See Yourself Here Series 4, Jesus Relates

See Yourself Here Series 4, Jesus Relates
By: Bobby Sullivan

(Sermon notes & PowerPoint Slide links at the bottom of the page)

Quote of the week: “Community is much more than belonging to something; its about doing something together that makes belonging matter.”

John 1:38-39 “Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” …  “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day…”

I’m looking for habitation not a visitation. All to often we have settled for a visitation, a one-time event, an experience, a fix, a moment of heaven. God is not looking for a timeshare, a rental or a vacation home. He is looking to fill, occupy, possess and infiltrate. He is searching for a habitation, a dwelling place, a relationship. He doesn’t want to date you or court you but marry you. HE wants to remain in you and you in him.

Genesis 2:18 “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.ʼ”    helper:— (ezer) strong help  comparable:— (kenegdo) as in front of him; perfect match,  same nature.

I never feel alone but have at times felt lonely! I know God is with me but there have been times when I felt isolated and lonely until I realize (BING!) I have a companion in SHERYL.

She is everything I wish I was. I teeze her when I say, FATHER, Son and Holy Sheryl. Its not to lift her up before men but to keep her lifted up in front of me! I have never met anyone like her. NO PRESSURE SHERYL!! LOL

Alone means ALL ONE. God doesn’t want you all alone, The devil knows that if he can isolate you alone, you are vulnerable. IF we want to be strong in the Lord we must pursue a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with people.

KARL THOMAS, “Tribalism is crushing the fabric of our world” This party that party.

If we are In the Kingdom of God we are all under the domain of the King.

True Community Cultivates Kingdom Culture

Community is loving people without expecting anything in return.
Community is serving people without expecting anything in return
Community is living with, eye to eye, commonality, fellowship, friendship, bonding

Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

When you come to Jesus he puts you in community! He establishes you, plants you.
The Church is a community of called out, connected  people.

John 17:23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” 

Jesus is saying the fall wrecked mankind and now we want a restoration of the body. They have been bruised by the iniquity of their sin now its time for healing.  The world needs to see an expression of our oneness with Christ!!!    That could very well be the biggest miracle!

Do my friends know what I know? Jesus gets the stains out that others leave behind!

Ephesians 4:16 NLT “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Ephesians 3:9-10 “God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,”

You must see Jesus as the answer! If you abide in Him, then you have the answer embedded, engraved and engrafted so it must be seen!

For over 75 years, Harvard’s Grant and Glueck study has tracked the physical and emotional well-being of two populations: 456 poor men growing up in Boston from 1939 to 2014 (the Grant Study), and 268 male graduates from Harvard’s classes of 1939-1944 (the Glueck study). 

The conclusion? According to Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one thing surpasses all the rest in terms of importance:
“The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”

We were not created to be alone and lonely. Jesus is all about relationships! Church should be the most beautiful expression of union that ever existed.

Many people think that Christianity is a belief system, but it’s really a belong system.

John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

59 One Another Commands In New Testament.    21 Involve “Love.”

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Impact Church-The House that love built. Love must be foundational cornerstone! Love is the clearest manifestation that we are the Children of God.

1 Peter 3:8 “Love one another deeply, from the heart.”

1 Corinthians 13:2 “…if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go with others.” 

Dr Dean Ornish — Ornish Lifestyle Medicine “Love and intimacy — our ability to connect with ourselves and others, is at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, … People who feel lonely and isolated have a 300-500 percent greater risk of premature death due to physical illness.”

I found out this week that if you put 1 piece of underwear in the washer it will get clean but if you put 10 in they will get cleaner! Why? They bounce off each and the friction cleans them better! 

When we bounce off each other we help one another!
Impact people are committed to living in authentic community.
Why drive 45-60 minutes to church? IC is a multifaceted, multi-ethnical expression of union amidst diversity.

You cannot fulfill the purpose for God outside of community. You can know God without community and get to heaven without community, but you can’t manifest God’s fullness. I am committed to keeping it real, relevant, relational and revelatory. We foster families, fellowship, friendship and we are not afraid to talk about finances, favor, prosperity and abundance. We boldly without hesitation adhere to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. We believe in Healing and that the acts of the apostles are alive and functioning in 2020.  It is our quest to be genuine. We desire to express and impress people with Gods love demonstrated.

