Take Your Position
Notes
Transcript
(Its about to go down)
(Its about to go down)
Good evening and welcome to THe Fervent Church
and Happy new year!
If 2020 wasnt the greatest for you, hopefully this year will go a little better than the last…
But happy new year…
We are The Fervent Church
and we exist so that people may know Jesus
WE believe that a fervent spirit is a contagious spirit… and so we hope to pursue God and people fervently.... so that they may knwo Jesus and we hope to see many come to know Jesus and continue by living fervently in their lives and furthering the great commission of Jesus
My name is Nick Wyss and I am the lead pastor and we are grateful to have you with us this evening.
Today we are starting a 21 day journey… of prayer and fasting…
Committing to be more disciplined in our prayer...
Fasting.... giving up something physical, and even necessary for our physical bodies.. to seek God for the more important but often neglected things of life - spiritual life, closeness with God
Jesus in one instance was asked why his disciples did not fast… and simply, he said becuase he is here with them… but there will be a day when he is not, and they will fast
We live in those days… Jesus isnt here with us physically… so we fast to seek a closer relationship with God
Quite literally, in our actions of fasting… we are saying “God, you are more important than my food… coffee… television…”
This week, our church theme will be our community… our city
We will pray breifly here in service, but I want to ask you all to make time to pray each day this week specifically for this community around us
For peace, hope, salvation, pray for their needs…
pray for God to show us how we can help meet some of their needs and be a light in our community
Pray for bonds of fellowship between us as a church and other churches in the community.
City of austin, city council, police officers, judges, government officials
People with jobs, people without jobs
Cover this city with your prayers..
If you dont know what to pray… simply pray this “God would you start a revival in our community today.”
As you fast… use that as a physical signal… a physical trigger to remind you to pray
You give up food… when youre hungry, use that physical trigger to trigger you to pray
There is great power in prayer. Prayer changes things… Prayer connects us with God
And here at The Fervent Church we value prayer… and what better way to kick off the new year than with a time specifically geared towards praying and seeking God!
So lets take a moment and lets pray for our community…
Heart for the community
Effectiveness to reach the community
Genuine care for the community
Bring us divine appointments with people in our community
comfort our community
provide for the people here
start a revival here, in Hutto, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Austin, Georgetown.... and all the surrounding areas that would change lives, bring hope, and bring everlasting life… and may many come to know you as their God, their Lord and their savior
Tonight we are kicking things off with our very first vision sunday… I want to share a message with you all from Scripture and from God and then I want to talk about what it means practically for our individual lives, and what it means for us as a church. Tonight will be week one of a two or three part series… And we will talk about some of the things we hope to pursue and do in this new year
LEts PRAY - Teach us…
Tonights message title is “Take your position”
and I am subtilting it “Its about to go down”
Can you say that back to me - Take your position, its about to go down...
Now Help me preach my message and tell someone sitting next to you “Take your position, its about to go down.”
If you get nothing else out of tonight with us, I hope its that, and I hope it rings in your ears and mind over the next week, months and even throughout the entire year
Now tonights message is one that is near to me, because I believe God spoke it to me, for me and its one I am trying to implement and practice more every day
It was a couple months ago, we had just launched the church and I was just feeling a bit discouraged…
Struggling with the thought of “im not good enough”, I dont know enough” and I found myself praying as I do on many occasions.... God help me!
I wasnt doubting the call to come here, I wasnt regretting our decision at all… I knew this is where we are supposed to be… But i was struggling with feeling adequate or equipped to fulfill the call
It was one night while I was out on my back porch, watching a Jack Hibbs sermon… which had nothing to do with what I heard… and during that time I felt mid sermon… God spoke to me “Take Your Position”
Now it wasnt an audible voice… but it might as well have been
After thinking about it for a few minutes… I realized what God was saying to me
I was asking for help…
I was asking for a miracle - for God’s equipping
I wanted a supernatural empowering to do and live and teach the way the early disciples did
But God’s answer to me was basically- you have what you need, I am with you - NOW TAKE YOUR POSITION
Take your position as a pastor… well I have never been the lead pastor of a church before… I felt unequipped… not educated enough, not available enough…
But despite those feelings, God said :Take your position…
You see, He called me to be a pastor… He ordained me…
So if he said it, then thats what it is despite my feelings
It was a profound moment
A rebuking moment
Yet encouraging
I jotted it down in my notes
And as I continued to meditate on this… I found it in 2 Chornicles 20...
