Sabbath Morning July 25th

Lord, I worship you.

just because Who You Are?

If you are grateful this morning for who he is, let me just tell you say, praise the Lord. Come on, get thankful for who he is as a Hallelujah. He is worthy to be praised, Glory Be unto his name. I want to say thank you so much sister. Frankie for reminding us. To worship him just for who he is. This morning, I'm excited to dive right into the words today and so I want to just invite you. If you would just to stand to your feet and order the word of God, as we turn in our Bibles, to the book of Acts, the book of Acts, You can talk the book of Acts, the second chapter 2 verses toward the end of the of the chapter verses 40. And we will, we will conclude in verse 47. Acts chapter 2, beginning and verse 42, and will conclude the end of the chapter and verse 47. I'm just going to ask you, just let me know that you are there by the saying. Amen. You still moving in your own personal Bible. Just go ahead and say it past remove it. You can see more seconds to get their Acts chapter 2 beginning in the 40/40 verse action. When was verse 40,

in my version King James version, he testified enjoyed them saying, that's Peter be saved from this perverse generation, then those who gladly received his word Were baptized and that day about three thousand Souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles, Doctrine and fellowship and in the breaking of bread and in prayers, then fear Came Upon every soul and Many Wonders and signs were done to the apostles. Now all who believe we're together and had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all as anyone had meat. So continuing how long? Daily with one Accord in the temple. Breaking bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. praising God, and having favor with who with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily Those who were being saved.

Three family. I want to know something. Just very simple. I just want you to know that elevation is plural. I know, it doesn't sound like it, but elevation Is plural. Somebody else they got to tell him elevation. Is plural. Don't play with me right now. Heavenly Father. We're asking you to move in this place, rest in God, that you would prepare us to receive your word. I'm just simply asking God that you allow the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight and encouraging and edifying to your people. Got I thank you in advance and we pray these things. In Jesus name, let everybody believe say, amen, and amen. You may be seated in the House of Lords. We consider just the fact that elevation is plural.

Elevation. Is plural.

I want to begin this morning by just reminding you that there are some things that you cannot change. They're just some realities that you can't shift, no matter how hard you try. Truth is that there are some things that were given to us as inheritance is that we cannot change. Nor did we choose and that's not a bad thing. If a very wealthy man who passed away in, as he had planned, the estate was going to go and be passed down to his children. All of the paperwork was in order and the children were making sure that everybody got their fair share of the tens of millions of dollars that they were about to inherit. And everybody was fine, until as soon as the final paperwork was about to be sign-in, came a stranger Walks up into the room. Looking a little bit disheveled. Smelling a little bit out of the ordinary, if you know what I mean. Comes up to the table where the attorney is doing the final paperwork. He says, alright, I'm ready for my share. Children begin to laugh cuz I don't know who this is, but we might have to call security because we're getting ready to finalize this paper. We want any interruptions what he says, before you do anything. Just make sure I get my share. At least you don't understand. You don't belong hair. This is literally an inheritance that is given specifically to the children of this wealthy, man, that just passed away. You. Getting any of this money and the man said, this is listen, I know you don't know who I am. But the one thing you need to know is that I'm going to leave here with my chair and the reason I'm going to leave here with my share is because while, you know, your other siblings, what you don't realize is that I'm one of your siblings to and the reality is that they were upset and they were anxious and they were mad. Because now their share is got a little bit smaller than it would have been, but he's a, even though you might not be happy about it even though you might not have known about it, even though you might not have planned for it. I need to know that there is nothing that you can do to keep me from getting what's mine? Because in the same way that you are related to the one who is giving the inheritance, that's the same way that I'm related to the one who is giving the inheritance you are, receiving the inheritance, because you are his child. And I'm here to declare to you today, that you got another sip. Besides helping him, the moral of the story is that while you might not always be able to tell who belongs to. Who just when you find out that Z, he's a pretty Tall Man In His Image. You ought to be able to realize that everybody is a child of the most high. God, I watch this if it's not enough to be God to buy creation, the Bible says that Jesus came down on a cross and brought you back but Redemption, so they can't be no confusion about who you with all that. This is the inheritance that everybody who is under the sound of my voice has in Jesus Christ. In other words, we are all children of the same Daddy. We are all belonging to the same family and I hate to break your bubble and break your heart, but the truth is it don't matter. Whether you like me, we related, anyhow, I wish I had over here, it don't matter when we look the same or whether we talk the same as we make the same money to. My Bible tells me, that you got the same DNA that I got because we got the same, daddy or what? And this is why Paul can stand up and say crazy things in the future like this, so that you are no longer, what? Don't talk to me. Like I'm not, I don't belong here. He says you're no longer strange. What's this? What's this? He is now talkin to people who have believed on Jesus Christ. You catch this. He is not talkin to the the nipple baby out face next week. He's not talkin to the one that have some kind of direct privilege connection to Abraham and some direct connection to David. He is not talkin to people who came from the woodwork and have believed on. Jesus Christ had a test of your sweat. Don't let nobody treat you like you. Somebody use somebody else's child. You are no longer strangers and aliens. Watch this. You are fellow citizens. With the Saints and members of the household of God, did you see that language number of this household?

