TEXT:
(John 1:1-14 NIV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God in the beginning. {3} Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. {4} In him was life, and that life was the light of men. {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it………. {10} He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. {11} He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. {12} Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- {13} children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. {14} The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
WHO GOD IS..
WHAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD?
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT….
a. GOD IS HOLY
b. GOD IS ETERNAL
c. GOD IS ALL-KNOWING
d. GOD IS ALL POWERFUL
e. GOD FAIR AND JUST
THESE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD CAUSE BOTH EXCITEMENT AND FEAR IN US…
- IF YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD CAUSES YOU TO FEAR FEARFUL OR CONCERNED… THEN YOU TRULY DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE ATTRIBUTES MEAN…
o THIS ILLUSTRATES HOW MUCH SPIRITUAL AMNESIA WE HAVE!
• GOD IS HOLY!
o LIE #1: “WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD IS FINE AS LONG AS YOU ARE SINCERE”
o LIE #2: “YOU HAVE A STANDARD AND I HAVE A STANDARD.. AS LONG AS WE ARE SINCERE BOTH STANDARDS ARE RIGHT”
THAT’S RIDICULOUS..
ILLUSTRATION: THAT’S LIKE DESCRIBING OSAMA BIN LADEN AS A KIND OLD GENTLEMAN
• THAT IS WHAT HE APPEARS TO BE..
• BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT HE IS!
o I HAVE TO GET TO KNOW GOD AGAIN.. BECAUSE I CONTINUALLY BRING HIM DOWN TO BE MORE LIKE ME..
o THIS IS A PICTURE OF GOD…
(Isa 6:1-3 NIV) "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. {2} Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. {3} And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
o “HOLY, HOLY HOLY”
THE JEWS WOULD SAY THINGS THREE TIMES TO MEAN “PERFECTLY”
GOD IS PERFECTLY “SET APART”
o GOD’S HOLINESS MEANS THAT HE IS “SET APART”
GOD’S HOLINESS MEANS: THERE IS NO ONE TO COMPARE HIM TO..
HE IS THE SOURCE OF “RIGHTNESS” AND “GOODNESS”
o THE FEAR OF GOD COMES UP IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD’S HOLINESS…
HE IS PERFECT… WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE PERFECT
• WE FEEL INCAPABLE AND UNABLE…. = FEAR
FEAR IS A GOOD THING, IT LETS US KNOW WHERE OUR CONFIDENCE IS.. IF WE FEAR GOD, WE FEAR NOTHING ELSE..
• IF WE DON’T FEAR GOD… OUR LIVES ARE FULL OF FEARS OF ALL TYPES…
• WE FEAR LOSS, HARDSHIP, DIFFICULTY… ETC..
(1 John 4:18 NIV) "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. THE ONE WHO FEARS IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE."
o WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US..
WE MUST CONFESS OUR SINFULNESS
IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, ALL FLESH FALLS DOWN AND THE SINFULNESS IN US REQUIRES US TO BREAK.
WHAT DOES THE FACT THAT HE IS PERFECT AND REQUIRES US TO BE LIKE HIM MEAN?
1. SUGGEST: THAT WE STOP TRYING TO USE OUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD AND NOT GOOD FOR US
a. MEANS: WE NEED TO CONNECT TO THE ETERNAL NATURE OF GOD… BEGIN TO ALLOW HIS CHARACTAR TO TRANSFORM US.
• GOD IS ETERNAL!
• GOD NEVER “STARTED”
(Gen 1:1 NIV) "In the beginning God.. created the heavens and the earth."
i. WHATEVER WAS HERE BEFORE THE “BIG BANG” – THAT WAS GOD!
ii. IMMENSITY: THE TIMELESSNESS OF GOD IS SO HARD TO COMPREHEND
1. ITS LIKE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE OCEAN BY TAKING HOME A BOTTLE FULL OF SEA WATER..
iii. OUR LIVES ARE SO SHORT AND INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO THE VASTNESS OF GOD
iv. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME TO REALIZE THAT LONG BEFORE I WAS HERE… AND LONG AFTER I AM GONE, GOD’S CREATIVE WORK AND PLANS HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORKED OUT.
1. SUGGEST: THAT WE GET OUT OF THE STREAM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND GET IN THE ETERNAL STREAM OF HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH.
a. MEANS: IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT TO SPEND YOUR LIFE SEEKING HIM..
• GOD IS ALL KNOWING!
• THIS IS SO INTIMIDATING
i. GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE YOU DO IT
1. HE DOESN’T MAKE YOU DO IT… HE JUST KNOWS YOU THAT WELL!
ii. ALL KNOWLEDGE STARTS AND ENDS WITH GOD
1. WE CAN’T KNOW (OR EVEN THINK OF) ANYTHING THAT GOD DOESN’T ALREADY KNOW
a. HE CREATED KNOWLEDGE
iii. SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL WITHOUT SEEKING GOD
1. ADAM & EVE AT THE FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
a. INSTEAD OF CONSULTING GOD THEY WANTED TO AS GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL
(Gen 2:16-17 NIV) "And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; {17} but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
iv. WHAT DOES GOD KNOWING EVERYTHING MEAN TO ME?
1. SCIENCE AND THE CHURCH HAVE BATTLED IN HISTORY
2. AUGUSTINE FIRST OPENED THE DOOR
a. SAID THAT STUDYING CREATION WAS A MEANS OF WORSHIP..
3. GOD’S CREATIVITY IS EXPRESSED IN CREATION
a. WHEN WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE WE CANT HELP BUT WORSHIP
b. SIR ISAAC NEWTON (most profound scientist of all time) WAS A WORSHIPPER.
i. GOT HIS INSIGHT AND IDEAS FROM GOD
ii. ALSO WROTE 3 VOLUMES OF PROPHETIC INSIGHTS IN LATIN (CAN DOWNLOAD ON INTERNET)
c. ALBERT EINSTEIN (most profound modern scientist) was a worshipper
i. DIRECTLY GIVES GOD CREDIT FOR “E = M C2”
v. SUGGEST: INSTEAD OF PURSUING KNOWLEDGE BASED ON WHAT SEEMS RIGHT TO ME.. COULD I GAIN THE MIND OF GOD?
1. MEANS: I HAVE TO BE “OUT OF MY MIND” AND LEARN TO LISTEN, BELIEVE AND WALK IN THE “MIND OF CHRIST”
• GOD IS ALL POWERFUL!
• EVERYTHING WAS CREATED FOR GOD…
(Col 1:16-17 NIV) "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM. {17} He is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER."
i. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM
1. SCIENCE IS STILL TRYING TO CREATE MATTER
a. “Matter cannot be created or destroyed” LAW OF MATTER..
ii. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED FOR HIM
1. IT’S NOT ABOUT US…
2. WE ARE ALONG FOR THIS CRAZY WONDERFUL RIDE WITH GOD!
a. GOD HAS INVITED US TO PARTNER WITH HIM ON THE EARTH
b. GOD GAVE US LIMITED DOMINION BUT HE RETAINS OWNERSHIP!
iii. ALL THINGS CAME FROM HIM (“HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS”)
1. ALL OF CREATION REVEALS THE POWER AND CREATIVITY OF GOD… IT SCREAMS ABOUT HIS PERSONHOOD
2. “NATURAL REVELATION”
(Rom 1:19-20 NLT) "For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. {20} From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER FOR NOT KNOWING GOD."
iv. ALL THINGS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY HIM
1. IT’S SO AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPLIT AN ATOM.
a. THE STABILITY OF THE PLANET IS DEPENDANT ON THE POWER OF GOD TO HOLD THINGS TOGETHER
v. SUGGEST: GETTING UPSET THAT GOD DOESN’T DO THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL AS THOUGH HE SHOULD....
1. MEANS: WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO GET FAITH.. TO EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY LOVE OF GOD BY ASSOCIATION.. TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS… THIS IS CALLED FAITH
(Rom 10:17 NASB) "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
• GOD IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST!
• GOD IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST… THIS IS SCARY!
• GOD HATES SIN
i. WE HAVE LOST THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S DISTAIN FOR SIN IN OUR GENERATION..
ii. GOD HATES SIN AND HAS TO PUNISH IT..
1. EITHER YOU WILL ALLOW THE PUNISHMENT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO BE APPLIED BY BROKENNES AND REPENTANCE..
2. OR YOU WILL SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AND ATTACHED TO SIN…
• NONE OF US ARE GOD..
i. Celebrate Recovery FIRST principle: “Realize that I am NOT God, and that I am powerless over my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable”
• DO WE KNOW WHAT TRUE JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS IS?
i. “JUSTICE: reward and penalty as deserved”
• DO WE REALLY WANT JUSTICE FOR OURSELVES OR OTHERS?
i. NO, WE REALLY ALL DESERVE DEATH
• DO WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW GOD - IF HE IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST?
i. IF WE ENCOUNTER JUSTICE… WE WILL EXPERIENCE LOSS
ii. IF WE ENCOUNTER GOD… WE WILL HAVE TO DIE TO SELF!
• IF WE EXPERIENCE THE JUSTICE OF GOD.. WE WILL NO LONGER LIVE, BUT GOD WILL LIVE IN US!
(Rom 5:17-21 NLT) "The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but ALL WHO RECEIVE GOD'S WONDERFUL, GRACIOUS GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. {18} Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life. {19} Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But BECAUSE ONE OTHER PERSON OBEYED GOD, MANY PEOPLE WILL BE MADE RIGHT IN GOD'S SIGHT. {20} God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful kindness became more abundant. {21} So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now GOD'S WONDERFUL KINDNESS RULES INSTEAD, GIVING US RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD AND RESULTING IN ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."
THIS IS A DEFINITION OF GOD’S JUSTICE!!
THIS IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GOD SERVES JUSTICE ON US..
JESUS CAME TO FULFILL HIS JUSTICE!
THE CROSS IS GOD’S IDEA OF JUSTICE..
(Rom 5:8 NLT) "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
HOW IS GOD REVEALING HIS CRAZY LOVE FOR YOU BY HIS:
a. HOLINESS
a. WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PERSONHOOD AND STANDARD OF HOLINESS IS HE APPLYING TO YOUR LIFE?
b. ETERNAL NATURE
a. SUGGEST: THAT WE GET OUT OF THE STREAM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND GET IN THE ETERNAL STREAM OF HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH.
b. MEANS: IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT TO SPEND YOUR LIFE SEEKING HIM..
c. OMNICIENCE..
a. SUGGEST: INSTEAD OF PURSUING KNOWLEDGE BASED ON WHAT SEEMS RIGHT TO ME.. COULD I GAIN THE MIND OF GOD?
i. MEANS: I HAVE TO BE “OUT OF MY MIND” AND LEARN TO LISTEN, BELIEVE AND WALK IN THE “MIND OF CHRIST”
d. OMNIPOTENCE
SUGGEST: GETTING UPSET THAT GOD DOESN’T DO THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL AS THOUGH HE SHOULD....
MEANS: WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO GET FAITH.. TO EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY LOVE OF GOD BY ASSOCIATION.. TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS… THIS IS CALLED FAITH
e. JUSTICE
MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS.. YOU HAVENT GIVEN HIM YOUR LIFE…
GOD WANTS TO BE JUSTICE FOR YOU…
HE WANTS TO KEEP YOU FROM THE PRICE OF SIN!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
CRAZY LOVE
TEXT:
(John 1:1-14 NIV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God in the beginning. {3} Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. {4} In him was life, and that life was the light of men. {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it………. {10} He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. {11} He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. {12} Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- {13} children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. {14} The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Something is wrong with the church..
We all know it, but we don’t quite know what it is.
WHAT DID JESUS COME TO EARTH DO DO?
WHAT DID JESUS DIE FOR?
DID HE COME SO THAT WE COULD ALL TRY TO “BE GOOD”
AND TRY TO “ACT NICE”..
- SAVE UP ENOUGH “GOOD” AND “NICE” POINTS TO GET INTO HEAVEN?
SOMETHING IS WRONG…
JESUS CAME TO BRING US INTO FULL CONTACT LIFE
(John 10:10 NLT) "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
GOD IS A “GIVER”
GOD IS NOT A “TAKER”
TIME WILL END, SIN CORRUPTS AND THE FLESH WILL FAIL!
1. TIME ENDS…
- TIME STARTED WHEN GOD CREATED THE EARTH..
o Mortality is WITHIN our nature – it’s what makes us “NOT GOD”
o GOD is TIMELESS… He is immortal!
Jesus came to give us ETERNAL LIFE
- THERE WILL BE AN END TO EVERYTHING WE SEE..
o It’s not God who ends things… It’s the nature of the created world
2. SIN CORRUPTS
- SIN STARTED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
o SIN = SEPERATION from God
POTENTIAL OF SIN is within our nature
It is not in the plan of God…
o GOD IS PERFECT – He does not sin..
Jesus came to SAVE US from sin
3. FLESH WILL FAIL
- THE BODY IS WEAK..
o DEPENDANCE ON THE BODY AND MIND WILL LEAD TO FAILURE
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL WEAKNESS AND PAIN
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF CHOICES WE HAVE MADE WITH OUR BODIES..
JESUS CAME TO BRING “FULL CONTACT” LIFE..
- NOTHING HELD BACK
- NO REGRETS
- NO ETERNAL LOSSES
- NO EMPTY PROMISES
- THE SITUATION WE ARE IN IS NOT IT… ITS BEING IN HIM THAT BRINGS LIFE!
1. THE SOURCE
AMERICANS HAVE ENTIRELY LOST THE ABILITY TO GET INPUT FROM THE SOURCE
o WE ARE RELENTLESSLY HAMMERED BY INPUT
IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE ARE SURROUNDED BY INFORMATION
WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE 24/7 – 365
NO SILENCE EXISTS IN THIS CULTURE
INSTEAD OF KNOWING… WE ARE CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING
THE PROMISE OF GOD…
(Jer 29:11-14 NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Isa 64:4-7 NIV) “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS SO AMAZING THAT WE CANT EVEN IMAGINE IT!
“YOU HAVE KNOW IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND WHAT I WILL DO FOR YOU IF YOU JUST GET YOUR EYES OFF THE ISSUES AND KEEP THEM ON ME.. I WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT YOU HAVEN’T EVEN IMAGINED YET!”
