Untitled Sermon (2)

“The Greatest Honor” / 9/8/24 | John 14:15-27

ATTENTION: Living in the “exception”

· READ EZEKIEL 43:1-7/ I love the prophets!/ Lives consumed with passion for God!

· Most feared & respected in OT/ They spoke = things happened/ Exp w/God moved people

· Separate from others/ Holy Spirit UPON them/ Played vital role in INCREASING revelation

· Revelation of God’s abiding presence on earth/ Our life is to be like there’s/ NEVER BORED!

· ILLUS: Multiple times this summer/ “I am bored”/ Good! Use your imagination!

· As adults = We get bored/ Spiritually bored/ in a rut, mundane, routine/ Not always Mountain

· ??? - But why is it that these seasons have maybe become: THE NORM; and not EXCEPTION?

TENSION: Moving from “domesticated” to “Wild”

· Last WK: Enemy wants a domesticated church/ Busy & Zeal about OTHER things

· ILLUS: One time/ Person had grievance/ Exciting solutions/ Color of hallways!/ I snapped

· He wants you to not listen to Father’s Heart, obey truth of Jesus, and abide with His Spirit

· He knows: If you become passionate… driven… then motivated… then= feared in hell

· ILLUS: I will never look at Zoo’s same/ Each Kenya team/ Safari/ God’s creation/ /

· Domesticated vs. Wild/ The follower of Jesus is to be “wild”/ Why? Holy Spirit FIRE INSIDE

· ??? - Do you knowwe have greatest honor?/ Have you forgotten the greatest honor?

· Greatest HONOR: “We are hosts of the presence of God”/ REPEAT/ Does that resonate?

· We = Presence driven people =. aware of God, steward what God gives, mindful of Holy Spirit

· A Prophetic Church & Proph Jesus followers = DEEPLY aware of their role as HOSTS…

John 14:15-21… An Excellent Host Prepares for the Guest…

· READ John 14:15-18/ An Excellent host prepares/ ILLUS: When a guest comes/ What to do?

· Jesus tells us, “A guest is coming”/ Advocate, Holy Spirit/ World won’t receive this guest/ We do!

· But not haphazardly/ READ John 14:19-21/ How do we prepare for a move of God?/ Our season!

· Ourselves? INSERT FREEDOM GROUP/ Corporate gatherings?/ Our Homes?/ MARRIAGES?

· Marriage: Holy; not happy/ READ V. 21 – READ/ Has, keeps = Love & Manifestation of His Spirit!

· If we can’t host Jesus well…/ Our churches will be lifeless/ If churches cant host well, then what?

· Did you prepare for this morning?/ Pray for me? Pray for Spirit? Pray for Teams?/ Why not?

· Domino effect: Host ourselves well = Gifts, talents, passion… translates to powerful BODY MINISTRY

· PAUL wrote epistles why?/ To see: Living, thriving, and multiplying Churches!/ = Excellent Hosts!

· Jesus taught to prepare followers to what end? – “Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”

John 14:22-23… An Excellent Host Receives the Guest…

· READ John 14:22/ Extraordinary question!/ Why us but not the world?/ Why not world display?

· READ John 14:23/ Anyone = all from world who RECEIVES/ All from world who OBEYS…

· R- Truth we must recover: Jesus DRAWS by PRESENCE, not PERFORMANCE/ REPEAT

· Tell me your welcoming vs. Show me your welcoming/ Performance vs. Presence…

· World looking for PRESENCE; not PERFORMANCE/ How here? PRAISE & WORSHIP/ Why rush?

· ANA: Do you rush your guest? Do you tell Guest She or he has 20 min only?/ Well… Maybe!

· Jesus promises He & the Father will abide with…/ Anyone who loves & obeys/ Do you see? Rush Him?

· R - Believing not enough: Believing in Jesus but not obeying his word; exactly what Satan does/ REPEAT

· He WANTS you to receive Him/ He wants to be with you/ Speak to you/ LIKE PROPHETS!

· Enemy doesn’t want this! / Lie of insignificance Ex 3:12– Moses, “Who am I?”/ / But God SAYS…

· “You are who I want to be with!”/ So receive Him!/ “But I do!”/ Do you? Are you sure?

· ANA: If I came over/ I was the guest/ But you kept me at front door/ Am I received? No

PARTICIPATION/ GOSPEL: How will the Guest transform you?

· We are to be known as “priests”/ Those who not only receive but are DRAWN into the GUEST!

· God wanted Israel = priests/ READ Exodus 19:6/ He wanted them = People of Presence/ Hosts

· He alsWe are now that TEMPLE/ We are Priests/ The holy of holies is within now/ READ 1 Cor. 3:16-17

· Jesus made the bridge/ Holy Spirit leads us/ Into the place of Presence/ That we NOW HOST…

· READ 2 Peter 1:3-5/ What will be different about now?/ What will shift in our gatherings now?/ WE HOST!

ACTIVATION:

· READ John 14:18 & 14:27: Presence is tied to Peace/ Performance wont do it/ Yield, surrender, receive…