Supernatural Breakthrough #3: Connecting With God's Family Series

SUPERNATURAL BREAKTHROUGH #3: CONNECTING WITH GOD’S FAMILY

INTRO: For the last couple of weeks, we have been going through a series on Supernatural Breakthrough from the Book of Acts.

OPENING TEXT:

“If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.” (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

• Redigging the wells of prayer, and unleashing the gifts of the Spirit, are both useless and meaningless unless our motivation is right: LOVE.

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A TREATISE ON COMMUNITY:

(Written by Zerlina Buhler, a member of our church)

So God has placed something on my heart and I’d like to share that with you because I think what He has placed on my heart is also for us as a church.

Friendship and hospitality. We are lacking in these areas. We are very loving and caring, friendly people…we really are…but where are we showing it? At church and in our work places maybe. But how often do we love and care for each other in our homes? Is that not where real friendships form, where hospitality can truly be shown? How well can we get to know each other if we just talk in church for a few minutes? How can our love for each other increase if we don’t give our time to each other? By opening up our homes, we are opening up our lives to each other and allowing friendships to form. The early church did this. In Acts 2:46 & 47 it says, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” They met together in the church, they ate together in each other’s homes with glad and sincere hearts which means they did this willingly, praising God and enjoying each other’s company. When is the last time you had a family from church over to your house for coffee and some good conversation? Or for a good, fast game of Dutch Blitz? It really is amazing how sharing a good laugh can be the foundation for a great friendship.

So why do we hesitate? Why do we keep our homes to ourselves rather than sharing them with others? We might be concerned that our homes are just not big enough or good enough to have people over or that you’re just not a good cook. Jesus addressed this in Luke 10:41 & 42 when He says, “Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” What did Mary choose? To sit and be with Jesus. She chose people. Yes, there are things that need to be done, but what’s more important is to spend time with people. Listen to them. Get to know them. You can listen to someone even if your house is messy or small. You can laugh or pray together even if you haven’t got some wonderful food made. It can be done!

And then there’s the thing about being too busy. Yes, life can be busy. Sometimes there really are not enough hours in a day - life is just too busy and we’re just not enjoying it. And when you’ve got nothing up, you enjoy it. There’s nothing wrong with taking time for yourself or your family. Nothing at all. But when we opt for a couple of hours with a friend instead of time alone, those hours can help us get through those times of just not enjoying life because of busyness. Those times with friends can be energizing and just what we need.

I also think about what Alvin spoke about a couple of weeks ago…Rights and Responsibilities. It is my right to not invite people to my home. It’s my right to spend my spare time with my family or to be by myself. It’s my right to have my house clean before anyone comes over. It’s my right! But what is my responsibility? My responsibility is to show hospitality and love especially to those in my church. It’s my responsibility to share what God has given me – a home, food, time, laughter, a husband and children. It’s my responsibility to open myself up to others and share what God is teaching me.