Getting More Out of God

Happy New Year!

Usually I would start our series for the new year here.

Theme - Living Expectantly

Verse -

But we are going to hold on that.

This week, the Holy Spirit started to move on my heart with a different message.

A message about the church. A message about what he desires in the church

A message for our church about what He is doing here.

I’ve entitled that message, “Getting More Out of God.”

In the economy that we are living in, we all want more bang for our buck.

We want to feel like we are getting the most out of what we are buying or what we already own.

That’s a good thing.

And I’m not saying that we can own God, or that we can buy God, but I am saying that there is so much more that God has for us, and I hope that we will go into this new year of 2019, wanting more of Him.

However for that to happen in our church and in our lives, there are some things that we need to do.

God Works Through the Church

The church born in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit - a church that should have power

The church is the body of Christ -

It’s foundation is the deity of Christ.

Matthew 16:16–18 NKJV

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The church is built by Christ - I will build my church

The church is victorious through Christ - the gates of hell shall not prevail

The church is not a building - It is the people

1 Cor

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 NKJV

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

The church has a mission

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

-21

That mission is accomplished as the church comes together

Hebrews 10:24–25 NKJV

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

This is really what the theme for this year is about. The so much more as you see the Day approaching.

What day? The day of Christ’s return.

As we see that time slipping away and the world coming to that season, we are to make sure that we as the church are together that much more.

That we are considering one another, praying for one another, loving and encouraging one another

That we are not missing from the general assembly of the body with one another

And that we are building one another up, because the world is tearing us down daily.

This is my message today. Church, brothers and sisters, we cannot allow ourselves to be drawn away from our time together by anything outside or even inside of this place.

I’m referring to differences, arguments, busyness, life’s restraints, demons and the world, NOTHING.

Because God’s plan for the church is that we be together. That we live life together and that we affect life together.

Because as I’ve shown you scripturally, God works through the church that is in relationship. The church that gathers together - IN UNITY.

The Church that Seeks God Together

We can seek God on our own, we can seek God with a few others.

But something dynamic happens in the spirit realm when the whole church seeks God together.

Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-

I think this verse should read, when they were all in one accord, the day of Pentecost had fully come. Because it’s not stretch of the wording there to make that the case - that the day of Pentecost and the promise of the birth of the New Testament church came powerfully once the people were in one accord - one spirit - full unity.

Let me tell you today, There is a reason for you not wanting to be here every Sunday morning or not being able to be here every Sunday morning that is deeper than you know

There is a reason why you don’t feel good.

There is a reason why your and your spouse or children have heated conversations on Sunday morning

There is a reason why your alarm clock doesn’t go off, or you just don’t set it

There is a reason why the car doesn’t start or the dog gets sick

And it’s not just that those things happen, but that satan is trying to keep you away from church

Anthony - cancer and I had a cold - he texted me and told me he was coming to church

We pray for a move of God’s Spirit, but we can’t get the church together to see it happen. (I understand work schedules, but don’t believe that isn’t from the enemy as well)

There is no guilt or condemnation here - this is about opening your eyes to how the enemy makes and keeps the church powerless. It’s easy - just keep them busy and from seeking God together.

It’s only when they are one that the Holy Spirit moves. That they are empowered to change their world. That they experience the proof and power behind the story that they have been told to go and tell.

If they were bickering or not getting along, it would have never happened

If they were in competition with one another, it would have never happened

If they were off doing their own things, they would have never seen it

And they would have never accomplished the mission that God had set out for them.

Seeking God is making time for the body to come together and just quiet ourselves in his presence.

It is prayer, it is silence. It involves worship and praise. It is a checking out of the distractions all around us to allow God the time in our lives to speak and work in us

It’s where we will hear from God

It’s where we will be touched by his Holy spirit

It’s how God moves us forward, how he directs our steps.

We will never be able to be the church that God wants us to be and has called us to be, unless we are seeking God together.

The Church that Believes Together

The body of believers must have a common faith.

A faith in God that He can do everything

A faith in God that he will lead and direct them

A faith in God that God will continue to speak to them

A faith in God for the community around them. Their parrish

Acts 12:1–19 NKJV

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Acts 12:1-

Faith in our prayer moves the hand of God

Our combined faith in prayer, gives us the ability to trust God for even greater things.

I don’t know how influential the prayers of the church that had gathered together to pray for him were, but I have a sense that it was bigger than they even knew.

We would dismiss it as God just releasing Peter

But it would seem important to the writer here that he says in verse 5, Peter was kept in prison, but......constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

That is put there for a reason

And their prayers are answered.

People come into this building every Sunday who need the prayers of the church to be lifted up for them constantly.

And we make time for that to happen, because of how important it is, but it’s amazing to me how many are talking in the back or how many are looking through face book and texting.

I wonder where Peter would have been if that were the case with the church who was praying for him.

What I’m about to say here is not a correction or a guilt trip for our church, because I travel around and I see many churches and it’s all over the place.

When do we get serious about what is happening in this place today?

When do we mature as the body of Christ into what God has called us to be?

I watch as the minister speaks and people are walking around, or talking in the back.

I look out into the congregation as I speak, what I believe God has given me for this body every week and see people looking down with their thumbs moving all over their little keyboards. And they aren’t putting in the scripture for the day because I haven’t told them to turn any where yet.

It’s very disheartening to me. But I need to let that go

But what does it speak about our reverence for God.

Listen, if that is a problem for you, than ideally leave your phone home or in the car. I promise you that you can survive without it.

Leave the tablet in the car

Because I at least, believe, and I need you to believe this with me, that God wants to use these times of our coming together to do something powerful in our lives.

If you need to, buy a paper Bible or brush the dust off your one at home. And bring that.

How many people can’t enter in to our faith together today because they have an offense against someone else in the church?

Man the enemy will be all over that.

And I’m running out of time this morning.

But here is what I am saying - God expects his church to be unified in their faith.

I wonder what knock and voice on the gate did for the faith of young Rhoda?

I wonder what you getting serious about God today could do for those young christians who are sitting in this building today.

A Church that Works Together

Luke 5:16–26 NKJV

So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

I ask a question of all of us today? Is our mission the same?

Yes, we may all go about it in different ways with different giftings, but do we understand that mission that God has called us to?

Is it in our hearts?

men letting man down through the roof

Is it in our minds daily

church praying for Peter’s release from jail

Do we see it as a Monday through Saturday calling?

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

That’s it and only it. We are called to bring people (the sick, lame, blind and weakened - Physically and spiritually) to Jesus

To go past the distractions and the things that block us from getting them there and lower them down into his presence.

What did you do to do that this week?

Question 1 in Accountability Group. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?

PRAY