and the reason Paul is able to stand up and declare, this is because Paul himself, Is the recipient of an inheritance that he did not earn.

Paul is literally called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. And let me tell you something, there was no internship.

That. His resume to the top of the pile. So that he would be qualified for the calling that God placed upon his life. But the truth that Paul has come to know and love and now proclaims other believers is that the thing that brings us all to the same level at the foot of the cross. Is not what we've done or how we dress or how much money we are. But the thing that makes us all equal in the sight of Jesus is that we all share the same DNA because guess what? The same blood running through your veins. Is the thing about that's running through my bank. And I just want to say it's for people who have believed on the name of Jesus Christ and are called by his name, we are to get to the place. We recognize that. Listen, we are not United by our skin color, we're not even United by our language, we're not United by our hair lines or by our connection. With the one thing that unites us is that we got the same blood type A blood that flowed for you is the same blood that flowed for me to realize that the thing that brings all of us together is nothing that you can write down on a resume. The thing that brings us together is that there was a water fountain on there is one felt that we can be placed under and talk about white as snow. The blood of Jesus Christ is the same blood that brings us again. We are united by the blood of Jesus Christ. The reason I begin sharing this with you this morning that the ploy of the enemy is to separate what God has put together. I didn't see that. Has a common denominator outcome. One of my favorite definition of my favorite way of describing the reality of sin is to use the modern word dysfunction. Because I really actually describes the helplessness with which we find ourselves in our situation. See because you don't answer the question why we missed the mark in the first place. So we don't miss the mark because we just slipped out one time. The reason I like the word dysfunction is because it describes the helplessness that all of humanity has fallen into that there is nothing that you or I can do to actually experience the Abundant Life. That only comes through Jesus Christ. And this is the challenge that I want to Centerpoint out and play the. I need to see the common result of dysfunction and sin is relational. Dysfunction.

every time, the enemy gets his grip,

On someone like you and me. It results in the breakdown of relationship.

This is the kind of function that calls came to kill Abel. Whitmer, didn't even exist up until that one. This is the kind of place of dysfunction that caused Joseph Brothers to sell him into slavery.

This is the kind of relation to function that cause there to be such such chaos in the Family Circle. That there are literally different people being the different trouble because they were born to different women in the same household. Have, I got to figure everything out at the same time?

I hope you ever realize family that you ain't never got to teach a baby to lie.

Doing a pizza. Because the reality is that we have all been good. The Bible says, we were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are all speak in the dysfunction that we cannot even help. I don't need to point this out because the reality is that every aspect an example of relational, dysfunction, and breakdown is a demonstration of the out working. Dysfunction of sin. The point that I'm making here family is that all of us are in need of one thing. We're all in need of healing healing. The reality is family that we all have been infected with the disease that nobody under the sound of my voice. Myself included has the cure to

We can't help it. But the reality is that we are all in need of healing. Here it is. I want you to know that that God's response. To the relational Brokenness of humanity is first and foremost, the cross of calvary.

I've been with Jesus is Resurrected.

He does something that's crazy. Because with the cross. We should be good.

The price has been paid. The blood has been spilt but Jesus didn't stop that he does something incredible. Because after the cross of Calvary God's response to the relation of Brokenness of sin is community.

