Dig Deeper (Sermon Series...Part 2 of 4)

Series: Dig Deeper - Hard Work Pays Off

Subject: Can't We All Just Get Along? (Digging Past Unhealthy Thinking)

Scripture: Luke 9:49-50 (New Living Translation)   John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.”
⁵⁰ But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”

Introduction: Anthropology (science of humanity) has a branch that focuses on social habits. In observation, much like animals humans tend to run in packs. We're extremely cliquish. Because of the presumed safety in the size of the gang, we'll develop thinking that's exclusive to anyone outside of our group. There's a sense of unhealthiness in that kind of thinking, because it takes three arrogant stances: we don't know you, we don't want to know you and don't do what we're doing because we have a monopoly on it. That's fish bowl thinking. It's micro when it should be macro.

That's why I believe that God is calling us to dig deeper! We must dig past that unhealthy thinking, because it severely limits the church's impact of expanding the kingdom of God. It subjects the spread of the gospel message of salvation and liberation, to mediocrity. We're faced with those frightening realities and those of us who are followers of Jesus, are forced to answer the question Can't We All Just Get Along?

Transition: After a high speed chase on March 3, 1991, California police arrested and brutally assaulted a taxi driver named Rodney King. Those officers were charged and tried for their crimes, but were found not guilty. The verdict was the spark which started the 1992 riots in major cities across the country. Rodney King, in a televised plea for peace, asked the question "Can we all get along?" Martin Lawrence then picked up the line and made it his own in his self titled sitcom by asking "Can't we all just get along?" That's the question that we're presented with today. The church has been confused with who our true allies are. So, Jesus clears up our confusion in the text, by assertively voicing his mind.

Exposition: in order for us to answer this question honestly, we must examine three crucial elements...

1...Inadequate Observation (John said to Jesus, Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons) The apostles were standing on the outside looking in, saying that this guy is trying to be us. They'd allowed the power that Jesus gave them in verse 1, to become perverted by their inferiority. Their observation was inadequate because they were not in a position to be quality control!

2...Inappropriate Action (but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group) We handled it for you, is the attitude that the disciples took. The problem is that they genuinely loved Jesus, but they didn't have Jesus' heart (that's a major principle)! The spirit of exclusiveness had meandered it's way into their ministry philosophy. Jesus empowered and employed them, with the purpose of growing the group, but they wanted church to be like Cheers, where everybody knows your name. But, if the group stays closed, we miss out on the willing, talented and faithful. Notice that while the church/disciples were looking at the man, the man was doing what they were supposed to be doing: working to help someone be made better!

3...Inevitable Correction (But Jesus said, Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you) No question about it, Jesus had to say something! I'm positive that they could see it written all over his face, that he was about to doctor on their unhealthy thinking. Jesus is very straight forward and stern with this word of correction. The admonishment gives the sense that they had power over demons and diseases but not over people! Furthermore, the man that you all bullied, wasn't even an enemy!

Conclusion: What's the take-a-way for today? To understand that our mission is expansion! It's a good thing when you come to church are unfamiliar with someone. That simply means that we're on the grow and you've got a stronger family with their addition. So what do we do about them? Love them, befriend them and train them to keep the cycle of evangelism (reaching people) and discipleship (teaching people) going.

Day 3...Evening Devotion

John 3:1-36   Read today's scripture here
"Saved to Serve"

Thank God for allowing us to still be alive, alert and available for his use! It's day 3 of fasting and I hope that you are still as excited, about being on one accord with your brothers and sisters.

Salvation and service go hand in hand. There's no way to claim Christ as Lord and not have a servants heart. That's the take-a-way from John 3.

Nicodemus is a well respected spiritual leader. No one has pointed out that he is in leadership, but has no relationship with Jesus because that was the norm of the day. However, Nicodemus notices that something is missing within himself. So, he waits until dark to pay Jesus a visit. Isn't that true for most of us? We have the tendency to make Jesus a priority, only when darkness falls. Upon his arrival, he questions Jesus about how someone can be saved. The responses that Jesus gives him are difficult to process with his mortal train of thought. Plainly, Jesus explains that God's unconditional love for the world has provided a way for humanity to be saved (to have eternal life), through his son.

