A Life Resurrected

Today is a day about victory over the grave, triumph over death and the power of sin that has been broken over us. We are no longer the forgotten, no longer are we lost, but we now we are the people of freedom, the people of hope and deliverance!

We pick up our story with Joseph now in prison. He is at the red light waiting and once again finding ways to make the most of a desperate situation.

Joseph is 28 years old and has had no contact with his family for 11 years now. How many years did he spend in Potiphar’s service? We aren’t sure, but chapter 40 refers to it being some time later after Joseph arrived in prison that he is assigned to take care of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker.

A Life Resurrected Is A Window into God’s Business 40v8

Have you ever been in a similar situation?

Brenda Martin has been in a Guadalajara prison for over two years and she has been said to be hanging on by a thin thread. She has been charged with money laundering, internet fraud in a case where her boss has bilked American investors for 60 million. She claims she only cooked for the guy and he has gone on record stating that she knew nothing about his criminal activity. It has become a heated issue in our parliament and a case of trying to break Brenda to find out where the money is, if any. Jason Kelley, an MP, has visited and the case goes on….
Maybe you haven’t been in prison, but we all know what it is like to feel like we are in a desperate place. What happens when you are there and it becomes even more desperate.


Pharaoh’s cupbearer forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought 40v23

At some point you either decide to stay there or come to a place of redefinition. Joseph operated on the point of view of windows as opposed to rear view mirrors. He always chose to look ahead as opposed to feeling the weight of unjust circumstances of the past.

Philippians 3:13,14

It has been said that ‘being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent!’

For Jesus, He knew that his death was a temporary condition because He always had a window into God’s Business. Well, you say, but Jack that is unfair, He was the Son of God. Nevertheless when He lived his earthly life He chose to live in such a way that we could follow His example and time after time in the gospels, Jesus spoke of only doing what the Father told Him.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

It would be the two Marys who would receive that blessed first window into God’s Business when they showed up that Easter Sunday morning to an empty tomb!


A Life Resurrected Is A Window into the Father’s Timing 41v1-36

Two years later!!! Don’t miss that. How often do you think you have to wait for an answer to prayer. For Joseph, it was more than 2 years. It is now 13 years since he arrived in Egypt and probably at least ½ that time he has been in prison. At the age of 30, you might say he got his big break…

41v9Then the king’s cupbearer spoke up. Today, I have been reminded of my failure, he said…and he begins to tell Pharaoh about Joseph’s ability to seek the Lord and give answers to dreams.

Galatians 4:3 states, “And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Understand the significance of timing in your own salvation.
Understand the significance of timing in a move, in a new job opportunity and all that it involves.

Before you can change the world, you must first allow the world with its hurts and needs to change you.

A Life Resurrected Is A Window into the Father’s Power 41v37-57

The qualities of a man who is filled with the Spirit of the Lord becomes an ever present reality in Joseph’s life. He has been shaped and tested for all these years for such a moment as this. Joseph now becomes Pharaoh’s right hand man. He is second to the throne and is given a signet ring, dressed in beautiful clothes and has a royal gold chain about his neck. He also gets the fastest set of wheels in towns next to Pharaoh too.

If he had received all this at 17, he could easily have been the most wreckless driver in the city never giving any thought to who and what got him to where he is today. But it didn’t happen that way. He operated on God’s power and kept a right heart. His perspective could have easily turned turned to worldly things, forgetting his first love, his spiritual stamina.

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

or in the words of Abraham Lincoln….Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.


The most powerful event of all time is the event of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. It changed followers of Christ forever. It changed the face of religion from the power of man to the power of God. It changed all the rules for who has authority and who is ultimately the God to believe. The power of Satan was destroyed and no longer did death have to be feared because Jesus walked right through it.

And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who will be raised to life again.
1 Corinthians 15:17-20

Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Powerful Realizations –

God has a purpose for every life, the key is to stick to His gameplan and finish our course with joy.
Discipline is necessary in fulfilling His plan. God will walk us through all the trials and suffering to train us for a divine appointment. He has not promised to make us comfortable but He has determined to make us conformable.
God will finish what He started Philippians 1:6 but we need patience. The answers don’t come right away for the most part, but God doesn’t bury us, forget what we have gone through. He will plant you and in time bring a harvest.
God is given the glory when we faithfully serve others. Times of suffering can be times of birth, a birth of a new way, a new ministry opportunity.
God will prove Himself sovereign to all those who trust Him


The Takeaway

Allow God to resurrect your life so that the pictures you have will not become rear view mirrors but windows into His business, timing and power!

