FREEZE - We Are POWERFUL

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SERIES DESCRIPTION: In part 2 of this series called Kingdom People, Pastor Shawn unpacks what it means to live as people who represent the power of heaven on earth. This week, using Zechariah 4:6 as it describes that the Kingdom of God is not about talk, but about Spirit-empowered lives. Can Gods power be a healp in your life and your calling? Listen to hear more.

Altar Instructions: Please come up when I begin the 2nd sub (These gifts are for EVERYONE) point during point 3.

Series | Called Out

Pre-Message Welcome

Grace Place family! It’s awesome to have you here with us today, whether in person or online.

I’m Shawn, and along with my wife, we serve as the Co-Pastors of this incredible church.

At The Grace Place, our mission is clear: we are Caring People, Caring for People.

We pray that you experience God’s care in our time together and in your life.

Spanish Welcome - 2nd Service ONLY!

A nuestra familia de habla hispana .... Bienvenidos… es-pera-mos que usted… y su familia.. se-sien-tan bien a-tend-idos también.

To our Spanish speaking family... welcome, we hope you and your family feels cared for as well.

Before we get into the message today….

Pastor Plug:

· This year

Transition: This week we are starting a brand new series called…

____ Series | Kingdom People

Top of notes please: Zec. 4:6 & 1 Cor 4:20, Acts 2

The Church is the people of God - redeemed by Jesus… called to represent Heaven on Earth. That’s who we are.

So What does it look like to represent His Kingdom Here on Earth?

Our hope in this series is that we give you a vision for what it might look like when the Kingdom of God is at work within you and our church community.

Would you open your bible to two scriptures …

Text: Zec. 4:6 & 1 Cor 4:20

I’m want to connect both the Old Testament to the New Testament to connect around one important truth… KINGDOM POWER.

Lets begin with Zec. 4:6a

Zechariah 4:6b (ESV) Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Paul reminds them in 1 Corinthians 4:20 by saying this..

1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

We see from the very beginning its always been Gods plan to help us with his Power. Not human wisdom, or strength.

Not Clever words, great debates, books, education

Dont get me wrong… growth matters, doing our part matters - but without a life empowered by the Spirit of God, we will come up short every time.

Which leads us to the title of today’s message…

Sermon Title | Kingdom People are POWERFUL

***Feel free to encourage people to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to them personally as the message is preached

LETS PRAY

YOU CAN WALK OFF THE STAGE WHEN YOU SAY AMEN

Kingdom People are POWERFUL

How about you are you looking for more of the the Power of God at work in your life?

Or… are you obsessed with growing your own gifts, and abilities, without considering they are a gift are nothing without the Power of God at work with them.

Scripture warns about about living a life like that… in 2 Tim 3:5 he says don’t fall into the trap of…

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV

having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

They look good on the outside, they sound smart, cleaver, successful and even powerful… but they NEVER give God credit… this is how they DENY his POWER at work in them…

The writer says AVOID THESS PEOPLE!

***One of the things I admire about Pastor Clay is he recognizes when God is at work.

So…If we settle for a life without the power of God…

Whats at stake?

You may find yourself open to everything and not sold out to anything.

Our efforts will lack fruit.. we will be just like the people God rebuked -having an appearance of godliness but denying and lacking His power in our life.

I’m here to remind you today…

Kingdom People are POWERFUL

I want to make sure the Church God has called me to Pastor understand where the real power in life comes from.

I want to answer 3 questions related to the Kingdom of God today…

First IN YOUR NOTES is…

WHAT is Kingdom power?

In our opening text… 1 Cor. 4:20

1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

The word for POWER is where we get our english word Dynamite…

Dynamite is for braking through impenetrable spaces.

Kingdom Power is the SPIRITUAL POWER of God Breaking through impenetrable spaces. It’s how God gets things done…

If your taking notes… it’s his…

It’s power that SAVES, SANCTIFIES and SENDS us.

I said it’s his power that SAVES

Yea… we are pretty hard headed… we needed the POWER of God breaking through our thick skulls… to convince us of our need to be saved from sin.

We love to say - I gave my life to Christ as if it was our idea, our effort, we are proud of ourself… the truth is HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO US - We should say - He welcomed me in - forgave me - accepted me - loved me.

It’s His power that SANCTIFIES

Thank God for salvation… however… there is a lot of work he has yet to do in us after salvation… this called the sanctification process.

It’s His power that helps you BREAK your sinful habits.. and sets you free… giving you desires that Please God.

It’s His power that SENDS you

Yea… he now commissions you to be a little slice of Heaven to the world around you.

