It's time to turn the boat around
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Intro and Engage
Intro and Engage
In a Series | Jesus Supreme | Over 4 Weeks we will dive into the Supremecy of Jesus | His Diety | His Role in our Church and lives | His Reconciliation and then our response to all he has done | How Jesus is asking us to live our life out
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Tension
Tension
Story about Nate going up Escalator
Last week we spoke on letting go of Control | Jesus is in control, but do you ever feel like you are walking up the escalator? Ever feel like you try, and try and try and get nowhere? Ok Jesus, you are in control, I’m gonna pick up my bible EVERY DAY. Then TRy, and fail.
Rapids
Title: It’s time to turn the boat around
My Hope: Through this message you will see How to go wit the flow of Christ, understand who your source is, the source of your decisions, your power, your joy etc. and it will transform you, it will not only make you go, hmm but it will spiritually transform you.
**Pray**
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
swimming up stream.
Head of the Body | The Church | beginning = Greek word Arche = ‘Source’ - Firstborn of the dead | Only one that was resurrected, and stayed resurrected | means His resurrection will be acted out by a great company of others = us.
We are the Body of Believers - Get this, The Source of Power is Jesus | We are connected to do what | to do HIS WORK | Jesus Resurrection was accomplished so that in everything he might have the supremacy. God’s redemption plan for hte Church was Jesus Christ, and was US, the SAINTS, to be EQUIPED for MINISTRY. while there is still time!!
One fact: The Body of Christ is not a Goal that we are working toward, it’s a Fact to be realised.
Lifting with one finger - Ego
It’s not that some people haven’t joined the body, it’s that some people are dead, because they aren’t taking the direction from the brain - then they get like gangrene.
But, Jesus is Life - Let’s turn to John 11
Might know this story | Lazurus was sick - Jesus loved him - Mary and Martha was worried that he was ill, and might die, and John 11:4
But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
If you are here, if you feel dead, if the gift that you have got is not being used to give glory to God, you need to know that it takes a trial to have a testimony and it takes a death to have a resurrection.
So much in this, so Jesus is ready to leave, and he says John 11:11
After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”
So then, Lazurus dies and he is in the tomb 4 days | Martha seemed to be angry | Couldn’t understand | Couldn’t let go of control | Jesus says “Your brother will rise again” - Still she couldn’t believe it | Jesus says these words to her;
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Then Jesus goes into the tomb, it smelt but Jesus had his Desensitisor on;
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
Told Martha again, Did I not tell you...
If you are dead - Do you believe that God may have planted something in you, “Go from strength to strength” - do you believe - ALL THINGS FOR GOOD - Do you believe. maybe he is doing something in you for someone else.
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
It is JESUS who awakens - Do you believe it? Do you have the faith to beleive not only he resurrects but he uses for Good?
Jesus is the SOURCE for LIFE | Turn your boat around | Body needs you
In Unity the Saints will stand…Divided, they will fall.
Why, if rowing the boat up the wrong way of the stream is so hard, why do we do it? Why, do we try so hard, but seem like we just fall short, each time?
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
This gives me hope
I believe, Deep down our identity distorts us.
Romans 7:24
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
We say:
“I’m BAD” because of that: We “Try Hard” > “Willpower Weakens” > “Inevatable Failure” > Guilt and Shame” > “Try Hard” - Cycle of Shame.
Its not something that is missing, it is SOMEONE that is missing, and that SOMEONE comes with a power that you just simply do not possess and He is the life source of your entire being.
The Answer is Jesus Christ.
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
WHO Son sets free is free indeed. This is NOT Behaviour difference, it’s a Spiritual Transformation, it’s a decleration of WHO IS OUR SOURCE.
Devil = you are what you did, you are not what you did, others say about you, you are who GOD says you ARE.
IN CHRIST = FORGIVEN. The Head of the BODY is ASKIGN You to ENGAGE because his redemptive plan for world INCLUDES YOU.
When you know WHO YOU ARE, you know WHAT TO DO. Not a better version you are a NEW CREATION.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
If this is your identity, everytihng changes - When you BELONG TO JESUS.
When you choose, to turn the boat around and go with the flow that comes from the source of life your entire life will change.
“I BELONG TO JESUS” - SAY IT. say HE IS MY SOURCE
IF we belong to him, he gave us a gift, that gift, is the HOLY SPIRIT who lives inside us, we are called to reflect his HOLY SPIRIT.
We are holy, through that who is INSIDE US - not because of us. and we have been called to be HIS BODY, HE is the head. How?
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Waking up: Dependent on spirit, not my power, not my willpower, but the POWER of the Holy Spirit.
Christianses: “Take a step of faith” | Take 10 = walk by faith = being Spirit led =
Impossible, unless JEsus is the source.
BECAUSE Jesus is the SOURCE I am choosing to WALK in the SPIRIT.
Depend on the SPIRIT > Build your Faith > Empower the right ACTION > Closer to God.
Reinforces, that you are HIS. HE IS THE SOURCE.
it’s not “I belong to JEsus so I am going to try”
it’s because I belong to Jesus I WANT TO: Read his word, help my brother, spend time with him.
Application
Application
What does this look like? Maybe after last week you have let go, maybe you have turned the boat around and enjoying the rapids | or maybe your like ARGH | But how do we declare that he is our SOURCE and be SPIRIT LEAD?
I love how Paul puts it;
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Close
Close
Imagine what it looks like, if all the members of the body was activated | Everyone would have meals for weeks | This is why we will have a church of Spiritual Contributors, because we truly believe that it’s better to give than it is to receieve, that it’s a blessing to be a blesser, because we want to build each other up, because that is Jesus’ redemptive plan for HIS CHURCH.
We will be irattionally generous, Jesus gave us ALL so we will choose to give a lot, in church, in our community in our families.
What does this look like for you? Maybe it’s asking somoene if they are OK, maybe it’s asking for help, maybe it’s just spending some alone time with God.
If Jesus is not your source, it’s time to make Him your source.
**Prayer**
*Altar Call*