Because in your mind's eye Jesus comes on the scene as the Messiah of the world becomes, literally to save us from our Brokenness and give us new. He is on his way to the Cross, to sacrifice his very life. And guess what? Jesus is not even Jesus does. It's what he does not do. Because Jesus does not come to this earth and establish a militia group. Don't come here and establish an army. Jesus does not come to the Earth and establish a government. You don't overthrow wrong. He'll take over the Sanhedrin. If that's Jesus does not even come to this earth and establish a new political party influence the direction of humanity Jesus comes and he establishes something called the church. If I say church and was crazy, is that if you were me, I would looked at 7, something with a little bit more political power. I would like to establish something with a little bit more social influence, but God In His Infinite Wisdom, decided to establish an institution, that was not just physical. It was not just political, but it was spiritual in nature. And the Bible says that he creates and establishes the church. Watch this, watch this. Jesus, the first time that we hear the word Church in scripture properly, in the New Testament is coming from the very words of Jesus himself. He's speaking assignment who he's asked who do men say that? I am and you are the Lord. You are the Messiah. You are the son of the Living. God has not revealed this to you. I love this. He says, but my father has revealed this to you and watch this. I tell you, you are Peter, and just as surely as you are Peter, all this Foundation foundation on my identity, All the reality of my messiahship. I'm going to build my what and the Gates of Hell will not Prevail against.

That word. They're translated as church is the Greek word Ecclesia. Compound word in the Greek. It literally means calling out or cold out. And as we read through in the English, the word that is church. It really is based based off of this fundamental. Meaning that is called out. That is the body of Believers that God has called out from the world and call into his kingdom to himself. The word that is used to define the body of Christ is worth. It literally means one that has been called out. And by implication called into fellowship with Jesus Christ and imagery. We are literally in a helpless situation. But God is calling us out. We're in a challenging and even dysfunctional situation, but God is calling people out. Where is the biggest threat that we can ever find ourselves in? But God is still calling us out and I wish I had somebody who is realizes in your own personal life even when you are in this function god called us out. Even when you're in cycles that you can't break on your own daughter, calls us out. Even when we are in sickness that penetrates to our very Soul, God is still calling us out. I wish I had somebody in here who can testify that. The only reason that you are here today is because the god called you out of Darkness, he called you into His Marvelous Light, you not special because you do better. You just special because done over here, you are not better than anybody else. But the thing that makes you his child insist that you heard his voice when he called you out of darkness and it's his fault. It's like the word to somebody today is that God is still calling. He is not stopped calling people out of Darkness. He is not start calling people out of dysfunction. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. Have you still calling today? I was crazy to me is that he uses this word church. He has called out his people, watch this, the word that he uses there and kaseya is never used to refer to a building

whenever the scripture uses the word church,

it's never in reference. To a building.

Jesus wouldn't talk about building a structure.

Jesus is building a community.

Church is not a place. You go to a place that you come to it's a community that you belong to. We got to stop saying family, I'm going to church. I wish we got to change the way we. We got to stop saying I'm going to go to church this week because you can't go to. I wish I had over here you can't go to torch. The reality is until we realized that the church is not a place that we come to on Sabbath morning to live holy hands and pray. We start realizing that the church is a community of Believers raised up and called out by God. We will never experience the healing powers that God wants on leash in this community.

God has called out Believers and watch this. He gives the BB the basic foundation for not just any community. But he establishes a holy healing community. We say if that's all right, except to follow up 2 verse 46. 47, watch this. Why was his & day by day? Attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes. They receive their food with glad and generous hearts. Praising God, and having favor with all the people The Lord added to their number. Day by day, those who are being saved. You got to get this from. because the building has already been mentioned in this passage, you can sit They are going to the temple. That's right. But the community God has established is characterized by something different than location. The Bible says that God is adding to their number, those who are being what say that word is, the great work truck so saved. Also it is translated as field English version often times when the Bible says that, somebody Jesus healed, somebody it's the same word as it's, you as translated as he saved somebody right to that and saving and ceilings are sometimes interchangeable in the English translation. And the reason is because God is that was just a community where people are not just being saved in a moralistic sense, but the Bible teaches that the community is characterized by a healing, That is happening in the midst of God's people. So that God is adding to the group, people who are in the process of being killed on that ought to be encouraged to somebody. Because God does not add to the group people who have been healed, Because we would be able to join, but God is so good that he says, he's asked to their number day by day. Those who are in the process of being killed. And the reason that this is significant family is because we never understand the true meaning of church. Unless you realize that the church has always been meant to be a place where God's people undergo the process of healing from the inside out.