People will begin to recognize things are different with you.

Why because Gods Kingdom Power is breaking through in you.

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: How have I noticed Gods Kingdom Power in my life?

Take some time… and acknowledge Gods Kingdom Power in you.

Each one of you have a Kingdom Power Story; the question is will you give him credit for it?

Kingdom People are POWERFUL

We’re answer 3 questions related to the Kigndom of God today…

1st… WHAT is Kingdom Power?

Kingdom power begins at salvation, but Scripture teaches there is more power available… power that sanctifies us, sends us, and makes us more effective and fruitful for God’s purposes.

This leads us lets look at the 2nd question… IN YOUR NOTES

WHERE does this Kingdom Power come from?Judges 14:5, Joel 2:8-9, Acts 1:4-8

As we saw in our opening text… In both the old and New Testament. It’s always been Gods power at work through his People.

Now we’re going to see again in both old and the New testament… that not only is there saving power available…. but there is 2nd work of Grace… a special power thats is available.

Lets start with the Old Testament…

Joel 2:28-29.. the Prophet Joel is most famously known.. for telling us about this special power that will one day be available to ALL Believers.

Let’s look at it on the screen together… He says..

Joel 2:28–29 ESV

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I WILL pour out MY SPIRIT on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

This was a wild statement from Joel… God’s power had always been associated with prophets, kings, and leaders, not everyday believers.

Joel was pointing to a day when this special work of grace would be available to all.

To understand Joel… let’s fast forward to New Testament to Acts ch 1….

Jesus appears to his disciples w/ some Final Instructions.

He doesn’t teach on prayer… or mission… but on one essential thing they still NEED the 2nd work of Grace -the Empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Lets look at it in Acts 1:4-8…

English Standard Version Chapter 1

4 And while staying with them he

His followers knew of Joel’s Promise in the OT… they we’re waiting for the special day when all people would be empowers like the Kings & Profits of old and it was upon them

Remember… we’re asking

WHERE does KINGDOM POWER come from…

Here Jesus answers that quesiton...

He is saying.. IN YOUR NOTES…

Kingdom power comes from the BAPTISM in the HOLY - SPIRIT.

Yea.. this special Kingdom Power, 2nd work of Grace that Jesus says we need for this life - without it we may depend on our own strength and intelligence.

In the same way it is a bit mysterious for us… it was for them.. they thought God was going to set everything right and they would rule and right with Jesus through an earthly kingdom…

Looking at v. 6 they asked this question…

English Standard Version (Act 1:6) 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Jesus Answers by saying

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

But do concern yourself with… with

what i just told you about the baptized in the Holy Spirit…

here iswhy … v8…

English Standard Version Chapter 1

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

He redirect becuase back to the 2nd work of Grace -the prmise Joel spoke about

It has been God’s plan since the beginning of time to share this empowerment - to properly equip Kingdom People

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: How might this empowerment help me?

Church - there are strongholds that threaten your witness, lives that your words alone can’t reach, and doors the enemy will try to close.

If there is more help available from the Holy Spirit to overcome these things, I’m fully open to receive it—how about you?

___________Kingdom People are POWERFUL

We’re answer 3 questions related to the Kingdom of God today…

The last question for today… IN YOUR NOTES

HOW to receive Kingdom Power? Acts 2:1-41, 1 Cor. 12:8-10

1 Cor 4:20 Our opening text tells us…

1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Anyone want to know how to receive Kingdom Power?

Our opening text tells us…

1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

There is something different in Kingdom People..

A power that comes by the Holy Spirit that is nearly unexplainable.

It’s takes more than human wisdom, and grit, to get you in places that only Kingdom power can open.

Anyone want to know how to walk in KINGDOM POWER?

Lets continue reading in Acts to see what took place once these Disciples when to Jerusalem to wait for the Promise of the Father… the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Well… they waited… And as we go to Acts ch2 we see what took place…

English Standard Version Chapter 2

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And

As the people of God were FILLED with the Holy Spirit…

As they we’re empowered by a gift from the Spirit of God- they SPOKE in languages they did not previously know.

This gift enabled the Gospel to be heard across languages with no human translator… it was translated to them by the Holy Spirit himself

That would be like our Spanish speaking friends sitting in the room hearing Spanish as I preached in English.

How many of you know thats pretty Radical!

Here are a few things to know about receiving this special Kingdom Power…

First…

We receive this gift through BAPTISM in the Holy-Spirit (Acts. 2:38)

This is what Joel talked in preparing the people of God for these spiritual gift

This is what Jesus talks about in Acts 1 when he told everyone to wait for the promise of the father.