After reading that portion of scripture… I KNEW this was from God
A week or so later I was listening to a sermon, and the pastor taught on that very passage… and it was just further solidifying what God was speaking to me
That it isnt about what I can do… But its about my obedience… and if I would simply be obedient and take my position.. God would do the rest
You see, the task at hand seemed near impossible for me
I work a full time job outside of the church where I work about 50 hours per week
I have a wife and I have two little kids
Now thats a full plate by itself
But add trying to launch and pastor a church
Thats overwhleming…
But That word that night is what I needed to hear…
- I believe it is God’s word for me in this new season of life and minsitry - take my position
He made me for this
He called me to this
And HE will get me through this
But I have to be obedient and step up to His calling
Now 2020 was more than any of us thought it would be last January…
Its brought struggles and obstacles we never imagined.
But with every obstacle, with every moment of opposition, comes moments of opportunity
And I want to say to you tonight… personally to you… and as a church
Take your position!
YOU HAVE ONE - 2020 hasnt changed that…
Your short comings in 2020, your sin even in 2020, hasnt changed God’s plan for you...
If 2020 has taught me anything, its the evident fact that we are in a battle
- the world is in conflict with itself
ITs no coincidence that all this happened
the virus… the racism… the election crazyness… the great divide in our nation in world based on these things
My belief, is that all of this is an attack from Satan on the Church..
to try and shut us down. Stop us in our tracks.
To get people to hate the church and think we are insensitive and unloving, hypocrites because we choose to meet and have service and they call us unloving and we are putting others at risk… they call us even disobedient and as if we’ve gone rogue and disobeying the governments orders to not meet…
And even more than that… I believe this has been an attack from Satan To get people in the church hating and dividing from fellowship with one another because of these things
Afterall, Jesus said a house divided cannot stand...
IF you want the house to fall… or at least attempt to make it fall
Stir up division within it
What we see taking place in our world today is the beginning of the end “It’s about to go down” and we must take our position as Christians in this world
Things are heating up
Not just here in america, but in the world
There are many things happening currently that are setting the stage for the things prophesied about long ago in the bible about the end times
The great tribulation
The antichrist
One world currency
One world government
the mark of the beast
Now I am not trying to scare you… but this is the reality in which we live
You may think, Nick… youve been drinking the coolaid a little too much…
Am I?
Just think about it logically… with Covid 19 it is desensitizing us to things.
You must wear a mask to go into businesses to buy or sell
Some places take your temperature before you can go in
The Bible has been saying for a couple thousand years that in the end there will be this thing called the mark of the beast… and if you dont have it, you cant buy or sell
Now a year ago… saying youd need some sort of mark or proof you can come in and not be a threat to someones health to buy or sell, we would have laughed… and said “no way...”
But now, today… its normal and it would make sense
Now think about the progression…
with the vaccine for the corona virus coming out… I wouldnt be surprised one bit, if they ban travel, and even entering businesses, to those who do not have the vaccine and having to show some sort of proof of vaccination...
Now is the vaccine the mark of the beast… I dont think so… but its certainly a BIG step towards it
Thats just one of many things happening today
not to mention the “peace” the middle east is experiencing for the first time in decades… the bible talks about a time of peace in the end… is this it? Definitely could be a start to it
One world currency… a mark of the beast to buy or sell...
- certain places stopped taking cash!
Talk about a leap towards prophecy coming to fulfillment
A year ago, if you said cash wouldnt be accepted, we’d say youre out of your mind…
But Today… we’d say, well, it makes sense.... cut down on hand to hand transactions and spreading of germs
Why not make a one world currency because we pretty much have that already anyways with online banking… its just numbers…
Interesting times we are living in people
But these are the times WE ARE LIVING… AND WE MUST TAKE OUR POSITION AS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST - THe CHURCH OF GOD ALMIGHTY - AND WE MUST NOT BACK DOWN
It is my fear… that many out there, Christians.... are not only tempted or threatened or manipulated to back down, but they are giving into it and they are backing down
Many dont meet anymore because they have caved to the pressure of the media
Many believe the lies of the media.. but can I tell you something.... the media is a business… they are not reporting all news… and they dont report accurate news..
