Coming Home

Tonight I want to deal with a strong biblical principle that a lot of people know and understand one that in theory we like but in practice we struggle with …

Tonight I just need to know who I am talking to first??? Am I talking to a group of christians that are more concerned with pleasing themselves than walking in purpose??? Is this a group that would rather be selfish than selfless??? Or is this a group that is all in? Is this a group that says whatever God wants to do that is what I want to do???

KEY POINT- This season of your life is not for making mistakes or for having fun, this season of your life is for invading the darkness and fulfilling your purpose.

Turn to 1 Cor 6:19

ILLUSTRATION- Getting a hand-me-down car… Someone else enjoyed it in it’s prime I enjoy the financial benefit but I lack the “prime” benefit.

(NLT) — 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

(NLT) — 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

CHALLENGE- Why is it that we would not give God our all our best when that is what we used to give the world?

1 Corinthians 5. A Principle and a Command for Sexual Purity among Christians: Glorify God in Your Body (19–20)

“Your body was a willing horse when it was in the service of the devil, let it not be a sluggish hack now that it draws the chariot of Christ.” (Spurgeon)

Listen God is no respecters of persons this means he doesn’t care what your title is who your dad is how long you have been coming to church… He isn’t looking for your resume he is looking for you… Is he truly Lord of your life???

CHALLENGE- Is God truly the lord of your life???

Does he get to call the shots?

Do you run from what is a waste of your time as a Christ ambassador?

Are you in the word???

Do you seek him more than you seek “fun” or what brings you joy

CHALLENGE- What goes on the list of “things I won’t give up even if he asks that of me” ;As that list grows the Lordship of Christ shrinks.

(NLT) — 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’

MAIN POINT- When you come to God as a servant he brings you in as a son and daughter.

Did the love of the father change just because the son had rejected the authority and oversight of the father? No the father was waiting for the return of the son… But you will never be able to return home until you allow him to be Lord of all.

MAIN POINT- YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR WAY HOME UNTIL YOU ALLOW JESUS TO BE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.

KEY- Home is where there is real joy again, home is where there is real fulfilment, home is a place anxiety can’t come in, home is a place where panic and stress can’t come over…

KEY- This word “Lord” in the Hebrew is the word “adon” which means God, Lord, Master. It is a term referring to the God of Israel reflecting his authority. It means that He is in charge. The Hebrew word “adon” is found over 6,000 times in the old testament.

There are 9 different Greek words for the word “Lord” all taking on a slightly different meaning but all having a similar context. Meaning master, ruler, one with authority dominion and control.

MAIN POINT- When we say Jesus is Lord we are saying he is in charge, when we say Jesus is Lord it means he gets to call the shots.

So now when I go to school I don’t just go to please myself I go with the attitude of HOW CAN I OBEY, HONNOR, AND PLEASE JESUS MY LORD… and when I’m playing on the field or the court being obedient to what he tells me to do is more important than the next point…

Many hopefully all of us have prayed asking Jesus to be our savior, but do you know what you were saying when you asked him to be Lord??? Most people are fine with the savior part but most people struggle with the Lord part…

MAIN POINT- YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR WAY HOME UNTIL YOU ALLOW JESUS TO BE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.

I want to focus for a moment on this text…

(NLT) — 1 So all Israel was listed in the genealogical records in The Book of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon because they were unfaithful to the Lord. 2 The first of the exiles to return to their property in their former towns were priests, Levites, Temple servants, and other Israelites.

1 Corinthians 5. A Principle and a Command for Sexual Purity among Christians: Glorify God in Your Body (19–20)

“Your body was a willing horse when it was in the service of the devil, let it not be a sluggish hack now that it draws the chariot of Christ.” (Spurgeon)

POINT- He never stops being Lord we just stop being faithful.

(NLT) — 5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.

KEY- After the exile the first to return home were the priests the levites, why is this? It is because what the priests did established his lordship.

POINT- The things the priests did are the things we need to do.

1. Rebuild the temple. (Establish the place where God will speak to you.)

(NLT) — 6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ” 8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)

ILLUSTRATION- Not finishing

POINT- A lot of us have laid the foundation of the temple (the place God will speak to us) but so many have not completed it.

When you came into relationship with Jesus the blood of Christ laid the foundation for you to meet with God, but what have you done since then???

CHALLENGE- Are you still at a foundational level with God when you should have much more built???

KEY- When God instructed them to build the temple so much of it was symbolic of the nature of who God is, he was revealing himself through the structure.

POINT- You build the temple by getting into his word.

Show me a person who is deep in studying God’s word and taking time to pray and you will see someone who understands that HE IS LORD.

A lot of us only like the picture frame verses…

If you want to see revival in your school get into the word…

2. Served God. (Do the things he is telling you to do.)

(NLT) — 6 Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, 7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.

KEY- Just because you are not doing the things he doesn’t want you to do doesn’t mean you are doing the things he wants you to do.

A lot of believers would listen to this message and think to themselves, “yeah I understand the Lordship of Christ, I don’t vape, I’m not partying, I’m well behaved, I’m not drinking… Great BUT ARE YOU DOING WHAT HE HAS CALLED YOU TO DO.

KEY- This season of your life isn’t for you to have fun, it is not for you to figure things out.

(NLT) — 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Here is what David was saying… As I DO what he told me to do goodness and mercy is going to follow me, as I DO the things he has asked now fun catches up to me…

When you live a life for yourself you are always chasing fun, good times, joy, but, When you are living a life of purpose good times, fun, joy, goodness they will chase you.

ILLUSTRATION-

(NLT) — 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

3. Lead the people

(NLT) — 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ”

You are not called to follow the crowds…

4. Offered Sacrifices