This is the reason why Grace has got to be Central in the community of believers. Because the foundation upon which Jesus has established this community. But church is simply visit, that Jesus is the Healer.

I don't want to be no need for a Healer. If it wasn't some folk who needed healing, okay? Of the reason he establishes the church is so that the thoughts people would literally have a place to undergo the process. El Paso Restaurant.

I wish I had time. But let me just say this. The fact that the church is the place we undergo the healing process. Is the same reason why church is not the most comfortable.

Government number. I was going up, man. I scraped my knee and some other things. I went running to mommy. She went, she did what she does and bandage me up, put a bandaid on it, you know, all that stuff. You know what I'm talkin about? Got me fixed up and I would go on about my damn good to go and after two days to start feeling this irritation and it starts itching and bothering you.

The knee that you bandaged up and you healed, it's causing problems. Now, it's irritated and it's itching, and it's uncomfortable. And she was before, and the fact that it is itching is actually just the indication that you're making progress in your healing. Baxter is uncomfortable right now and the fact that it's irritating, you right now, the fact that is bothering you is actually just an indication that you are still in the healing process and other ones where you want to be happy. That is itching and not bleeding. I wish I never hear you are to be happy that it's irritated and it's not bleeding out because the invitation it's just a simple fact that you still in the healing process at do. I have two or three people that realize that just because it's not comfortable just because you don't always feel good. It don't mean that my healing has stopped. It's actually telling me that I'm still in the healing process. Oh, God is still at work in my life and I need somebody to know that sometimes the Community of Faith is meant to grow you. It's meant to protect us, to elevate us with that means that sometimes it's going to give some friction and the reason I share this is because the truth is family that there is a plot of the enemy separate what God has already put together.

And he's put us together. The process of healing. Amaryllis family. That the reason that God has done this, by the way, let me just say it like this. It is not the most efficient route.

To your healing. Because I don't know about you, but I was sometimes rather that God would snap his fingers.

And take away all my troubles. Sometimes wish me that God would just bring his eye. And change my character. But the reality is that God In His Infinite Wisdom, realizes that character. Cannot be given.

Character must be grown. I don't, you know that spiritual elevation was never meant to be individual.

How did you know, family? That there was a reason. The elevation is plural.

Because God knows that healing happens best in community.

Look up is happy man. And it was a very heartbreaking moment for many for those who have been following Messi in his Incredible Journey, several World Cups, back to back. This was a heartbreaking moment. But the reality is that Messi is not the only man on the T. That's what everybody was heartbroken at Messi's, lost in the world cup. And we don't know if he's going to retiring after this. You only want to work right now? I just woke up and this is like the glorymount. We don't know if he's going to be in the league with the last time that we see him but he does not make it and he does not win the world cup that you can look at one player.

I expect them to win the game because when you look at the stats and you look at the way, the team was playing, They just weren't coordinated.

They just weren't playing together and Messi can be as great as he want to be. But he can't win by himself. And what I need somebody to understand is that the same logic applies to soccer teams in the World Cup is the same principle that God established in a z31 when he says, I'm going to build my church. He understood that elevation was never meant to be individual because you can't win this spiritual battle by yourself. He says, I'm going to create a family and a household of faith that can come alongside each other, and pray with each other and fast together and struggle together and rejoice together and mourn together so that they can realize that their elevation don't just happen by themselves. It happens with the community. Because guess what? Family you can never reach gospel potential. Without Godly community. I just think I made that spiritual Community is the god-ordained means of spiritual elevation. To hear this question. Question, what does it mean to be a part of the healing community that Christ has established? What does it mean? How do you actually be a part of this community? That is undergoing a healing process? The begins in the soul. Everything's all done. first of all, the first thing. But a healing Community. Does it show up? Can watch this.