Hebrews 10:21-25 SALAD BOOK  (Lots of Let us)   NLT 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Connecting Is Mandatory! 

1. Together We Approach “…let us go right in to the presence of God…” vs.22
   Revelation 5:9 “…your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

Let us collectively approach and celebrate together the presence of God. We must interact dynamically, bond with each other, influence each other and spur each other on.

Acts 20:20 “…how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,”

2. Together We Stand vs. 23 “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,”

Holding on is a group activity!!!  Hold on to each other as we hold on to the promises.
He is FAITHFUL!!!

Let us lay a hold of the faithfulness of God together.  #HELP and we become Gods first responders. Together we tightly hold on to each other! How unique is that? We are so much better together.

3. Together We Act vs 24 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

Real relationship is good and messy.

Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Countenance (paw-neem’):— face, before and behind, toward, in front of, forward

1. How You Look b. How You Look at Things c. How You Look at Things Ahead

Daniel 11:32b “the people that know their God shall be strong and do mighty exploits.” 

4. Together We Remain vs.25 “…let us not neglect our meeting together…”

Social media is NOT real human interaction. It’s edited!!!  How many of you have secretly unfollowed me?

Ephesians 1:23 “The Church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”  We gather together intentionally with the purpose of not only worshiping and learning but bonding through fellowship as family.

Come to my house for the superbowl!

You don’t feel good? NP we will send out elders to heal the sick.

Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY: 

1. Everyone is welcome. — Your background doesn’t matter.  WELCOME SLIDE
2. Nobody is perfect. — Bring a Bible and your problems.
3. Anything is possible. — Simon can become Peter.

4.) You can worship freely- no one is judging

5.) Questions are permissible- Answers should be biblical

Connection and Communication is the key to Community with the Creator.

Matthew 21:12-13 My house shall be called a house of prayer.

Jesus at the Temple

¹² Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ¹³ “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’^[a] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’^[b] Prayer is not prayer if you do it alone speaking to yourself.  Remember….let us not neglect our meeting together..?” The context of “Our meeting together” is more than corporate and communal its consistent. We were created for connection. That’s why church is the house of connection. Jesus was saying when he turned the tables over that he would not put up with compromise!  Compromise is a coward’s way of communication. Cowards never go forward! Compromise surrenders ground.

We will never define authenticity if we are constantly having to watch our conduct! Jesus was so demonstrative that its hard for us to digest the scene. He was doing everything he could to get rid of the things that was destroying and dividing that divine connection between HE and us.

Let’s establish the fact today that God is a connector and a communicated and he is constantly trying to put the pieces of your life and relationship with him together.

Please understand in Matthew it’s not all about Jesus ticked off about exchanging money. He will not tolerate distractions. He is a jealous God, you are His creation, he always has you in mind, He doesn’t want to be disconnected with this disease of distraction.

Distraction Destroys the Desire of the Divine.

Remember the title today? Jesus is Highly Relational.

What is happening in the outer courts of the temple? People are trying to buy food. But the Religious Ritual of the day was if you were not a Jew you were looked down on, if you didn’t have the right money, you had to exchange it. If you were a woman that was a problem. Every non-Jew had to jump through hoops just to buy a dove, duck or a donut! If you could not buy an animal to sacrifice your sins were not forgiven for a year.

So you can understand the frustration of being treated subpar and subnormal. No respect at all in this whole process. Non Jews were being manipulated, belittled and cheated.

The culture was led to believe that if they didn’t have a animal to sacrifice to God, they were disconnect and not in right standing with God!!!

THEN JESUS SHOWS UP!!  Totally ticked off at what is happening in his house!

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

5. 5. Together we uplift:

We are living in a self-serving, self-centred, and self-obsessed modern day rush-rush society filled with negativity and constant tearing down of others. If you want to really differentiate yourself in this world, be people-oriented and start to focus on building others up.

Ephesians 4:29, NIV: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

See Yourself Here Series 4, Jesus Relates, Sermon notes to print, PDF

See Yourself Here Series 4, Jesus Relates, PowerPoint Slides, PDF