Questions For Discussion and Small Groups:

In what ways has God resurrected your life?
What is the biggest takeaway for you in switching from rear view mirrors to windows?
How can you go about learning more of God’s power in your own life?

Intersections

Last month Sharon had a really close call at Laurier Ave. and Ontario St. The light turned green and as she was about to enter the intersection she took a quick glance and here came a truck barreling through a light that had turned red well before he arrived there. She noticed that he was talking on his cell completely oblivious to the obvious. After that it took her a moment to regroup as she realized how quickly she could have lost her life in that moment. If there is one lesson in driver’s education that you get drilled into you, it is to pay attention at the intersections, but how easily we can forget.

I believe that is the same message God is teaching us today. Pay attention at the intersections of life! It is here that we must keep our eyes open to look at what might be going on and whose path we might be crossing. I can admit that are times that I have gone blazing through the intersections of life focused on my own agenda and missed what I exactly needed to do. The focus for us today is to learn how to see those divine appointments so as that we don’t become so preoccupied and busy that we miss where God is leading us.

Joseph moves through three major intersections very early on in his experience beyond the pit and this morning we will learn about the grace he discovered there.

The 1st Intersection – Potiphar – The grace to go through the green light when you are called to respond in a difficult situation

The 2nd Intersection – Potiphar’s wife – The grace to run the amber light when your heart is on the line.

The 3rd Intersection – Prison – The grace to wait at the red light when things don’t always turn out like they should


The 1st Intersection - The grace to go through the green light when you are called to respond in a difficult situation v1-6a

Live in such a way that others step up and notice.

Joseph moves from son of favor to slave of duty. He is in a foreign land, doesn’t know the language, doesn’t know the culture and basically is treated as an object. However what you have to love about Joseph is his attitude. Where others may have completed resented what happened to them, Joseph continues to live in such a way that Potiphar’s takes notice.


1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.


There is a realization going on when others step and notice that God has his hand on your life in such a way that even non-Christians take notice and that is exactly what happened to Joseph.

God will prosper you in His way.

God granted him success. Joseph was a prosperous man in the way that he handled himself in his workplace

Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from you mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

There have been times on HNIC when Don Cherry would remark about a Christian hockey player and talk about them being the hardest working, competitive players and that is what we need to be all about. Christian should be known for a great work ethic because we know that ultimately whatever we put our hearts and minds too, it is for God’s glory. When we live this out, it takes our work to a whole new level.

I believe God is looking for it to start in the small things. He longs to see faithfulness, perseverance, expectancy and often He rewards that behavior with greater opportunities for influence and impact. How do I know that… look at the parable of the talents…

I have this great quote on my desk by Vince Lombardi…’If you don’t pick up the ball and run with it, somebody else will!’ God is building his team and the green light to step up to the plate is there for you. We need to activate, get set, get ready and be faithful where He has planted us.

It is true that God will bless others because of your involvement, your faithfulness and connection when what is being accomplished is God honoring.

As God entrusts you with places of leadership, He continues to seek our faithfulness, to see us act with God sized confidence, to speak with caution and ultimately to share with love why you are the person you are.

Time magazine did a study in the States at the end of last year and they sought to find out which profession derived the most happiness. You will be interested to know that it is clergy…well, of course, we only work one day a week. It took me some time to absorb it and realize the weight of what it was saying. I think there is the sense of realization that what I did is not a job but a calling and to that degree I serve the Lord. However, no matter what your job is or where you fall on the list when you realize that ultimately it is for God’s honor, it has to change your perspective.

The 2nd Intersection – Potiphar’s wife – The grace to run the amber light when your heart is on the line. v6b-19

Let’s look at the distinctive marks of Joseph’s temptation – he was well built and handsome…He had the charm and the arms!

It has been said that sexual attraction is possibly the strongest lure that we face. Whether it can be controlled will either make or break a person.

