 00:02:30.990 see, in the original plans, it was just going 00:02:30.990 --> 00:02:33.430 to be Disney World, but Roy wanted to make sure 00:02:33.430 --> 00:02:36.889 that his brother's name was on it because it 00:02:36.889 --> 00:02:41.409 was his brother's vision. In doing this, everyone 00:02:41.409 --> 00:02:44.969 would know that this wasn't Roy's dream. It wasn't 00:02:44.969 --> 00:02:48.650 Roy's mission. It was Walt's. And although Walt 00:02:48.650 --> 00:02:51.229 never walked through the gates, he never saw 00:02:51.229 --> 00:02:54.210 the castle, he never heard the laughter and saw 00:02:54.210 --> 00:03:01.289 the smiles on people's faces, in his world, Walt's 00:03:01.289 --> 00:03:03.650 vision came to life. His dream became reality, 00:03:03.770 --> 00:03:06.590 all because someone had been entrusted to finish 00:03:06.590 --> 00:03:11.129 what he started. All because Walt made sure to 00:03:11.129 --> 00:03:14.250 put someone in place that would carry out his 00:03:14.250 --> 00:03:17.330 vision. You see, over the last several weeks, 00:03:17.449 --> 00:03:19.569 we've been talking about the ones in our lives, 00:03:19.669 --> 00:03:22.289 the people that we know who may be far from Jesus, 00:03:22.370 --> 00:03:24.849 the ones who may be lost. And we talked about 00:03:24.849 --> 00:03:27.590 how calling them lost isn't an insult. What we're 00:03:27.590 --> 00:03:29.990 saying when we say someone is lost is saying 00:03:29.990 --> 00:03:32.949 that something of value is not in our sight. 00:03:33.069 --> 00:03:35.610 Something of value is not where it's supposed 00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:38.560 to be. We looked at the lost sheep that kind 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.719 of wandered away from the flock. We looked at 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:42.759 the lost coin that was lost because of someone 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:46.020 else's actions, not of its own. We looked at 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:48.800 the son who absolutely walked away on his own, 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:51.639 but he found himself lost because he left home. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.199 And we looked at the son who was lost because 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:58.500 he stayed home, but wasn't really where he was 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:02.240 supposed to be. At least his heart wasn't. And 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:04.240 in all of those stories, we establish something 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:08.099 very important. The truth that it matters that 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:11.860 we know who the lost are because Jesus came to 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:16.459 seek and save them. You see, Jesus says it plainly 00:04:16.459 --> 00:04:18.660 in Luke chapter 19, verse 10. He says, for the 00:04:18.660 --> 00:04:21.839 son of man came to seek and to save the lost. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:25.360 That was his mission. That was Jesus's vision. 00:04:25.459 --> 00:04:27.360 That was his desire. That was his whole purpose 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:30.079 for coming to this earth was to seek and save 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:34.540 the lost so that they would be found. so that 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:39.519 the dead would be made alive. This morning, before 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:41.879 we talk about what we're supposed to do, we have 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:44.420 to see how Scripture is very clear about who 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:47.120 we are. And the Apostle Paul says this in his 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:49.379 second letter to the church in Corinth, looking 00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:53.560 at 2 Corinthians 5, verses 17 -20. Therefore, 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:56.800 if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 00:04:57.379 --> 00:05:01.079 The old has passed away. Behold, the new has 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:05.120 come. All this is from God, who through Christ 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:09.079 reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:13.459 of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was 00:05:13.459 --> 00:05:18.279 reconciling the world to Himself, not counting 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:20.879 their trespasses against them, and entrusting 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:24.720 to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, 00:05:24.980 --> 00:05:28.800 we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:32.610 appeal through us. We implore you, on behalf 00:05:32.610 --> 00:05:38.620 of Christ, be reconciled to God. Christ reconciled 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:41.680 us to God. He brought us back in. He mended that 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:44.279 relationship. He made it okay. And then he gave 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:47.240 us the ministry of reconciliation. So he says, 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:50.040 I fixed this between you and God so that we can 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:53.180 all be a family together. Now go and do this 00:05:53.180 --> 00:05:56.240 for others. Bring other people in too. Go find 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.519 the lost. Go help bring the dead back to life. 00:05:59.779 --> 00:06:02.759 God did not just save us from something. He saved 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:05.560 us for something. He entrusted us with the message. 