Identity to Reality

Introduction

Make it So

Star Trek - Jean-Luc Picard

Crossing the bridge from Identity to Reality

Sacred Pause, Made for More

Made to be more

Made to Love More

Made to do more

Made to Go more

Made to win more

Move from embracing it to living it

Action that flows from who we are

God does it with us

Doing What Jesus Did

Acts 3:1–10 ESV

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter and John were on their way to a prayer gathering - being spiritual.

Man with a chronic condition doing what he had done every day for most of his life. Situated himself at one of the temple gates where good religius people would pass through on their way to worship.

Brought every day by someone

Asking for charity

Used to being ignored

Doing What Jesus Did

Continuing in the Power of the Spirit

Responding to an Opportunity

Pray about it?

Assess/analyze the situation?

Decide who deserves/doesn’t deserve

What did you do go end up here (cf. What sin did you or your family commit?)

Consult our political leanings

NO: They already were given the mission: do what I have taught you, no need to pray about it or assess it

I See You

Look at us - fix attention on, look deeply into the soul

The Man - something is coming!

I don’t have what you’re asking for but let me offer you something better that gets to the root of your issues.

Doesn't mean to NOT meet material needs NOR that we should focus on salvation rather than physical or material help (it is physical healing that is given here with NO invitation to salvation).

It IS a lesson on the church's priorities.

Invitation to Life and Offering a Hand

In that act the miracle happened

Raise to life - I will help you rise,

I will help you walk - move around, live (practice a lifestyle)

I will help make you strong, help you see

Be reconciled

This act of Heaven/Kingdom on earth, demonstration of the Spirit’s power led to a conversation about Jesus.

Who is This Man?

The broken among us

The marginalized

Today, those unjustly treated as anything other than created in God’s image

By the Authority of Jesus: Continuing In the Power of the Spirit

Every disciple guided by the spirit in every moment and every situation can act by the authority of Jesus.

Bringing the culture of the KOG to reality

Peace

Reconciliation of ALL things to God and one another

Pointing to Jesus

That Simple?

Yes and no. Personal hurdles, outside hurdles, etc.

Going to walk through this series:

How to move toward the more we’re made for in the power of the spirit

The reality of limits

What parts of us has to grow or develop as we take these steps

The boundaries we have to journey through

Deploying ourselves