Salvation is a free gift, that's accepted of an individuals own will and volition. It's what affords us the opportunity to live without fearing death. Also, our appreciation for salvation should be translated into service. The saved don't sit! Once one has been truly saved, some positive action must follow.

John, Jesus' first cousin, had the job of preparing people to hear and receive the ministry of Jesus. There was no room for jealousy. Family all to often, allows petty insecurities to hinder the progress of good work. John understood what his role was. That's a key principle to hold on to; your role. If you want to intrude on someone else's lane, chaos will be the result. Now is the time to bloom where we've been planted and allow God to work through you, without a jealous spirit.

The servant's heart of John is to be emulated. He didn't want to be Jesus but he did want to serve in the best way he could. His philosophy of decreasing for Jesus to increase, is a major declaration. May our prayer be for us to be less seen by people, so that Jesus can be elevated in their sight. If we don't get out of people's view of Jesus, God will move us. I'd much rather come down instead of being brought down.

I'm praying that the Lord will agitate and aggravate you so much, that when you get up in the morning, you'll have the determination to want to serve God. Here's the only reason that you need, he saved you!

I hope you'll join the prayer call tonight at 7 p.m. and check back here tomorrow, for the evening devotion on John 4:1-54. I love you all and speak God's blessing of strength, sufficiency safety and sanity over your lives, that you may be incredible servants for building God's kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 2...Evening Devotion

John 2:1-25  Read today's scripture here
"Miracles and Messes"

Good evening! I pray that your day has been a blessed one. It's day 2 of consecration and I can sense that the struggle is real for you! I assure you that God's strength is made perfect in your weakness.

John 2 begins with an incredible miracle (Walkerized definition of Miracle: God showing up and showing out in public just for you!). At a wedding, where the pressure of everything being perfect is great, the groom is headed toward embarrassment because there is no more wine. We all know that that's a quick way to shut a lively party down; just yell that we're out of drink and everyone will surely disperse. Jesus saves this groom from embarrassment, by turning water into wine.

Here's a few thoughts about this miracle...
1) It wasn't all on Jesus. Jesus gave instructions, to fill six huge pots with water. Obedience is key to seeing progress in your life. If you want to see God work, then give him something to work with! We give incredibly to many excuses as to why we aren't obedient participants, to see God do the miraculous. The truth is that we aren't seeing God at work is because we aren't working. In the words of my great grandmother 'now you can put that in your pipe and smoke it'!

2) Jesus made the best wine. It's important to note that Jesus doesn't half do anything. Excellence should be our middle names! Don't settle for mediocrity in your life. The trouble with this is that we often don't see our insufficient action as substandard. So, it's necessary to be surrounded by people who will call you on your crap (that's right, I said it). The wedding planner told Jesus that you've saved the best wine for last. Before it's all said and done for you, you should get this stage in your life right. Stop wasting time and making excuses, and put in the hard work to make this season the best season of your life!

Right after a miracle, Jesus walks into a mess! Please understand, that life is filed with ups and downs. There's no way for you to escape life's messes. It's the mess that makes you (you'll catch that later tonight)! Jesus reveals in the temple, that he is not only the son of God but that he's also a soldier in the army of God! Don't get scared in the face of messy people! Don't miss this: messy people are messy and think they're doing God a favor. But mess can never be blessed, it can only be cleaned up!

I love all of you towards abundant life in Jesus Christ! I pray that these evening devotions are helping you to be great, just like the Lord desires for you to be. I hope you'll check back tomorrow as I pen my reflections on John 3:1-36. Also, don't forget to join our prayer call tomorrow night at 7 p.m. as we talk and pray about unity. Call (641) 715-3836 and use access code 131337.

Until tomorrow, happy fasting!

Day 1...Evening Devotion

John 1:1-51   Read today's scripture here "Connections that Count"

Today is the first day of our corporate consecration. We're putting in the hard work of getting on one accord, by fasting, praying and studying the scriptures together. Each day, I'll post an evening devotion in reflection to the day's scripture reading. I hope that you will take advantage of this daily resource, to help you develop as a disciple. I know that this 21 days of consecration is a sacrifice and a struggle. That's the point! Deprive your flesh with the intent of developing your spirit. It's going to be hard, but with God's help all things are possible!

