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As for me #5
Jamey Mills
9/10/23
NORTHSIDE…
Good Morning… It’s always good to be with you guys. My name is Jamey and I’m the lead pastor here at Northside.
Hope you all are planning on coming to the Luau… it’s going to be a great time.
Lots of good fun and fun… Huge outreach to our community… invite friends… It's not too late.
We are in our 5th week of a series that we are calling “As for me” that’s sort of inspired by a verse out of Joshua 24…
Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
15 But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”
It was a pivotal point in Israel’s history…
As they were beginning to take hold of the land that God had promised them.
It’s such a big moment in their history that Joshua is reminding them… calling them back to this monumental decision that each and every one of them needed to make…
And it is a choice that stands before you and I today…
Will you continue to mess around with and value the things of the culture that have led you away from what really matters and from the Lord over and over again…
OR… will you serve the one and only… true and living God.
Joshua is encouraging them to make the decision that will inform and impact every other decision that they make.
Joshua reminded them of God’s great faithfulness and all that God had done to lead them to where they were… and I can’t help but wonder… based on their track record… if Joshua was a little shocked when the response was…
“No, we will serve the Lord. You are our witness to this”. “We’d never abandon Him. We know He’s the one who led us here”.
And if you go on to read the rest of their history, this is what it says…
From here on one, Israel got it right and never struggled again…
That’s not how it goes.
In fact, it wasn’t all that much longer and Israel lost sight of what in the moment felt like an incredibly strong resolve… why… What happened…
How long did it last… was it a month… a week a day or two… just until something they really wanted came along?
It reminds me of something the Apostle Paul write to the Galatians in a time and place where they were struggling… losing their way… fading back into a life they knew before they knew Christ…. Where they decisions and values were not at all reflecting the one true living God…
Galatians 5:7–9 (NLT)
You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!
7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!
The actual wording is… who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth…
What got in the way… what distracted you… what caused you to lose your focus…
Maybe another way to see it is this… what advice would you give to someone who wants to see that sort “As for me and my house” resolutions sustained throughout their moments and days? Or at the very least growing.
The truth is… if we are courageous enough to be real with ourselves… if we have some to this place of faith… we realize our struggle here too.
I don’t think we are talking about the peaks and valleys that are a normal and maybe even healthy part of our faith….
I feel like what Joshua is telling them to choose… and what Paul is addressing with the Galatians has a lot more to do with… becoming so distracted… and so withdrawn and Lackadaisical in our faith… that we stop “running the race” with purpose or maybe even all together…
Our heart for God is fading in the way we see and do life… His influence and authority in our life… His truth and direction, our purpose and our true identity in Him… fading.
We see it everywhere…
God is fading in the way that we see and do life… His influence and authority in our
What advice would you give to someone that would helps them stand strong and connected in their faith?
This is what Jesus told us to do about it…
Matthew 6:24–33 (NLT)
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Jesus is saying that part of the issue is that our eyes are fixed on other things.
Not necessarily bad things (although it might be), but other things that keep us from or rob our attention from the most important thing.
We can’t be divided… We can’t serve and be devoted to both God and _______ Jesus uses money… I think because it has a way of running off with us as much or more than most things… but you can sub that with any other thing.
Jesus says seek God… His Kingdom… and His righteousness above all else.
What does that look like?
It is the key to not allowing other things or other people… to cut in on us…
Jesus isn’t promoting some happy go lucky rainbows and unicorns irresponsibility…
He is telling us plainly about the value of and need for an undistracted… single focus… put God first in life and is not crowded out by other concerns.
The original language emphasizes the fact that this is an ongoing… everyday… consistent pursuit… it is not a one and done thing.
Jesus is saying that the root of standing strong in and growing in our faith… is found in this sort of relationship with Him.
Colossians 3:1–4 (NLT)
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
It is a powerful and common theme in scripture to set our eyes and our minds on the things of heaven…
One author said it like this…
I will pursue first the one who matters most.
It wasn’t long after the life, death and resurrection of Christ… that those who believed in Him gathered… and it talks about how what sounded like a mighty wind came…
Not long before this… Jesus (John 16:7) said it's better for you that I go… that I face the cross and go back to God’s right hand… because of this day… because of what was happening in this moment in Acts chapter 2 and all that follows… Jesus said… because I will send the advocate… I will send the HS…
Somehow… it was even greater than walking, talking, and seeing Jesus… why, because the HS would dwell in us…
Acts says their eyes were open… God began to do all kinds of powerful things among them… There was a new sense of authority and power in their preaching… God was adding to their number… daily… those who were being saved…
Some would say… this was the birth of the Church and what the Church is intended to be. And I love that Luke… the one who God used to write the book of Acts gave us this picture of the early early Church and I believe what God intends it to be in its purest form…
Acts 2:42–47 (NIV)
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Not just choosing to be resolute about serving God in the moment…
Being devoted to it… and to growing within it…
Devoted means to be courageously consistent, steadfast, not growing weary and to be ready.