RUNNING AHEAD AND NOT LISTENING TO A PARENT HAVE CAUSED THE DEATH OF MORE CHILDREN THAN ANY OTHER MISTAKE
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING PARENT IS A BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A CHILD.
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING GOD IS BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A FOLLOWER OF JESUS.
2. DISTRACTION
SPIRITUAL AMNESIA
IT CONFUSES US WHEN LOVING GOD IS HARD..
But there is a reason for this!
- WE ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR THOUGHTS AND DESIRES THAT WE HAVE NO SPACE FOR THE THOUGHTS AND DESIRES OF GOD.
- THERE ARE DAYS I DON’T FEEL LIKE LOVING GOD.
o WHY WOULD I FEEL THAT WAY?
- THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I DON’T WANT TO OBEY GOD.
o WHY DO I DO THAT?
- THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I DON’T SEEK TO PLEASE GOD
- THERE ARE EVEN TIMES WHEN I AM MAD AT GOD.
o WHY WOULD I EVER BE MAD AT SUCH A WONDERFUL & POWERFUL GOD?
IN OUR WORLD WHERE HUNDREDS THINGS DISTRACT US FROM GOD WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMIND OURSELVES OF HIM.
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY HEAR HIS VOICE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY SET ASIDE OUR DISTRACTIONS AND SEEK HIS FACE.
EXAMPLE:
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THIS KIND OF AMNESIA WITH PEOPLE?
1. GET OUT THE PICTURES..
a. RECALL THE GOOD TIMES & WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH!
2. SPEND TIME WITH THEM..
a. GET TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR MIND AND HEART!
ONCE YOU RECALL YOUR HISTORY
ONCE YOU REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE…
ONCE YOU CAN SEE THEIR HEART AND KNOW WHATS INSIDE..
THE AMNESIA DISSIPATES AND TRUE KNOWLEDGE SETS IN…
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS THE SAME AS ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP..
- ONCE WE REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE
- ONCE WE LEARN TO LOOK AT HIM ANEW AND HEAR HIS VOICE AGAIN
- ONCE WE GET TO KNOW HIS HEART..
o THEN WE WILL WALK IN THE FULLNESS OF WHO HE IS
o WE WILL DISCOVER HOW AND WHY HE CAM TO GIVE US ABUNDANT LIFE
o WE WILL DISCOVER AND WALK IN THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED.
START HERE……………………………………………………………………
3. WHO GOD IS..
WHAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD?
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT….
a. GOD IS HOLY
b. GOD IS ETERNAL
c. GOD IS ALL-KNOWING
d. GOD IS ALL POWERFUL
e. GOD FAIR AND JUST
THESE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD CAUSE BOTH EXCITEMENT AND FEAR IN US…
- IF YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD CAUSES YOU TO FEAR FEARFUL OR CONCERNED… THEN YOU TRULY DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE ATTRIBUTES MEAN…
o THIS ILLUSTRATES HOW MUCH SPIRITUAL AMNESIA WE HAVE!
• GOD IS HOLY!
o “WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD IS FINE AS LONG AS YOU ARE SINCERE”
THAT’S RIDICULOUS.. THAT’S LIKE DESCRIBING OSAMA BIN LADEN AS A KIND OLD GENTLEMAN
• THAT MAY BE WHAT I WANT HIM TO BE
• BUT IT’S NOT WHAT HE IS!
o I HAVE TO GET TO KNOW GOD AGAIN.. BECAUSE I CONTINUALLY BRING HIM DOWN TO BE MORE LIKE ME..
o THIS IS A PICTURE OF GOD…
(Isa 6:1-3 NIV) "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. {2} Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. {3} And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
o “HOLY, HOLY HOLY”
THE JEWS WOULD SAY THINGS THREE TIMES TO MEAN “PERFECTLY”
GOD IS PERFECTLY “SET APART”
o GOD’S HOLINESS MEANS THAT HE IS “SET APART”
GOD’S HOLINESS MEANS: THERE IS NO ONE TO COMPARE HIM TO..
HE IS THE SOURCE OF “RIGHTNESS” AND “GOODNESS”
o THE FEAR OF GOD COMES UP IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD’S HOLINESS…
HE IS PERFECT… WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE PERFECT
• WE FEEL INCAPABLE AND UNABLE…. = FEAR
FEAR IS A GOOD THING, IT LETS US KNOW WHERE OUR CONFIDENCE IS.. IF WE FEAR GOD, WE FEAR NOTHING ELSE..
• IF WE DON’T FEAR GOD… OUR LIVES ARE FULL OF FEARS OF ALL TYPES…
• WE FEAR LOSS, HARDSHIP, DIFFICULTY… ETC..
(1 John 4:18 NIV) "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. THE ONE WHO FEARS IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE."
o WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US..
WHEN WE BEGIN TO GET TO REALLY KNOW GOD
WHAT DOES THE FACT THAT HE IS PERFECT AND REQUIRES US TO BE LIKE HIM MEAN?
1. SUGGEST: THAT WE STOP TRYING TO USE OUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD AND NOT GOOD FOR US
a. MEANS: WE NEED TO CONNECT TO THE ETERNAL NATURE OF GOD… BEGIN TO ALLOW HIS CHARACTAR TO TRANSFORM US.
• GOD IS ETERNAL!
• GOD NEVER STARTED
(Gen 1:1 NIV) "In the beginning God.. created the heavens and the earth."
i. WHATEVER WAS HERE BEFORE THE “BIG BANG” – THAT WAS GOD!
ii. IMMENSITY: THE TIMELESSNESS OF GOD IS SO HARD TO COMPREHEND
1. ITS LIKE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE OCEAN BY TAKING HOME A BOTTLE FULL OF SEA WATER..
iii. OUR LIVES ARE SO SHORT AND INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO THE VASTNESS OF GOD
iv. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME TO REALIZE THAT LONG BEFORE I WAS HERE… AND LONG AFTER I AM GONE, GOD’S CREATIVE WORK AND PLANS HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORKED OUT.
1. SUGGEST: THAT WE GET OUT OF THE STREAM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND GET IN THE ETERNAL STREAM OF HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH.
a. MEANS: IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT TO SPEND YOUR LIFE SEEKING HIM..
• GOD IS ALL KNOWING!
• THIS IS SO INTIMIDATING
i. GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE YOU DO IT
1. HE DOESN’T MAKE YOU DO IT… HE JUST KNOWS YOU THAT WELL!
ii. ALL KNOWLEDGE STARTS AND ENDS WITH GOD
1. WE CAN’T KNOW (OR EVEN THINK OF) ANYTHING THAT GOD DOESN’T ALREADY KNOW
a. HE CREATED KNOWLEDGE
iii. SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL WITHOUT SEEKING GOD
1. ADAM & EVE AT THE FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
a. INSTEAD OF CONSULTING GOD THEY WANTED TO AS GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL
(Gen 2:16-17 NIV) "And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; {17} but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
iv. WHAT DOES GOD KNOWING EVERYTHING MEAN TO ME?
1. SCIENCE AND THE CHURCH HAVE BATTLED IN HISTORY
2. AUGUSTINE FIRST OPENED THE DOOR
a. SAID THAT STUDYING CREATION WAS A MEANS OF WORSHIP..
3. GOD’S CREATIVITY IS EXPRESSED IN CREATION
a. WHEN WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE WE CANT HELP BUT WORSHIP
b. SIR ISAAC NEWTON (most profound scientist of all time) WAS A WORSHIPPER.
i. GOT HIS INSIGHT AND IDEAS FROM GOD
ii. ALSO WROTE 3 VOLUMES OF PROPHETIC INSIGHTS IN LATIN (CAN DOWNLOAD ON INTERNET)
c. ALBERT EINSTEIN (most profound modern scientist) was a worshipper
i. DIRECTLY GIVES GOD CREDIT FOR “E = M C2”
v. SUGGEST: INSTEAD OF PURSUING KNOWLEDGE BASED ON WHAT SEEMS RIGHT TO ME.. COULD I GAIN THE MIND OF GOD?
1. MEANS: I HAVE TO BE “OUT OF MY MIND” AND LEARN TO LISTEN, BELIEVE AND WALK IN THE “MIND OF CHRIST”
• GOD IS ALL POWERFUL!
• EVERYTHING WAS CREATED FOR GOD…
(Col 1:16-17 NIV) "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM. {17} He is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER."
i. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM
1. SCIENCE IS STILL TRYING TO CREATE MATTER
a. “Matter cannot be created or destroyed” LAW OF MATTER..
ii. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED FOR HIM
1. IT’S NOT ABOUT US…
2. WE ARE ALONG FOR THIS CRAZY WONDERFUL RIDE WITH GOD!
a. GOD HAS INVITED US TO PARTNER WITH HIM ON THE EARTH
b. GOD GAVE US LIMITED DOMINION BUT HE RETAINS OWNERSHIP!
iii. ALL THINGS CAME FROM HIM (“HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS”)
1. ALL OF CREATION REVEALS THE POWER AND CREATIVITY OF GOD… IT SCREAMS ABOUT HIS PERSONHOOD
2. “NATURAL REVELATION”
(Rom 1:19-20 NLT) "For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. {20} From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER FOR NOT KNOWING GOD."
iv. ALL THINGS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY HIM
1. IT’S SO AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPLIT AN ATOM.
a. THE STABILITY OF THE PLANET IS DEPENDANT ON THE POWER OF GOD TO HOLD THINGS TOGETHER
v. SUGGEST: GETTING UPSET THAT GOD DOESN’T DO THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL AS THOUGH HE SHOULD....
1. MEANS: WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO GET FAITH.. TO EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY LOVE OF GOD BY ASSOCIATION.. TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS… THIS IS CALLED FAITH
(Rom 10:17 NASB) "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
• GOD IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST!
• GOD IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST… THIS IS SCARY!
• GOD HATES SIN
i. WE HAVE LOST THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S DISTAIN FOR SIN IN OUR GENERATION..
ii. GOD HATES SIN AND HAS TO PUNISH IT..
1. EITHER YOU WILL ALLOW THE PUNISHMENT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO BE APPLIED BY BROKENNES AND REPENTANCE..
2. OR YOU WILL SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AND ATTACHED TO SIN…
• NONE OF US ARE GOD..
i. Celebrate Recovery FIRST principle: “Realize that I am NOT God, and that I am powerless over my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable”
• DO WE KNOW WHAT TRUE JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS IS?
i. “JUSTICE: reward and penalty as deserved”
• DO WE REALLY WANT JUSTICE FOR OURSELVES OR OTHERS?
i. NO, WE REALLY ALL DESERVE DEATH
• DO WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW GOD - IF HE IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST?
i. IF WE ENCOUNTER JUSTICE… WE WILL EXPERIENCE LOSS
ii. IF WE ENCOUNTER GOD… WE WILL HAVE TO DIE TO SELF!
• IF WE EXPERIENCE THE JUSTICE OF GOD.. WE WILL NO LONGER LIVE, BUT GOD WILL LIVE IN US!
(Rom 5:17-21 NLT) "The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but ALL WHO RECEIVE GOD'S WONDERFUL, GRACIOUS GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. {18} Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life. {19} Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But BECAUSE ONE OTHER PERSON OBEYED GOD, MANY PEOPLE WILL BE MADE RIGHT IN GOD'S SIGHT. {20} God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful kindness became more abundant. {21} So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now GOD'S WONDERFUL KINDNESS RULES INSTEAD, GIVING US RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD AND RESULTING IN ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."
THIS IS A DEFINITION OF GOD’S JUSTICE!!
THIS IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GOD SERVES JUSTICE ON US..
JESUS CAME TO FULFILL HIS JUSTICE!
THE CROSS IS GOD’S IDEA OF JUSTICE..
(Rom 5:8 NLT) "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
HOW IS GOD REVEALING HIS CRAZY LOVE FOR YOU BY HIS:
a. HOLINESS
a. WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PERSONHOOD AND STANDARD OF HOLINESS IS HE APPLYING TO YOUR LIFE?
b. ETERNAL NATURE
a. SUGGEST: THAT WE GET OUT OF THE STREAM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND GET IN THE ETERNAL STREAM OF HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH.
b. MEANS: IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT TO SPEND YOUR LIFE SEEKING HIM..
c. OMNICIENCE..
a. SUGGEST: INSTEAD OF PURSUING KNOWLEDGE BASED ON WHAT SEEMS RIGHT TO ME.. COULD I GAIN THE MIND OF GOD?
i. MEANS: I HAVE TO BE “OUT OF MY MIND” AND LEARN TO LISTEN, BELIEVE AND WALK IN THE “MIND OF CHRIST”
d. OMNIPOTENCE
SUGGEST: GETTING UPSET THAT GOD DOESN’T DO THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL AS THOUGH HE SHOULD....
MEANS: WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO GET FAITH.. TO EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY LOVE OF GOD BY ASSOCIATION.. TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS… THIS IS CALLED FAITH
e. JUSTICE
MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS.. YOU HAVENT GIVEN HIM YOUR LIFE…
GOD WANTS TO BE JUSTICE FOR YOU…
HE WANTS TO KEEP YOU FROM THE PRICE OF SIN!
(John 1:1-14 NIV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God in the beginning. {3} Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. {4} In him was life, and that life was the light of men. {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it………. {10} He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. {11} He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. {12} Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- {13} children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. {14} The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Something is wrong with the church..
We all know it, but we don’t quite know what it is.
WHAT DID JESUS COME TO EARTH DO DO?
WHAT DID JESUS DIE FOR?
DID HE COME SO THAT WE COULD ALL TRY TO “BE GOOD”
AND TRY TO “ACT NICE”..
- SAVE UP ENOUGH “GOOD” AND “NICE” POINTS TO GET INTO HEAVEN?
SOMETHING IS WRONG…
JESUS CAME TO BRING US INTO FULL CONTACT LIFE
(John 10:10 NLT) "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
GOD IS A “GIVER”
GOD IS NOT A “TAKER”
TIME WILL END, SIN CORRUPTS AND THE FLESH WILL FAIL!
1. TIME ENDS…
- TIME STARTED WHEN GOD CREATED THE EARTH..
o Mortality is WITHIN our nature – it’s what makes us “NOT GOD”
o GOD is TIMELESS… He is immortal!
