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After an amazing week I want to conclude by speaking on Boldly Going.

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We all like our theology so today I want to speak about Star Trek Theology. There
are 2 types of Christians in the world.
‘Beam me up Scotty’ – the world is a terrible place, get me out of here Jesus.
‘To boldly go where no man has gone before’ – that’s what stirs up within me at
Four12!

Four12 conference is a stretching time – we always need our vision stretched.

I saw a news article about a new type of metal used in the frames of glasses. No
matter how the frames are twisted and bent they will default to type. We don’t want
to be like that!

We don’t want to leave this week together and not get what God has so clearly said to
us about changing how the world does church.
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1. Jesus will continually stretch our vision.
It’s an issue for the first disciples and in Acts 10 Luke records how Peter is on the
roof at his house in Joppa and he recieves a dream about this sheet coming down
from heaven will all sorts of food on it. Whilst Peter is still reflcting on the vision the
Centurion’s servants arrive and bring him back to Caesaraea. What was the outcome?
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard
the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished
that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard
them speaking in tongues and praising God. Acts 10:44-46

Hold on a second! What was the big revelation?

Hadn’t Peter seen Jesus with the Syrophoenician Woman whose daughter was sick,
hadn’t he heard the Great Commission?! Why does he need a fresh vision? We revert
to type. Even apostles revert to type.
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And even after this mind blowing vision he later goes back to his old self.
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood
condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the
Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the
circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so
that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Galatians 2:11-13

There’s a warning for us in the weakness of Peter.

We don’t want to be a movement like the children of Israel, walking in circles, not
listening to and obeying the voice of God calling us to enter into our destiny.

Today there’s still a struggle between the Moses generation v Joshua Generation

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Moses Generation only came out bondage but the Joshua Generation entered into
their inheritance.
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Look at the heart of Jesus and how he continually streteched his disciples vision.
Before his crucifxion he told his disicples…
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Matthew 26:32
Why not the temple? Jerusalem? Wouldn’t that have been more strategic?
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But it’s Galilee. Galilee was the most spiritually dark part of the region.
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And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory
of Zebulun and Naphtali,  14  so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be
fulfilled: 15  “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond
the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16  the people dwelling in darkness have seen a
great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light
has dawned.” 17  From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:13-17
Intimacy has been a huge theme this week. Do you want to encounter Jesus more
deeply? Yes closing the door is vital to create the secret place but in opening a door
into our broken world you’ll also find Jesus.

We’ll encounter Jesus whenever we’re taking the Gospel to unlikely places. The
Great Commission ends with ‘surely I’ll be with you always’.
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The disicples surprisingly found it really hard to grasp the heart of God for the lost.
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore
the kingdom to Israel?”  7  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or
seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.  8  But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:6-8
They were focused on Israel whereas Jesus was thinking about the ends of the earth.
Lady from Port Erin who holidayed in Port St Mary. Parcochial.
Neighbourhood v nations; ends of the earth
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2. A Clear Vision is key to completing the mission
The challenge for so many of us is that after such an amazing week in vision and
insight we quickly jump on the Hamster Wheel of the routine of church life - dizzy–
and if we’re not casreful there’s a loss of vision.
Vision is so important to keep at the front of us both personally and corporately.
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For the last 2 weeks of our trip we ministered into Namibia and on our penultimate
day our hosts suggested we headed out to Fish River Canyon just before sunset. You
need to understand that distance isn’t an issue there and that the roads off the main
routes are a nightmare. Most are gravel roads and as the economy is in trouble the
government stopped paying the contractors operating daily to keep the gravel roads in
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good order. Currently the 100km gravel road to the Fish River Canyon has the
surface like corrugated iron with the troughs at least 2 inches deep. As I drove the
noise was unbearable and about 50 km in the inevitable happened and we got a
puncture. Inside I just wanted to turn back. I’d borrowed Grant’s combi and I was
concerned it would be wrecked. There was no phone signal where we were, the only
cars passing us were 4x4 and inside I just wanted to get back. But Abraham was
insistent; he changed the wheel and drove for the remainder of the journey.
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What I didn’t realise was that the Fish River Canyon was the 2nd biggest canyon in
the world next to the Grand Canyon, over (160 km) long, up to 27 km wide and in
places almost 550 meters deep.
When we hit the bumps, troubles and problems because I didn’t know the vision at
the end I just wanted to give up but Abraham new that all the trouble would be more
than worth it when we reached the end. It was spectacular, stunning, a real wonder in
God’s creation and as the sun set over the Canyon it was breath taking.
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A clear vision is key for every person.
Where there is no vision, the people perish. Proverbs 29:18
When we don’t have a clear vision of what’s at the end of the road when we
experience the bumps, hit troubles, feel the heat, or have the wheels taken out from
under us, like me in the Namibia we can often feel like giving up and throwing in the
towel. But if we do inevitably we’ll miss out on so much.
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It was a clear vision of what lay at the end, ‘the joy set before him’, which enabled
Jesus to press through.
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame… Hebrews 12:2
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Similarly look at where Paul fixed his eyes.
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies
ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

The power of a clear vision and strategy - mist in the pulpit a fog in the pew
1. Empowers us to keep going in adversity - Fish River
2. Positions us under the blessing of God - NT unity heart mind and purpose. Pa 133,
Trinity (Jesus only did what Father did)
3. Ensures productivity not just activity, fruitfulness not just faithfulness - climb the
tree to see where we are actually working and make changes
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3. A Kingdom vision is varifocal
Glasses
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a. It starts with our neighbourhoods (Jerusalem)
Who is my neighbour? Luke 10:29
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Good question for 21st century life!
Hamster wheel of ministry - Cut my neighbours grass
Rousseau

Today Rousseau thinking that way – coffee, not those inside the building –
salvations, baptisms, memberships.

Not just neighbourhoods, there will be a multiplication effect – Acts 9:31 ff

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b. Reaching the nations
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your
possession. Psalm 2:8
The WORLD. Passport!
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This vision for Paul
Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the
obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. Romans 1:5
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c. Transforming existing churches
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” 1 Corinthians 3:6
Apostolic gifts work into exisitng churches.
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Don’t do a Peter and keep on making the same errors.
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what
is lacking in your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:10
We need speedy transitions in this next season.
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d. Planting brand new churches
“and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already
been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation” Romans 15:20
In fact Rome was just a refuelling oiont. Spain was on his heart!

Several churches in Four12 are planting new congregations but caution for unhealthy
churches – reproduce after your kind.
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Paul’s physical description by 2nd century author -  He was a bald-headed,
bowlegged short man with a big nose, and an unbroken eyebrow that lay across his
forehead like a dead caterpillar.
ordinary leaders and saints
Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Acts 2:7
Thick accents, not highly educated, and from unlikely places.
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“These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, Acts
17:6

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Response 
1. Will you boldly go? Neighbourhoods – nations – move congregations – get
ready – outreaches to exirting churches - plant new churches
2. Be a Joshua Generation – whatever changes personally or corporately make
them speedily to enter into your inheritance. Don’t hold others back!
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