SPEAK TO NEED

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT THERE ARE SOME RELATIONSHIP THAT ARE NOT HEALTH FOR YOUR LIFE? THAT SOME RELATIONSHIP ARE TOOK CLOSE AND NEED SPACE BETWEEN YOU FOR YOU TO BE FUNCTIONAL. Anybody here been there with me?

1 Peter 1:15–16 ESV

15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Yes, some people make it harder to live right in the sight of God and THE RESISTANCE IS REAL, and there are relationships that can pull us away from the joy and strength of out lives. Tell someone near your resist the pull!

Hallelujah, God has a word for us today to help us resist the pull! Tell someone near your resist the pull; resist the pull!

PLEASE STAND WITH ME FOR THE READING OF GOD’S HOLY WORD!

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

State Key Verse: What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God (2 Cor 6:16)

I like to preach this morning as the Holy Spirit guides from the thought...

State the Title: COME ALIVE!

COME ALIVE!

Prayer of Illumination: Father I come in the name of Jesus needing you more now than I have ever needed your before, thank your for your faithfulness through out history, thank your that your word is true, that your word is spirit and life… send down your word from your mouth so that it does not return to you empty, but accomplish what you please and succeed in the purpose you sent it.

INTRODUCTION

My first full time job was as a draftsman $4.50/hour I thought I had made it big time. It was a new experience, full benefits and college tuition reimbursement. I desired to be a mechanical engineer and I went to school at night. Also had the Montgomery G.I. bill and State tuition assistance serving in the Army reserve and Air National Guard. One day a new employee shared with me, Reggie you can make double somewhere else for what you are doing. He said you are not just drafting your are designing. He said nobody is helping you grow here are some books to help you understand the process. He opened up a new world for me!

In the same way Jesus opened up a new world for Paul when he met him on that Damacus road.

Who: The Apostle Paul writes this letter to the church of Corinth (planted on second missionary journey) and sends it by Titus hand. This is the 4th and final letter; 1 Cor was the second letter, the first letter as lost, the 3rd was the tearful letter possibly following his painful second visit.

What: A minority of the church of Corinth are still questioning Paul’s Apostleship; false apostles are now there in the church, Paul defends his apostleship of Jesus Christ because the Gospel and the spiritual life of the Corinthian Church is as stake.

When: He wrote this letter on his 3rd missionary journey.

Where: From Macedonia

Why: Paul loves the Church of Corinth and encourages them to examine his life and ministry toward them and open there hearts making room for him. He wants them to see that there relationship with him is a healthy spiritual one while other relationships even within the church have them living off the chain, living like the world, and compromising with sinfulness.

Our text reveals today some ways that we can come alive being set apart in Christ to holiness. But, how can we resist the pulls that can cause us to go negative?

We must...

I. SEPARATE FROM CONFUSION (v. 14)

A. ________ Our life can go off course when we put our trust in people before God. That is why we are warned in Ps 118.

Psalm 118:8 ESV

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

look at our text.

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

B. In other words do not become or put yourself in a condition where you are unevenly yoked to something different and therefore being unbalanced. You want to connect to people that compliment who you are, but you love yourself to see how important that is! See the point of a yoke is oneness! Oneness in purpose and direction!

James 1:8 ESV

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

God wants you stable… God want you stable so don’t get hooked up with some in marraige, business or any other lasting covenant relationship that are not new creatures like you.

Deuteronomy 22:10 ESV

10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

Don’t let nothing steal you testimony in Christ Jesus, you are a leader, you are the head and not the tail and everybody can’t walk with you!

C. Can you resist the pull from confusion______________? God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Give some people the space you need to be functional. SHUT IT DOWN NOW! Christ can that oneness can be a reality in our relationships.

Our text reveals today some ways that we can come alive being set apart in Christ to holiness. But, how can we resist the pulls that can cause us to go negative?

We must...

II. SEPARATE FROM CORRUPTION (vv. 14b-16a)

A. ______ Sometimes we may not realize that our exposure to things can have lasting impact on us seen and unseen. Sin is sin and a little leaven can leaven the whole lump. Any exposure to sin in the way we live can defile our thoughts, words, desires and actions. What?

John 17:14–18 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

That’s right just like a ship in water is ok, but when water get in the ship it sinks… look at verse 14-16

2 Corinthians 6:14–16 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

B. Here Paul presents five questions to see if we fear God and take his seriously!

you want to live right but they don’t

you want to be around people that want to live right but they don’t

James 4:4 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Your want your character in harmony with Christ’s not wickedness

You are fellow partakes of the same hope in Christ Jesus and sanctified by his word and seal and sustained by his Spirit

C. Can your resist the pull of corruption________. God has called your out of darkness and into his marvelous. Stop letting stuff steal you glow; let your light so shine before men and glory your Father who is in heaven. You are come alive!!! Keep dead stuff off of you!

Our text reveals today some ways that we can come alive being set apart in Christ to holiness. But, how can we resist the pulls that can cause us to go negative?

We must...

III. SEPARATE FROM CONFORMITY (vv. 16-18)

A. _______When we are confused or corrupt our pattern of life looks like the world. That’s why the word encourages us...

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Look that the last verses

2 Corinthians 6:16–18 ESV

16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

B. Show you love God.

Isaiah 52:11 ESV

11 Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

C. Can you resist the pull of conformity________? God has transformed you to be a holy habitation for him. You have come alive to be a worship center for the true and living God not dead idols.

Recapitulation: We can resist the pulls of the world to go negative when we separate from confusion, corruption, and conformity to come alive to holiness in Christ Jesus.

Exhortation ; That’ll Preach! Final Application

Rev. Dr. Howard Washington Thurman once said, don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

I represent him because he loved me beyond my faults

I represent him because greater is he that is in me that he that in the world

I represent him because faithful is he who called me who also will do it.

Anybody he come to represent him this morning?

Things may not be going like you want but you know God can turn things around.

Then I remembered I was made of this!!!

I was made to be the head and not the tail

I was made to be more than a conquerer in Christ Jesus

I was made to go through the fire and not even smell like smoke

I was made to make life better for somebody else

I was made for this, I know was made for this, I was made for this

I WAS MADED TO BE HIS WITNESS!

I REPRESENT CHRIST; WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST; BEING NEW IN CHRIST, BEING RECONCILED THROUGH CHRIST TO GOD, AND PURSUADING OTHERS TO BE RECONCILE TO GOD.

WHO DO YOU REPRESENT?

DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE OLD BECOME NEW? DO YOU WANT NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS? HE REPRESENTED YOU SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.

CHRIST DIED AND ROSE AGAIN TO ASSURE US THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM

GOD GOD SO LOVED THE WORD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON< SO THAT HOWEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! COME ALIVE!

Decided you want to receive Christ as Savior/Re-dedicate your life to Him: Come an receive Christ today… He came to give you brand new life, new life abundantly; why don’t you come.... We offer Christ to you my brother my sister, come, come on to Christ.

(Christian experience and know Jesus as Savior and Lord)Decided you want be a member of this Church: To Come an have Christ power for your life and His purpose working through.

The Alter is open for prayer!