Built to Last Part 2 – The Jesus DNAPastor Tan 31 May 2008Continued from
Part 1.Prayer is the key to revival!
Everyone starts off with the idea of building something to last.
The important things that we must build are values. The
VALUES of having values:
Visible
Attract – People of the same value
Lead – Different opportunities are presented to us. So values act like a compass.
Unite – People with the same values unite
Establish – Building a foundation
Standard
Recall: The 10 important values to we can build to last.
DNAIs there some sort of DNA that an organization have? Can we then inject this DNA into society and began to change and transform people one at a time? We can then get a mass of people with the same mindset and it will act as a tipping point.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA): contains genetic information needed for all living things to function, grow and reproduce. Our DNA contains information about us. It takes 96 years to read our DNA.
Similarly, for a church, the word of God becomes the DNA for the body of Christ.
DNA contains the set of blueprints containing instructions. Using the same blueprint of City Harvest, we can have many branch churches that take shape to be similar to City Harvest.
DNA is made up of four chemical bases. That is similar to our church’s values.
The DNA distinguishes our church from other churches.
DNA determines your personality. City Harvest members look and act the same way. When enough people share the same City Harvest DNA, we are then able to multiple.
The speed in which DNA is replicated is the speed of growth in the person. The rate disciples are made in City Harvest is the rate at which City Harvest can grow.
The City Harvest DNA cannot be taught in the classroom, but can be transferred through discipleship.
1 Cor 4:14
“yet you do not have many fathers”
“imitate me” – have the same DNA as me, in the way I serve God, in the way I conduct my life
If DNA has 4 chemical bases, what are 4 things that can sum up Jesus’ ministry?Jesus’ DNA has (1 Cor 13:13) these chemical bases:
1. Faith – Jesus lived by faith with His relationship with the Father. He lived on a dependency and trust in God.
2. Hope – Jesus had hope for the cause set before Him
3. Love – Jesus did everything out of love. He loved and forgave the adulteress woman
All these can be summed up into one thing: Servanthood.
Everything that Jesus did, he did it in the position of a servant.
a) NimrodGenesis 10:6-10
“Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord”
The beginning of his kingdom was Babel. Nimrod was the leader who wanted to build the Tower of Babel. He wanted to be a world leader, the greatest of them all.
Genesis 11:1-9
Nimrod wanted to build something that will last, but God came and aborted the plan. He did not allow it to happen, so Nimrod failed.
b) AbrahamGenesis 12 (Just one chapter away)
God wanted to make Abraham the father of all nations, a world leader.
Why would God cause Nimrod to fail and why did God choose Abraham?
Nimrod thought of himself, to make his name great, when he was building the tower, but Abraham was called to serve others. Abraham was willing to be broken (last week). Thus, Abraham lived a life of faith, hope (he hoped for a son for 25 years) – Abraham died without really possessing the land, love (for God) and servanthood.
Nimrod was a “mighty one” = a cruel oppressor and tyrant. If you are not serving, you cannot build to last.
You need to have the Jesus DNA to see growth and multiplication.
Genesis 26:24
“for My servant Abraham’s sake”
2 Sam 3:18
“By the hand of My servant David”
Numbers 12:7-8
“Not so with My servant Moses”
“Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses”
Numbers 14:24
“But My servant Caleb”
Job 1:8
“Have you considered My servant Job”
All these people had the blessings of God upon them and mighty works were done through them, because they were servants of God.
God is finding a man or woman who is loyal to Him and willing to serve Him. And God will bless you like He blessed Abraham and your name will last. It is not by your might or your power, but by your attitude!
Ish 41:8
Abraham was not called God’s servant forever. He was later called God’s friend.
Exodus 33:11
“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to a friend”
You become a friend of God first by being a servant of God, knowing Him.
Serving is such an important part even in businesses. In a company, it is your customer that builds a business.
Most of the time, customers – 96% - don’t bother to complain, they just go to your competitors. We should thank God for that 4% that bother to complain, to remind us of our weaknesses.
Serving each other opens up a world of relationship. Our lives are an example. Serving involves sacrifice. Visible love opens invisible hearts. Serving is the highest form of meaningfulness in life.
Phil 2:25-3:21
“my brother” = has the same Father, same DNA as me
“fellow worker” = not a consumer Christian, but a producer Christian
“fellow soldier” = fighting for the same cause
“messenger” = trusted with carrying the Gospel, a faithful man
“minister” = so that others’ lives can be touched, transformed
There is a protein in our body – Laminin – that makes sure our overall body structure holds together. It looks like a cross under the microscope - In our body, we have millions of crosses that hold our body together!
Col 1:15
“having made peace through the blood on the cross”
The cross symbolizes:
Hope
Faith Love
Servanthood
Breastplate of faith, helmet of hope.
