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?
Beloved ... There is much darkness ... outside these walls.
It is time ... It is time for us ... to turn... the lights on.
We are called ... to be the light of the world... but far too many ...have forgotten ... to turn ...their lights on.
(Matthew 5:14)
Here me on this ... one day ... we are going to stand before Almighty God ...and make an account ...of our life. (Revelation 20:12) (Pause)
It is time to submit ... it is time to obey ... it is time to be connected ... it is time to be the real deal.
It is time to be mature in the faith ...and develop a connected... personal ... intimate relationship ...with God.
Intimacy is Allowing God ... to look into our heart ... and God... allowing us ... to look into ... his heart!
Imagine ... imagine ... looking into the very heart of God, ...and seeing ... what he sees.
What honors the Lord ... is a heart ... that beats in the same rhythm ... as His.
In connectedness ... In intimacy ... we become one in the Spirit ... and our desires ... match the desires ... of our creator.
I am convinced ... there are two keys ... to a close intimate relationship ...with God.
(1 Finger) The first key is "Truth" ... being sincere ... being truthful with God ... to hold nothing ... to hold nothing ... back.
Do not hold on to ...certain areas of your life ... that are there ... just for you.
Jesus said everything ... that the father has ...is mine. (John 16:15)
And everything ...that I have ... belongs... to the Father.
Are there areas of your life... that you are holding on to ... that you have not given... to God?
Beloved...Everything!
He must be first... He must be Lord of Everything. (Pause)
And true connectedness ... is only possible with Authentic Prayer.
True connectedness is only possible ... when we are honest with God.
And Mature prayer is moving from not my will ... but thy will ... be done. (Luke 22:42) (Pause)
(1 Finger) Truth ...is the first key ...to an intimate relationship with God.
(2 Fingers) And the second key... is Time.
If you desire ...to have close relationship with God ...you must put time... into it.
I am convinced ... If you do not put the time in ... you will be wishing for ... yet will never receive ... an intimate relationship ...with God.
If you will not give him time ... then God ...really does not have... first place ...in your life.
Give him the time ... connect with the one you call the Lord of your life.
Connectedness ... Intimacy ... brings us to that place ... where God's desires ... become our desires!
Beloved ... When Jesus came to town ...the demons would be full of fear.
And ... If we have an intimate relationship with God ... wherever we go ... the spiritual forces of wickedness ... will be fearful.
Do you want that ...in your life?
When you go to work, ... when you go to the store ... all the devil's ......should hide.
When you put your feet on the floor in the morning ...the demons should shudder.
They should say to one another... O' my ...he is out of bed again... Oh no ... she is up again.
We are strengthened......in our relationship ...when we spend time ......with God.
The words from the Christian song writer Keith Green speak to the state of many Christians in the western world.
"You prefer the light of your TV ... you love the world and you're ignoring me."
Now if I asked ... and we were all ...truthful.
How many of you... would admit that you have difficultly spending regular ...... quality fellowship time ...with God?
Probably ...almost every hand... would go up.
Beloved... Our Flesh ... and the devil ... fights us ...that hard.
The devil ...does not want us to spend time with the in prayer ... to be in conversation ...with our Heavenly Father.
The Scriptures are not confusing on what we are to do.
Hear God's Word: BIBLE Go into your room ... close the door ... and pray. END (Matthew 6:6)
It is not a suggestion ... it is a Command from the Lord himself.
One ... Go into your room ...Two close the door and Three Pray.
Speak with him ... be honest with him ... spend time with him.
Beloved ... It is not that complicated.
You need to come to Him... one on one ... so he can give you... revelation. (Pause)
You must give him your time.
Remember the Lords words: BIBLE "If you love me ... (Slow) keep my commandments." END (John 14:15)
If you are my disciple, ... you will keep my commandments.
No discipline ...in the beginning ...seems joyous.
At least ... it has not been in my life.
Beloved ... God does... speak to us.
How can you read the Scriptures... and not know that God... speaks... to us?
... Jesus is clear... Hear God's Word: BIBLE "My sheep will know my voice ... and the voice of a stranger ... they will not follow" END. (John 10:27)
A mature relationship with God ...is refreshing... and full ...of excitement.
Everything ... Everything ... becomes sacred ......when God is in it. REPEAT
Beloved ... when you are intimate with God ... Going to work ...... even shopping ... can be ... just as holy as going to church ... if you go with God.
Everywhere you go... you will desire to connect with others.
To give someone a word of encouragement ... you will desire ...to put a smile ......on someone's face ...
You will want ...to make someone feel better ... you will earnestly...... watch for needs ...and be ready to ...... meet those needs.
It will become ... such a part of your DNA ... the excitement that bubbles up within you .... cannot help but burst forth.
You have a purpose ... to let your light shine.
Beloved ... Live in love... and love to live. REPEAT
He is the vine, .... and we are the branches.
And a branch should have the same DNA .... As its Source.
If God's DNA is based in love, ... then our DNA should be based in love.
