01/29/2023 - Part 3 - Reverential Responsiveness: Knock-Knock . . . Who’s There?

1 Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes January 29, 2023 Reverential Responsiveness: Knock-Knock . . . Who’s There? When Jesus Comes A Knocking! After nearly three years of a pandemic and a time to experience life and the Lord in a very extraordinary way, I believe God has used such a time to get our attention in a new way. I believe that [that] new way demands our best response. That’s why I’m convinced that this year for GP should be a year of Reverential Responsiveness. In simple, this theme means respectfully responding to the God’s interests above our own. It is an appeal to every heart to make God’s way the priority of our lives; to hear HIM and say YES Lord instead of no or maybe. It is a challenge presented to every Believer to exercise “godly discernment and learning” that results in every Saint of God saying: Not 2 my will Lord, but Thy will be done. And we’ll say this regarding: family, marriage, money, careers, spiritual and non-spiritual things, How do you get yourself in the best position to hear Christ’s knock? 1. Learn Christ’s Voice – HIS WORD {My sheep hear my voice} Sit close to the door. 2. Be Expectant! Be expecting - looking out - ready to welcome Prodigal Sons Father or Bigger Barns Farmer [Not caught off guard] Thief was coming – be expectant. 3. Turn Down Life’s Noises. When Saw we YOU . . . Hungry 4. Remove Preconceived Notions – a preconceived notion is a preset notion, belief, perception that acts as a filter to filter out (of an idea or an opinion) formed too early, especially without enough thought or knowledge: If you have preconceived ideas about something, you have already formed an opinion about it before you have enough information or experience. We all start with preconceived notions of what we want from life. [Jesus is knocking and if He is knocking - it must be for good reason. Like, He wants to sup, dine, fellowship, protect . . . get our attention. 3 5. Be Encourage – Be Willing and Submissive; Be Responsive [Eli and Samuel a complete example of Reverential Responsiveness; other examples . . . Usually we the believer comes knocking; when we knock – it’s usually for something … ask, seek, knock. The knock is not optional, answering is. When “we” come knocking – we are seeking something: 1. Mother of Sons of Zebedee 2. The woman who wiped Jesus’ feet = came knocking to give back. 3. Jairus’ Needed . . . 4. Woman at the well . . .Set you free from self 5. Boy healed need . . . Matt 17:14-21 (knocked on other door – knock on Jairus’ door 6. Satan came knocking – Matt 4 7. Workers in the vineyard. 8. Zacchaeus : Jesus knocked on 9. Friend in need 10. Bigger Barns If Jesus were knocking on your door, What do you suppose, believe, guess, know that it would be for? Next time! 1. For the Laodiceans, it was for . . . 2. For the Thyatirans 3. For Paul's Brethren - Rom 10 4. Galatians - You ran well - Bigger Barns