Keep that Same Energy

Welcome

Welcome to Celebration. We are so glad that you are here. My wife, Maegan and I are honored to serve as the Lead Pastors and if there is anything that we can do to better serve you and your family, please don’t hesitate to let us know. If you are joining for the first time welcome, or digitally, we welcome you as well and want to invite you to join us if you are ever in the Orlando area.

Introduction

I am so excited to kick off our new series, Momentum. It is so hard to believe we are in our second week of February. January was a month of planning and dreaming and putting rhythms in place. Gym, work, God…and if we were consistent, we likely already started seeing results. Discipline produces results. The question is, how do we keep getting traction? How do we keep taking ground? I believe the enemy of great is being content with good. In my summation, momentum is organic but also strategic. Organic momentum is like binge watching a tv show. Strategic momentum is when we watch a sporting event and we see how a team is able to take advantage of another teams weaknesses to create momentum. No huddle offense. Momentum needs to be organic, strategic, and directed.

It is so hard to believe we are in our second week of February. January was a month of planning and dreaming and putting rhythms in place. Gym, work, God…and if we were consistent, we likely already started seeing results. Discipline produces results. The question is, how do we keep getting traction? How do we keep taking ground? I believe the enemy of great is being content with good. This year, I believe God wants to move you forward, but we have a part to play, don’t be content with good when God calling you to great. Cooperate with grace.

James 2:26 ESV

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:17 ESV

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:

When a space shuttle launches, it is a sight to see. There is a countdown, an enormous thrust of power to lift the shuttle and catapult it out of the earths atmosphere. However, there is a moment when the rockets have done their job and they detach after doing speeds up to 18,000 miles per hour. There is a moment when it looks the like the shuttle is just coasting through the sky. Truth is, in order to stay in orbit, the shuttle still has to travel roughly 17,500 miles per hour. It literally has to keep the same energy to stay in orbit that it did to leave earth. So often, we put a lot of thought into getting things off the ground, but when we do, we can start coasting, which can result in us crashing back to the ground.

This year, I believe God wants to move you forward, but we have a part to play, don’t be content with good when God calling you to great. Cooperate with grace. Momentum means forward motion, picking up speed. Physics says momentum occurs when mass and velocity work together. There is a required mutual agreement that is necessary in order to not only get off the ground, but stay on track. James, the brother of Jesus talks in detail about the importance of two vital components that are essential if we are truly going to have a lasting impact.

It is so hard to believe we are in our second week of February. January was a month of planning and dreaming and putting rhythms in place. Gym, work, God…and if we were consistent, we likely already started seeing results. Discipline produces results. The question is, how do we keep getting traction? How do we keep taking ground? I believe the enemy of great is being content with good. This year, I believe God wants to move you forward, but we have a part to play, don’t be content with good when God calling you to great. Cooperate with grace.

James 4:8 ESV

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 2:26 ESV

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

When you put your faith to work, you WILL create momentum in your life.

When we put our faith to work, you WILL create momentum in your life.

Momentum means forward motion, picking up speed. Physics says momentum occurs when mass and velocity work together.

James 2:6 ESV

6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?

Scripture(s)

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

I want to spend the remainder of our time, talking about personal momentum. My message title is, Keep that Same Energy.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for giving us the space to worship you. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to receive. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Illustration

I am not a thrill seeker, but I would say that I enjoy an occasional thrill. I’m not going sky diving, etc. but I do love a good rollercoaster. The excitement is exhilarating. The slow climb, the quick descend, the twists and turns, while safely in a harness. A few weeks back, my family and I went a park and got on a new ride, it was amazing!!! They pulled out all of the stops. The climbs, the drops, the speed, and there was even a moment when the ride went in reverse. Once we got off the ride, I would easily put it in my top 5 rides ever. I’m not sure why, but I was captivated at the engineering of it all. I mean, there was a moment when we were actually going backwards, but it was a part of the plan to move us forward.

Transition

If I look at this practically, I can see some parallels with roller coasters and life. It’s filled with waiting, we finally get seated and buckled in, then we are off. The slow and steady climb, the anticipation, the twists and turns, then there’s this moment when everything goes backwards. It is hard to believe this is part of the design. How can going backwards be part of the plan?

