Invitation Only

ME:

I want to talk to you today about family....

The definition of family is ....

The descendants of a common ancestor.

Family (Dynamics)

Definition for Dynamics: Expressing an action/activities/events/ or process

We have an expression within our families by our …actions/activities and such

Sports families

Hiking families

Artistic families

Musical families

Educational families

Military families

Camping families

How this comes about is ....

This is what you focus on, give attention to, or allow to infiltrate, come into, develop your family!

This is by .......

INVITATION ONLY

Transition Statement: This is how your family develops it “Family Dynamic”

WE:

It is what you Invite to come in!

A family that is SPORTS oriented .....

A family that is HIGHLY EDUCATED ....

A family that is OUTDOORSY ....

This is what you focus on but more importantly, this is what you INVITE IN.

Either INVITED or ALLOWED (UNINVITED but not TOLD NO)

All these things are “NOT BAD” things right?

EMPHASIS THIS COMING POINT .....

But if this is the case for good things .... what about bad things?

You fill in the blank when it comes to families that have a dynamic for bad things ...

Was it invited? Was it allowed?

I will say this, the enemy is not going to wait to be invited in.

He is a party crasher.

He will sneak in through what ever way he can.

He will lie, deceive, disguise, connive, and manipulate to get in to where he is not invited.

Case and point (Adam and Eve)

Party crasher

The Kincaid family probably had a bad reputation back in my home town.

The Kincaid’s were known for their drinking.

BUT THIS WAS INVITED IN!

SHELLY AND I DECIDED .....

This was not going to be the case for our family .....

Some of our kids cousins (Drugs, alcohol)

I didn’t not let my kids hang out with their cousins because of this.

Not just family members but technology as well .....

Youtube was not goin to corrupted my family

We played Mario cart.

We didn’t do the blood and gore, slit throat, car stealing, prostitution ring games.

We invited in ....

Holy Spirit

Prayer (With our Kids)

Reading God’s word and helping them understand His word

Mom and I just LIVED JESUS out in front of them.

It wasn’t about sports (even though my kids played sports)

It wasn’t about music (Even though my kids played)

It wasn’t about being outdoorsy (even though we camped and loved hiking.)

It wasn’t about being popular (even though my kids has a bunch of friends.)

Some of them didn’t like me or were afraid of me.

Not interested in having more teenage friends.

Get into my family was “invitation only”

Our desire was for our kids to be filled with Jesus.

We wanted the dynamic of our family to be JESUS

Remember the definition of family is ....

The descendants of a common ancestor.

The church is viewed as a Family.

Common Descendant .... Adam and Eve!

Transition Statement: Paul is writing to the family (Church).

GOD:

Colossians 3:16–17 (ESV)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The very first part of Verse 16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly ...”

When you see this phrase “Word of Christ” you are probably like me ....

It’s Gods word written down in the scriptures.

They didn’t have the NT written just yet.

So its the O.T.

Hardly anyone could afford a copy of the written torah.

What does Paul mean then ....

More than likely Paul was meaning ....

The word of God read in the Synagogue, out on the temple steps, or from someone who had it memorized (a parent or relative).

What you have heard read or have heard repeated .....

The message that centers on Christ.

Let it dwell in you richly.

The phrase “dwell in you richly”

Richly - Plousious which means Super abundance of .....

What stood out to me was “dwell in you.”

Here is what we know about this phrase.....

It gives the idea of “occupying” (it is a permission thing)

In the period of time that Paul lived, those who he was writing too would have understood exactly what he was meaning.

The idea of a “Power-indwelling person” was common in this day.

The power of a Spirit or Holy Spirit controls the person in whom it dwells.

Becoming a “power - indwelling person” when it comes to the HOLY SPRIT, is by “Invitation only.”

The Holy Spirit will not enter where he is not invited.

This is not the case with the enemy.

He is not a respecter of person. HE VIOLATES!

So the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or the possession by the enemy of a person was common in Pauls day.

I am here to tell you this morning, this may not be the common belief today as was then ...... but that doesn’t mean its not still the case.

Transition Statement: So how does one let the word of christ, super abundantly dwell with in them.

YOU:

Invitation Only!

And this comes by “INTENTIONALITY.”

Expound on ....

Church

Family

Individual

Transition Statement: Have Warren come up to play .....

WE:

You can become a “Power-indwelling person”

Only by “Invitation”

Altar Call