In a recent Journey devotional by Crawford Loritts titled, ‘One Act’ it states, ‘it’s a shame how some people are only remembered of the mistakes that they have made whether it be Bill Buckner, Marion Jones, Michael Vick…and then there are the pastors as well who have wonderful years of ministry and lose all credibility in one careless moment.

Learning from temptation:

It can happen totally unexpected. For Joseph things were going well, the source may or may not have been anticipated, but there is no time in that moment to be strengthened against it. The resolve has to already been built up.
It is not always predictable. It can strike like lightening and it is better to have safeguards up at all times. Ephesians 6:11-13
It doesn’t always let up. You start to play with fire and you will get burned. She constantly was at him and there was a continual alluring. We don’t leave temptation a forwarding address. They say opportunity knocks once, but temptation bangs on your door for years! 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 FLEE – run, get away!
I Corinthians 10:13
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life

Joseph took a strong stand from the start. He recognized the sin as a great wickedness and a sin against God. We must say no by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Satan will always choose the most advantageous times to throw the darts!
In our age of loose morals we need to continue to set high standards for ourselves for purity…that God gets the glory in this body.
We can’t depend on God’s help if we deliberately walk into the area of temptation time and time again.





The 3rd Intersection – Prison – The grace to wait at the red light when things don’t always turn out like they should v20-23

Joseph moves from an attack on his body to an attack on his mind and he is falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. Again, he must be troubled by the thoughts…does godliness really pay? Here lies the test now of his mind, emotions and will because everything is going against what he knows to be right

1 Peter 2:19,20

Stay the course and see it through

Dennis DeHaan gives the following reasons on why suffering:

- it enables us to glorify God
- it makes us more like Christ
- it makes us more appreciative of what we do have
- it teaches us dependence on God
- it strengthens faith
- it makes us more sympathetic
- it teaches us patience
- it ultimately brings reward
- it makes and keeps us humble
- it silences Satan – we show we are His!


The Takeaway
Joshua 24:14-26

Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods you worship and serve the Lord!

You say well Jack I don’t have any idols in my home, but we all have things in our lives that can turn to idols…money, sports, materialism, the affection and applause of others.

We must keep it all in check and recognize the green, amber and red lights in our lives and obey them


Questions for Discussion and Small Groups

What quality or intersection in Joseph’s life do you most admire?

What are the reasons you don’t ‘see’ the people around you?

3. List some of the circumstances or people that have had an impact on your life intersections.
4. What one intersection had God specifically brought into your life in which you have the ability to influence someone else’s story?

Molding Our Priorities

Joseph’s life is an Old Testament demonstration of Romans 8:28. His confidence was not displayed in his ability to understand the circumstances but in the God of all circumstances. Joseph experienced it all, the incredible heights of position and power and the lowest of lows being accused and found guilty of false accusations. He led a life of testing and triumph, suffering and glory. He grew up as a sheep tender and was the 11th of 12 sons. Our culture tells us that we are the product of our heredity and environment; however, today we will learn how to live honorably before God regardless and the power to rise above whatever labels has been branded on us.


Be A Truth Person. v2

You might be thinking well no wonder his brothers don’t like him. The guy is a ‘tattle-tale’ However, he was a truth revealer and he had enough guts to call sin sin. He had a healthy sense of right and wrong and brought light to a situation for the good of the family business. The point is that light exposes darkness and to be honest darkness can’t stand light, its uncomfortable around it and really just wants to make it disappear.

Matthew 5:14-16

How often have you been the one ‘uninvited’ because of the person that you are and the character that you reveal. God notices when you take a stand for righteousness and He will honor you for it.

Love Out the Best In Others v3,4

God’s love is not the love of Jacob. He doesn’t play favorites, in fact we see that he wants nothing to do with partiality when it comes to the place and seat of honor in the church in James2. Now, having said that, He will honor those who honor Him. The fact is that Joseph lived a life of integrity and his father recognized it and while we may question the way he rewarded it, it was the brother’s choice to resent it instead of taking the high road to encourage Joseph. Let’s face it though, it is a humbling thing to celebrate the progress and advancement of others when you yourself feel left behind.

Contextualize it by thinking of someone younger than you, less experience on the job and they get the promotion and what is your first thought? What about me. You either get bitter or get better and the brothers let a root of bitterness grow in them.