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.519 He appointed... us as ambassadors. And then Paul 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:10.560 says something that we really need to pay attention 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:14.040 to, and that is that God is making his appeal 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:21.439 through us. The one who came to seek is still 00:06:21.439 --> 00:06:25.819 seeking, and he's doing it through his people. 00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:28.639 He's doing it through us. He's doing it through 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:32.180 the church. And this is where Luke 15 comes back 00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:34.519 into play. You see, the shepherd that leaves 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:37.079 the 99 to go find the one, he's still doing that. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:40.699 But now he does it through the church. The woman 00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:42.980 who was sweeping the house, searching diligently 00:06:42.980 --> 00:06:47.100 for her lost coin, she's still doing that. But 00:06:47.100 --> 00:06:49.459 it's being done through the church. The father 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:52.399 that was watching the road, waiting, longing 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:55.139 for his son to come home, he is still doing that, 00:06:55.220 --> 00:06:57.660 but it's being done through the church, or at 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:01.629 least it should be. You see, Jesus is still seeking. 00:07:01.750 --> 00:07:03.949 He's still searching. He's still calling the 00:07:03.949 --> 00:07:06.709 lost home. And he's chosen to do it in the most 00:07:06.709 --> 00:07:08.850 unlikely way through a bunch of unperfect people 00:07:08.850 --> 00:07:12.750 like us. And this is why after his resurrection, 00:07:12.970 --> 00:07:15.209 Jesus looks at his disciples and he says this 00:07:15.209 --> 00:07:18.750 in Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20. He says, go therefore 00:07:18.750 --> 00:07:23.279 and make disciples of all nations. baptizing 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:25.980 them in the name of the Father and of the Son 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:28.600 and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:32.540 all that I have commanded you. And behold, I'm 00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:36.279 with you always to the end of the age. You see 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:38.920 right there in that great commission, that's 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:42.259 Jesus saying, hey, I need you to finish the job. 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:45.180 They knew his mission. The disciples knew the 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:47.600 mission of Christ. They had spent three years 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.879 watching him seek the lost. They spent three 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:53.720 years seeing his grace given to the broken. They 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:57.259 watched him transform lives in real time. And 00:07:57.259 --> 00:07:59.519 now Jesus says, hey, all the things you've seen, 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:01.379 all the things you've heard, everything I've 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:05.420 taught you, you go do it too. Carry it forward, 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:08.279 carry on the mission, carry out the vision. And 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:10.759 he assures us that we don't do it alone. He says, 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:14.180 I'm going to be with you. And then later in Acts 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:17.759 chapter 1 and verse 8, we see Jesus says this, 00:08:17.819 --> 00:08:20.519 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:23.560 has come upon you and you'll be my witnesses 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:27.620 in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:31.439 to the end of the earth. Y 'all, we are sent. 00:08:31.930 --> 00:08:35.049 But we're not sent unsupported. We're sent with 00:08:35.049 --> 00:08:38.190 Jesus by our side. We're sent with the Holy Spirit 00:08:38.190 --> 00:08:40.769 that empowers the search, the Holy Spirit that 00:08:40.769 --> 00:08:43.769 convicts hearts, that opens eyes, that draws 00:08:43.769 --> 00:08:48.090 people closer. And that's why for the past... 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:51.259 three, four weeks since the start of the year, 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:54.279 we've been spending this time praying and fasting. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:57.860 We set out on this 31 days to pray and fast for 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:01.039 the one because we have to know that this mission 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:04.279 doesn't happen on our own. It doesn't rest on 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:06.980 our ability. It doesn't rest on my talents. It 00:09:06.980 --> 00:09:10.559 doesn't rest on my likability. This mission is 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:15.570 only successful through the power of God. And 00:09:15.570 --> 00:09:17.230 so if you're a follower of Christ, you've been 00:09:17.230 --> 00:09:21.389 called, you've been sent by Jesus. And I need 00:09:21.389 --> 00:09:23.509 you to hear this. And I need to hear this too. 00:09:23.610 --> 00:09:28.110 We have been sent, not some of us, not just those 00:09:28.110 --> 00:09:32.110 of us that are gifted. in certain abilities like 00:09:32.110 --> 00:09:35.669 giving