Just Getting Started

Take a second to tell online, in house, visitors, what’s going on...

Our God is a God who moves, and He invites us to move with him. He wants to pry us away from anything that might hold us too securely. We must be ready to disconnect. There comes a time when certain things that were undoubtedly good and right in the past must be left behind. There is always the danger that those things might hinder us from moving forward and connecting with the one necessary thing, Christ himself.

When we give our lives to Christ, we talk about a transformation taking place. To be transformed implies letting go of control for a while, in the hopeful expectation that something worthwhile might result. We have to ask ourselves the question, “Am I willing to cross the threshold of new understanding by being open and receptive, not closed in and defensive?”

I want to take just a few minutes because Jacob has already done a great job setting the stage for this new adventure and share from Revelation chapter 3 verses 11 and 12. It is one of the letters written to the churches in revelation, most specifically the Church Philadelphia which means brotherly love, to get along, to strive and live together. So how much more appropriate of a letter for us to consider as we come together today?

Do you ever think about death? The finality of it? The concept of eternity? How long it really is? Maybe even the excitement of heaven, somewhat countered by the fear of the unknown? Scripture tells us, old things pass away, and this is true in nature, in architecture, in careers, relationships, and in these mortal bodies. But… Christ is always making all things NEW. Let’s look at Revelation 3 together this morning.

Revelation 3:11-12 “I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”

It’s interesting that the direction given to the Philadelphians is to hold firmly to what you have, and yet goes on to describe a temple or structure in heaven that will be absent of so many of the things that we hold onto in this life, in our churches, and in our storehouses.

In these two verses Jesus starts by dictating to John that He or Jesus is coming quickly, and that we are to hold firm to what we have, but of course He speaks not of physical things but the faith that we hold on to in Christ. When we hold on to things, ideas, or structures in the physical more than spiritual it keeps us from holding a proper perspective about what our faith in Christ is supposed to look like.

He then goes on to say that the one who holds on to their faith in Christ… the one who is not overcome by the tempter… the one who endures to the end, that’s the goal that we all have, is it not? We will be called pillars in the temple of God. This is incredibly fascinating in the sense that there will be no need for a temple, tabernacle, or church building if you will in the heavenly city because there will be no distinguishing between the sacred and the secular, every thing and every person in heaven will be Holy. Every saint will not merely be a stone, as in the spiritual temple now on earth, but all eminent as pillars; immovably firm. We will then forever be secure in our relationship with Him and our status in heaven. Sin can no longer present itself, and the enemy now has no opportunity to offer temptation, shame, or guilt. No more parting with friends, and no more engagement with the enemy.

And in the end one name will matter. Not the name of the denomination, not the name cap city, hope central, grace, or lighthouse. It will be the name of Jesus. That will be the name that is written upon our souls, it is the name at which every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess. Jesus Christ, king of kings, lord of lords, name above all names, and we will spend eternity with Him.

But church, until that day comes our business is about filling the realms of heaven with souls that were previously destined for hell. So as we come together, I’m sure the path to unity and successfully spreading the gospel will be to focus on just that. Bringing two churches together means, we will have to move stuff, clean stuff, try stuff, and quit stuff.

‘we move somethimg, they gave up whole church??????As it happens, ask yourself the question in each instance, with this change, can you still share the gospel with other people? Has anyone limited your ability to reach souls, and if not… trust your leaders, assume the best in others, know the enemy is a liar, and that everyone in this church wants to see us reach more people for Christ. And if we keep that in mind, Jesus will be exalted.

Invite the team, blessing. The song talks about wanting to see God’s blessing for generations to come. If that’s what you want to see for the legacy of brown road community church, hope central, del ray, lighthouse ministries, grace ministries, reeb ave cccu, cap city church, and any other church that might be part of your history, let’s make sure the most important legacy we are focused on is the legacy of Christ Jesus. Let’s fill this altar today and ask God to open our eyes to what He will need us to be to reach generations to come. If you already know you are going to be there one day, ask God what it’s going to take to see your babies and grand-babies to be there and then make that your goal as you move forward. Church we’re just getting started!

PRAY

Offering:

HOPE CENTRAL OFFERING MANAGEMENT, trunk r treat car sign-up

Name tag, staff and board intro, PATIENCE, PATIENCE Every time God did something great in scripture there was an adjustment period, be flexible, be patient, grow in understanding and in the time you spend in prayer, and God will give us the strength and the wisdom to move ahead. JUST GETTING STARTED