This morning, Pastor Matthew starts our new series, "Move", with a message about identity.
Culture says that what we do defines who we are, but that drives us to be stuck, burnt out, and more frustrated. Our true and primary identity is that we are children of God. This identity isn’t earned, but we are born or grafted into it. Being a child of God not only defines who we are but also how we operate. In Genesis 1:27–28, Adam and Eve were chosen to be a son and daughter of God, and with that, came a role to fill the earth, subdue it, and expand heaven across the earth. When sin affected that mandate, God later chose Abraham as a vessel for his "heaven on earth" desire (Genesis 12:1-3). Through Abraham, God created the people of Israel, who would bless the earth. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, the Gentiles can also be a part of that covenant and mandate of heaven on earth.
Matthew also discussed our identity as people of Waypoint Church. We are apostolic people, which means that we are sent ones. We are called to plant churches as it is an assignment that God has given to us. Apostolic people see gaps, run to them, and then ask the Lord if we are the ones that are supposed to fill them. Living missionally and with a purpose every day is another aspect of life at Waypoint. It’s important that we are constantly led by and dependent on the Holy Spirit. That means we dig deep into the Word so we can hear and know his voice more clearly, which leads to obedience. We want to be people that live differently by the power of the Holy Spirit! We are also people who are all in it for Jesus and the people of the world, which means dying to oneself. This means that we are called to be fathers and mothers in the kingdom of God. It is our heart to have people climb on our shoulders and go farther and be better than we ever could.