or preaching or leading worship, not just 00:09:35.669 --> 00:09:37.929 the missionaries, not just the pastors or the 00:09:37.929 --> 00:09:40.230 elders, not just the ones who seem to have it 00:09:40.230 --> 00:09:43.450 all together. Every person who claims to be a 00:09:43.450 --> 00:09:46.409 follower of Jesus has been entrusted with this 00:09:46.409 --> 00:09:49.490 vision. Walt Disney entrusted one man with his 00:09:49.490 --> 00:09:52.929 vision. Jesus entrusted every person who would 00:09:52.929 --> 00:09:57.240 follow him with his. What I'm saying is, just 00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:00.899 like Walt Disney's vision didn't die with him, 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:04.840 Jesus' vision did not leave this earth when he 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:09.019 left it to go to heaven. I want to share some 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:11.279 numbers with you. Did you know each year, roughly 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:14.399 50 million people walk through the gates of Walt 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:20.700 Disney World? 50 million. In 2023 alone, Disney's 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:25.409 theme parks welcomed more than 142... million 00:10:25.409 --> 00:10:28.870 visitors worldwide. So that's Disneyland, Disney 00:10:28.870 --> 00:10:32.090 World, the Disney Cruises, the resort in Hawaii, 00:10:32.429 --> 00:10:35.110 all the Disney theme parks and all the Disney 00:10:35.110 --> 00:10:39.450 attractions, 142 million visitors worldwide. 00:10:39.789 --> 00:10:42.029 And I want you to think about how many of those 00:10:42.029 --> 00:10:46.049 are repeat offenders. You know who you are. That 00:10:46.049 --> 00:10:48.389 didn't happen because Walt stayed alive. That 00:10:48.389 --> 00:10:51.309 didn't happen because Walt was still here. That 00:10:51.309 --> 00:10:54.370 happened because Walt's vision was carried out 00:10:54.370 --> 00:10:58.830 by those faithful to him. Now, I want you to 00:10:58.830 --> 00:11:00.970 think about this. When Jesus leaves the earth, 00:11:01.049 --> 00:11:03.029 there's just a few people following him at that 00:11:03.029 --> 00:11:06.289 time. There's just a few people that were there 00:11:06.289 --> 00:11:08.889 to witness all of the things that he had done, 00:11:08.970 --> 00:11:11.470 that were there to see him ascend into heaven. 00:11:11.610 --> 00:11:15.169 So he leaves with just a few. Let's just say 00:11:15.169 --> 00:11:19.509 less than 15. He leaves with a few, but today 00:11:19.509 --> 00:11:24.929 more than 2 .4 billion, with a B, billion people 00:11:24.929 --> 00:11:28.850 around the world claim Christ. Now that didn't 00:11:28.850 --> 00:11:31.590 happen because Jesus stayed on this earth. That 00:11:31.590 --> 00:11:34.429 happened because ordinary people were faithful 00:11:34.429 --> 00:11:38.389 to what they had been entrusted with. They were 00:11:38.389 --> 00:11:41.879 faithful. They knew their assignment. They understood 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:44.179 the vision. They had seen it up close and in 00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:46.960 person. And so they knew what they were called 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:51.659 to do, and they did it. Let me tell you a story. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:54.179 I have a friend who, he's a full -blown Disney 00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:56.860 loyalist. In fact, he's actually a Disney travel 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:59.360 agent. So if you're wanting to go, let me know 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:01.500 and I'll get you hooked up. But seriously, one 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:04.480 day we're talking and he's telling me about how 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:07.559 awesome it was that they took their kids to Disney. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:09.679 They did like a surprise trip. So they woke their 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:11.799 kids up one morning and they were like, bags 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:14.139 are packed. gas is in the vehicle, snacks are 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:16.559 ready, let's go. So they went. They went to Disney. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:19.259 They had a great time. And so he's back and he's 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:21.639 telling me about this awesome trip. And he's 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:24.759 trying to convince me to take my kids to Disney. 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:27.500 Now, if you've met Easton and Peyton, you know 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:30.279 they're crazy. And I just have no desire to take 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:32.779 a four and a three -year -old to Disney. I don't. 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:35.379 But he tells me about the rides. He tells me 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:37.340 about the food. He tells me about all the memories 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:39.960 that his family has made. He tells me about the 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:42.200 joy that they experienced while they were there. 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:45.580 And every time he brings up this new cool part 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:47.940 that he remembered about their trip, I resist. 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:50.519 I'm like, no, my kids are psychotic. I'm not 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:53.860 doing that. I love them. One day we'll take them. 