Wilderness

Jesus is about to go public with His ministry. Everything is lined up, he’s the right age, the time is right and the text tells us, He is led into the wilderness. That seems like a major step backwards. The wilderness represents isolation, desolation, deserted, abandoned. Uninhabited. The wilderness represented the place where despair and sin lived. outlines on the day of Atonement the scapegoat was sent into the wilderness to wander aimlessly. Based on , ancient Israelites viewed the wilderness as sinister, barren, dry. We live our lives trying to avoid the wilderness and yet, Jesus is sent there. Maybe you feel like you are in a wilderness moment right now. A moment where everything is dried up and you are wondering how could a good God allow something like this?

Tested or Tempted

Scripture says Jesus was led there to be tempted. That is a peculiar word choice. The original word is peirazo. It means test; put to the test; tempt. The word is rendered: tempt, tried, examine, and tested (38x’s). Jesus was led to the wilderness to be (tried, tested, examined). Truth is, we never know the integrity of something until it is tested. Engines are examined or tested under extreme conditions to determine if they will hold up. Space shuttles are tested under extreme conditions to determine if it will hold up under pressure. Yesterday my son took the ACT’s for the first time, later this week he is taking the PERT exam for Dual Enrollment. He is not a fan of tests. I tell him that tests are design to reveal our strengths and areas we need reinforcements; potential threats. Test reveal what’s in you.

40 in Bible numerology means testing.

2 Corinthians 13:5–6 ESV

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.

God does not tempt us to sin. God does not put you in positions to fail. Tests show our strengths, temptation hope to exploit our weaknesses. God uses tests to reveal our strengths, the enemy uses temptation to exploit our weaknesses. Even if a test reveals an area we are vulnerable, this is where God sends reinforcements.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God shows us how strong we are, the enemy wants to expose how weak we are. Opposition is an opportunity for God to be glorified in your life.

God shows us how strong we are, the enemy wants to expose how weak we are. Opposition reveals opportunity; our response determines the results.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 cor 10:

It takes strength to walk away. It takes strength to forgive. You will be tempted to lose your mind. You will be tempted to give up, but there is strength in you.

James 4:7 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 John 4:4 ESV

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Resist. Say no. When Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, the enemy showed up to get him off track. He wanted to expose any weaknesses. He wanted to stop Jesus’ momentum. Where there is momentum, there is temptation, but where there is temptation, there is strength.

When Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, the enemy showed up to get him off track. He wanted to expose any weaknesses. He wanted to stop Jesus’ momentum.

Don’t put yourself in the area of your weakness and expect God’s strength.

3 Types of temptations ()

Temptation to give up (it doesn’t really matter)

Temptation to prove something (don’t put yourself in the area of your weakness and expect God’s strength)

Temptation to take shortcuts (avoid sacrifice)

The temptations faced by Jesus follow the same pattern as the Israelites’ disobedience in the desert. The Israelites demanded bread, doubted the Lord’s presence, and despaired of His help (compare ). Jesus reverses all of these acts of faithlessness.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

When Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, the enemy showed up to get him off track. He wanted to expose any weaknesses. He wanted to stop Jesus’ momentum.

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Jesus stood when we couldn’t stand. Jesus fought when we couldn’t fight. Jesus died so that we can live. Jesus lived perfectly, because we could not. Jesus created the momentum that allows earth and heaven to overlap in our lives. We have a part to play. Keep that same energy when you are cheering for your team. Keep that same energy when you are taking a stand for your political beliefs. Keep that same energy when you are outraged about something on social media when you see injustice in front of your face.

Where there is momentum, there is temptation, but where there is temptation, there is strength.

Momentum

When I was growing up, we used to say, put your money where your mouth is. In other words, don’t just talk about it, be about it. At some point our faith has to go from concept to concrete.

When you put your faith to work, you WILL create momentum in your life.

Attending church will create momentum in your life (; )

Worship will create momentum in your life (; )

Prayer will create momentum in your life (; ; )

Worship will create momentum in your life

Fasting will create momentum in your life (; ; )

Prayer will create momentum in your life

Fasting will create momentum in your life

Engaging the Word of God will create momentum in your life (; ; )

The Word of God will create momentum in your life

Giving will create momentum in your life

Giving will create momentum in your life ()

Serving will create momentum in your life ()

Community will create momentum in your life ()

Serving will create momentum in your life

Where there is momentum, the gates of hell will not prevail

Matthew 16:18 ESV

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Salvation will create momentum in your life (; )

Community will create momentum in your life

Salvation will create momentum in your life

Where there is momentum, there is temptation, but where there is temptation, there is strength.

Closing

Where there is momentum, there is temptation, but where there is temptation, there is strength.

Baptism will create momentum in your life (; ; )