Are you Connected?

Matthew 15:22-29

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When I was 16, it was the summer of 2006.

Growing up, one of my mom’s friends was a lady named Kathy.

Kathy had a daughter named Katie. I liked Katie.

I thought Katie hung the moon. Well we hung out alot when we were just kids and then we lost touch for 7 or 8 years.

Then when we were in high school, we reconnected.

That summer, we spent a ton of time together.

Summer camp

movies

hanging out at her parents pool

It was truly a movie summer. Just awesome.

My birthday is in the summer and I was turning 16. Katie threw me a surprise birthday party.

Dude… it was awesome.

Now looking back, it was obvious she liked me and I liked her.

However, there was a disconnect.

So let me take you back 2 years in my life and tell you why there was a disconnect.

When I was a freshman in high school, I liked a girl named Ashley.

We went to a school dance together and really hit it off.

So we started dating, as much as is possible when your 14 lol.

Over Spring break, we went to six flags in Atlanta with some friends and Ashley’s dad.

Well a few weeks after that trip, her dad had been continually having frequent headaches.

To make a long story short, I’m still not entirely sure what happened, but gradually over the next 3 months, the headaches got worse.

He had to have surgery.

he ended up in a coma.

And he died.

Here I am, 14, a girlfriend for 6 months. I like this girl alot.

So, I just try to be present for her and her family.

There’s nothing I can say to make the situation better, but I can be there for them. Help them. Whatever.

Well about a month after all this happens, Ashley got her license and she drove to my house one day with a letter.

She gave it to me, and I sat there on the bottom stairs of my parents house and read the words from her breaking up with me.

I was devastated.

And honestly… I was ticked off.

Are you kidding me? After all we went through over the last 7 months, she had the audacity to break up with me?

So immaturely, I acted angry for a year, made some bad decisions, and ended up in a bad spot.

Now, I know this sounds dramatic, but it’s just part of my story over freshman and sophomore year of high school alright… Alot happened in my life.

After the breakup, here is what I decided in my mind.

Girls stink.

I’m not dating a girl for the rest of high school.

I’m going to enjoy my friends, I’m going to enjoy sports.

I will have friends that are girls, but bump dating.

That’s not for me.

So now lets go back to the summer of 2006.

Katie clearly likes me, I like her.

She did so many kind things for me.

One night after watching a movie at her house, she even kissed me on the cheek!

LET”S GO!

I was stoked.

But guys, I never asked her out.

Why? because I made myself a promise…

Now here’s the problem. I never told Katie about Ashley.

I never told Katie about the pain in my heart and how I didn’t want to date girls because it was such a traumatic experience.

Instead, I know I hurt Katie because I never pursued the relationship.

Transition:

Looking back I realize even though we spent a lot of time together, we were very disconnected.

I was disconnected.

But not just with a girl.

I was disconnected with a lot of people

I was disconnected from many deep relationships in my life because I was fighting through hurt.

This week we are going to be talking about this idea of being “Connected.”

Are we connected to Jesus?

Are we connected to the church?

Is our identity connected to Christ?

Am I connected with the purpose Jesus has for me in life?

We are going to talk about all 4 of these questions.

You also will have an opportunity each day to have a quiet time where you will dive deeper into this idea of being connected.

But here’s where I want to start tonight.

1. Are you connected to Jesus?

In Romans 8, we can read about about being Connected to Jesus.

Romans 8:1-4 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

How are we connected to God?

Does our sin connect us to God?

No! What does our sin do?

Its what disconnects us from God!

so what connects us?

Hebrews 9:22 “22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Romans 8:4 “4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Did Jesus fulfill the requirement of the Law?

YES!

He shed his blood for our sin.

But let’s pause there for a moment?

What is sin?

God gave us the law in the OT.

No other gods

no idols

don’t take God’s name in vain.

Keep Sabbath holy

Honor mom and dad

don’t murder

don’t commit adultery

Don’t steal

Don’t lie

Don’t covet

If we break these laws we sin. Period.

In Matthew 5 though, Jesus takes these sins to the next level!

In vs. 21-25, Jesus says if you hate someone in your heart, its just as bad as actually killing them.

In vs. 27-30 He says if you look at a woman (guys) with lust, then that’s the same as committing adultery with her.

Do you think God takes sin seriously?

Absolutely!

How seriously does he take it?

2. Jesus’ connects with us

Romans 5:6-8 “6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Does this verse say, In spite of your sin, Christ died for you?

Read it again, what does it really say?

Y’all… Christ died for you, not in spite of your sin, but because of it.

Do we realize that?

The heart of God towards sin is that justice must be done.

If you die without Jesus, without believing in his name, then we will face the full judgement of our sin.

HOWEVER, In Christ, the full judgement of our sin has ALREADY been poured out on Jesus.

And why did Jesus do that?

Because he willingly took ownership of the sins of the world.

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

He doesn’t want anyone to die without Him.

So he died to make away for all to come to Him.

Grace is getting something you don’t deserve.

Mercy is not getting something you do deserve.

on the cross Jesus gave both.

Do we realize that?

The summer after Ashley broke up with me. So a year later. Between Sophomore year and Junior year of High school.

I realized I wasn’t connected with Jesus.

I saw clearly how Jesus had connected with me, but I had been consumed with anger and bitterness.

So I gave it to Jesus.

As a 15 year old kid at summer camp, I gave my heart to Christ and surrendered to ministry all in the same night.

What about you?

Are you connected with Christ?

Romans 8:11 “11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Application:

Jesus dwells in believers. He makes his home in you.

The heart of God is not to condemn.

Sometimes I hear people say, “You need to get saved so you don’t go to hell.”

yes… But, the gospel isn’t fire insurance.

The gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

It’s John 3:16 “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

And Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:11 “11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Jesus came, not to get you out of somewhere, but to give you life NOW!

To prepare you for heaven with Him, but to also make sure we share that life with others who need it!

When I was 15, I didn’t need fire insurance.

I needed a heart change to love people.

I needed a connection with Jesus. I needed to realize that he wants to not just save me from Hell, but he wants to Dwell with me and in me.

To use me for a purpose in this life.

I also needed to see, his heart isnt’ bent towards condemning me for all the wrong I’ve done at this point in my life.

His heart is for me to know him.

So here’s a question for us tonight.

Are you connected with Jesus?

Do you know Him, not just to get you out of Hell…

But to give your life purpose?

Maybe God wants to use you as a pastor or missionary.

Maybe God wants to use you in sports. Rather than professionally, you can use sports to share the gospel with others.

Maybe God wants to use you in the business world, not just to make money, but to use the money you make to help other people and ultimately, share the gospel.

There is no end to how God might use you.

The only question is, Am I connected to Him? Am I looking for Him to use me for His purpose?

Maybe some of you are like I was.

You feel broken because of what life has thrown at you.

Don’t leave tonight feeling that way.

Jesus came to heal you.

To set you free from the law of sin and death and to dwell inside you.

Have you made that decision?

Why not start tonight?

I’m going to sing a new song for us right now and here’s what I want you to do.

I want you just to stay at your seat and bow your heads and pray.

Ask Jesus to remind you how much He loves you.

Ask him, if you have never done this before, to come into your heart.

If you are a believer, ask Him to show you your purpose and ask Him to make your heart bent towards Him.

We were created for more than ourselves.

We were created by a loving God to love and live for Him in return.

Don’t miss Him.

Let’s start this week by connecting with Him.

After we sing the song, if you need to talk to an adult we are here for you.

The rest of you, can leave quietly and go outside. You have free time until 11.

Let’s sing How you Love me...