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:56.360 But the idea of navigating Disney World with 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:58.320 them right now feels like a spiritual discipline 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:01.340 that I just haven't developed yet. I haven't. 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:07.120 But here's what gets me is as much as I despise 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:09.279 the idea of taking a four and a three -year -old 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.179 to Disney World, my friend is pretty convincing. 00:13:13.059 --> 00:13:15.820 And it's not because he's a good salesman. He 00:13:15.820 --> 00:13:19.879 is a pretty good persuasive person, but it's 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:22.019 not the pressure he puts on me. It's not his 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:25.039 ability to share these stories. It's not because 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:28.480 he argues with me. He's convincing because I 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:31.980 can see how much he believes. what he's telling 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:35.799 me. I can see how much he feels the joy just 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:38.639 as he's telling the stories. I can feel how much 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:42.059 joy it brought his family. He can't help but 00:13:42.059 --> 00:13:43.860 talk about it. You know, the conversation just 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:46.740 comes up and I noticed that in him, there's a 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:49.220 difference between someone just enjoying something 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:53.279 and being a full -on fan. And I think the church 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:55.620 has something to learn from that. Too often we 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:59.440 try to sell Jesus. Too often we try to give people 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:01.559 this obligation of being a part of the church 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:04.860 or being a follower of Jesus. We bring them the 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:07.039 guilt. We bring them the fear factor of you don't 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.600 want to go to hell. You don't want to live your 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:12.200 life without Jesus. You don't want to wake up 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.899 one day and see that you have another. You know, 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:17.000 we bring that fear factor in. Or maybe we bring 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:19.159 in the rules and the conditions and say, well, 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:21.480 if you don't live it this way, then you're going 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:24.840 to experience this pain now and then one day 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:29.750 for eternity. But what 2 Corinthians 5 says is 00:14:29.750 --> 00:14:32.889 we implore people on behalf of Christ. And I 00:14:32.889 --> 00:14:35.190 want you to hear this. That word implore means 00:14:35.190 --> 00:14:39.370 to plead passionately. It means we are telling 00:14:39.370 --> 00:14:44.190 you with passion, with conviction, just how great 00:14:44.190 --> 00:14:47.970 Christ is, just how good this gift is. And so 00:14:47.970 --> 00:14:50.610 we're sharing that not because we have to, but 00:14:50.610 --> 00:14:54.269 because we truly believe in the joy that Jesus 00:14:54.269 --> 00:14:58.549 brings because we are convicted. because we feel 00:14:58.549 --> 00:15:02.409 it. It's more than just something we know. It's 00:15:02.409 --> 00:15:04.769 more than just stats in our head. It's more than 00:15:04.769 --> 00:15:07.169 just rules that have been impressed on us. It 00:15:07.169 --> 00:15:11.070 is a joy. It is a goodness that we feel deeply. 00:15:11.350 --> 00:15:15.190 You see, Disney sells joy so well that they don't 00:15:15.190 --> 00:15:18.409 just create fans. They don't just create people 00:15:18.409 --> 00:15:21.210 that like Disney. They create people who cannot 00:15:21.210 --> 00:15:26.200 stop talking about Disney. So let me ask you 00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:31.179 this question. If a worldly organization, if 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:35.080 they can do that, how much more should we be 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:38.580 compelled to share the joy that comes from Christ? 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:42.320 How much more should we be compelled to share 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:46.340 the goodness of God that we believe? And then 00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:48.399 I want you to think about this. When the lost 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:51.000 are found, Scripture tells us something else 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.799 happens. I've been saying it for the last couple 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:56.340 of weeks. There is a celebration. Jesus says 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:58.720 in every story he tells in Luke 15, something 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:02.620 like what he says in verse 7. Just so I tell 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:06.320 you, there will be more joy in heaven over one 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:10.659 sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:16.250 who need no repentance. To simplify that, every 00:16:16.250 --> 00:16:19.970 time someone is found, every time someone gives 00:16:19.970 --> 00:16:23.870 their life to Christ, heaven throws a party. 