Now right here in Acts 2 as people speak in tongues… we see this as one of the gifts that can be received when being baptized in the holy Spirit.

As the Holy Spirit translated the Good news into languages for foreigners to understan

As people from the outside watched this take place scripture says…

English Standard Version Chapter 2

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Its far to also say… what does this mean for us as Kingdom People…

Lets Skip down to v. 38-39 to… Here we see Peter stands up and preaches the 1st Holy Spirit empowers sermon.. his message was simple.. to the people of the day… and this translates right over to us today…

English Standard Version Chapter 2

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized

Here are a another thing we can know about receiving this special Kingdom Power… IN YOUR NOTES

These gifts are for EVERYONE(Acts. 2:39)

God intended for Kingdom People to be a Powerful People and he equipped them by giving them these empowering gifts.

These gifts often cause people to be in AWE of God and come to faith…

Some argue today that the gifts we’re just for the early church to launch the church and get it off the ground…

Peter specifically addresses church here and says…

These gifts are for YOU (Early Church, their children… and ALL EVERY GENERATION that is far of that is Saved under the Lordship of Jesus!

Here are a another thing we can know about receiving this special Kingdom Power… IN YOUR NOTES

We RECEIVE these gifts by GRACE (Rom. 12:6) 

Romans 12:6a (ESV) Having gifts that differ according to the grace -given to us, let us use them…

The same way we freely receive Salvation by Grace.

Is the same way we freely receive these gifts.

We don’t get to control these gifts in the sense that God is NOT our Genie in a bottle…

But we ask him for them and are open for him to dispense them through us…

Which leads me to The thing we can know about receiving this special Kingdom Power… IN YOUR NOTES

Eagerly DESIRE these gifts (1 Cor. 14:1a) 

As Kingdom People we should have a poster of readiness and desire to be used in them.

Any time, any place… it seems they can be used.

We see this in 1 Cor. 14:1a

1 Corinthians 14:1a (NIV) Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit…

This scripture is say… let your heart be in a posture of wanting-desire-excitingly & willingly desire.. ASK GOD FOR the gifts. 

Here is the question I believe scripture is inviting us to ask ourselves today…

Question: Would you like to receive Kingdom Power Today?

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So today… if you do NOT know Jesus as your Lord and Savior today is your day…

Salvation Altar Call

I believe Jesus is here today, and He wants to save you. Salvation simply means to deliver or to free. It’s not just about delivering you…

It’s about believing

Believing in Jesus means trusting what He say’s—about sin, and eternal punishment, thats the bad news.

The good news is this… that His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins, making us right with God.

Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Salvation requires two things:

1. God’s Grace—His undeserved gift of forgiveness and life because of His love for you.

2. Faith—placing your trust in Him for salvation.

If you’ve never asked Jesus to save you, today is your day. If you’d like ask him… , raise your hand.

I want to invite you to Repeat a prayer after me

· There is nothing magical in this prayer.. it simply is a way of declaring to Jesus what has taken place in your heart.

Here is how I would like to end the service for everyone else….

Call to Action Altar Call

We’re going to end the service with A question as we do nearly every week.

ALL ACROSS THE ROOM – HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT spoken to you in anyway today?

Going Deeper

How have I noticed Gods Kingdom Power in my life?

How might this empowerment help me?

Would you like to receive Kingdom Power Today?

What might the Holy Spirit be saying to you in light of this teaching?

How might the Holy Spirit want to transform you in light of this teaching?

What actions might the Holy Spirit want to take in light of this teaching?

Tongues & Interpretation

1. To STRENGTHEN the Church (1 Cor14:5)

For prophecy is greater than SPEAKING in TONGUES, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be STRENGTHENED.

Believers, God has operated through this gift today to strengthen you today. Let your faith be strengthened and know that God is in control and using supernatural measures to speak to us.

2. Is a SIGN for unbelievers. (1Cor. 14: 21a, 22)

1 Corinthians 14:21–22 (ESV)

In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

22 -  So you see that speaking in tongues is a SIGN, not for believers, but for UNBELIEVERS.

The Bible explains to us God has chosen to use this gift to be a sign for you. A sign for what? It is a sign of his realness for those of you who have been doubting or questioning the existence of God. He wants you to know he is REAL and he wants to bring you spiritual life and health. If you're in here today and you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior... he wants you to know he has gone to great lengths to show you his love today. (Great opportunity for a salvation altar call if it fits).