Life On Mission - Connect

Beloved as many of you are aware, ... we have recently started a Lenten series addressing a Life on Mission.

And the first portion of a Life on Mission is connectedness.

Connecting with our fellow man ... Connecting with those that God ... has placed in our life.

To be a person of Grace ... to shower unmerited grace to others.

To do the small thing ... to show the main thing ...God's love.

Yet as I prepared this Message ... the Holy Spirit made it clear to me ... that to be all that God has called us to be ... and before we should connect with others ... we first must be abiding with ... and be connected to the Jesus ... to the vine. (Pause)

To continually abide in the Lord ... to continually seek the Lord.

Yet how do we obtain and hold on to such a commitment throughout our life? (Pause)

One day, ... a young disciple of Christ ... desirous of wanting to become all that God had for him ...visited the home ... of an elderly Christian.

He had heard ... that this old man ... had never lost his first love for JESUS ...... over all these years.

The elderly man ... was sitting on the porch with his dog ... taking in ... a beautiful sunset.

The young man ... posed this question:

"Why is it, sir, ... that most Christians ... zealously chase after God ... during the first year or two after their conversion.

But then ... fall into a complacent ritual ...of church once or twice a week ... And end up not looking any different .... than their neighbors ...who aren't even ...... Christians?

I have heard ....... you ... are not like that.

I've been told ... that you ... have fervently sought-after God ... throughout your years.

People see something in you .... that they do not see in most other people ... who call themselves ...Christians.

What makes you different?"

The old man smiled and replied, ... "Let me tell you a story:

One day ... I was sitting here quietly in the sun ...with my dog.

Suddenly ... a large white rabbit ... ran across the yard .... in front of us.

Well, ... my dog jumped up, ... and took off ... after that big rabbit.

He chased the rabbit over the hills ... with a passion.

Soon, ... other dogs joined him, ... attracted by his barking.

What a sight it was, ... as that pack of dogs ... ran barking across the creeks, ... up stony embankments .... and through thickets and thorns!

Gradually, however, ... one by one, ... the other dogs ... dropped out of ... the pursuit, discouraged by the course ...... and frustrated ... by the chase.

Only my dog ... continued to hotly pursue ... the white rabbit."

"In that story young man, ... lies the answer ...to your question."

The young man sat ... in confused silence.

Finally, he said, ...... "Sir, I don't understand.

What is the connection between the rabbit chase ... and the quest for God?"

"You fail to understand," ... answered the well-seasoned old man, ... "because you failed to ask ...the obvious question.

And that is ... Why didn't the other dogs ... continue on ... in the chase?

And the answer to that question is ...... (Slow) they had not seen ... the rabbit.

Unless you see the prize, ... the chase is just too difficult.

You will lack the passion and determination necessary ... to keep up the chase." (Pause)

Beloved ... Have you seen the Lord ... have you truly seen the Lord?

Are you connected ... to the Lord?

Are you willing ... to count the cost ... to follow Him?

Are You willing ... to keep your eye ... on the prize?

Not on the prize of heaven, ... but on the prize of the one who sacrificed himself ... to get you there.

Are you willing to keep your eyes ... your focus ... on Jesus? (Pause)

Beloved ... God desires to have a close ... intimate ... personal ... loving ... dynamic ... powerful relationship ...with you.

The deeper ... the more intimate ... the more genuine ... the more real...the more connected your relationship is with God ...the more ... the devil ... and his demons will fear even ... your presence.

Christianity ... is not about a weekly trip ... to church. We must go ...beyond that.

How many times ...have we asked people...... Are you a Christian?

How many times ... have we received the answer ... ...Well ... I was baptized ... or I go to church.

Well, that does not tell you... much.

The question is... are you in love ... with Jesus ... are you in an intimate relationship ... with Jesus?