Phase 3: Recalibration

Big Idea:

Spiritual growth may require season of recalibrating with God.

Intro:

Good morning Church Family,

I am excited to preach this morning! I’m excited to see what God is going to do today. As you likely know, our 2023 Vision (what we’re focusing on for this year) is “Moving On Up.” We believe God is telling our church, “It’s time to grow up.” And that will look different for all of us, but my expectation is that by the end of the year, all of us will love Jesus more, and live more like Him. And I’m excited about how today will help us take steps towards that goal.

A few weeks ago, I introduced the four phases of our plan to “Move on up” in 2023. Here’s a reminder of what those phases look like:

Phase 1, which we’ll officially start next month is “Growing in Christ.”

Phase 2 is the book of Jonah.

Phase 3 will involve both the Book of Acts and learning about the Gifts of the Spirit.

And Phase 4 will be about Heaven.

And… over the past few weeks… I’ve been giving you previews of each phases. And today’s preview is on Phase 3: the Book of Acts and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

… but there’s actually another phrase to describe the purpose of Phase 3. It’s the word recalibration. The dictionary defines the word this way...

To reexamine (one’s thinking, a plan, a system of values, etc.) and correct it in accord with a new understanding or purpose.

That’s what Phase 3 will be about. Sometimes, in order to grow, we need to recalibrate...

This year, I’m once again coaching my son Kade’s basketball team. I love coaching. I love basketball. And we started the season on fire! 2-0, beating teams by double-digits. Then, we took a big loss to a team that wasn’t better than us… something was off that day. The kids were just out of it and playing poorly. And this was proven by the following game, where we came out and beat a team by 20 points… coincidentally, that team only loss by 4 points to the team we had previously lost to… so I knew we were fine.

Our next game was against the best team. I thought we had a chance, but they beat us pretty badly. I still think we could’ve done better, but it is what it is. We’re still 3-2.

Our last game was supposed to get us back on track. It was against a one win team. They definitely didn’t have the same caliber of players we do. But guess what… WE LOST!!! So, currently, we sit at 3-3.

I still think we have a team that can win the championship. But, as the coach, I gotta figure it out. And one thing I’ve noticed is we’re making a lot of bad decisions lately, resulting in turnovers. If you don’t know what a turnover is, it’s when you have the ball (with the chance to score), but you make a bad pass or lose the ball dribbling, and give the ball back to your opponent. We’ve been doing that a lot! And so, for the past couple practices we’ve been focusing on the fundamentals of basketball. Teaching good solid, basic basketball. Because sometimes, in order for a team/players to grow, they got to get back to the basics - they must RECALIBRATE.

I think the Scriptures teach us the same thing about life… Back in the day, the people of God (Israel) weren’t spiritually growing. In fact, listening to the way God describes them...

Jeremiah 6:6–7 ESV

For thus says the Lord of hosts: “Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her. As a well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps fresh her evil; violence and destruction are heard within her; sickness and wounds are ever before me.

… and God, through the prophet Jeremiah, tells them how to fix it! He says...

Jeremiah 6:16 NLT

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’

God said, “If you want to grow the right way, you need to seek the old paths! You need to recalibrate!”

Now, I like new stuff. I like fresh stuff. Many of you have heard me share how the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about Luke 5, when first planting The River Church, where it says...

Luke 5:38 ESV

But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.

Often time in Scripture, wine can represent the work of the Holy Spirit. And I believe there is a reality where God is desiring to work in new, in fresh ways. But in order for us to participate in that, we gotta be flexible, like new wineskin, which could expand with the expansion of the new wine. That’s why I like new and believe God is even calling The River Church into “new things.”

That being said, there is something beautiful and biblical about the “old, godly ways.” There are things we need to learn from them. It’s one reason Jesus says...

Matthew 13:52 ESV

And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

We need a fresh move of the Holy Spirit to grow. But... WE ALSO NEED THE OLD WAYS - we need to RECALIBRATE TO GROW. That’s what Phase 3 is about. And the reason we will look to the Book of Acts is because that’s where we will find the basics, the fundamentals, the purpose of the church… so we can recalibrate.

If I could summarize what we’ll learn in Phase 3 into 2 questions, it would be this...

1) What has God said?

It’s important we know this out so we can obey them, which results in spiritual growth - in moving on up! Again, these answers are found in the Book of Acts.