The tighter ... we are connected to him ... the more we are transformed.
And this spiritual transformation ... comes from connectedness, ... Not from ......effort. (Pause)
It comes from the DNA of the Vine... That flows through us.
The command is not to produce fruit ... The command is...... to abide.
Beloved ... When we are abiding in Christ ... the fruit will produce... naturally.
Only God can produce spiritual fruit... in us.
And the scriptures are clear ... If ......we abide in Christ ... we will bear much fruit. (John 15:5)
Remember ......the branches ....do not eat their own fruit: ... others receive ... and eat the fruit.
We are not producing fruit ....to please ourselves ... It is produced to give .... And to serve ... others.
Jesus said I did not come into the world to be served ... I came into the world ... to serve. (Matthew 20:28)
How can we do less.
Serving ... will break through disbelief ... and ... a loving hand ... can often soften ... a hardened heart.
God is calling each of us ...to get up ... and to be involved ... in acts of compassion.... In connectedness.
To do the small thing ... to show the main thing ... God's love.
Beloved ... We were raised to a new life ... in order to serve.
To be devoted disciples ... who are Doers of .... Deeds. Deeds of Grace.
The true measure of our effectiveness ... is not defined by what happens ... "in here" ... in this building ... but by what happens ... "out there" ... in the world.
No one can do everything ... but everyone ... each of us ... is called by God himself ... to do ... something.
We may never fully know ......what small act of kindness ......will touch ... and transform a life.
Beloved......We receive eternal life ......not by what we do, ......but by what Christ has done for us ......and what Jesus does ......through us.
Sharing Jesus in practical ways ....... with a cup of cold water, ......with a meal, ......with words of prayer, ......a listening ear.... a ride to the doctor ......and in so many ... other ways ......is a call to ...... Love.
Jesus empowers us. ... He challenges us ... to live out our purpose ....... not only in the big moments of life, .........but in all the little ones ... as well.
God knows...... that simple acts ... done with great love ......will transform the world.
Beloved ....... those simple acts ... done in love ...... may seem so small.
Yet when you realize ....... God is at work through them ......they become eternally large.
Remember our Lord's words to us: "Whatever you do for the least of these you do to me." (Matthew 25:40)
There is a saying on the Koinonia renewal retreat that speaks volumes.
Make a friend ... be a friend ... bring a friend to Christ.
And if you are connected to the Lord ... if you are abiding to him ... your heart will burst with love for others.
So ... How can I allow His Grace ... God's Grace ... to permeate my very being?
How do I allow God's Love ... to flow through me?
You may be saying ... that After all these years ... most ... if not all my friends ... are Christians.
And there is some truth ... to that.
Yet ... I am sure ... many if not all of you ... still go to the grocery store, ... doctor's office, ... dentist office, ... hair salon, ... gas station, ... gym ... a restaurant.
And most employees ... at these establishments ... will share their first name if you ask .... or have a name tag on the uniform.
Picture going to a to Giant Eagle ... or any Grocery store ... and the checkout clerk Mary... is exceptionally kind to you.
So, you write a short note thanking her ... and send it to Giant Eagle ... attention Mary.
They receive the note ... and give it to Mary.
Sometime during the day, ... the Manager or Mary's supervisor cannot help but ask ... what was in the note.
It is human nature!
Which allows Mary to share ... that it was a customer ... thanking her for her kindness.
That would surely bring a smile ... to anyone's face.
The next time you are at Giant Eagle ... and you see Mary ... you can introduce yourself.
And tell her that you had sent a note thanking her for her kindness and wondered if she received it.
If she did ... it will open a conversation ... if not send another note.
We are called to see others through our Lord's eyes and pour unexpected grace ... unexpected love... into the lives of others.
When a waiter or waitress at a restaurant introduces themselves.
Let them know that before the meal ... you always have a short prayer ... and wondered if there was a blessing or need ... that they would like prayed for?
If they share it ... send a note with the prayer to the Restaurant ... to their attention.
If Someone shares with you that they... or an acquaintance is sick, ... or any other issue.
Of course, ... pray for them ... but also send a note ... with your prayer ... fully written out.
Beloved... There is nothing of eternal importance ... that we cannot do ...if we are connected to Jesus.
If Jesus is in the midst ... of our lives.
There is no limit to what God can do in your life ...in my life ... or in the life ... of His church, ...if Jesus is in the midst.
Jesus said BIBLE "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; ...apart from me ...you can do nothing. END (John 15:5)
Abide in the vine ... and the DNA of the Lord ... will flow through you ... and from you.
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 will get you there.
Are you willing to keep your eyes ... your focus on Jesus?
(Sing)
Have you seen Jesus my Lord?
He's here in plain view.
Take a look, open your eyes.
He'll show life to you.
Beloved, ... Stay connected .... Abide in the vine and allow the fruit of the Spirit to flourish within you.
Do the small thing ... to show the main thing ... God's grace ... and God's Love.
And all God's people said Amen!
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