Jesus is God's son; Jesus and John are first cousins; Andrew and Simon are brothers; Philip and Nathanael are close friends. Family and friends is what's highlighted in John chapter 1. What's even more interesting is that there's one person that's their common interest. Jesus!

There's no greater bond on the entire planet, than to be connected to others because of Jesus! The first 4 disciples were connected as family (Andrew & Simon) and as friends (Philip & Nathanael). Pease receive this principle, evangelism starts there! Andrew met Jesus and brought his brother to meet him to! Philip met Jesus and ensured that he told his close friend, that we've been searching for a fulfilment to our life's void and Jesus is the answer! Put in the hard work of having conversations about Jesus. Friends and family is the place to start and they're waiting on you to tell them what Jesus has done for you.

John (Jesus' first cousin) promotes and preaches Jesus. When you're in the family of Jesus, you ought not be able to keep quiet about him! I'd even dare to say that it's your job to pave the way for people to have a personal encounter with Jesus. John didn't take it offensively that he wasn't the light. It was the greatest honor of John's life, to tell the world about his cousin. There shouldn't be a reason in the world, that we're not the most vocal family in history! Let's cry loud, that Jesus is the lamb of God!

Early in John 1, Jesus' position is firmly fixed as the messiah, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He became flesh to die for us (the world), so that we can live. That's the most important connection of all! Jesus' descent to die for our sins, is what I call a conquering connection, that gives us the ability to live without the fear of eternal death.

Connections that count can be summed up in these words by Jesus in Luke 8:21 “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” God be praised for connections that count!

Check back here tomorrow at 5 p.m. for the evening devotion from John 2:1-25. Happy fasting!!!

Dig Deeper (Sermon Series...Part 1 of 4)

Series: Dig Deeper - Hard Work Pays Off

Subject: Interesting Instructions (Digging Past Personal Comfort)

Scripture: Luke 9:1-6 (New Living Translation) "One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. ² Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. ⁴ Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. ⁵ And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” ⁶ So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.

Introduction: The superficiality of the modern church is sickening. We want the allure of anointing without the authenticity. But God is calling for us to dig deeper! And digging deeper requires hard work; and hard work pays off! It gives us a sense of satisfaction and it makes us stronger in the process.

Transition: The tension of this text, is Jesus' charge vs. his disciples comfort. His directive vs. their desire. The truth is, that our actions far to often are contrary to God's divine design. However, when we hear his voice, anything we're doing that's inconsistent and incongruent with his instructions should and must be disregarded. His instructions are interesting, because they're against our logic. We attempt to rationalize divine directives, but our logic will never understand God's directives. Isaiah 55:8-9 says "“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. ⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

So, the only thing we can do is trust God, when we can't trace him!

Exposition: interesting instructions from the Lord are in the least, triune...

1...God's instructions call us to positions of power (verse 1)
This power isn't about prestige that strokes your ego. This power is given from God, to help somebody other than yourself, to be better! This was a liberation of mind (demons) and body (diseases).

2...God's instructions commission us to preach promise (verse 2)
-The disciples were tasked to cast a wide net, when sharing the gospel (tell everyone).
-They were to help them first, so that they'd hear them (reference verse 1's mental and physical implications, prior to any transformative talk).

3...God's instructions challenge us to practice partiality (verse 3)
Our partiality should be geared toward, complete dependence on God alone. This is a challenge because we're accustomed to being independent. But God always makes proper provision for his children, when he sends them on kingdom building missions.

Conclusion: The resolve the Lord is seeking is obedience to his voice, even when what he instructs makes no logical sense. First Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

 

We just can't give any better offering to the Lord, than doing what he says!

 

*These sermon notes were prepared and presented by Pastor Antonie E. Walker, at Grace Corner Church in Macon, GA. The sermon was preached in Café Grace and Bloomfield Chapel on 01/10/2016.

2016 Vision & Consecration Guide

Special Alert: New Sermon Series!!!

Happy New Year!!! 2016 is The Year of Hard Work at Grace Corner. We're preparing ourselves for the work, with 21 days of consecration this month. During that time, Pastor Walker will lead us through a 4 part scriptural excursion from the theme Dig Deeper-Hard Work Pays Off. You're not going to want to miss any of these sermons. We believe that they'll bless you if you let them!