Bust-A-Move

Bust-A-Move

Years ago there was a phrase called, “Bust-A Move.” It is a dancing term, more along the lines of break dancing. But it also means to get moving, which is what we need to be doing as believers and as a church, because time is short.

And so today I’d like to look at how we are to “Bust-A-Move” for God.

Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4 NKJV).

We are also told of our need to make the most out of every opportunity because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).

Since none of us are guaranteed tomorrow we need to get moving today. It’s time, therefore, to Bust-A-Move for God, to start getting busy doing kingdom of God business rather than just our own. It’s time we started getting busy doing what Jesus has called for us to be and to do.

But to be effective in this endeavor, we need the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit to move into our lives and into the church. This is necessary if we’re ever going to move up in the calling of God, and then to move out as a church.

Move In

The problem with the church, and hence believers, is the same thing Paul saw in the Corinthians church. He saw that they were more controlled by the world and their sinful desires, than they were controlled by the Holy Spirit.

“You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?” (1 Corinthians 3:3a NIV)

When Paul looked at the church in Corinth, he wasn’t seeing anything different in them than those outside the faith. Paul didn’t see the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit so he basically asked, “What’s the difference?”

A person had a heart attack one Sunday during the pastor’s sermon. When the paramedics arrived the pastor was still preaching. As they were leaving the usher heard one paramedic say, “We had to pick up six people before we found the right one.”

Someone said that a lot of churches are like decaffeinated coffee. They’re look like the real thing, but with no energy or oomph. This may be why over 3,500 churches close every year.

The average church in America is 75 people, and 85% of them are either plateaued or on the decline. So all I can say to Living Waters Fellowship is that we’re on the right trajectory. We’ve been growing every year and we need to expand soon. We have people coming to know Jesus or rededicating their lives on a regular basis.

And it’s not from anything we’re doing; rather it’s because of what the Holy Spirit is doing in our midst. And the really neat part is that He wants to do so much more.

Jesus said something very profound that applies to this idea of being empowered by the Holy Spirit. He said that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). But then He contrasts what He came to do.

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b NKJV)

So the question becomes, “Which side of the comma do we want to live our lives, life or abundant life?” Do we want to live or really live? Are we existing in our relationship with God or thriving in this relationship? Are we living for self, or for God?

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul identifies three types of people.

1. The Natural Person

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)

This is someone who doesn’t have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. They are not born again, thus they possess the spirit of the world rather than the Holy Spirit, which is why they are unable to understand God’s word or receive God’s revelation.

They live day by day with no sense of their value, worth, or divine purpose.

2. The Carnal Christian

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1 NLT)

Carnal means someone who is continuing in his or her sin. Paul goes on to point out the two main characteristics of a carnal Christian. First is immaturity, in that the only thing they could eat is baby food (1 Corinthians 3:2).

As parents we expect babies to poop their pants, but not when they are sixteen. When we first come to know the Lord we’re considered babies in the faith and expected to make boo-boos. But Paul was saying that they had been Christians for far too long to mess their pants.