00:16:24.629 --> 00:16:28.190 The Father celebrates, the angels celebrate. 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:31.620 I can just envision it. There's confetti popping 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:35.139 and there's music playing and there's dancing 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:37.820 and there's shouting and there's amens and hallelujahs. 00:16:37.820 --> 00:16:41.299 It is a full -on celebration. And the truth is, 00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:43.460 I've been saying it these past few weeks, the 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:48.549 church is meant to reflect that same joy. We 00:16:48.549 --> 00:16:51.149 have no other response than to reflect that same 00:16:51.149 --> 00:16:53.629 celebration. When somebody walks into Disney 00:16:53.629 --> 00:16:56.830 World, everything communicates happiness. Everything 00:16:56.830 --> 00:16:59.669 communicates celebration from the music to the 00:16:59.669 --> 00:17:02.129 greetings you get from the characters. And when 00:17:02.129 --> 00:17:04.309 you walk into Disney, I've never been, but this 00:17:04.309 --> 00:17:06.809 is what I've heard, nobody wonders if they're 00:17:06.809 --> 00:17:10.049 welcome. They don't walk through those gates 00:17:10.049 --> 00:17:13.329 and wonder, am I supposed to be here or do they 00:17:13.329 --> 00:17:15.490 want me here? Nobody wonders that because you're 00:17:15.490 --> 00:17:19.160 giving them your money. Seriously, though, nobody 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:22.380 wonders that because the whole atmosphere is 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:25.000 this fully inviting place that says, we want 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:29.460 you to be a part of this experience. And so another 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:32.539 question I ask is, if they can do that, how much 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:35.279 more should the church be a place of celebration 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:39.910 when someone who was lost is found? Not a place 00:17:39.910 --> 00:17:43.509 of suspicion, not a place full of side eyes and, 00:17:43.529 --> 00:17:46.049 oh, can you believe that they're here? Not a 00:17:46.049 --> 00:17:49.349 place that looks at them when they walk in and 00:17:49.349 --> 00:17:51.529 says, hey, we need you to check that outfit or, 00:17:51.529 --> 00:17:54.089 hey, you got to put a suit on or you got to put 00:17:54.089 --> 00:17:56.089 a tie on or I can't believe that you would wear 00:17:56.089 --> 00:17:58.410 something like that. Not a place that says, hey, 00:17:58.450 --> 00:18:00.789 we know what you did last week. I don't think 00:18:00.789 --> 00:18:03.880 you're supposed to be here. They walk in and 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:06.380 they are met with a place that says, we want 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:09.240 to fully invite you into the worship and praise 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:11.759 of our God. We want to fully invite you into 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:15.220 the begging of God to redeem us. We want to fully 00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:19.220 invite you into this reconciliation that Jesus 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:26.420 has offered us. And all of that, a place that 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:30.440 invites them into the joy that only Christ brings. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:35.279 Because when someone comes to know Christ, it's 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:37.559 not just a decision that they make in their head. 00:18:37.660 --> 00:18:42.400 It's a resurrection. It's an old, crusty life 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:45.759 that was dead, that was desolate, being brought 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:49.140 to life and being offered a newness, as Jesus 00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:53.210 says, an abundant life. It's a lost sheep being 00:18:53.210 --> 00:18:55.730 carried home. It's a coin being found. It's a 00:18:55.730 --> 00:18:58.529 son coming back to the father. And all of that 00:18:58.529 --> 00:19:01.950 is 100 % worthy of celebration. As I said the 00:19:01.950 --> 00:19:04.970 other week, I want to be the party planning committee 00:19:04.970 --> 00:19:09.259 of heaven's worst nightmare. I want heaven to 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:12.220 get tired of us bringing people to Christ. I 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.619 want our church to be a place where people come 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:17.480 and they find themselves able to lay their burdens 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.539 down at the foot of the cross and say, Jesus, 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:22.140 I accept the free gift of salvation that you 00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:25.480 have offered me. I accept the free joy that you 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:29.319 are offering me. And that is something I want 00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:31.759 to emphasize this morning before we finish. I 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:34.000 want to make it very clear. Disney World, yes, 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:36.700 it is magical, but it comes at a cost. And from 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:39.480 what I understand, a very hefty cost. You pay 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.700 for the tickets, you pay for the food, you pay 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:45.140 to have this experience. And truthfully, not 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:49.539 