The Bible says that people who have heard the word and have accepted Jesus Christ and have been baptized into this family of Faith, they begin to fall into a rhythm of living that characterizes the healing Community. The Bible says, That. By date. Don't you miss this?

By day. Attending the temple together. Breaking bread in their homes. They received their food with glad and generous Hearts. Praising God. And having favor with all the people.

The first thing that the Hue, the healing Community, does it show up?

How do you say this family? Healing community. Present. And I'm not just talking about the worship service. Cuz the worship service is something the church does is not what the tortillas. Can I get somebody? You need to show up in the Assembly of Believers because if this applies to somebody who has just accepted, Jesus Christ. And the place, the person who has been following Jesus Christ for 50 years because

the Bible teaches that the community was not just present on the Sabbath day. The Bible says, day by day. So that they were present on Sunday. I have a couple, he was still present on Monday and that same Community was still present on Tuesday. And what I need somebody to understand is that we've got to get to a place that healing happens when we start to show up.

For each other.

Listen, listen, family. It should not just be expected that the spiritual leaders of the church. All the only one showing up.

because the Bible says that when somebody Mourns we all mourn, when somebody for Joyce's we all Rejoice, the reality is family that you just as well. Have a responsibility to pick up your phone and call somebody who is in need of your encouragement and who was in need of your prayer and it was in need of your counsel and you had to hear this and I'm praying for you. Don't give up, I'm fasting for you, give up, you are a part of my family, I Need You To Survive. We all realize that the first thing that the healing Community, does it show up for each other? Because in order for the healing to happen, we got to be present with and for each other watch this day by day. They're together. day by day, they are supporting Day by day, pay our presents. And what makes them a community is not what they wear or the bumper sticker on the back of their car. It's not where they meet for 2 hours on weekends. And what makes them a community is that they show up.

is a healing Community is a lot in To Jesus and his word. By the way, this is what makes the church different than your average Boys Club. What is the Bible says this and accept to watch this?

and they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, To the breaking of bread. Eva prayers.

Bible says. Not that they just showed up.

Show up to Bible study. The Bible says, they voted themselves.

To the teach. The fellowship. And the prayers.

The Bible does not say that date attempt the surface.

the Bible says that the community devoted,

They were told that the time that they heard the word was not the first time that they heard the wire. Okay. The Bible teaches that this community was told that they had devoted their entire life. They're entitled lives, revolved around Jesus and his word where was not reserved for a specific time or before a meal kit was a part of their lives. They were devoted to Jesus and his word Jesus was not peripheral. He was their priority and the mark of a healing Community of Faith is that Jesus is the center. Let the church is locked in. But it is not optional for me to get in God's presence. It is not optional for me to spend time and God's word. It is not optional for me to spend time in prayer. Because I am locked in to Jesus.

What is not man? I hope I get to word this week. We have to get the policeman where throughout the week is, like. I am not leaving until you bless me.

I am not content until I hear you about you and I feel your presence. I'm not content until I told your word in my heart. We got to get the place probably when we not just attendees we are locking it to Jesus and his work. Here is last night last night. The healing community. Has mastered the art. I'm Letting Go.

What is a pastor? The description that we get in the scripture. Is that of a community that has let go of the independence? That rejects accountability.

The Bible says, That they come together, read your Bible, verse 4042. They gathered together, they're breaking bread, they're praying together, and listen to what it says were 24. Now all who believe we're together. Okay that's cool. And they had all things in common. They sold their possessions and their goods. Are you this morning? Big Cass in. Their possessions and their goods and divided them among everybody.

At what this picture is teaching is a place where they were sold in where they were willing and able to let go. Help us law.

We are in the process of healing. The Bible says they got into the place where they were literally relinquishing their right to have mine. So that we can have ours.

Wow, good example is a physical examples, of finances and resources. And by the way, the church is still called to support one another support one another, and to lift each other up with the means that God has given to us. They met somebody, but while this is a physical exam, this is really just a simple for the kind of Let It Go. The type of Freedom, the time of interdependence, that created the community. As we know it, watch this the same group that it take Tell your car. And make sure that they got something to eat. Is the same Griffin. It takes To let go of the need to have my way.

the Bible says, They let go of their possessions. Play. Everybody can have what they need. I just wonder. Tell me if we are being called in the direction. Embrace the calling to let go of some of the things that are rightfully ours.