The second question is...

2) How will God help us?

That’s important, right? God hasn’t called and created us to “grit” this life out. That’s a pretty trendy word lately, isn’t it? We can define it this way...

Grit is having determination and courage to push through any challenge or obstacle until you succeed.

I like grit. I think it’s an important quality to have. But when it comes to spiritual growth (Moving On Up), you’re gonna need MORE THAN GRIT. You’re gonna need HELP. You will need the Holy Spirit, who will give you not just “grit,” but “spiritual grit.” As my friend, Joel Wayne (a pastor in Michigan) says...

Spiritual grit is similar to grit but has the additional aspect of being empowered by the Holy Spirit. With spiritual grit, we depend on God to empower us to live into the callings placed in our lives.

That’s the secret ingredient to growth right there! It’s the Holy Spirit. We need His help! Why? Because that’s the way God designed it to work. It’s why Jesus says...

John 15:5 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

I’m not always a “literalist” in my biblical interpretations, but personally, here, I’m a literalist. I really do believe we can do NOTHING of eternal value apart from ABIDING - being completely DEPENDENT - on God’s HELP! I need His power to live out the purposes He created me for. And you do too.

And one important way God helps us is by giving us spiritual gifts.

Ephesians 4:7 NLT

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.

When you turn away from your sins (repent) and put your faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, God gives you a special spiritual gift. In my understanding, this is more than the natural giftings he’s created us with… this is a SPIRITUAL gift. Now, this SPECIAL GIFT may supercharge your natural gifts. Or, it may give you the ability to do something you’d never be able to do on your own - it’s TRULY special!

For example, I think one of my natural gifts is learning. I’ve always had an ability to learn things well. For most of my life, I had straight As in school. However, when I gave my life to Christ, one of the spiritual gifts God gave me is teaching. This gift built upon my natural gift of learning. And together, God has allowed me to learn the Scriptures, while also teach them in a way that helps others learn them too.

That being said, another spiritual gift I got was preaching - what I’m doing now. And NONE OF MY NATURAL GIFTS CORRESPOND TO THIS!!! If you’ve spent any time with me outside of church, you’ve probably noticed this. I’m quiet and introverted. But, when I get the opportunity to preach God’s word, the Holy Spirit activates my preaching gift - and off I go… empowered to do the things God purposed for me.

In Phase 3, as we “Move on up,” we will recalibrate. We will...

Learn what God has said in the Book of Acts.

And, we will learn how God will help us by studying the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Body:

In fact, before we close, let’s get a quick preview of the kind of things we will be discussing in Phase 3...

In this life, we are exposed to a lot of voices. Voices that seek to influence our lives.

Some of these voices are from our peers.

Some from social media.

Some from home.

Some from church.

Some seem to magically pop into our heads.

Many of these voices promise a sort of “growth” or “success” in our lives. And we can all think of times when we’ve listen to those voices, only to be disappointed at the end. And yet, instead of seeking the truth, we just move onto the next pursuit, while keep the same kind of thinking that lead us to disappointment and discouragement in the first place. What we should’ve done - what we need to do - is RECALIBRATE. We need to find out what God has said.

For example… here in America… here in the West… in our modern times… WE HIGHLY VALUE COMFORT. Before I go any further, let me be clear, comfort is not evil. In Heaven (Phase 4), there’s going to be a lot of comfort! [Can I get a Hallelujah?]

… but for now… comfort is not as high on the Kingdom values lists as we may think - depending on how much we’ve allowed the culture’s voice to influence us. Because there are a lot of voices today promoting the over-valuing of comfort. And we like it, because honestly, comfort plays nicely with our natural selfishness.

But what does God have to say?

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

And look at how Paul described how he lived this out...

Colossians 1:28–29 NLT

So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Our culture says, “Pursue comfort!” And we like that! So, that’s what we do. But then, at least for the Christian, we also think, “Why am I struggling so much to grow in my faith?”

Well, it’s because the God says, “Go hard! Not get comfortable!” When Paul says, “That’s why I work and struggle so hard” it can appropriately be translated, “I exhaust myself for the Kingdom of God.”

Now, I have to be careful. Because many of us struggle with NOT RESTING. So, telling you the Bible says “exhaust yourself” can be both confusing and dangerous. So, which is it: Work hard or rest? Both.