everyone can afford the price of admission. But 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:55.859 the kingdom of God, the real magic kingdom, that 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:58.519 kingdom. It doesn't work that way. I want you 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:01.880 to hear what John says in Revelation 22, verse 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:08.440 17. The spirit and the bride say, come. And let 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:12.619 the one who hears say, come. And let the one 00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:15.380 who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:21.660 take the water of life without price. In other 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:28.420 words, let them come. and let them partake for 00:20:28.420 --> 00:20:33.220 free. Don't put a price in the way because there 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:36.380 is none. Don't put any obligations in the way 00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:39.380 because there are none. Don't put any prerequisites 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:43.839 in the way because there are none. You don't 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:47.019 earn it. You don't buy it. It is fully free. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:50.359 The price of admission has already been paid 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:55.299 because Jesus paid it with his life. So if you're 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:57.559 hearing this today and you're thinking I'm one 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.920 of the lost ones who we've been talking about 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:01.960 the last couple of weeks, I want you to hear 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:05.019 this clearly. The gates are open. There is no 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:08.160 security. There is no check -in point. There 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:11.799 is no price of admission. There's only an invitation 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:16.519 that has your name on it. So you can come on 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:20.200 in. It's free. You can afford it because it's 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:22.660 free. And I also want to speak to those of us 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:26.440 who are already in Christ. Because this is something 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:29.140 we need to hear. Some of us love Jesus deeply. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:32.619 We talk about him. We sing about him. We pray 00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:35.339 to him even. We love Jesus deeply. But somewhere 00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:38.359 along the way, we stopped seeking. Somewhere 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:40.779 along the way, we got comfortable. Maybe we got 00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:43.339 busy. Maybe we got distracted. And we forgot 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:45.579 the weight of what we've been entrusted with. 00:21:45.950 --> 00:21:48.210 We forgot the assignment that we've been given, 00:21:48.250 --> 00:21:51.009 the mission that's been handed over to us. And 00:21:51.009 --> 00:21:54.630 we're still saved, but we're not really doing 00:21:54.630 --> 00:21:58.849 the job that we've been called to do. And I want 00:21:58.849 --> 00:22:00.910 you to hear this. I don't say this to shame us 00:22:00.910 --> 00:22:04.329 because I'm guilty of it too. I don't say this 00:22:04.329 --> 00:22:07.490 to make us feel bad. What I'm saying is we need 00:22:07.490 --> 00:22:10.990 to be brought back. We have to remember who we 00:22:10.990 --> 00:22:13.609 are. We have to remember that we are, as Paul 00:22:13.609 --> 00:22:17.170 said in 2 Corinthians 5, ambassadors of Christ. 00:22:18.170 --> 00:22:21.490 We are those who have been entrusted with this 00:22:21.490 --> 00:22:26.390 vision to reconcile the lost. So in this moment, 00:22:26.490 --> 00:22:29.170 whether you need to give your life to Christ 00:22:29.170 --> 00:22:34.029 for the first time, or maybe you need to recommit 00:22:34.029 --> 00:22:37.660 yourself to His mission. Maybe you need to recommit 00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:40.599 yourself to the vision. I want you to know that 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:44.140 we are here. Although we're not here together 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:47.599 in the building, we're here. And we're just a 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:50.660 phone call or a text away. We're an email away. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:54.359 We're a Facebook message away from you saying, 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:57.140 hey, I'm ready to give my life to Christ. I'm 00:22:57.140 --> 00:23:01.029 ready to do this. take the step of giving my 00:23:01.029 --> 00:23:03.930 life over to him and making him my savior and 00:23:03.930 --> 00:23:06.789 more than that, my Lord. And if you just need 00:23:06.789 --> 00:23:09.130 to say, hey, I need to recommit my life to this 00:23:09.130 --> 00:23:11.950 mission. I haven't been seeking the loss. I haven't 00:23:11.950 --> 00:23:14.109 been spreading the good news. Whatever it is 00:23:14.109 --> 00:23:15.789 you need, or if you just need somebody to pray 00:23:15.789 --> 00:23:19.029 for you because you're hurting right now, wherever 00:23:19.029 --> 00:23:22.990 you are today, we're here. And as John says in 00:23:22.990 --> 00:23:27.859 Revelation, we ask you to come. We're just a 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:31.720 text, a call, an email away. Come.