They simply report what they are told to report
ANd many main stream media outlets… social media outlets in particular, sensor what is visible to the public eye
I have had many friends post things on facebook, true, real, videos and things said or done in our world today, that are blocked and marked as innappropriate or not true… and therefore taken down
Even videos of doctors and nurses who know way more about medicine and people than most… they are taken down because it goes against the “news” that they want to report...
Our very own president was blocked from twitter after the election
Now sure he tweets many things that arent the greatest things to tweet… but the very fact that our president cannot speak his mind, openly or freely… should tell us something
The things that make it to our “news feed” have gone through a filter...
In a sense, you see and read what they want you to read
This is not the time to stand down… or to try and play it cool with the media and government… and let them strip away our freedoms, our faith or our position as the body of Jesus Christ!
This is a time to arm ourselves with the Holy Spirit and God’s word and TAKE OUR POSITIONS!
The world needs what we have
hope
joy
peace
patience
kindness
gentleness
love
selfcontrol
salvation
true freedom in Christ
Eternal Life
The world needs JESUS!
Now wether or not the end is in the next year or two… or one or two thousand years from now
The simple fact is this… there are many people out there who do not know Jesus… they have no hope
There are many closet christians, who have caved to the world...
And even if Jesus doesnt come back soon… we will all stand face to face with him in 30, 40, 50, 60 years.... and thats a scary thought
If you’ve been waiting around for that time to start your ministry… to start getting serious with the Lord… to start practicing what you’ve claimed to believe all these years
THE TIME IS NOW
Take your position, its about to go down
Now lets set the scene for tongiths text
Its probably not one that you are familar with when I say 2 Chronicles 20… but man, it should be.
We will see a king Jehosophat, king of Judah in this text…
Previously, in chapter 18 - Jehosophat makes an alliance with Ahab the king of Israel…
He basically hears that Ahab is in danger… they are going to war and he asks Jehosophat to join them
Jehosophat says yes and makes an alliance.
But Jehosphat was a man of God… He was a good king… and he said, “first, inquire of the Lord..”
See what God thinks…
Well a prohpet tells them that Ahab is going to die in this war…
Well as we would suspect, Ahab didnt like that so he thought up a plan… He said to Jehosophat, “you dress in your robes and as a king… and I will dress as a soldier… “
Long story short… the enemy came for Jehosophat thinking he was Ahab, realized it wasnt Ahab, then retreated but one soldier shot an arrow into the crowd, and it hit Ahab between his armor and at the end of this battle, Ahab died
After this, Jehoshaphat returned to Judah and he made some reforms… He brought the people back to the Lord.
Things seemed to be going in a good direction.
THen chapter 20 comes
After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle.
Just when you thought things were going well… another battle
And we should know this.... just because we made it through 2020… doesnt mean we can relax… theres another battle coming… 2021 will be sure to have its challenges as well
Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
Jehosophat does what any of us should do when we face a battle… SEEK THE LORD
He not only does it for himself, he proclaims a fast to all the people!
And the people follow suit!
They were all in..
There is something powerful about unity!
As a church, we should always strive to be united...
When Satan comes trying to divide and tear us down, we should UNITE even more and seek the LORD!!!
Set aside our differences of non essential doctrine or philosophy of ministry… and unite in Jesus’ name!
And thats part of what we are doing with our 21 days of prayer and fasting.... coming together as the church of Jesus Christ with a common purpose to pray for our community, our country and our world - and seek the LORD! We are in a battle… and I dont know about you… but I dont know what to do...
We NEED the Lord
And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
He proclaimed and prayed before the people!
He brings this concern to God…
Feel overwhelmed, like you’re faced with too much… bring your concerns to God!
“WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT OUR EYES ARE ON YOU”
Can you relate? DOnt know what to do???
Be comforted, neither did these people....
BUT THEIR EYES WERE ON GOD
Where are your eyes at today?
Where is your focus?
Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
This isnt just the leaders… this is everyone…
They are all a part of this
We are all a part of this today…
And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
A prophet arises… DO NOT BE AFRAID… THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS BUT GOD’S
wow… you see… when I heard that word from the Lord that night - Take your position… and I turned to this passage and read that… It changed my perspective
I ws trying to fight a battle with what I had… Thinking if I could be better, I could do this
But when we are lviing for God… every battle we face really isnt ours
ITs God’s
Jesus said people will hate you because of me
They dont hate you because they hate you… they hate the team your on… they hate you because you love and follow Jesus
It takes the pressure off a bit, when people are coming at you… and you realize, youre in God’s corner… This is His battle… and if they are gonna mess with you, they are messing with the Lord’s kids and in turn messing with the most high!
God’s GOt this!
Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel.
Telling them where they are gonna be…
You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”
YOOU DONT NEED TO FIGHT… TAKE YOUR POSITIONS…
In other words… just show up!
Feel unequipped? Just bring what you have… just show up!
what you have is all you need when you have God
ANd this is what I need you to understand tonight.... you dont need to fight as much as you think… you just have to show up!
How many battles have you lost becuase you tried to fight on your own… battles to friends and trying to get them to come to church… trying clever ways to reach them when maybe the most powerful thing to do is simply show up and pray for them...
How many battles have you lost because you tried to fight with your own strength thinking you can handle this temptation only to fall into sin or backslide because you relied on your strenght and not the Lord’s?
God doesnt need your talents… He just wants your obedience! He can give you talents and things you need … But first… you gotta show up!
You wont see the Lord fight for you if you dont take your position
You will never see the things God is doing or wants to do in your life, if you dont take your position in God’s army....
Now the text goes on to say that they won… they showed up and the Lord caused the enemy to attack themselves and they all died… miraculous…
But that’s what God does… when we show up, humble ourselvs and pray and set our eyes on God… GOD defeats the enemy…
when we take our positon as a child of God… a child of the king most high… He fights those for us
True victory comes through Jesus..
But heres the thing....
Taking your position is not a one time thing
Its not soething youll do today, and check it off your to do list
Jesus said - “If any of you wants to be my disciple, take up your cross DAILY and follow me”
Its a daily decision
Its a fight to take your position
But once you do, you will see that the Lord will fight for you. But you gotta give Him the chance… You gotta show up
i want you to know today, that God is calling you to take your position...
He has a place for you.... a position for you
Your posiition is as a child of God… your position is in his church.... your position is to shine to the world around you
Now I dont know what your specific position is… maybe as an encourager, teacher, leader, worshipper, servant…
- but I know this… that its in the church
the church is to be the body of Christ to this hurting hopeless world
Take your position
The church needs what you have
giftings, talents, resources, ideas, personality, love, passion....
But you wont see the Lord work through those if you dont take your position
Now I said this is vision sunday… lets talk about us as the church.. the fervent church
This year, I want this theme to ring throughout it… no matter what happens, trials, pandemics, success…
This is what we will do - Take our position
Now it will likely be a slow process… but we are going in… we are cooking our ministry Texas style - low and slow
maybe one day it will be faster and move quicker… but for now this is where we are at
We gotta show up with what we have
How will we take our position?
1 - By Being committed.... commited to God… committed to fellowship with one another… committed to tchurch… committed to the community in which we live - to live fervently for Jesus so that people may know Him for better or worse
this next year we are gonna show up… my desire is to see what Jesus said come to be with The Fervent church - that the world will know we are His disciples when they see the love we have for one another… and that they would see we want to welcome them in too
But we cant show our love for one another if we dont show up at church!
2 - Being generous… God has been generous with many of us, giving us more than we desereve and its an honor and a our privledge as children of God to give back to God through our tithes and offerings, our resources, our talents, our time...
What we will do as we are generous… we will serve our community
Community events - BBQs, worship nights, game nights, food drives, clothing drives, toy drives…
benevolence fund - to have money to give freely to people and families in need and financial hardship
a mid week fellowship for men and women…
I would love to see us host and put on a fervent kids summer camp for a week.. to bless the parents and get the kids out of the house… but to bless the kids with fun and games and help them come to know Jesus
Now doesnt that sound like something you’d love to see?
And I believe its all possible.. its all within reach if we would rise up as children of God, as the Church of Jesus Christ and take our God given position!
And as we do, I believe we will see the Lord work and fight these battles and we will see victory in Jesus’ name!
Amen?
Stand with me and lets pray