We are citizens of heaven with a purposed assignment of influence in a fallen world that Jesus wants to completely redeem by his love. Our goal in this season of “Secret Service” is to inspire and empower you to become everything God has created you to be. Make a daily difference every day this week!
Matt 16:16-19 (Peter told Jesus), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you..! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." ESV
Acts of secret service will enhance the world around you. Stop making this so difficult and simply begin to serve! The body of Christ is anointed to make the world a wonderful place! If we think in terms of the 24,901 miles it takes to travel around the globe we will be overwhelmed. We all must think of the world in terms of “the world within our reach.” The world within your reach is the space within five feet of your existence. If we live our lives with selfless consideration of everyone who is within five feet we will change the world within our reach!
When we bring the resource of our gifted lives into the hands of Jesus will leave our world a better place.
Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. NIV
Don’t do something for someone asking or even hoping for anything in return! Let it be your secret service as unto God.
Isa 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. NKJV
In the Old Testament we see how Aaron was anointed with oil running down his beard. The word “anoint” gives the idea of smearing with oil and leaving a mark of that oil where you were anointed.
Job 29:3-6 When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; 4 As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent; 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me; 6 When my steps were bathed in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil! NAS
We are marked by his anointing. Our steps release something of heaven in earth. Our society isn’t going to be changed because of polished church services that have mastered excellence in our experiences. Our society will be changed when we truly surrender to the Master who awakens love in our lives and heaven in our hearts as we become avenues for God’s Kingdom to invade every sphere of influence on society.
The church in the hands of our Risen King will truly change the world.
We Bring GP2RL:
Purpose to make a daily difference in the lives of those within your reach this week.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. If you could ask Jesus to fix one problem in the world today, what would you like him to change?
We are moving into this season of focusing in on serving others. Various situations capture the attention of various people. On a deeper level, various situations capture the affection of various people.
What concerns you is always a clue to your call. When you find yourself continually noticing something you have a decision to make. You can make a point by complaining about it or you can make a difference by getting involved.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. It is easier to make a point than it is to make a difference. Share a time when you made a difference in somebody’s day or situation.
3. As we read the following two portions of Scripture consider what stands out to you?
Matt 16:16-19 (Peter told Jesus), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you..! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” ESV
Eph 1:23 The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. MSG
The church at work in our world is will make an impact marked by love. The Old Testament describes the process of being anointed as oil running down Aaron’s beard. The idea of being anointed is to be covered with oil wherever you were anointed in such a way that a mark of oil would result where you were anointed.
This brings an interesting insight to Job’s comment about his steps being bathed in butter:
Job 29:3-6 When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; 4 As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent; 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me; 6 When my steps were bathed in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil! NAS
Everywhere we go this week we leave a mark. Our action point for the week is to purpose to make a daily difference in the lives of those within our reach.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Who are some people God may be placing on your heart and how do you intend to leave a mark of love on their life this week?
Everybody conclude by sharing who and how – then close in prayer calling out these people who have been mentioned.