Jesus came to give us ETERNAL LIFE
- THERE WILL BE AN END TO EVERYTHING WE SEE..
o It’s not God who ends things… It’s the nature of the created world
2. SIN CORRUPTS
- SIN STARTED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
o SIN = SEPERATION from God
POTENTIAL OF SIN is within our nature
It is not in the plan of God…
o GOD IS PERFECT – He does not sin..
Jesus came to SAVE US from sin
3. FLESH WILL FAIL
- THE BODY IS WEAK..
o DEPENDANCE ON THE BODY AND MIND WILL LEAD TO FAILURE
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL WEAKNESS AND PAIN
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF CHOICES WE HAVE MADE WITH OUR BODIES..
JESUS CAME TO BRING “FULL CONTACT” LIFE..
- NOTHING HELD BACK
- NO REGRETS
- NO ETERNAL LOSSES
- NO EMPTY PROMISES
- THE SITUATION WE ARE IN IS NOT IT… ITS BEING IN HIM THAT BRINGS LIFE!
1. THE SOURCE
AMERICANS HAVE ENTIRELY LOST THE ABILITY TO GET INPUT FROM THE SOURCE
o WE ARE RELENTLESSLY HAMMERED BY INPUT
IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE ARE SURROUNDED BY INFORMATION
WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE 24/7 – 365
NO SILENCE EXISTS IN THIS CULTURE
INSTEAD OF KNOWING… WE ARE CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING
THE PROMISE OF GOD…
(Jer 29:11-14 NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Isa 64:4-7 NIV) “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS SO AMAZING THAT WE CANT EVEN IMAGINE IT!
“YOU HAVE KNOW IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND WHAT I WILL DO FOR YOU IF YOU JUST GET YOUR EYES OFF THE ISSUES AND KEEP THEM ON ME.. I WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT YOU HAVEN’T EVEN IMAGINED YET!”
RUNNING AHEAD AND NOT LISTENING TO A PARENT HAVE CAUSED THE DEATH OF MORE CHILDREN THAN ANY OTHER MISTAKE
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING PARENT IS A BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A CHILD.
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING GOD IS BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A FOLLOWER OF JESUS.
2. DISTRACTION
SPIRITUAL AMNESIA
IT CONFUSES US WHEN LOVING GOD IS HARD..
But there is a reason for this!
- WE ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR THOUGHTS AND DESIRES THAT WE HAVE NO SPACE FOR THE THOUGHTS AND DESIRES OF GOD.
- THERE ARE DAYS I DON’T FEEL LIKE LOVING GOD.
o WHY WOULD I FEEL THAT WAY?
- THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I DON’T WANT TO OBEY GOD.
o WHY DO I DO THAT?
- THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I DON’T SEEK TO PLEASE GOD
- THERE ARE EVEN TIMES WHEN I AM MAD AT GOD.
o WHY WOULD I EVER BE MAD AT SUCH A WONDERFUL & POWERFUL GOD?
IN OUR WORLD WHERE HUNDREDS THINGS DISTRACT US FROM GOD WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMIND OURSELVES OF HIM.
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY HEAR HIS VOICE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY SET ASIDE OUR DISTRACTIONS AND SEEK HIS FACE.
EXAMPLE:
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THIS KIND OF AMNESIA WITH PEOPLE?
1. GET OUT THE PICTURES..
a. RECALL THE GOOD TIMES & WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH!
2. SPEND TIME WITH THEM..
a. GET TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR MIND AND HEART!
ONCE YOU RECALL YOUR HISTORY
ONCE YOU REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE…
ONCE YOU CAN SEE THEIR HEART AND KNOW WHATS INSIDE..
THE AMNESIA DISSIPATES AND TRUE KNOWLEDGE SETS IN…
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS THE SAME AS ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP..
- ONCE WE REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE
- ONCE WE LEARN TO LOOK AT HIM ANEW AND HEAR HIS VOICE AGAIN
- ONCE WE GET TO KNOW HIS HEART..
o THEN WE WILL WALK IN THE FULLNESS OF WHO HE IS
o WE WILL DISCOVER HOW AND WHY HE CAM TO GIVE US ABUNDANT LIFE
o WE WILL DISCOVER AND WALK IN THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED.
START HERE……………………………………………………………………
3. WHO GOD IS..
WHAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD?
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT….
a. GOD IS HOLY
b. GOD IS ETERNAL
c. GOD IS ALL-KNOWING
d. GOD IS ALL POWERFUL
e. GOD FAIR AND JUST
THESE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD CAUSE BOTH EXCITEMENT AND FEAR IN US…
- IF YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD CAUSES YOU TO FEAR FEARFUL OR CONCERNED… THEN YOU TRULY DON’T KNOW WHAT THESE ATTRIBUTES MEAN…
o THIS ILLUSTRATES HOW MUCH SPIRITUAL AMNESIA WE HAVE!
• GOD IS HOLY!
o “WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE ABOUT GOD IS FINE AS LONG AS YOU ARE SINCERE”
THAT’S RIDICULOUS.. THAT’S LIKE DESCRIBING OSAMA BIN LADEN AS A KIND OLD GENTLEMAN
• THAT MAY BE WHAT I WANT HIM TO BE
• BUT IT’S NOT WHAT HE IS!
o I HAVE TO GET TO KNOW GOD AGAIN.. BECAUSE I CONTINUALLY BRING HIM DOWN TO BE MORE LIKE ME..
o THIS IS A PICTURE OF GOD…
(Isa 6:1-3 NIV) "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. {2} Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. {3} And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
o “HOLY, HOLY HOLY”
THE JEWS WOULD SAY THINGS THREE TIMES TO MEAN “PERFECTLY”
GOD IS PERFECTLY “SET APART”
o GOD’S HOLINESS MEANS THAT HE IS “SET APART”
GOD’S HOLINESS MEANS: THERE IS NO ONE TO COMPARE HIM TO..
HE IS THE SOURCE OF “RIGHTNESS” AND “GOODNESS”
o THE FEAR OF GOD COMES UP IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD’S HOLINESS…
HE IS PERFECT… WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE PERFECT
• WE FEEL INCAPABLE AND UNABLE…. = FEAR
FEAR IS A GOOD THING, IT LETS US KNOW WHERE OUR CONFIDENCE IS.. IF WE FEAR GOD, WE FEAR NOTHING ELSE..
• IF WE DON’T FEAR GOD… OUR LIVES ARE FULL OF FEARS OF ALL TYPES…
• WE FEAR LOSS, HARDSHIP, DIFFICULTY… ETC..
(1 John 4:18 NIV) "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. THE ONE WHO FEARS IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE."
o WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US..
WHEN WE BEGIN TO GET TO REALLY KNOW GOD
WHAT DOES THE FACT THAT HE IS PERFECT AND REQUIRES US TO BE LIKE HIM MEAN?
1. SUGGEST: THAT WE STOP TRYING TO USE OUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD AND NOT GOOD FOR US
a. MEANS: WE NEED TO CONNECT TO THE ETERNAL NATURE OF GOD… BEGIN TO ALLOW HIS CHARACTAR TO TRANSFORM US.
• GOD IS ETERNAL!
• GOD NEVER STARTED
(Gen 1:1 NIV) "In the beginning God.. created the heavens and the earth."
i. WHATEVER WAS HERE BEFORE THE “BIG BANG” – THAT WAS GOD!
ii. IMMENSITY: THE TIMELESSNESS OF GOD IS SO HARD TO COMPREHEND
1. ITS LIKE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE OCEAN BY TAKING HOME A BOTTLE FULL OF SEA WATER..
iii. OUR LIVES ARE SO SHORT AND INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED TO THE VASTNESS OF GOD
iv. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME TO REALIZE THAT LONG BEFORE I WAS HERE… AND LONG AFTER I AM GONE, GOD’S CREATIVE WORK AND PLANS HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORKED OUT.
1. SUGGEST: THAT WE GET OUT OF THE STREAM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND GET IN THE ETERNAL STREAM OF HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH.
a. MEANS: IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT TO SPEND YOUR LIFE SEEKING HIM..
• GOD IS ALL KNOWING!
• THIS IS SO INTIMIDATING
i. GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE YOU DO IT
1. HE DOESN’T MAKE YOU DO IT… HE JUST KNOWS YOU THAT WELL!
ii. ALL KNOWLEDGE STARTS AND ENDS WITH GOD
1. WE CAN’T KNOW (OR EVEN THINK OF) ANYTHING THAT GOD DOESN’T ALREADY KNOW
a. HE CREATED KNOWLEDGE
iii. SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL WITHOUT SEEKING GOD
1. ADAM & EVE AT THE FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL
a. INSTEAD OF CONSULTING GOD THEY WANTED TO AS GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL
(Gen 2:16-17 NIV) "And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; {17} but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."
iv. WHAT DOES GOD KNOWING EVERYTHING MEAN TO ME?
1. SCIENCE AND THE CHURCH HAVE BATTLED IN HISTORY
2. AUGUSTINE FIRST OPENED THE DOOR
a. SAID THAT STUDYING CREATION WAS A MEANS OF WORSHIP..
3. GOD’S CREATIVITY IS EXPRESSED IN CREATION
a. WHEN WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE WE CANT HELP BUT WORSHIP
b. SIR ISAAC NEWTON (most profound scientist of all time) WAS A WORSHIPPER.
i. GOT HIS INSIGHT AND IDEAS FROM GOD
ii. ALSO WROTE 3 VOLUMES OF PROPHETIC INSIGHTS IN LATIN (CAN DOWNLOAD ON INTERNET)
c. ALBERT EINSTEIN (most profound modern scientist) was a worshipper
i. DIRECTLY GIVES GOD CREDIT FOR “E = M C2”
v. SUGGEST: INSTEAD OF PURSUING KNOWLEDGE BASED ON WHAT SEEMS RIGHT TO ME.. COULD I GAIN THE MIND OF GOD?
1. MEANS: I HAVE TO BE “OUT OF MY MIND” AND LEARN TO LISTEN, BELIEVE AND WALK IN THE “MIND OF CHRIST”
• GOD IS ALL POWERFUL!
• EVERYTHING WAS CREATED FOR GOD…
(Col 1:16-17 NIV) "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM. {17} He is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER."
i. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM
1. SCIENCE IS STILL TRYING TO CREATE MATTER
a. “Matter cannot be created or destroyed” LAW OF MATTER..
ii. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED FOR HIM
1. IT’S NOT ABOUT US…
2. WE ARE ALONG FOR THIS CRAZY WONDERFUL RIDE WITH GOD!
a. GOD HAS INVITED US TO PARTNER WITH HIM ON THE EARTH
b. GOD GAVE US LIMITED DOMINION BUT HE RETAINS OWNERSHIP!
iii. ALL THINGS CAME FROM HIM (“HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS”)
1. ALL OF CREATION REVEALS THE POWER AND CREATIVITY OF GOD… IT SCREAMS ABOUT HIS PERSONHOOD
2. “NATURAL REVELATION”
(Rom 1:19-20 NLT) "For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. {20} From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER FOR NOT KNOWING GOD."
iv. ALL THINGS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY HIM
1. IT’S SO AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SPLIT AN ATOM.
a. THE STABILITY OF THE PLANET IS DEPENDANT ON THE POWER OF GOD TO HOLD THINGS TOGETHER
v. SUGGEST: GETTING UPSET THAT GOD DOESN’T DO THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL AS THOUGH HE SHOULD....
1. MEANS: WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO GET FAITH.. TO EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY LOVE OF GOD BY ASSOCIATION.. TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS… THIS IS CALLED FAITH
(Rom 10:17 NASB) "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
• GOD IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST!
• GOD IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST… THIS IS SCARY!
• GOD HATES SIN
i. WE HAVE LOST THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S DISTAIN FOR SIN IN OUR GENERATION..
ii. GOD HATES SIN AND HAS TO PUNISH IT..
1. EITHER YOU WILL ALLOW THE PUNISHMENT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO BE APPLIED BY BROKENNES AND REPENTANCE..
2. OR YOU WILL SUFFER THE PUNISHMENT THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AND ATTACHED TO SIN…
• NONE OF US ARE GOD..
i. Celebrate Recovery FIRST principle: “Realize that I am NOT God, and that I am powerless over my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable”
• DO WE KNOW WHAT TRUE JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS IS?
i. “JUSTICE: reward and penalty as deserved”
• DO WE REALLY WANT JUSTICE FOR OURSELVES OR OTHERS?
i. NO, WE REALLY ALL DESERVE DEATH
• DO WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW GOD - IF HE IS TOTALLY FAIR AND JUST?
i. IF WE ENCOUNTER JUSTICE… WE WILL EXPERIENCE LOSS
ii. IF WE ENCOUNTER GOD… WE WILL HAVE TO DIE TO SELF!
• IF WE EXPERIENCE THE JUSTICE OF GOD.. WE WILL NO LONGER LIVE, BUT GOD WILL LIVE IN US!
(Rom 5:17-21 NLT) "The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but ALL WHO RECEIVE GOD'S WONDERFUL, GRACIOUS GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. {18} Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life. {19} Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But BECAUSE ONE OTHER PERSON OBEYED GOD, MANY PEOPLE WILL BE MADE RIGHT IN GOD'S SIGHT. {20} God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful kindness became more abundant. {21} So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now GOD'S WONDERFUL KINDNESS RULES INSTEAD, GIVING US RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD AND RESULTING IN ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD."
THIS IS A DEFINITION OF GOD’S JUSTICE!!
THIS IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW GOD SERVES JUSTICE ON US..
JESUS CAME TO FULFILL HIS JUSTICE!
THE CROSS IS GOD’S IDEA OF JUSTICE..
(Rom 5:8 NLT) "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
HOW IS GOD REVEALING HIS CRAZY LOVE FOR YOU BY HIS:
a. HOLINESS
a. WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PERSONHOOD AND STANDARD OF HOLINESS IS HE APPLYING TO YOUR LIFE?
b. ETERNAL NATURE
a. SUGGEST: THAT WE GET OUT OF THE STREAM OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND GET IN THE ETERNAL STREAM OF HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH.
b. MEANS: IT’S TOTALLY WORTH IT TO SPEND YOUR LIFE SEEKING HIM..
c. OMNICIENCE..
a. SUGGEST: INSTEAD OF PURSUING KNOWLEDGE BASED ON WHAT SEEMS RIGHT TO ME.. COULD I GAIN THE MIND OF GOD?
i. MEANS: I HAVE TO BE “OUT OF MY MIND” AND LEARN TO LISTEN, BELIEVE AND WALK IN THE “MIND OF CHRIST”
d. OMNIPOTENCE
SUGGEST: GETTING UPSET THAT GOD DOESN’T DO THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL AS THOUGH HE SHOULD....
