Connecting Part 1

CONNECTING: God’s Instructions for Powerful Relationships Part 1 From “Connecting” Sermon Series by Scott Erickson 📷Tonight we will begin a series of messages on connecting. Over the many years of ministry, I have realized many people who come to church are hurting from things that have come their way in life: > Broken hearts > Abusive backgrounds > Depressed thinking > Lonely life (no one understands) > Rejection There is an old adage that goes like this. “Hurt people, Hurt people.” People who are hurting have and tendency to hurt other people. I am grateful that we are getting Celebrate Recovery here. I am grateful for what it has already done in the lives of people that I love. We have to learn to connect with those who are hurting, those who are struggling and those who just need encouraged. One of our responsibilities is to provide the atmosphere and attitude that will cause everyone to feel safe, welcome and motivated to grow closer to God. !!! Before we get too far I want to share something with you. “Mom, are bugs good to eat?” asked the boy. “Let’s not talk about such things at the dinner table, son,” his mother replied. After dinner the mother inquired, “Now, baby, what did you want to ask me?” “Oh, nothing,” the boy said. “There was a bug in your soup, but now it’s gone.” We must be careful what we eat…. We will be going back to Genesis to talk about the first family. You see Satan’s work has not stopped in thousands of years: > To the “first family” he simply ‘asked a question. > The purpose of the inquiry was to cause doubt in the authority of God’s Spoken Word. Genesis 3:1-5

Genesis 3:1–5 (NKJV)

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

That old devil came and lied to Eve and everything changed. He straight up LIED with big letters… > He attempted to tell the first family they could ‘choose for themselves what was rightand wrong.’ If we look around to today we see the world is dong this very thing. They are trying to pick what is right and wrong. Currently we are under a regime that chooses to make right wrong and godly ungodly. One of our biggest things to help our families is to stay connected and keep them connected to the source of all power, through Jesus Christ. Making Right – Wrong… Following an incredible miracle by Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were inspired by Satan to ask a question. Now watch this… Every time there is a move of God this goes this way. > They didn’t ask...can you heal me also? > They didn’t ask...would you come to my house and help my mother? > They asked...

Luke 6:6–11 (NKJV)

Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”

Wow! What a crazy question. What an amazing way to put the scribes and Pharisees on the spot. You see there are many who think that the mess we are going through started recently. I’m here to tell you that, that is not the case. The Scribes and Pharisees were trying that very thing was back 2000 years or more ago. Some people just can’t stand for God to move in powerful supernatural ways because they can’t control it. I’m not here to control a move of God, I’m here to release it. I’m here to release a revival like never seen before. I’m here to get into the glory cloud if you will. I want to see people healed, set free and fill with the Holy Ghost every time we get together. You say “Pastor that isn’t possible.” Scripture says: “Signs and Wonders will follow them that believe and I’m standing here believing for a Move of God like we’ve never seen before.”

Now let’s look at what Godly men do. Here is the other side of a question: > Paul and Silas were in prison – beaten and in chains – they were singing song of praise to God. Acts 16:25-30

Acts 16:25–30 (NKJV)

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”

Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Acts 16:25-30 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

The jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?”

As a family of believers, we must learn to ask the right questions and provide the correct solutions. We must also look at what is right scripturally. Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.” If we do that we will be more like Paul and less like Pharisees who are looking for ways to trick people out of the kingdom as opposed to joining them into The Kingdom of God.

REALITIES – Two Realities! 1 People are hurting far more than you KNOW and far more than they SHOW. 2 YOU have more to offer than you KNOW and far more than you SHOW.

THE CHURCH HAS BEEN GIVEN GREAT RESOURCES The things that build a great church: The greatest need of our culture is for the church of Jesus Christ to take its place so the healing power of Christ can be readily on display. People need to be saved, healed and set free.

Ephesians 4:10–16 (NKJV)

He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

THE TRUTH SETS PEOPLE FREE

Ephesians 4:13 ... until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. The Body of Christ is to follow after Christ.

God sets high standards...let us accept them. · Be ye holy. · Walk in love.

Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ‘Infants’ = ‘NOPIOS’ = One who cannot speak. Means someone incapable of communicating. It is a picture of a ship without a rudder – waves come crashing – without stability the waves of life (circumstances) will overwhelm you. Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. The truth that is to flow from the heart of the leaders of the church then flows through the life and relationships of all. Most are unsettled because they have permitted the waves of life to control them. Spreading the truth = speaking the Word. The truthis both the Living Word of God and the revelation of God’s Word. It’s time for you and I to be so full of God, so full of the Word, that we stop telling what the devil has done to us and start boasting in what God has done for us.

II GENUINE LOVE FOR GOD CAUSES LIBERTY

Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Every part of the church is to be knit together in love for Christ.

So let me break this down!

The Adult Church should love the KIDS Church

The KIDS Church should love the Adult Church

The Youth should love both, while both the Adults and the KIDS should love the YOUTH.

We should all be supportive of every group that meets here. CR, KIDS, Rangers, Girls....

The love of Jesus makes us all interested in everyone gaining increase. We desire for anyone who enters this house to be blessed.

Paul prays for the church that they are continually rooted and established in love and that should be our prayer.

Ephesians 3:17–19 (NKJV)

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

We need a revelation of the love of Christ. It is vital for a deep and solid relationship with Christ. He loves each of you.

III THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Encouragement is helping others take that ‘next step’ they couldn’t take on their own and allows them to become more like Christ.

Your future – you will never leave where you are until you decide where you would rather be.

Do you want to stay in the land of regret, addiction, sickness and frustration or do you want to do something better.

“We need to help others learn to be intolerant of the things that rob and hold us back.”

Isaiah 43:18-19 [KJV] Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

So, as we talk about connection, we realize all of us have a ROLE to play and a RESPONSIBILITY to carry out. We will never escape challenges; we will have problems and face attacks until we see Jesus.

Ephesians 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Whole body is built up in love. Love is the key issue: Love for Jesus and love for others. Faith doesn’t work without love. Note: We are to be knit together. We are not to be people who come here and observe and do not participate. We are to be all in. Members of the Body of Christ are like bones in the natural body. What joins the bones together is ligaments and tendons? When one suffers, we are all sharing in that. When one rejoices, we are all to share in that. This happens as all of us are committed to doing our part. Hear me church, I want to tell you, trouble is coming. The world is shaking, tottering,trembling, and Jesus is coming soon! It is not time to hide or to turn inward. Paul and Silas were on the job (even while in pain and persecution). What happened? The jailer and his entire house were saved. If we do our part, great victories await us. Start talking like a person who knows God is for me. His Word is working mightily in me. I want to see the Holy Spirit flow through each one of us as we love and care for each other. I’m a part of a body that is victorious. Let us take our place. · Connected · A life-giver to those around you. · There is life in Jesus. · He wants to help us be.