Some of you hate me for that answer, but it’s true. We rest well because God values rest. And during your times of rest, get comfortable! But, when it’s time to work, time to seek first the Kingdom of God, give everything you have! Because honestly, what better thing can you give your life to?

And we’ll learn this lesson - we’ll recalibrate to this kind of thinking - in the book of Acts. Because it’s there we read things like this… the apostle Paul speaking...

Acts 20:18–24 ESV

And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

I don’t know about you, but I want to live like that. I want to live with that kind of impact and purpose. But let’s be real… you ain’t going to grow into a person like Paul when your highest life values lead you to pursue comfort at the expense of God’s Kingdom. Binge watching Netflix doesn’t result in men and women be filled with the Holy Spirit and changing the world.

I say, “Forget comfort.” I don’t want to waste my life. I want my life to matter. I want to live for the purpose God created me for. Therefore, I need to recalibrate and do what God says to do… I want to be a living sacrifice, pursuing Christ with all I am.

But as I mentioned earlier… we need God’s help to live this way. We can’t just have grit to grow, we need spiritual grit. We need the Holy Spirit. We need to understand what God has gifted us with, so we can properly use those gifts for His glory, and to grow into the people we’re supposed to be!

Look at the following passage...

Romans 12:6–8 NLT

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Some of you are on this list. God has given you some of you these gifts! Some of you may even be on this list...

Ephesians 4:11 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Some of you God has gifted you in a special way to help us lead this church...

But one reason we may not be growing is because we don’t know about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. But Phase 3 will help with that - so stick around! And my hope is by the end of this phase, all of us are gonna be saying, “Put me in coach! I’m ready to use my gift! I’ve been recalibrated, growing, and I’m ready to live for God!”

Response:

As we close, I want to speak something over you. When I look around this room, I see incredible purpose. I see a room filled with people gifted by God to change the world in the most beautiful of ways. I see the same quality of people we’re gonna read about the Book of Acts...

I see the Lydias in this room. People God has given an abundance of resources. People who can make a huge difference in the Kingdom of God through their generosity.

I see the young people who are like Timothy - a young man the apostle Paul finds on his missionary journeys. A man who became one of his closest friends - one of his disciples. More than that, a man who pastored people and made an eternal difference in the world.

I see the Barnabas’s. Those gifted with the gift of encouragement. People who help others press into the mess to grow, instead of giving up. People who help cultivate spiritual grit in the church.

I even see people who can be the apostle Paul. No seriously… we have a Paul who’s last name makes him… Paul the apostle.

I see people who have the same Gifts of the Spirit as those in the Bible had. Why? Because the same Holy Spirit of the Scriptures is the same Holy Spirit here today.

And that’s why I started off this message with excitement. I’m excited about what God is doing here at The River Church! God is on the move. The atmosphere is shifting in New England. And I believe God has created us for such a time as this. To participate in many people finding eternal life!

[As the worship team comes up] Maybe some of you need to recalibrate today. I was listening to a song on the way to my group run yesterday… it’s a song by the group Upper Room. It’s called “Defender.” And there’s a part of the song that says this...

When I thought I lost me, you knew where I left me. You reintroduced me to Your love. And You picked up all my pieces. Put me back together. You are the defender of my heart.

I’ve heard this song a bunch of times, but the Holy Spirit was speaking to me in a new way. He was reminding me, “This is your story.” Because it is!

I didn’t grow up in the church. Then, for a couple of years, we went to church and I was introduced to Jesus. But then, we left. And I got lost listening to the many voices of this world. And it broke me.

But then, I was reintroduced to God’s love. And He put me back together. And as I look back, I see that He’s been defending my heart the whole time. Keeping me alive so I could live for Him.

Maybe you can relate? Maybe the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart right now? If that’s true…if you need to recalibrate today… Jesus isn’t gonna make you wait until we officially begin Phase 3. He’s ready to help you today. He’s ready to put things back together TODAY. Just ask Him for help. Put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. And then do what He says...

One last warning… Whatever you do, don’t refuse recalibration like Israel. Because when God gave them instructions on how to recalibrate, look at their response...

Jeremiah 6:16 NLT

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’

Don’t do that. The road you selfishly want only leads to destruction, as Jerusalem found out.

Let’s pray...

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