MEANS: WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO GET FAITH.. TO EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY LOVE OF GOD BY ASSOCIATION.. TO KNOW WHAT HE WANTS… THIS IS CALLED FAITH
e. JUSTICE
MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS.. YOU HAVENT GIVEN HIM YOUR LIFE…
GOD WANTS TO BE JUSTICE FOR YOU…
HE WANTS TO KEEP YOU FROM THE PRICE OF SIN!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
CRAZY LOVE
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CHURCH.. WE ALL KNOW IT, BUT WE DON’T QUITE KNOW WHAT IT IS.
WHAT DID JESUS COME TO EARTH DO DO?
WHAT DID JESUS DIE FOR?
DID HE COME SO THAT WE COULD ALL TRY TO “BE GOOD”
AND TRY TO “ACT NICE”..
- SAVE UP ENOUGH “GOOD” AND “NICE” POINTS TO GET INTO HEAVEN?
SOMETHING IS WRONG…
THE CHURCH HAS PROPOSED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMATIC OPTIONS…
1. “FIGHT YOUR DESIRES IN ORDER TO PLEASE GOD?”
A. INEVITABLE FAILURE = GUILT AND DISTANCE FROM GOD
B. WHAT IF THE FULFILLMENT OF YOUR DESIRE CAME FROM A PERFECT SOURCE?
2. “JESUS DIED SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL BAD WHEN YOU SIN?”
A. INEVITABLE SIN = BAD & REAP THE CONSEQUENCES = DEATH
B. WHAT IF YOU COULD LIVE IN SUCH CONFIDENCE AND PEACE THAT SIN WOULD LOSE ALL ATTRACTION FOR YOU?
3. “JESUS CAME TO PROSPER US.. SO GAIN MATERIAL POSSESSIONS & ENJOY LIFE?”
A. GAIN MATERIAL POSSESSIONS = WE STILL ARE EMPTY AND BORED
B. PURSUE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS = WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH GOD
C. WHAT IF WE COULD BE REASONABLY CONTENT AND FULFILLED ALL THE TIME - NO MATTER WHAT OUR CONDITION IS?
THE CHURCH HAS MISSED IT..
WE HAVE A POOR UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCE IN CHURCH AND IN LIFE BECAUSE WE HAVE A POOR UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCE OF GOD.
JESUS CAME TO BRING US INTO FULL CONTACT LIFE
(John 10:10 NLT) "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
GOD IS A “GIVER”
GOD IS NOT A “TAKER”
TIME WILL END, SIN CORRUPTS AND THE FLESH WILL FAIL!
1. TIME ENDS…
- TIME STARTED WHEN GOD CREATED THE EARTH..
o Mortality is WITHIN our nature – it’s what makes us “NOT GOD”
o GOD is TIMELESS… He is immortal!
Jesus came to give us ETERNAL LIFE
- THERE WILL BE AN END TO EVERYTHING WE SEE..
o It’s not God who ends things… It’s the nature of the created world
2. SIN CORRUPTS
- SIN STARTED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
o SIN = SEPERATION from God
POTENTIAL OF SIN is within our nature
It is not in the plan of God…
o GOD IS PERFECT – He does not sin..
Jesus came to SAVE US from sin
3. FLESH WILL FAIL
- THE BODY IS WEAK..
o DEPENDANCE ON THE BODY AND MIND WILL LEAD TO FAILURE
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL WEAKNESS AND PAIN
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF CHOICES WE HAVE MADE WITH OUR BODIES..
GOD IS A GIVER!
- God gave us life and breath
- God gives the sunrise
- God makes the rain come so that we have food
- God
SATAN IS A “TAKER”
- HIS PLAN IS TO
o STEAL: the plan of God for you by making you “run ahead” or “lag behind” the plan of God
o KILL: “Death” is caused by sinning – this kills your spirit and keeps you from abundant and eternal life
o DESTROY: This means to “obliterate” Satan wants to see you not experiencing life and end up in eternal separation..
(John 1:4-5 NIV) "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
JESUS CAME TO BRING “FULL CONTACT” LIFE..
- NOTHING HELD BACK
- NO REGRETS
- NO ETERNAL LOSSES
- NO EMPTY PROMISES
- THE SITUATION WE ARE IN IS NOT IT… ITS BEING IN HIM THAT BRINGS LIFE!
1. THE SOURCE
AMERICANS HAVE ENTIRELY LOST THE ABILITY TO GET INPUT FROM THE SOURCE
o WE ARE RELENTLESSLY HAMMERED BY INPUT
IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE ARE SURROUNDED BY INFORMATION
WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE 24/7 – 365
NO SILENCE EXISTS IN THIS CULTURE
o WE HAVE TRADED PRAYING FOR TEXTING
WE CAN’T BE STILL AND GET ATTACHED TO GOD BECAUSE WE ARE BUSY THINKING ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID..
o WE HAVE TRADED WAITING ON GOD FOR GOOGLE
INSTEAD OF STUDY, FASTING AND PRAYER WE HAVE INSTANT WORLDLY INPUT OF ANY TOPIC OF INTEREST.
INSTEAD OF KNOWING… WE ARE CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING
THE PROMISE OF GOD…
(Jer 29:11-14 NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Isa 64:4-7 NIV) “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS SO AMAZING THAT WE CANT EVEN IMAGINE IT!
WE LOOK AT THE WORLD AND SEE ONE OR TWO SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM
- WE CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER BASED ON OUR BEST INFORMATION
- WHAT THIS SCRIPTURE SAYS IS THIS:
o “YOU HAVE KNOW IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND WHAT I WILL DO FOR YOU IF YOU JUST GET YOUR EYES OFF THE ISSUES AND KEEP THEM ON ME.. I WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT YOU HAVEN’T EVEN IMAGINED YET!”
RUNNING AHEAD AND NOT LISTENING TO A PARENT HAVE CAUSED THE DEATH OF MORE CHILDREN THAN ANY OTHER MISTAKE
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING PARENT IS A BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A CHILD.
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING GOD IS BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A FOLLOWER OF JESUS.
2. DISTRACTION
“Men are never duly touched and impressed with conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the Majesty of God.” R.C. Sproul
- WE ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR THOUGHTS AND DESIRES THAT WE HAVE NO SPACE FOR THE THOUGHTS AND DESIRES OF GOD.
o HIS THOUGHTS AND DESIRES FOR US ARE SOOO WONDERFUL
o HIS DESIRES AND PLANS FOR US WILL CHALLENGE, STRETCH AND THEN FINALLY FULFILL US ENTIRELY!!
SPIRITUAL AMNESIA
IT CONFUSES US WHEN LOVING GOD IS HARD..
But there is a reason for this!
THERE ARE DAYS I DON’T FEEL LIKE LOVING GOD.
o WHY WOULD I FEEL THAT WAY?
- THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I DON’T WANT TO OBEY GOD.
o WHY DO I DO THAT?
- THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I DON’T SEEK TO PLEASE GOD
- THERE ARE EVEN TIMES WHEN I AM MAD AT GOD.
o WHY WOULD I EVER BE MAD AT SUCH A WONDERFUL & POWERFUL GOD?
IN OUR WORLD WHERE HUNDREDS THINGS DISTRACT US FROM GOD WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMIND OURSELVES OF HIM.
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY HEAR HIS VOICE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY SET ASIDE OUR DISTRACTIONS AND SEEK HIS FACE.
IT’S THE SAME WITH ALL OUR RELATIONSHIPS…
EXAMPLE:
- THERE ARE SOME DAYS THAT I DON’T FEEL LIKE LOVING MY WIFE.
o WHY DO I FEEL THAT WAY?
- THERE ARE SOME DAYS THAT I TAKE HER FOR GRANTED.
- I FORGET WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR ME…
o WHY WOULD I EVER FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT SUCH A WONDERFUL WOMAN?
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THIS KIND OF AMNESIA WITH PEOPLE?
1. GET OUT THE PICTURES..
a. RECALL THE GOOD TIMES & WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH!
2. SPEND TIME WITH THEM..
a. GET TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR MIND AND HEART!
ONCE YOU RECALL YOUR HISTORY
ONCE YOU REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE…
ONCE YOU CAN SEE THEIR HEART AND KNOW WHATS INSIDE..
THE AMNESIA DISSIPATES AND
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS THE SAME AS ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP..
- WE GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE DISTRACTIONS AND
LOOK AT THE REST OF THE PASSAGES WE READ EARLIER
(Jer 29:11-14 NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
{12} Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. {13} You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. {14} I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.""
(Isa 64:4-7 NIV) “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
{5} You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? {6} All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. {7} No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins."
3. WHO GOD IS
WHAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD?
1. GOD IS HOLY!
2. GOD IS ETERNAL!
3. GOD IS ALL KNOWING!
4. GOD IS ALL POWERFUL!
5. GOD IS FAIR AND JUST!
WHEN YOU THINK OF THESE THINGS… YOU FEEL BOTH ATTRACTED AND PERHAPS REPELLED!
- IF ANY OF THESE IDEAS REPEL YOU… THEN YOU HAVE A WRONG IDEA OF WHAT THEY MEAN…
o ONCE WE REALLY GET OUT OF OUR IDEAS OF WHO GOD IS AND GET TO KNOW HIS:
HOLINESS – AS HE DEFINES HOLINESS
ETERNITY /TIME – AS HE DEFINES TIME
TRUTH – AS HE IS TRUE AND DEFINES TRUTH
POWER – AS HE IS POWERFUL
JUSTICE – AS HE IS FAIR AND JUST
WE WILL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED
WE WILL BEGIN TO COME INTO THE FULFILLMENT OF OUR DESTINY IN GOD!
WHAT DID JESUS COME TO EARTH DO DO?
WHAT DID JESUS DIE FOR?
DID HE COME SO THAT WE COULD ALL TRY TO “BE GOOD”
AND TRY TO “ACT NICE”..
- SAVE UP ENOUGH “GOOD” AND “NICE” POINTS TO GET INTO HEAVEN?
SOMETHING IS WRONG…
THE CHURCH HAS PROPOSED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMATIC OPTIONS…
1. “FIGHT YOUR DESIRES IN ORDER TO PLEASE GOD?”
A. INEVITABLE FAILURE = GUILT AND DISTANCE FROM GOD
B. WHAT IF THE FULFILLMENT OF YOUR DESIRE CAME FROM A PERFECT SOURCE?
2. “JESUS DIED SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL BAD WHEN YOU SIN?”
A. INEVITABLE SIN = BAD & REAP THE CONSEQUENCES = DEATH
B. WHAT IF YOU COULD LIVE IN SUCH CONFIDENCE AND PEACE THAT SIN WOULD LOSE ALL ATTRACTION FOR YOU?
3. “JESUS CAME TO PROSPER US.. SO GAIN MATERIAL POSSESSIONS & ENJOY LIFE?”
A. GAIN MATERIAL POSSESSIONS = WE STILL ARE EMPTY AND BORED
B. PURSUE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS = WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH GOD
C. WHAT IF WE COULD BE REASONABLY CONTENT AND FULFILLED ALL THE TIME - NO MATTER WHAT OUR CONDITION IS?
THE CHURCH HAS MISSED IT..
WE HAVE A POOR UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCE IN CHURCH AND IN LIFE BECAUSE WE HAVE A POOR UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCE OF GOD.
JESUS CAME TO BRING US INTO FULL CONTACT LIFE
(John 10:10 NLT) "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
GOD IS A “GIVER”
GOD IS NOT A “TAKER”
TIME WILL END, SIN CORRUPTS AND THE FLESH WILL FAIL!
1. TIME ENDS…
- TIME STARTED WHEN GOD CREATED THE EARTH..
o Mortality is WITHIN our nature – it’s what makes us “NOT GOD”
o GOD is TIMELESS… He is immortal!
Jesus came to give us ETERNAL LIFE
- THERE WILL BE AN END TO EVERYTHING WE SEE..
o It’s not God who ends things… It’s the nature of the created world
2. SIN CORRUPTS
- SIN STARTED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
o SIN = SEPERATION from God
POTENTIAL OF SIN is within our nature
It is not in the plan of God…
o GOD IS PERFECT – He does not sin..
Jesus came to SAVE US from sin
3. FLESH WILL FAIL
- THE BODY IS WEAK..
o DEPENDANCE ON THE BODY AND MIND WILL LEAD TO FAILURE
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL WEAKNESS AND PAIN
WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF CHOICES WE HAVE MADE WITH OUR BODIES..
GOD IS A GIVER!
- God gave us life and breath
- God gives the sunrise
- God makes the rain come so that we have food
- God
SATAN IS A “TAKER”
- HIS PLAN IS TO
o STEAL: the plan of God for you by making you “run ahead” or “lag behind” the plan of God
o KILL: “Death” is caused by sinning – this kills your spirit and keeps you from abundant and eternal life
o DESTROY: This means to “obliterate” Satan wants to see you not experiencing life and end up in eternal separation..
(John 1:4-5 NIV) "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it."
JESUS CAME TO BRING “FULL CONTACT” LIFE..
- NOTHING HELD BACK
- NO REGRETS
- NO ETERNAL LOSSES
- NO EMPTY PROMISES
- THE SITUATION WE ARE IN IS NOT IT… ITS BEING IN HIM THAT BRINGS LIFE!
1. THE SOURCE
AMERICANS HAVE ENTIRELY LOST THE ABILITY TO GET INPUT FROM THE SOURCE
o WE ARE RELENTLESSLY HAMMERED BY INPUT
IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY WE ARE SURROUNDED BY INFORMATION
WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE 24/7 – 365
NO SILENCE EXISTS IN THIS CULTURE
o WE HAVE TRADED PRAYING FOR TEXTING
WE CAN’T BE STILL AND GET ATTACHED TO GOD BECAUSE WE ARE BUSY THINKING ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID..
o WE HAVE TRADED WAITING ON GOD FOR GOOGLE
INSTEAD OF STUDY, FASTING AND PRAYER WE HAVE INSTANT WORLDLY INPUT OF ANY TOPIC OF INTEREST.