Because when I am a part of the healing Community, I relinquish my right. Do not be held accountable.

I relinquish, I let go of my rights. To not be corrected in love.

I'll let go my right towards my love and my energy to myself.

And what we let go of the Independence that that reject accountability and that reject the spirit of love it, right enjoying the part of the ceiling. Begins to happen.

Something inside the community, begins to shift and change.

And it becomes more than just a service that happens on a regular basis. I don't have it and it becomes a community of people who are motivated by the spirit of God.

Tone up.

Who is locked in?

So, here it is, I'm done. We show up. And we allow the spirit of Christ. To begin the healing process in armpits. Watch What Happens at the church, does not just heal us.

It reveals.

I love this. Look at it. Look at Peter. Listen to are a chosen race, a royal priesthood. A holy nation. Hallelujah. For his own body. Tell you that you do not belong to God, and the more that we are gathered together as God's children, we have a purpose to do what to proclaim the piece of him, who is called us out of Darkness. Into His Marvelous Light. The reality is a place of comfort visible symbol, and a beacon of life. So that when people look at us, they don't see us. What they look at the way that we show up. They don't see us when they look at the way that we have locked in, they don't see us, what they look at the way that we have super Naturally by the power of the spirit. Let go, they stop looking at us and they start seeing Jesus.

The goal family is it, somebody looks at the church. Assessment. There was only one man. That can bring all these different people together like this. There's only one person. Back to bring the poor and the rich. The tall and the short. The black and the white has only one powers that can bring the strong wheels and the past. If there's only one, man, who can bring the extra Garden as the introverted, there's only one person that can bring the one, who like to be upfront and the one who, like to be in the back together in the same family is that they look at us. And they see the power of Jesus. But there was one. Onemap. That brings healing.

We got people look the church.

God can do it for them.

if you can take,

The one. Who is Batman? If the chains of dysfunction.

Shield.

You can do for me. Believe. Let the god. Who is called? Is people.

Have a, my pill today is to everybody from the person who is a infant in Christ. The person who has been a follower of Jesus.

It's time. Us as God's people to show up.

Time for us. The lock-in.

so, we can be the healing community that God established

if that's you right now, you I've heard. God calling. and this time,

I want to give you the opportunity to make a decision right now between you and God. To be the church. This is for the person who is saying. .

Hear you calling me?

The person who sang, God, I hear you calling me, not just to attend. What to be?

Are you saying today? I want to make that decision between me and God. It's not, it's not me. But you're saying, you got to help me show up. If that's you right now.

God has spoken to you if you want to make a public declaration. Somebody else listen. Got to lock in. Being around Buena Park up here but it is that Jesus is not my priority. He is a periphery. What's that? You're saying? Listen, God, I need your help.

Somebody else last he was saying God, I need your strength to help me to let go. It's not my pew.

It's not my music. It's not my preacher. Is that mine? It is yours. Let It Go with you.

Who is making a decision in their heart right now? Not just come to church.

On the right now, we are praying even as I pray, God as you called to somebody's heart. Recognizes.

The elevation happens.

Now we're praying right now that you would make us a healing community that we don't want to just come and short service. We don't want to just sing our songs. Hear somebody talk and go home. We want to experience. What you had in mind when you said I will build my church. Advocates of Hell will not.

Got we have not showed up. Consistently for our community members, showed up in the Assembly of Believers in the worship service. We haven't showed up when people need it out encouragement and I'll help. Even showed up to mourn with those who mourn. We're asking for your help today. There are others. I need to login.

By the power of your spirit out for the truth few that decision right now and that you regret Supernatural strength to make you the priority of Our Lives. Come with me last week. Pray for somebody who's committed today. Let go.

Give us Grace Empower Us by your spirit. To let go of ourselves.

Don't bring this cuz we believe that you are able to do what you have already done. In the book of Acts. What is praying God that you would go before us Annoy Us, strengthen us. And we'll be careful to give you the praise, the glory and the honor. It's in Jesus name that we pray today.