The Serpent and the Dove wk3

Being a spirit filled community

Matthew 10:16–18 ESV

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

There is a community aspect to the Serpent and the Dove in our lives. We influence each others faith.

Adam took the fruit from Eve

the people complained to Moses and he lifted up the bronze serpent.

They were all together in the upper room when the spirit of God blew upon them and infilled them.

The doves that were being brought for sacrifices had to be brought to the priests

When Jesus cleansed the temple of the corrupt money changers

Jesus said that he was sending YOU out into the world like sheep among wolves…

Not ONE person… all of YOU to go out to all of us.

People interacting with people.

The Dove was for the common people. Available for everyone.

This is not an exclusive faith

John 12:32 ESV

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

What we do in community with each other is so important.

It’s important for us to be wise as a serpent to the ploys of the serpent, and gentle as a dove as we carry the peace of the dove into the world.

Point 1: Watch for the enemies strategy

Are you looking in your life with wisdom to see where the serpent is trying to influence?

To see where the serpent is strategizing to bring temptation.

The enemy’s plan is to deceive you and your family so deeply that you don’t even remember who God has called you to be anymore.

Steal, Kill and Destroy your identity in the Lord.

And with some he has succeeded. You don’t know who God has called you to be…

You just hope you make it to heaven one day. That is not the life and life abundantly that jesus said that he came to give us.

Here’s where it all turns…

Our community - - - the people that we do life with - - can be the greatest motivating element around us to draw us closer to the purpose and the power of God or to lead us step by step away from God and his good purposes.

It starts at the earliest ages…

It is not easy to be a spirit filled believer in a small town. At some point everyone knows you.… Who you are and who you used to be… and you’re kind of dependent on the people around you in some ways.

I pray daily - “Lord let me Pastor in this town like i just got here”. I am not beholden to anyone or anything other than the Lord and his purpose.

The Lord is asking for us to build a spirit led community.

What does that mean?

Meaning that we are to follow in the foot steps of Jesus disciples.

What did they do after Jesus ascension and the infilling of the Holy Spirit on the day of pentecost?

That’s where we are… We are after the ascension and the Pentecost.

But we don’t look like it…

Sure there are some small ways that we have seen the hand God move in our lifetime.

But we must be a people that pray earnestly to not be devoted to the world and it’s systems.

We must desire and expect for God to speak to us.

For God to move us and move among us.

If you are thinking that being filled with the Spirit and being moved by the spirit of God is for other people and not for you…

You have to remember that the Dove was a sacrifice for everyone. For the common people. The Lord wants the dove to represent his Spirit so that we understand that it’s for everyone.

The Spirit of God is for everyone!

I’m part of everyone, you are part of everyone.

You and I need to feel connected to the Mission of God in the world when we are not in this room together.

When we are here together, it’s great. But the disciples had to go out into the community and share the Spirit of God with others.

The very first act of the disciples after they were filled with the Spirit was to go out and begin speaking.

Why are we afraid to go out and speak?

I think it’s because we don’t really believe we have the words of the lord…

Story:

I was speaking with my friend the other day; He said that he knows that God speaks to him about other people when he is walking around doing life and going into restaurants and shops.

But he doesn’t obey God to go a share these things with them. And He’s a pastor…

He said I’m afraid that they will look at me funny and be offended that I wanted to tell them something from God.

I asked him; do you think that they would be mad or offended if you handed them a million dollars?

He said no.

I said, the disciples are recorded as telling the lame man, Silver and Gold is not what we have to give, but what we do have will change your life.

Let’s not withold the most valuable thing from the world?

Because they will look at us funny? Or because we don’t know how to carry the Holy Spirit into the world and speak the words of God.

Be quick to pray and to offer prayer

In order to speak the words of God, we need to listen to the voice of God.

You can hear him. He wants to speak to you.

Here is what we have studied over the last 5 months…

-The Five Fold Ministry - Understanding the gifts that Jesus gave to the church. 5 weeks

-A Modern Reformation - Reforming our Faith and our beliefs. 6 weeks

-Over Every Other Name - Easter and Ascension

-What do you think when you think of Me? - Are we taking the right jesus into the world?

Where do we go from here?

Evangelism strategies

Community engagement

Become the Mayor…

God has not called us disengage with our community. He wants us carrying His presence into the world, not hiding him from it.

You can I don’t get to write off anyone.

Our responsibilty is love.