INSTEAD OF KNOWING… WE ARE CONSTANTLY QUESTIONING
THE PROMISE OF GOD…
(Jer 29:11-14 NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
(Isa 64:4-7 NIV) “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS SO AMAZING THAT WE CANT EVEN IMAGINE IT!
WE LOOK AT THE WORLD AND SEE ONE OR TWO SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM
- WE CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER BASED ON OUR BEST INFORMATION
- WHAT THIS SCRIPTURE SAYS IS THIS:
o “YOU HAVE KNOW IDEA HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND WHAT I WILL DO FOR YOU IF YOU JUST GET YOUR EYES OFF THE ISSUES AND KEEP THEM ON ME.. I WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION THAT YOU HAVEN’T EVEN IMAGINED YET!”
RUNNING AHEAD AND NOT LISTENING TO A PARENT HAVE CAUSED THE DEATH OF MORE CHILDREN THAN ANY OTHER MISTAKE
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING PARENT IS A BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A CHILD.
- LEARNING HOW TO TRUST AND WAIT ON A LOVING GOD IS BASIC SURVIVAL SKILL FOR A FOLLOWER OF JESUS.
2. DISTRACTION
“Men are never duly touched and impressed with conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the Majesty of God.” R.C. Sproul
- WE ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR THOUGHTS AND DESIRES THAT WE HAVE NO SPACE FOR THE THOUGHTS AND DESIRES OF GOD.
o HIS THOUGHTS AND DESIRES FOR US ARE SOOO WONDERFUL
o HIS DESIRES AND PLANS FOR US WILL CHALLENGE, STRETCH AND THEN FINALLY FULFILL US ENTIRELY!!
SPIRITUAL AMNESIA
IT CONFUSES US WHEN LOVING GOD IS HARD..
But there is a reason for this!
THERE ARE DAYS I DON’T FEEL LIKE LOVING GOD.
o WHY WOULD I FEEL THAT WAY?
- THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I DON’T WANT TO OBEY GOD.
o WHY DO I DO THAT?
- THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I DON’T SEEK TO PLEASE GOD
- THERE ARE EVEN TIMES WHEN I AM MAD AT GOD.
o WHY WOULD I EVER BE MAD AT SUCH A WONDERFUL & POWERFUL GOD?
IN OUR WORLD WHERE HUNDREDS THINGS DISTRACT US FROM GOD WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMIND OURSELVES OF HIM.
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY HEAR HIS VOICE
- WE HAVE TO INTENTIONALLY SET ASIDE OUR DISTRACTIONS AND SEEK HIS FACE.
IT’S THE SAME WITH ALL OUR RELATIONSHIPS…
EXAMPLE:
- THERE ARE SOME DAYS THAT I DON’T FEEL LIKE LOVING MY WIFE.
o WHY DO I FEEL THAT WAY?
- THERE ARE SOME DAYS THAT I TAKE HER FOR GRANTED.
- I FORGET WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR ME…
o WHY WOULD I EVER FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT SUCH A WONDERFUL WOMAN?
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THIS KIND OF AMNESIA WITH PEOPLE?
1. GET OUT THE PICTURES..
a. RECALL THE GOOD TIMES & WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH!
2. SPEND TIME WITH THEM..
a. GET TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR MIND AND HEART!
ONCE YOU RECALL YOUR HISTORY
ONCE YOU REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE…
ONCE YOU CAN SEE THEIR HEART AND KNOW WHATS INSIDE..
THE AMNESIA DISSIPATES AND
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS THE SAME AS ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP..
- WE GET CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE DISTRACTIONS AND
LOOK AT THE REST OF THE PASSAGES WE READ EARLIER
(Jer 29:11-14 NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
{12} Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. {13} You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. {14} I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.""
(Isa 64:4-7 NIV) “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
{5} You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? {6} All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. {7} No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins."
3. WHO GOD IS
WHAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD?
1. GOD IS HOLY!
2. GOD IS ETERNAL!
3. GOD IS ALL KNOWING!
4. GOD IS ALL POWERFUL!
5. GOD IS FAIR AND JUST!
WHEN YOU THINK OF THESE THINGS… YOU FEEL BOTH ATTRACTED AND PERHAPS REPELLED!
- IF ANY OF THESE IDEAS REPEL YOU… THEN YOU HAVE A WRONG IDEA OF WHAT THEY MEAN…
o ONCE WE REALLY GET OUT OF OUR IDEAS OF WHO GOD IS AND GET TO KNOW HIS:
HOLINESS – AS HE DEFINES HOLINESS
ETERNITY /TIME – AS HE DEFINES TIME
TRUTH – AS HE IS TRUE AND DEFINES TRUTH
POWER – AS HE IS POWERFUL
JUSTICE – AS HE IS FAIR AND JUST
WE WILL BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED
WE WILL BEGIN TO COME INTO THE FULFILLMENT OF OUR DESTINY IN GOD!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY 4
TEXT:
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
TESTIMONY: What has God done in your life?
- Can only been what you have experienced.
- Can’t be motivated to try and convince someone
- It must be from your own journey
IF ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE ARE OTHERS PEOPLES STORIES THEN YOU DON’T HAVE A TESTIMONY
- YOU CANT SHARE FROM THE HEART UNLESS IT’S YOUR STORY!
- YOU CAN’T OVERCOME THE DEVIL WITH SOMEONE ELSES STORY..
A TESTIMONY IS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE..
o IT’S LIKE ONE BEGGER TELLING ANOTHER BEGGER WHERE TO FIND BREAD… NOT A JUDGE TRYING TO CONVINCE A JURY..
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
1. WITH GOD = FAITH - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE EARTH
2. WITH BELIEVERS= CORPORATE PRAYER - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
3. TO HEAL
KINGDOM REALITY… POWER!
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
1. THE CHURCH TODAY DOES IS NOT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM
a. THE CHURCH TODAY IS A “RELIGIOUS SOCIETY”
b. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A “PASSIONATE BRIDE”
2. THE CHURCH TODAY IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER A FIRE OF REFINING SO THAT WE CAN BE CHANGED INTO A KINGDOM REALITY
a. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A CHURCH THAT WILL “PARTNER WITH HIM” TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH
i. TO LET GO OF THE COMFORT ZONE
ii. TO GET REAL EXCLUSIVE WITH HIM (let go of idols)
iii. TO DO THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO
iv. TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY AND POWER HE HAS
v. TO DO WHAT HE DID AND EVEN GREATER
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
WHY NO MIRACLES TODAY?
JESUS WAS POWERLESS ONCE!
(Mark 6:5-6 NIV) "HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. {6} And HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village."
NO PARTNERING WITH GOD…. NO MIRACLES
NO TRUST IN GOD… N MIRACLES
NO DECLARATION IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD… NO MIRACLES
OUR PRIMARY CALLING – DEMONSTRATIONS OF GODS POWER
(Mark 16:17-18 NIV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, and they will get well.""
WE KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO HEAL..
- JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS THE POWER TO HEAL
- HEALING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.""
JESUS HEALING PLAN (BASED ON ISAIAH 62) – not just physical!!
1. PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS
a. Inform people of God’s plan for love & freedom
2. SET PRISONERS FREE
a. Freedom for those caught in sinful patterns
3. HEAL THE SICK
a. Physical healing
4. RELEASE THE OPPRESSED
a. People who are dealing with demonic oppression
5. PROCLAIM THE JUBILEE – TOTAL RESTORATION
a. Complete return of all that was lost to the enemy!
4. TO DELIVER
GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
- GOD OWNS IT.. WE WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF IT!
o WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH!
- WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR ROLE
o INSTEAD OF “THY KINGDOM COME.. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
o WE HAVE DONE “OUR WILL”
THE EARTH IS “restless” LONGING FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED… (those who will partner w God)
(Rom 8:19 NIV) "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
JESUS MISSION IS NOW OURS
(1 John 3:8 NIV) "… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
WE MUST PARTNER WITH JESUS!
WE BATTLE USING HIS WEAPONS AND HIS STRATEGY..
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT) We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. {4} WE USE GOD'S MIGHTY WEAPONS, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. {5} With these weapons we BREAK DOWN EVERY PROUD ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING GOD. With these weapons WE CONQUER THEIR REBELLIOUS IDEAS, and we TEACH THEM TO OBEY Christ.
BEING SUBMITTED TO GOD…
(James 4:7 NIV) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
MAINTAINING OUR POWER..
(Eph 6:10-18 NLT) A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. {11} PUT ON ALL OF GOD'S ARMOR so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. {12} For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. {13} USE EVERY PIECE OF GOD'S ARMOR TO RESIST THE ENEMY in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
SO SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS DONE BY
1. BEING IN CHRIST
2. RESISTING THE DEVIL – Sheild of Faith
a. HIS DECEPTION
b. HIS ACCUSATION
3. USING OUR MIGHTY WEAPONS & WEARIN OUR ARMOR
a. MAINTAINING OUR HOLINESS/ RIGHTEOUSNESS
b. SPEAKING THE TRUTH
c. WHOLENESS AND WALKING IN PEACE
d. SHEILDING AGAINST ATTACK BY BELIEVING GOD
1. IN THE BEGINNING MAN WAS GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER THE EARTH
AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH GIVEN TO HUMANKIND
(Gen 1:26-28 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and LET THEM RULE OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR, OVER THE LIVESTOCK, OVER ALL THE EARTH, AND OVER ALL THE CREATURES THAT MOVE ALONG THE GROUND."
{27} So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. {28} God blessed them and said to them, "BE FRUITFUL AND INCREASE IN NUMBER; FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT. RULE OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR AND OVER EVERY LIVING CREATURE THAT MOVES ON THE GROUND."
1. GOD CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE – TO RULE/CARE FOR THE EARTH
A. WE FUNCTION AS WE SHOULD WHEN WE REIGN UNDER HIS AUTHORITY & PLAN
1. HIS PLAN IS NOT TO VIOLATE THE EARTH
2. HIS PLAN IS NOT TO LIVE IN SIN
C. WE WERE COMMISSED TO RULE OVER AND CARE FOR THE EARTH
1. WE HAVE RULED THE EARTH
2. WE HAVE DONE A POOR JOB CARING FOR THE EARTH
JESUS HAS BEEN GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY
(Mat 28:18-20 NIV) "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. {19} 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, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""
1. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESSURECTION
(Rev 1:18 NIV) "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
2. SATAN PLAN VS. JESUS PLAN
(John 10:10 NIV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
a. GOD’S GOALS ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH MEN WHO ARE UNDER HIS CONTROL
NEXT WEEK: `````````````````````````````
SEVEN MOUNTAINS OF CULTURE
1. Family
- PRIORITY #1 - Relationship with God
– First Commandment: Love God with all your heart soul mind and strength
- PRIORITY #2 - Relationship with other people
- Second Commandment: Love your neighbor as you love yourself
- The Fear of God – The fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom
- Character VS. Efficiency – Must teach our children to do right.. not what I expedient
- Training in righteousness – Mentoring in righteous behavior
(Deu 6:6-9 NIV) "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. {7} Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. {8} Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. {9} Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
2. Government
- Righteous leadership – leadership that will do what is right, not what is expedient
- INFILTRATE GOVERNMENT – don’t whine, get involved
- (Prov 14:34 NIV) "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
- (Prov 21:1 NIV) "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."
3. Media
-We are an entertainment culture
- Storytelling has been a tremendous influence in ALL CULTURES..
-Continuous influence on us.. it is the way that a culture communicates values
- Determines expectations and norms for behavior
4. Education
- Shapes the minds of the coming generations
- Whoever controls and leads our children
- Parents have abdicated their role as primary educators
- Must teach children the COUNTERCULTURE first.. IN THE CONTEXT OF CULTURE
- Christian Education, Home Schooling, Godly infiltration of our Liberal Agenda
- Western Albemarle – teaches that FOX NEWS is not real news
- WE NEED A GENERATION THAT WILL INFILTRATE THE MEDIA WITH POWERFUL RIGHTEOUS
ENTERTAINMENT
5. Arts and Entertainment
- Creative Expression is the fruit of Culture
- The CHURCH has had a 500 year prejudice against the ARTS
-before the reformation the church was the source of the arts
-after the reformation, the conservative/ protestant influence has resisted the arts
-We have a idea that MUSIC, VISUAL, WRITTEN ARTS ARE WRONG!!
- WE NEED A GENERATION THAT WILL INFILTRATE THE CULTURE WITH RIGHTEOUS ART
6. Religion (or the Church)
- THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION
- 78% of people in the U.S. Say that their religion plays a part in their daily lives
- 70% Say that they believe in God
- Only 28% of people report that they attend church
7. Business
- Most important aspect of our American culture
- Christian businesses leaders have been the Support for all other areas
- SUPPORT FOR ALL OTHER MOUNTAINS COMES FROM THIS ONE!!
3. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY AND THE CHARGE TO REIGN ON THE EARTH THROUGH THESE SEVEN MOUNTAINS
1. WILL YOU ENTER INTO YOUR GOD GIVEN CHARGE?
a. FAMILY – WILL YOU BE A RIGHTEOUS LEADER IN YOUR FAMILY
b. GOVERNMENT – WILL YOU BECOME ACTIVE & VOTE FOR RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHP
c. MEDIA – WILL YOU KEEP YOURSELF FROM BEING INFLUENCED BY UNGODLY MEDIA
i. WILL YOU SUPPORT GODLY MEDIA - TYLER PERRY
d. EDUCATION – WILL YOU SEEK GODLY TRAINING
i. WILL YOU RAISE UP YOUR CHILDREN IN THE ADMONITION OF THE LORD
e. ARTS – WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS TO INFLUENCE FOR GOD
f. RELIGION – WILL YOU SERVE IN YOUR CHURCH TO DISCIPLE OTHER BELIEVERS
g. BUSINESS – WILL YOU LEAD YOUR BUSINESS FEARLESSLY UNDER GOD’S DIRECTION AND PLAN
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
TESTIMONY: What has God done in your life?
- Can only been what you have experienced.
- Can’t be motivated to try and convince someone
- It must be from your own journey
IF ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE ARE OTHERS PEOPLES STORIES THEN YOU DON’T HAVE A TESTIMONY
- YOU CANT SHARE FROM THE HEART UNLESS IT’S YOUR STORY!
