WWW.VICTORY SERIES: Multi-generational

“…what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us, we will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands”
Psalm 78:3-7.

We honor God when we obey his command to go and make disciples. But who are we supposed to reach out to? The bible tells us that we are to reach the multi-generation. Not just one generation but thousands of generations before us.

“This is my name forever. The name you shall call me from generation to generation”
Exodus 15b.

Illustration:
Our forefathers ->Their children->Next Generation ->Children yet to be born->their children->so forth.

Read Joshua 2:7-12.

“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel”
Joshua 2:10.

Joshua and his generation succeeded in everything during their lifetime but failed to teach the next generation about the LORD, whereas, in the New Testament, the apostle Paul stressed the importance of passing on sincere faith to multi-generation in his letter to his disciple, Timothy as he reminded him of the faith that his grandmother had passed on to his mother and then to him.

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also”
2 Timothy 1:5.

Paul referred to grandmother Eunice’s sincere faith. What is sincere faith? Sincere faith is having a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul, then, urged Timothy to continue to pass on the faith to the generations after him. If your faith is not sincere, you cannot pass it on.

“and the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”
2 Timothy 2:2.

ESTABLISHED GENERATION or the NOW-GEN.
The NOW-GEN refers to the present generation of Christians who know, love and obey God. There are three types of people in the NOW-GEN: The Spectators, the Commentators and the Coaches. The Spectators watch the action happen, the Commentators express their opinions on the action happening in front of them and the coaches are the ones who pass on the baton to the EMERGING GENERATION or the NEXT-GEN.

EMERGING GENERATION or the NEXT-GEN.
These are the people who will remember God’s deeds.

“so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children”
Psalm 78:6.

LET GOD BE HONORED IN EVERY GENERATION IN EVERY NATION

“Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands” Psalm 78:7.

“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.

WWW.VICTORY SERIES: Make Disciples

“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 28:19-20.

A person’s final words are the most important words that he will say. Jesus’ last words before he joined the Father were to go and make disciples and baptizing them. Jesus came to bring salvation to all those who believe. This gift is not just for us; It is meant to be shared. Everywhere, people are searching for the truth and the world offers so many cures to what people are going through. As Christians, we know the real Truth. We must rise up and tell the world the real gospel because the only way that people can be cured is to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO:

1. Follow God.

“Come, follow me, “ Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”
Matthew 4:19.

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple”
Luke 14:27.

Before we can make disciples, we must first have a relationship with God. We cannot give what we do not have. Following Christ means that there will be difficulties ahead. Do you still want to follow Christ?

“But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”
Matthew 7:14.

2. Fellowship with fellow Believers.
Fellowship means “life shared.” God wants us to have genuine relationship with the people of God. This can happen in small groups where we can be more intimate and personal with each other. Our gifts can operate within small group settings where we can pray for one another and encourage each other (Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:25). In small groups, we will encounter people who are as imperfect as we are. Jesus started his small group of 12 imperfect men who later on made a difference in the world.

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid”
Proverbs 12:1.

3. Fish for men.
Jesus’ heart is for the lost. We must obey when God says go. We honor God whenever we follow His great commission.

FOLLOW JESUS AND HELP OTHERS TO FOLLOW HIM.

WWW.VICTORY SERIES: Honor God

Values dictate our behavior. Every family has a set of values they live by. Every church have their own set of values. Where do we get these values?

“Jesus replied: `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and commandments hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.

(Also read Colossians 1:9-10).

Most Christian churches, including Victory Church Philippines base their values on this verse found in the book of Matthew. To “honor God” is the fundamental value of our church.
Why do we honor God? We honor God because He is worthy.

“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom”
Psalm 145:3.

“Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy”
Psalm 99:5

What does it mean to honor God?

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”
Matthew 15:8.

To honor God is more than just a lip service, it is more than just coming to church and doing religious routines. Honoring God is a heart issue. We make a decision to honor God in everything that we do beforehand.

“`If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name, says the LORD Almighty, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me’”
Malachi 2:2.

HOW TO HONOR GOD:

1.Honor God in church.

We value honoring God even above our relationships.

2. Honor God in the Family

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” Ephesians 5:25-26.

3. Honor God in work.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” Colossians 3:23.

4. Honor God in our finances/wealth.

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops”
Proverbs 3:9.

We honor God with our wealth through giving and in stewardship.

“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous” Proverbs 13:22.

5. Honor God by honoring our parents.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you”
Exodus 20:12.

WE HONOR GOD IN EVERYTHING WE DO.
We are all called by God to honor him. He is pleased when our only desire is to honor Him.