They were devoted to…
God’s word/Apostles teaching
We are committed to that at Northside. Founded and grounded in the word. If you are a believer… you are called to be devoted to His word too. To allow His word to form your world view and to have authority in ways that actually directs your step as we come to know the reality of Who God is, what He stands for, and who we are in Him.
Jamey what if I don't like it or don’t agree with it…
That's actually why we have it. A lot of what we like or would chase without it leads us in the wrong direction…
They were devoted to the apostles teaching… God’s word is foundational to the growth and health of every Church and of every believer.
One author said it like this…
God’s Word is food to the believer's soul and there is no substitute for it. If the Church of if the believer ignores it or fails to apply… we do so at our own peril.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6).
The church cannot operate on truth if it is now valued, revered, taught and applied.
This is how NS is designed…
We attend Church on Sunday… where we hear the word and connect to one another and the Lord.
We have daily reading in the bulletin and online where you invest in it on your own. … Mon-Sat… the reading is designed to fit with what we talk about on Sunday AM.
And we jump into a small group where the discussion centers around a very similar topic or passage… and the idea is… we begin to talk about what it looks like to do more than listen… or more than hear it. We begin to look for ways we can encourage each other to apply it.
I could never encourage you enough to get into God’s Word everyday.
Fellowship with each other
The new Church was devoted to one another… Heb 10:24 talks about our responsibility to encourage one another… and “spur” one another on to love and good deeds.
The basic meaning of koinōnia (fellowship) is “partnership,” or “sharing.”
Those who receive Christ become partners with Him and with all other believers
If we as believers come to this place where we don't think we need the Church… or don’t think it matters… There are a few things I’d say to that.
You're missing it.
I think you might be out of touch with what the scripture teaches.
Jamey the church is messy… I know… you’re here. Worse yet… They gave me a mic.
Best opening line to any book I’ve read is… It’s not about you. What if… God’s design for the Church… was not just about you or I and what we “get” out of it?
If God sees the Church as His bride, His temple, His family… and if one of the ways God longs for us to know Him is as a father… but we refuse to engage with His family…
What do you suppose that sounds like to Him?
Being active… and devoted to the fellowship of God’s family is HUGE. Way more important than we often think.
Luke talks about the priority the early church put into this…
It says that they gathered often… even daily…
At Church
In homes
I believe it's both. There is something that happens when we come together and sit under the same teaching… where we can encourage one another within it.
There is something that happens… when we take what we learn… and then begin to break that down in smaller groups in our homes… where we really begin to apply it.
Small groups are powerful things… a huge part of our discipleship strategy at NS… join one… and show up! Be consistent.
Breaking bread…
This really has to do with being centered on… the reality of remembering who Jesus is… what Jesus did… and why it matters.
They were devoted to the Gospel. That Jesus came to save sinners just like you and just like me.
We often call it communion… and every single one of us meet on common ground at the foot of the cross. It is the place where everything that seeks to divide us, dies…
Why, because we are all in the same boat… lost and helpless outside of the intervention that is Jesus.
Communion acknowledges the life giving and unifying work of Jesus on the cross.
The early church was devoted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and so are we.
Prayer
Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence… of the all powerful.
Prayer matters… It’s one of the ways we sort of pull everything back… and meet with the creator. It’s where we seek Him… for what’s going on in life and one of the most effective ways we align our heart with His.
Worship team and Mark P.
There is no substitute for any of these things… for devotion to
God’s word
Fellowship with His family
The reality of the Gospel
Prayer
These things play a massive role… when it comes to not allowing things to cut in on us… to distract us from what matters most.
Are you devoted to… courageously consistent. Steadfast. Not growing weary… to the right things?
Luke talks about what it leads to…
Generosity
Unity
Gratitude before the Lord
… praising God… for who He is and what He is doing as we see Him at work in us and through us.
The vitality of your faith… and of this Church will be greatly impacted by the things we are devoted to…
Luke is saying…
These unique expressions of the life of a church (and believers) and being devoted to them play a huge role in which the church becomes what God created it to be.
Many years ago…
I was a youth pastor and one of my right hand youth leaders was moving away…
We had this retreat for young men, and as a parting gift I told him he could run any part of it he wanted…. He chose the ending bonfire…
That morning he disappeared and I didn't see him all day.
The time finally came… it was getting late… one of the young men said they needed to go to the bathroom… but I told him nah man we have to get out there.
I didn't expect us to have to walk a mile… but when we got there… the pile of wood that this guy built was about the size of a cabin… he had this log with a line of gunpowder going up to the top… and as we approached I noticed this strong smell of gas…
He lit the bottom of the gun powder and it slowly began to climb up the log… when I asked someone who had helped him… how much gas he used… and as the young man told me about 7 gallons… there was this HUGE flash… the entire pile lifted up off the ground… flames everywhere… and then just like that it was out.
(maybe video)
That… far too often illustrates our faith.
Luke is saying… that if we want to keep that resolution… We need to be devoted to the right things.
It didn’t take long for israel’s values and decisions to fade back into what they had been… and the culture and the things that were so far from God… that God warned them about.
What do you suppose got in their way?
What might be getting in yours?
Prayer