- YOU CAN’T OVERCOME THE DEVIL WITH SOMEONE ELSES STORY..
A TESTIMONY IS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE..
o IT’S LIKE ONE BEGGER TELLING ANOTHER BEGGER WHERE TO FIND BREAD… NOT A JUDGE TRYING TO CONVINCE A JURY..
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
1. WITH GOD = FAITH - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE EARTH
2. WITH BELIEVERS= CORPORATE PRAYER - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
3. TO HEAL
KINGDOM REALITY… POWER!
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
1. THE CHURCH TODAY DOES IS NOT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM
a. THE CHURCH TODAY IS A “RELIGIOUS SOCIETY”
b. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A “PASSIONATE BRIDE”
2. THE CHURCH TODAY IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER A FIRE OF REFINING SO THAT WE CAN BE CHANGED INTO A KINGDOM REALITY
a. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A CHURCH THAT WILL “PARTNER WITH HIM” TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH
i. TO LET GO OF THE COMFORT ZONE
ii. TO GET REAL EXCLUSIVE WITH HIM (let go of idols)
iii. TO DO THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO
iv. TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY AND POWER HE HAS
v. TO DO WHAT HE DID AND EVEN GREATER
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
WHY NO MIRACLES TODAY?
JESUS WAS POWERLESS ONCE!
(Mark 6:5-6 NIV) "HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. {6} And HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village."
NO PARTNERING WITH GOD…. NO MIRACLES
NO TRUST IN GOD… N MIRACLES
NO DECLARATION IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD… NO MIRACLES
OUR PRIMARY CALLING – DEMONSTRATIONS OF GODS POWER
(Mark 16:17-18 NIV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, and they will get well.""
WE KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO HEAL..
- JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS THE POWER TO HEAL
- HEALING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.""
JESUS HEALING PLAN (BASED ON ISAIAH 62) – not just physical!!
1. PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS
a. Inform people of God’s plan for love & freedom
2. SET PRISONERS FREE
a. Freedom for those caught in sinful patterns
3. HEAL THE SICK
a. Physical healing
4. RELEASE THE OPPRESSED
a. People who are dealing with demonic oppression
5. PROCLAIM THE JUBILEE – TOTAL RESTORATION
a. Complete return of all that was lost to the enemy!
4. TO DELIVER
GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
- GOD OWNS IT.. WE WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF IT!
o WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH!
- WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR ROLE
o INSTEAD OF “THY KINGDOM COME.. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
o WE HAVE DONE “OUR WILL”
THE EARTH IS “restless” LONGING FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED… (those who will partner w God)
(Rom 8:19 NIV) "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
JESUS MISSION IS NOW OURS
(1 John 3:8 NIV) "… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
WE MUST PARTNER WITH JESUS!
WE BATTLE USING HIS WEAPONS AND HIS STRATEGY..
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT) We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. {4} WE USE GOD'S MIGHTY WEAPONS, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. {5} With these weapons we BREAK DOWN EVERY PROUD ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING GOD. With these weapons WE CONQUER THEIR REBELLIOUS IDEAS, and we TEACH THEM TO OBEY Christ.
BEING SUBMITTED TO GOD…
(James 4:7 NIV) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
MAINTAINING OUR POWER..
(Eph 6:10-18 NLT) A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. {11} PUT ON ALL OF GOD'S ARMOR so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. {12} For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. {13} USE EVERY PIECE OF GOD'S ARMOR TO RESIST THE ENEMY in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
SO SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS DONE BY
1. BEING IN CHRIST
2. RESISTING THE DEVIL – Sheild of Faith
a. HIS DECEPTION
b. HIS ACCUSATION
3. USING OUR MIGHTY WEAPONS & WEARIN OUR ARMOR
a. MAINTAINING OUR HOLINESS/ RIGHTEOUSNESS
b. SPEAKING THE TRUTH
c. WHOLENESS AND WALKING IN PEACE
d. SHEILDING AGAINST ATTACK BY BELIEVING GOD
1. IN THE BEGINNING MAN WAS GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER THE EARTH
AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH GIVEN TO HUMANKIND
(Gen 1:26-28 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and LET THEM RULE OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR, OVER THE LIVESTOCK, OVER ALL THE EARTH, AND OVER ALL THE CREATURES THAT MOVE ALONG THE GROUND."
{27} So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. {28} God blessed them and said to them, "BE FRUITFUL AND INCREASE IN NUMBER; FILL THE EARTH AND SUBDUE IT. RULE OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR AND OVER EVERY LIVING CREATURE THAT MOVES ON THE GROUND."
1. GOD CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE – TO RULE/CARE FOR THE EARTH
A. WE FUNCTION AS WE SHOULD WHEN WE REIGN UNDER HIS AUTHORITY & PLAN
1. HIS PLAN IS NOT TO VIOLATE THE EARTH
2. HIS PLAN IS NOT TO LIVE IN SIN
C. WE WERE COMMISSED TO RULE OVER AND CARE FOR THE EARTH
1. WE HAVE RULED THE EARTH
2. WE HAVE DONE A POOR JOB CARING FOR THE EARTH
JESUS HAS BEEN GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY
(Mat 28:18-20 NIV) "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. {19} 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, {20} and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""
1. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESSURECTION
(Rev 1:18 NIV) "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."
2. SATAN PLAN VS. JESUS PLAN
(John 10:10 NIV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
a. GOD’S GOALS ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH MEN WHO ARE UNDER HIS CONTROL
NEXT WEEK: `````````````````````````````
SEVEN MOUNTAINS OF CULTURE
1. Family
- PRIORITY #1 - Relationship with God
– First Commandment: Love God with all your heart soul mind and strength
- PRIORITY #2 - Relationship with other people
- Second Commandment: Love your neighbor as you love yourself
- The Fear of God – The fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom
- Character VS. Efficiency – Must teach our children to do right.. not what I expedient
- Training in righteousness – Mentoring in righteous behavior
(Deu 6:6-9 NIV) "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. {7} Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. {8} Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. {9} Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."
2. Government
- Righteous leadership – leadership that will do what is right, not what is expedient
- INFILTRATE GOVERNMENT – don’t whine, get involved
- (Prov 14:34 NIV) "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
- (Prov 21:1 NIV) "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases."
3. Media
-We are an entertainment culture
- Storytelling has been a tremendous influence in ALL CULTURES..
-Continuous influence on us.. it is the way that a culture communicates values
- Determines expectations and norms for behavior
4. Education
- Shapes the minds of the coming generations
- Whoever controls and leads our children
- Parents have abdicated their role as primary educators
- Must teach children the COUNTERCULTURE first.. IN THE CONTEXT OF CULTURE
- Christian Education, Home Schooling, Godly infiltration of our Liberal Agenda
- Western Albemarle – teaches that FOX NEWS is not real news
- WE NEED A GENERATION THAT WILL INFILTRATE THE MEDIA WITH POWERFUL RIGHTEOUS
ENTERTAINMENT
5. Arts and Entertainment
- Creative Expression is the fruit of Culture
- The CHURCH has had a 500 year prejudice against the ARTS
-before the reformation the church was the source of the arts
-after the reformation, the conservative/ protestant influence has resisted the arts
-We have a idea that MUSIC, VISUAL, WRITTEN ARTS ARE WRONG!!
- WE NEED A GENERATION THAT WILL INFILTRATE THE CULTURE WITH RIGHTEOUS ART
6. Religion (or the Church)
- THIS IS THE ORGANIZATION
- 78% of people in the U.S. Say that their religion plays a part in their daily lives
- 70% Say that they believe in God
- Only 28% of people report that they attend church
7. Business
- Most important aspect of our American culture
- Christian businesses leaders have been the Support for all other areas
- SUPPORT FOR ALL OTHER MOUNTAINS COMES FROM THIS ONE!!
3. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY AND THE CHARGE TO REIGN ON THE EARTH THROUGH THESE SEVEN MOUNTAINS
1. WILL YOU ENTER INTO YOUR GOD GIVEN CHARGE?
a. FAMILY – WILL YOU BE A RIGHTEOUS LEADER IN YOUR FAMILY
b. GOVERNMENT – WILL YOU BECOME ACTIVE & VOTE FOR RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHP
c. MEDIA – WILL YOU KEEP YOURSELF FROM BEING INFLUENCED BY UNGODLY MEDIA
i. WILL YOU SUPPORT GODLY MEDIA - TYLER PERRY
d. EDUCATION – WILL YOU SEEK GODLY TRAINING
i. WILL YOU RAISE UP YOUR CHILDREN IN THE ADMONITION OF THE LORD
e. ARTS – WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS TO INFLUENCE FOR GOD
f. RELIGION – WILL YOU SERVE IN YOUR CHURCH TO DISCIPLE OTHER BELIEVERS
g. BUSINESS – WILL YOU LEAD YOUR BUSINESS FEARLESSLY UNDER GOD’S DIRECTION AND PLAN
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY 3
TEXT:
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
MARY OF BETHANY… FELL AT HIS FEET.. POURED OUT THE OIL..
- SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS
WHAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD CALL US “CHRISTIAN”?
1. CHRIST-LIKE IN APPEARANCE?
a. Barna Statistics say that the church is statistically no different than the world
b. FOCUS BECOMES “LOOKING LIKE JESUS”
i. It becomes WORK.. trying to look like Jesus!
2. CHRIST LIKE IN CHARACTAR!!
a. We are the BODY OF CHRIST
b. We represent HIM here on the earth
c. IF JESUS IS THE HEAD.. (directing, protecting, guiding..)
i. THEN WE WILL BE CALLED “CHRISTLIKE!”
3. FOLLOWER OF JESUS means LOVER/PURSUER OF JESUS
a. WHEN WE ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS..
i. Transformation is what God does when we pursue Him
b. WE KEEP PROPER FOCUS – LOVING GOD!
i. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL HEART, MIND , STRENGTH
ii. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES
By being followers… we just listen and WAIT ON HIM….
IN FACT, WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE/CONCEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR THOSE WHO WAIT… ARE SET APART FOR HIM!
(1 Cor 2:9-13 NIV) "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
TESTIMONY: What has God done in your life?
- Can only been what you have experienced.
- Can’t be motivated to try and convince someone
- It must be from your own journey
IF ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE ARE OTHERS PEOPLES STORIES THEN YOU DON’T HAVE A TESTIMONY
- YOU CANT SHARE FROM THE HEART UNLESS IT’S YOUR STORY!
- YOU CAN’T OVERCOME THE DEVIL WITH SOMEONE ELSES STORY..
A TESTIMONY IS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE..
o IT’S LIKE ONE BEGGER TELLING ANOTHER BEGGER WHERE TO FIND BREAD… NOT A JUDGE TRYING TO CONVINCE A JURY..
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
1. WITH GOD = FAITH - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE EARTH
2. WITH BELIEVERS= CORPORATE PRAYER - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." (Mat 11:12 NIV)
1. 'FORCIBLY ADVANCING'= 'to urge, constrain, overpower by force; to press earnestly forward, to rush
2. 'FORCEFUL MEN' = 'one who uses violence, or is impetuous, one who is forceful in eager pursuit'.
a. MEANS “HUNTERS” “SEEKERS” THOSE WHO ARE “RELENTLESS” OR “PASSIONATE”
3. 'SEIZE IT' = take away by force, snatch away...to seize on with avidity, eagerly,
a. IT DESCRIBES HOW THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ACT
b. THE ACTION OF THE PASSIONATE OR ZEALOUS: THEY “SEIZE” THE OBJECT OF THEIR DESIRE
i. ILLUSTRATION: LIKE A PERSON WAITING OVERNIGHT IN FRONT OF “BEST BUY” ON THE MORNING OF BLACK FRIDAY
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV) "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} WE DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
SIR EDMUND BLAKE: IN RESPONSE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NAZI’S IN WW2…
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Blake
WHEN WE SPEAK THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD) THE ENEMY IS REPELED!
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD)
- GOD IS OUR DEFENSE
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND TRUTH.. GOD DOES!
3. TO HEAL
KINGDOM REALITY… POWER!
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
1. THE CHURCH TODAY DOES IS NOT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM
a. THE CHURCH TODAY IS A “RELIGIOUS SOCIETY”
b. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A “PASSIONATE BRIDE”
2. THE CHURCH TODAY IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER A FIRE OF REFINING SO THAT WE CAN BE CHANGED INTO A KINGDOM REALITY
a. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A CHURCH THAT WILL “PARTNER WITH HIM” TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH
i. TO LET GO OF THE COMFORT ZONE
ii. TO GET REAL EXCLUSIVE WITH HIM (let go of idols)
iii. TO DO THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO
iv. TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY AND POWER HE HAS
v. TO DO WHAT HE DID AND EVEN GREATER
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
“ECCLESIA” – CHURCH means “CALLED OUT ONES”
- CALLED OUT FOR WHAT?
o TO BE SET APART FOR GOD..
o TO DO BUSINESS FOR GOD..
SIGNS AND WONDERS
AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL
JESUS PUT HIMSELF ON THE LINE…
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
I AM FROM GOD…
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I HAVE DIVINE POWER
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I WILL DO MIRACLES..
WHY NO MIRACLES TODAY?
JESUS WAS POWERLESS ONCE!
(Mark 6:5-6 NIV) "HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. {6} And HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village."
NO PARTNERING WITH GOD…. NO MIRACLES
NO TRUST IN GOD… NO MIRACLES
NO DECLARATION IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD… NO MIRACLES
OUR PRIMARY CALLING – DEMONSTRATIONS OF GODS POWER
(Mark 16:17-18 NIV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, and they will get well.""
WE KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO HEAL..
- JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS THE POWER TO HEAL
HEALING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.""
JESUS HEALING PLAN (BASED ON ISAIAH 62) – not just physical!!
1. PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS
a. Inform people of God’s plan for love & freedom
2. SET PRISONERS FREE
a. Freedom for those caught in sinful patterns
3. HEAL THE SICK
a. Physical healing
4. RELEASE THE OPPRESSED
a. People who are dealing with demonic oppression
5. PROCLAIM THE JUBILEE – TOTAL RESTORATION
a. Complete return of all that was lost to the enemy!
4. TO DELIVER
GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
- GOD OWNS IT.. WE WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF IT!
o WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH!
- WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR ROLE
o INSTEAD OF “THY KINGDOM COME.. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
o WE HAVE DONE “OUR WILL”
THE EARTH IS “restless” LONGING FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED… (those who will partner w God)
(Rom 8:19 NIV) "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
JESUS MISSION IS NOW OURS
(1 John 3:8 NIV) "… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
WE MUST WORK WITH JESUS..
WE BATTLE USING HIS WEAPONS AND HIS STRATEGY..
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT) We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. {4} WE USE GOD'S MIGHTY WEAPONS, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. {5} With these weapons we BREAK DOWN EVERY PROUD ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING GOD. With these weapons WE CONQUER THEIR REBELLIOUS IDEAS, and we TEACH THEM TO OBEY Christ.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS DONE BY
1. BEING IN CHRIST
2. RESISTING HIS DECEPTION AND ACCUSATION
a. MAINTAINING OUR HOLINESS, OUR ARMOR..
3. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE
BEING SUBMITTED TO GOD…
(James 4:7 NIV) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
MAINTAINING OUR POWER..
(Eph 6:10-18 NLT) A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. {11} Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. {12} For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. {13} Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
WE WERE CREATED TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH FOR HIM!
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
MARY OF BETHANY… FELL AT HIS FEET.. POURED OUT THE OIL..
- SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS
WHAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD CALL US “CHRISTIAN”?
1. CHRIST-LIKE IN APPEARANCE?
a. Barna Statistics say that the church is statistically no different than the world
b. FOCUS BECOMES “LOOKING LIKE JESUS”
i. It becomes WORK.. trying to look like Jesus!
2. CHRIST LIKE IN CHARACTAR!!
a. We are the BODY OF CHRIST
b. We represent HIM here on the earth
c. IF JESUS IS THE HEAD.. (directing, protecting, guiding..)
i. THEN WE WILL BE CALLED “CHRISTLIKE!”
3. FOLLOWER OF JESUS means LOVER/PURSUER OF JESUS
a. WHEN WE ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS..
i. Transformation is what God does when we pursue Him
b. WE KEEP PROPER FOCUS – LOVING GOD!
i. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL HEART, MIND , STRENGTH
ii. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES
By being followers… we just listen and WAIT ON HIM….
IN FACT, WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE/CONCEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR THOSE WHO WAIT… ARE SET APART FOR HIM!
(1 Cor 2:9-13 NIV) "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
TESTIMONY: What has God done in your life?
- Can only been what you have experienced.
- Can’t be motivated to try and convince someone
- It must be from your own journey
IF ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE ARE OTHERS PEOPLES STORIES THEN YOU DON’T HAVE A TESTIMONY
- YOU CANT SHARE FROM THE HEART UNLESS IT’S YOUR STORY!
- YOU CAN’T OVERCOME THE DEVIL WITH SOMEONE ELSES STORY..
A TESTIMONY IS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE..
o IT’S LIKE ONE BEGGER TELLING ANOTHER BEGGER WHERE TO FIND BREAD… NOT A JUDGE TRYING TO CONVINCE A JURY..
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
1. WITH GOD = FAITH - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE EARTH
2. WITH BELIEVERS= CORPORATE PRAYER - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." (Mat 11:12 NIV)
1. 'FORCIBLY ADVANCING'= 'to urge, constrain, overpower by force; to press earnestly forward, to rush
2. 'FORCEFUL MEN' = 'one who uses violence, or is impetuous, one who is forceful in eager pursuit'.
a. MEANS “HUNTERS” “SEEKERS” THOSE WHO ARE “RELENTLESS” OR “PASSIONATE”
3. 'SEIZE IT' = take away by force, snatch away...to seize on with avidity, eagerly,
a. IT DESCRIBES HOW THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ACT
b. THE ACTION OF THE PASSIONATE OR ZEALOUS: THEY “SEIZE” THE OBJECT OF THEIR DESIRE
i. ILLUSTRATION: LIKE A PERSON WAITING OVERNIGHT IN FRONT OF “BEST BUY” ON THE MORNING OF BLACK FRIDAY
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV) "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} WE DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
SIR EDMUND BLAKE: IN RESPONSE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NAZI’S IN WW2…
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Blake
WHEN WE SPEAK THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD) THE ENEMY IS REPELED!
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD)
- GOD IS OUR DEFENSE
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND TRUTH.. GOD DOES!
3. TO HEAL
KINGDOM REALITY… POWER!
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
1. THE CHURCH TODAY DOES IS NOT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM
a. THE CHURCH TODAY IS A “RELIGIOUS SOCIETY”
b. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A “PASSIONATE BRIDE”
2. THE CHURCH TODAY IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER A FIRE OF REFINING SO THAT WE CAN BE CHANGED INTO A KINGDOM REALITY
a. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A CHURCH THAT WILL “PARTNER WITH HIM” TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH
i. TO LET GO OF THE COMFORT ZONE
ii. TO GET REAL EXCLUSIVE WITH HIM (let go of idols)
iii. TO DO THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO
iv. TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY AND POWER HE HAS
v. TO DO WHAT HE DID AND EVEN GREATER
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
“ECCLESIA” – CHURCH means “CALLED OUT ONES”
- CALLED OUT FOR WHAT?
o TO BE SET APART FOR GOD..
o TO DO BUSINESS FOR GOD..
SIGNS AND WONDERS
AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL
JESUS PUT HIMSELF ON THE LINE…
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
I AM FROM GOD…
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I HAVE DIVINE POWER
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I WILL DO MIRACLES..
WHY NO MIRACLES TODAY?
JESUS WAS POWERLESS ONCE!
(Mark 6:5-6 NIV) "HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. {6} And HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village."
NO PARTNERING WITH GOD…. NO MIRACLES
NO TRUST IN GOD… NO MIRACLES
NO DECLARATION IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD… NO MIRACLES
OUR PRIMARY CALLING – DEMONSTRATIONS OF GODS POWER
(Mark 16:17-18 NIV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, and they will get well.""
WE KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO HEAL..
- JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS THE POWER TO HEAL
HEALING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.""
JESUS HEALING PLAN (BASED ON ISAIAH 62) – not just physical!!
1. PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS
a. Inform people of God’s plan for love & freedom
2. SET PRISONERS FREE
a. Freedom for those caught in sinful patterns
3. HEAL THE SICK
a. Physical healing
4. RELEASE THE OPPRESSED
a. People who are dealing with demonic oppression
5. PROCLAIM THE JUBILEE – TOTAL RESTORATION
a. Complete return of all that was lost to the enemy!
4. TO DELIVER
GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
- GOD OWNS IT.. WE WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF IT!
o WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH!
- WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR ROLE
o INSTEAD OF “THY KINGDOM COME.. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
o WE HAVE DONE “OUR WILL”
THE EARTH IS “restless” LONGING FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED… (those who will partner w God)
(Rom 8:19 NIV) "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
JESUS MISSION IS NOW OURS
(1 John 3:8 NIV) "… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
WE MUST WORK WITH JESUS..
WE BATTLE USING HIS WEAPONS AND HIS STRATEGY..
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT) We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. {4} WE USE GOD'S MIGHTY WEAPONS, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. {5} With these weapons we BREAK DOWN EVERY PROUD ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING GOD. With these weapons WE CONQUER THEIR REBELLIOUS IDEAS, and we TEACH THEM TO OBEY Christ.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS DONE BY
1. BEING IN CHRIST
2. RESISTING HIS DECEPTION AND ACCUSATION
a. MAINTAINING OUR HOLINESS, OUR ARMOR..
3. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE
BEING SUBMITTED TO GOD…
(James 4:7 NIV) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
MAINTAINING OUR POWER..
(Eph 6:10-18 NLT) A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. {11} Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. {12} For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. {13} Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
WE WERE CREATED TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH FOR HIM!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY 2
TEXT:
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
MARY OF BETHANY… FELL AT HIS FEET.. POURED OUT THE OIL..
- SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS
WHAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD CALL US “CHRISTIAN”?
1. CHRIST-LIKE IN APPEARANCE?
a. Barna Statistics say that the church is statistically no different than the world
b. FOCUS BECOMES “LOOKING LIKE JESUS”
i. It becomes WORK.. trying to look like Jesus!
2. CHRIST LIKE IN CHARACTAR!!
a. We are the BODY OF CHRIST
b. We represent HIM here on the earth
c. IF JESUS IS THE HEAD.. (directing, protecting, guiding..)
i. THEN WE WILL BE CALLED “CHRISTLIKE!”
3. FOLLOWER OF JESUS means LOVER/PURSUER OF JESUS
a. WHEN WE ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS..
i. Transformation is what God does when we pursue Him
b. WE KEEP PROPER FOCUS – LOVING GOD!
i. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL HEART, MIND , STRENGTH
ii. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES
By being followers… we just listen and WAIT ON HIM….
IN FACT, WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE/CONCEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR THOSE WHO WAIT… ARE SET APART FOR HIM!
(1 Cor 2:9-13 NIV) "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
TESTIMONY: What has God done in your life?
- Can only been what you have experienced.
- Can’t be motivated to try and convince someone
- It must be from your own journey
IF ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE ARE OTHERS PEOPLES STORIES THEN YOU DON’T HAVE A TESTIMONY
- YOU CANT SHARE FROM THE HEART UNLESS IT’S YOUR STORY!
- YOU CAN’T OVERCOME THE DEVIL WITH SOMEONE ELSES STORY..
A TESTIMONY IS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE..
o IT’S LIKE ONE BEGGER TELLING ANOTHER BEGGER WHERE TO FIND BREAD… NOT A JUDGE TRYING TO CONVINCE A JURY..
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
1. WITH GOD = FAITH - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE EARTH
2. WITH BELIEVERS= CORPORATE PRAYER - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." (Mat 11:12 NIV)
1. 'FORCIBLY ADVANCING'= 'to urge, constrain, overpower by force; to press earnestly forward, to rush
2. 'FORCEFUL MEN' = 'one who uses violence, or is impetuous, one who is forceful in eager pursuit'.
a. MEANS “HUNTERS” “SEEKERS” THOSE WHO ARE “RELENTLESS” OR “PASSIONATE”
3. 'SEIZE IT' = take away by force, snatch away...to seize on with avidity, eagerly,
a. IT DESCRIBES HOW THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ACT
b. THE ACTION OF THE PASSIONATE OR ZEALOUS: THEY “SEIZE” THE OBJECT OF THEIR DESIRE
i. ILLUSTRATION: LIKE A PERSON WAITING OVERNIGHT IN FRONT OF “BEST BUY” ON THE MORNING OF BLACK FRIDAY
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV) "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} WE DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
SIR EDMUND BLAKE: IN RESPONSE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NAZI’S IN WW2…
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Blake
WHEN WE SPEAK THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD) THE ENEMY IS REPELED!
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD)
- GOD IS OUR DEFENSE
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND TRUTH.. GOD DOES!
3. TO HEAL
KINGDOM REALITY… POWER!
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
1. THE CHURCH TODAY DOES IS NOT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM
a. THE CHURCH TODAY IS A “RELIGIOUS SOCIETY”
b. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A “PASSIONATE BRIDE”
2. THE CHURCH TODAY IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER A FIRE OF REFINING SO THAT WE CAN BE CHANGED INTO A KINGDOM REALITY
a. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A CHURCH THAT WILL “PARTNER WITH HIM” TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH
i. TO LET GO OF THE COMFORT ZONE
ii. TO GET REAL EXCLUSIVE WITH HIM (let go of idols)
iii. TO DO THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO
iv. TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY AND POWER HE HAS
v. TO DO WHAT HE DID AND EVEN GREATER
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
“ECCLESIA” – CHURCH means “CALLED OUT ONES”
- CALLED OUT FOR WHAT?
o TO BE SET APART FOR GOD..
o TO DO BUSINESS FOR GOD..
SIGNS AND WONDERS
AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL
JESUS PUT HIMSELF ON THE LINE…
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
I AM FROM GOD…
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I HAVE DIVINE POWER
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I WILL DO MIRACLES..
WHY NO MIRACLES TODAY?
JESUS WAS POWERLESS ONCE!
(Mark 6:5-6 NIV) "HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. {6} And HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village."
NO PARTNERING WITH GOD…. NO MIRACLES
NO TRUST IN GOD… NO MIRACLES
NO DECLARATION IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD… NO MIRACLES
OUR PRIMARY CALLING – DEMONSTRATIONS OF GODS POWER
(Mark 16:17-18 NIV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, and they will get well.""
WE KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO HEAL..
- JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS THE POWER TO HEAL
HEALING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.""
JESUS HEALING PLAN (BASED ON ISAIAH 62) – not just physical!!
1. PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS
a. Inform people of God’s plan for love & freedom
2. SET PRISONERS FREE
a. Freedom for those caught in sinful patterns
3. HEAL THE SICK
a. Physical healing
4. RELEASE THE OPPRESSED
a. People who are dealing with demonic oppression
5. PROCLAIM THE JUBILEE – TOTAL RESTORATION
a. Complete return of all that was lost to the enemy!
4. TO DELIVER
GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
- GOD OWNS IT.. WE WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF IT!
o WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH!
- WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR ROLE
o INSTEAD OF “THY KINGDOM COME.. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
o WE HAVE DONE “OUR WILL”
THE EARTH IS “restless” LONGING FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED… (those who will partner w God)
(Rom 8:19 NIV) "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
JESUS MISSION IS NOW OURS
(1 John 3:8 NIV) "… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
WE MUST WORK WITH JESUS..
WE BATTLE USING HIS WEAPONS AND HIS STRATEGY..
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT) We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. {4} WE USE GOD'S MIGHTY WEAPONS, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. {5} With these weapons we BREAK DOWN EVERY PROUD ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING GOD. With these weapons WE CONQUER THEIR REBELLIOUS IDEAS, and we TEACH THEM TO OBEY Christ.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS DONE BY
1. BEING IN CHRIST
2. RESISTING HIS DECEPTION AND ACCUSATION
a. MAINTAINING OUR HOLINESS, OUR ARMOR..
3. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE
BEING SUBMITTED TO GOD…
(James 4:7 NIV) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
MAINTAINING OUR POWER..
(Eph 6:10-18 NLT) A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. {11} Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. {12} For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. {13} Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
WE WERE CREATED TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH FOR HIM!
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
MARY OF BETHANY… FELL AT HIS FEET.. POURED OUT THE OIL..
- SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS
WHAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD CALL US “CHRISTIAN”?
1. CHRIST-LIKE IN APPEARANCE?
a. Barna Statistics say that the church is statistically no different than the world
b. FOCUS BECOMES “LOOKING LIKE JESUS”
i. It becomes WORK.. trying to look like Jesus!
2. CHRIST LIKE IN CHARACTAR!!
a. We are the BODY OF CHRIST
b. We represent HIM here on the earth
c. IF JESUS IS THE HEAD.. (directing, protecting, guiding..)
i. THEN WE WILL BE CALLED “CHRISTLIKE!”
3. FOLLOWER OF JESUS means LOVER/PURSUER OF JESUS
a. WHEN WE ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS..
i. Transformation is what God does when we pursue Him
b. WE KEEP PROPER FOCUS – LOVING GOD!
i. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL HEART, MIND , STRENGTH
ii. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES
By being followers… we just listen and WAIT ON HIM….
IN FACT, WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE/CONCEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR THOSE WHO WAIT… ARE SET APART FOR HIM!
(1 Cor 2:9-13 NIV) "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
TESTIMONY: What has God done in your life?
- Can only been what you have experienced.
- Can’t be motivated to try and convince someone
- It must be from your own journey
IF ALL YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE ARE OTHERS PEOPLES STORIES THEN YOU DON’T HAVE A TESTIMONY
- YOU CANT SHARE FROM THE HEART UNLESS IT’S YOUR STORY!
- YOU CAN’T OVERCOME THE DEVIL WITH SOMEONE ELSES STORY..
A TESTIMONY IS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE..
o IT’S LIKE ONE BEGGER TELLING ANOTHER BEGGER WHERE TO FIND BREAD… NOT A JUDGE TRYING TO CONVINCE A JURY..
(Mat 18:18-20 NIV) ""I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. {19} "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. {20} For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
THE POWER OF AGREEMENT
1. WITH GOD = FAITH - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH HIS PLANS FOR THE EARTH
2. WITH BELIEVERS= CORPORATE PRAYER - JESUS HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY WHEN WE AGREE WITH OTHERS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." (Mat 11:12 NIV)
1. 'FORCIBLY ADVANCING'= 'to urge, constrain, overpower by force; to press earnestly forward, to rush
2. 'FORCEFUL MEN' = 'one who uses violence, or is impetuous, one who is forceful in eager pursuit'.
a. MEANS “HUNTERS” “SEEKERS” THOSE WHO ARE “RELENTLESS” OR “PASSIONATE”
3. 'SEIZE IT' = take away by force, snatch away...to seize on with avidity, eagerly,
a. IT DESCRIBES HOW THOSE WHO ARE PASSIONATE ACT
b. THE ACTION OF THE PASSIONATE OR ZEALOUS: THEY “SEIZE” THE OBJECT OF THEIR DESIRE
i. ILLUSTRATION: LIKE A PERSON WAITING OVERNIGHT IN FRONT OF “BEST BUY” ON THE MORNING OF BLACK FRIDAY
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV) "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. {4} The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. {5} WE DEMOLISH ARGUMENTS AND EVERY PRETENSION THAT SETS ITSELF UP AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
SIR EDMUND BLAKE: IN RESPONSE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NAZI’S IN WW2…
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Blake
WHEN WE SPEAK THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD) THE ENEMY IS REPELED!
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND THE TRUTH (WORD OF GOD)
- GOD IS OUR DEFENSE
- WE DON’T HAVE TO DEFEND TRUTH.. GOD DOES!
3. TO HEAL
KINGDOM REALITY… POWER!
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
1. THE CHURCH TODAY DOES IS NOT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM
a. THE CHURCH TODAY IS A “RELIGIOUS SOCIETY”
b. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A “PASSIONATE BRIDE”
2. THE CHURCH TODAY IS ABOUT TO COME UNDER A FIRE OF REFINING SO THAT WE CAN BE CHANGED INTO A KINGDOM REALITY
a. THE CHURCH THAT JESUS IS LOOKING FOR IS A CHURCH THAT WILL “PARTNER WITH HIM” TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH
i. TO LET GO OF THE COMFORT ZONE
ii. TO GET REAL EXCLUSIVE WITH HIM (let go of idols)
iii. TO DO THE THINGS HE WANTS TO DO
iv. TO TAKE ON THE AUTHORITY AND POWER HE HAS
v. TO DO WHAT HE DID AND EVEN GREATER
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
“ECCLESIA” – CHURCH means “CALLED OUT ONES”
- CALLED OUT FOR WHAT?
o TO BE SET APART FOR GOD..
o TO DO BUSINESS FOR GOD..
SIGNS AND WONDERS
AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL
JESUS PUT HIMSELF ON THE LINE…
(John 14:11-12 NIV) "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
I AM FROM GOD…
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I HAVE DIVINE POWER
- IF I AM “IN GOD” THEN I WILL DO MIRACLES..
WHY NO MIRACLES TODAY?
JESUS WAS POWERLESS ONCE!
(Mark 6:5-6 NIV) "HE COULD NOT DO ANY MIRACLES THERE, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. {6} And HE WAS AMAZED AT THEIR LACK OF FAITH. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village."
NO PARTNERING WITH GOD…. NO MIRACLES
NO TRUST IN GOD… NO MIRACLES
NO DECLARATION IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD… NO MIRACLES
OUR PRIMARY CALLING – DEMONSTRATIONS OF GODS POWER
(Mark 16:17-18 NIV) "AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, and they will get well.""
WE KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE GIVEN POWER TO HEAL..
- JESUS GAVE ALL BELIEVERS THE POWER TO HEAL
HEALING IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST PHYSICAL
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.""
JESUS HEALING PLAN (BASED ON ISAIAH 62) – not just physical!!
1. PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS
a. Inform people of God’s plan for love & freedom
2. SET PRISONERS FREE
a. Freedom for those caught in sinful patterns
3. HEAL THE SICK
a. Physical healing
4. RELEASE THE OPPRESSED
a. People who are dealing with demonic oppression
5. PROCLAIM THE JUBILEE – TOTAL RESTORATION
a. Complete return of all that was lost to the enemy!
4. TO DELIVER
GOD GAVE US AUTHORITY ON THE EARTH
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
- GOD OWNS IT.. WE WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF IT!
o WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE EARTH!
- WE HAVE ABDICATED OUR ROLE
o INSTEAD OF “THY KINGDOM COME.. THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
o WE HAVE DONE “OUR WILL”
THE EARTH IS “restless” LONGING FOR THE SONS OF GOD TO BE REVEALED… (those who will partner w God)
(Rom 8:19 NIV) "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
JESUS MISSION IS NOW OURS
(1 John 3:8 NIV) "… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
WE MUST WORK WITH JESUS..
WE BATTLE USING HIS WEAPONS AND HIS STRATEGY..
(2 Cor 10:3-5 NLT) We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans and methods. {4} WE USE GOD'S MIGHTY WEAPONS, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. {5} With these weapons we BREAK DOWN EVERY PROUD ARGUMENT THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM KNOWING GOD. With these weapons WE CONQUER THEIR REBELLIOUS IDEAS, and we TEACH THEM TO OBEY Christ.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS DONE BY
1. BEING IN CHRIST
2. RESISTING HIS DECEPTION AND ACCUSATION
a. MAINTAINING OUR HOLINESS, OUR ARMOR..
3. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE
BEING SUBMITTED TO GOD…
(James 4:7 NIV) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
MAINTAINING OUR POWER..
(Eph 6:10-18 NLT) A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. {11} Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. {12} For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. {13} Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
WE WERE CREATED TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH FOR HIM!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY
TEXT:
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
JESUS CALLED HIMSELF “THE WAY”
a. (John 14:6 NIV) "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
MARY OF BETHANY… FELL AT HIS FEET.. POURED OUT THE OIL..
- SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS
WHAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD CALL US “CHRISTIAN”?
1. CHRIST-LIKE IN APPEARANCE?
a. Barna Statistics say that the church is statistically no different than the world
b. FOCUS BECOMES “LOOKING LIKE JESUS”
i. It becomes WORK.. trying to look like Jesus!
2. CHRIST LIKE IN CHARACTAR!!
a. We are the BODY OF CHRIST
b. We represent HIM here on the earth
c. IF JESUS IS THE HEAD.. (directing, protecting, guiding..)
i. THEN WE WILL BE CALLED “CHRISTLIKE!”
3. FOLLOWER OF JESUS means LOVER/PURSUER OF JESUS
a. WHEN WE ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS..
i. Transformation is what God does when we pursue Him
b. WE KEEP PROPER FOCUS – LOVING GOD!
i. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL HEART, MIND , STRENGTH
ii. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES
IN FACT, WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE/CONCEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US!
(1 Cor 2:9-13 NIV) "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEXT WEEK….
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
OUR SPEECH IS WHAT EMPOWERS US TO OVERCOME
IF WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS 24/7- 365 (ALL THE TIME)
- THEN WE MUST SPEAK OUR FAITH ALL THE TIME
- IF WE LIMIT OUR SPEECH BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID THEN WE WON’T OVERCOME.. WE WILL BE ASHAMED.
3. TO HEAL
(Luke 10:18-20 NIV) "He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. {19} I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. {20} However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.""
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A COMMISSION OF POWER..
- WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THE BUSINESS OF JESUS
- JESUS BUSINESS WAS TO HEAL THE SICK AND RAISE THE DEAD
o HE TOLD US THAT THESE AND GREATER WE WOULD DO!
4. TO DELIVER
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.""
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
WE HAVE BEEN IN A WAR – BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN AT WAR!
- WE ARE CALLED TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH FOR HIM
- TRAMPLE ON THE HEAD OF SATAN
- BRING HIM UNDER OUR FEET
IF WE ARE NOT A THREAT THEN WE ARE A TARGET
- SATAN IS AFTER US..
- HE WANTS TO STEAL KILL AND DESTROY
(1 John 3:8 NLT) "… But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil."
(Mark 3:13-15 KJV) "And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those He himself wanted: and they came unto him. {14} And he appointed twelve, that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them out to preach, {15} And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons"
1. DISCERNMENT: Jesus spent the night in Prayer
(Luke 6:12-13 NIV) "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. {13} When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:"
2. CALLED MANY: All are called
a. Jesus called those who were interested in him
3. APPOINTED DISCIPLES
a. TO BE WITH HIM
b. TO PROCLAIM
c. TO HEAL
d. TO DELIVER
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WAS FOURFOLD
1. TO BE WITH HIM
GOD IS NOT ON A RESCUE MISSION TO SAVE US SO WE CAN KEEP OUR STUFF..
GOD IS ON A MISSION TO BRING US TO FULFILLMENT IN HIMSELF!
JESUS IS CLEAR ABOUT HIS PRIMARY CALL TO US…
(Luke 9:23-24 NIV) "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. {24} For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
YOUR CROSS IS WHERE YOU END.. AND HE BEGINS..
HE WANTS TO BRING YOU TO THE END OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU WILL FIND HIM!
JESUS WANTS YOU…
HE IS NOT HIRING…
HE IS NOT TO ADOPT…
HE IS NOT COMING BACK FOR FOLLOWER…
JESUS IS PASSIONATELY PURSING A BRIDE!
THE FIRST BELIEVERS WERE KNOWN FOR ONE THING..
BUT THEY GAVE THEIR ATTENTION TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!
“CHRISTIAN” – IS WHAT THEY CALL US…
(Acts 11:26 NIV) "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS FIRST AT ANTIOCH."
“FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY” – IS WHAT WE DO…
JESUS CALLED HIMSELF “THE WAY”
a. (John 14:6 NIV) "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
THE CHURCH CALLED “DISCIPLES” OR “FOLLOWERS OF THE WAY”
(Acts 24:14 NIV) "However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,"
OTHER SCRIPTURES: Acts 9:2 19:9,23 24:14,22
MARY OF BETHANY… FELL AT HIS FEET.. POURED OUT THE OIL..
- SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNEW WHO JESUS WAS
WHAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD CALL US “CHRISTIAN”?
1. CHRIST-LIKE IN APPEARANCE?
a. Barna Statistics say that the church is statistically no different than the world
b. FOCUS BECOMES “LOOKING LIKE JESUS”
i. It becomes WORK.. trying to look like Jesus!
2. CHRIST LIKE IN CHARACTAR!!
a. We are the BODY OF CHRIST
b. We represent HIM here on the earth
c. IF JESUS IS THE HEAD.. (directing, protecting, guiding..)
i. THEN WE WILL BE CALLED “CHRISTLIKE!”
3. FOLLOWER OF JESUS means LOVER/PURSUER OF JESUS
a. WHEN WE ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS..
i. Transformation is what God does when we pursue Him
b. WE KEEP PROPER FOCUS – LOVING GOD!
i. LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL HEART, MIND , STRENGTH
ii. LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE LOVE OURSELVES
IN FACT, WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE/CONCEIVE WHAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US!
(1 Cor 2:9-13 NIV) "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- {10} BUT GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO US BY HIS SPIRIT.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEXT WEEK….
2. TO PROCLAIM
(Rev 12:11 NIV) "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
OUR SPEECH IS WHAT EMPOWERS US TO OVERCOME
IF WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS 24/7- 365 (ALL THE TIME)
- THEN WE MUST SPEAK OUR FAITH ALL THE TIME
- IF WE LIMIT OUR SPEECH BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID THEN WE WON’T OVERCOME.. WE WILL BE ASHAMED.
3. TO HEAL
(Luke 10:18-20 NIV) "He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. {19} I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. {20} However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.""
(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A COMMISSION OF POWER..
- WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THE BUSINESS OF JESUS
- JESUS BUSINESS WAS TO HEAL THE SICK AND RAISE THE DEAD
o HE TOLD US THAT THESE AND GREATER WE WOULD DO!
4. TO DELIVER
(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.""
(Luke 4:18-19 NIV) ""The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, {19} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
WE HAVE BEEN IN A WAR – BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN AT WAR!
- WE ARE CALLED TO DO BUSINESS ON THE EARTH FOR HIM
- TRAMPLE ON THE HEAD OF SATAN
- BRING HIM UNDER OUR FEET
IF WE ARE NOT A THREAT THEN WE ARE A TARGET
- SATAN IS AFTER US..
- HE WANTS TO STEAL KILL AND DESTROY
(1 John 3:8 NLT) "… But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the Devil."
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