Hold On Tight to Your Dreams v5-10

Joseph dreams of authority, submission and obedience on the part of others and it doesn’t go over too well with his brothers as you might imagine. No one really tries to understand him except his father who keeps the matter in mind. I believe there is great sensitivity needed in knowing who is ready to receive what we might share about what God is doing in our life. It is often parents and close family members who are the most resistant to the changes and God given visions in our life. There will always be those who will work to suppress the work of God in your life and you must hold on tightly to the dreams and visions that God has given you. Do not deny His clear leading and be careful with whom you share it. Not everyone is ready to receive, not everyone is going to encourage…your job is to pray for incredible discernment.

Well Joseph’s honest sharing intensified their anger and animosity towards him.

The way up in God’s economy is first down. v12

The next part of the journey for Joseph is to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He has a pretty good idea that he is being sent into a hostile situation and yet he steps out in obedience. He is willing to go to his brothers to ‘check up on them’ I don’t know about you, but I might have said, you know dad, this didn’t go over too well the last time, maybe you want to check it out for yourself…’ But he doesn’t and he willingly goes and his life begins to take a most dramatic turn. They see him coming and they begin to mock him and plan a cruel death

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Living a life on loan means self sacrifice. Ashok had it right last week when he shared it is in effect taking out a blank sheet of paper signing the bottom and saying to God, you fill in the blank!

Filling in the blank for Joseph meant being confronted, stripped and humiliated. It meant going through rejection, pain, anguish and torture.

When we are faced with trials, how do we respond. Do we ask the question, ‘why me?’ or do we say, ‘why not me’. Do we see that God is trying to mold us and shape us? For Joseph, any dreams of self ambition, self-exaltation died that day in the hopeless pit of despair.

Jesus taught us that the way up is down, the way to greatness is to first learn to serve others. Joseph went through the breaking process that to some degree we all go through it and learn that the path to true greatness is through humility and servanthood.
Matthew 18:4;23:11

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold for 20 pieces of silver. There was so little value placed on his life and it parallels the same betrayal that Jesus faced at the hands of Judas for 30 pieces of silver.

Do you think Joseph must have been wondering at this point in his life? Does godliness really pay off? Does it really pay to be a person of truth? I have been a cast off from my brothers….will God cast me off as well?

Acts 7:9 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles…

The difficult realization was that in order to be used by God, Joseph was going to have to die to selfish desire. He was going to have to go through the fire.

The question we have to ask ourselves is this:

What do I need to die to in order for God to fully use me for His purposes? What will it take to break me? Do I take the glory or do I give the glory?

What takes priority in my life?

God overruled the sin of Joseph’s brothers and would accomplish exactly what He purposed and planned.

It is impossible to bring good out of evil, but good can come in spite of evil.

Here is what is evident from his life.

Joseph was a man of integrity, he never lost sight of his dreams and he trusted God regardless.

As the book, ‘Living a Life On Loan’ shares…

Just like Joseph’s life, our lives are a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly and they are all put in the can of our life. Some things we choose to put in like our education, relationships and activities and other things get shoved in there, some of which is good and also the junk like being thrown into a pit and sold into slavery. All of it, the trash and the treasure play a part in shaping our life, defining who we are and become the making of our story.

There are basically two camps of thought on this. One camp says, my life is good, there are definitely things that I don’t like, but overall you still control your destiny. The other camp says I wish I had someone else’s life, I’m angry, I’m stuck, it isn’t fair and I want a different life.

I don’t want to discount anything that anyone has gone through, many of them tragic that have marked and scarred you, but know this that you are more than your past, more than the stuff that have been shoved into your can and God wants to do a work in you.

Are you ready to sign your blank letter to Him?
Ephesians 2:8-10
Romans 8:28-30

You can have a new identity, you can start making different choices. God, our God is in the business of reusing, renewing and restoring what was stolen. There are some thinking patterns that you need to toss and there are things you can recycle.

It starts with living by the whole truth as opposed to the half truths that we have come to live with.

For example…I know I shouldn’t get so angry, but it is the only way to get things done around here. I know I shouldn’t go out with this person because they bring me down, but I don’t want to be alone.

The whole truth is that God wants to be your anchoring point, your compass for living.

The Takeaway

Sign off with God to be a person of integrity, to never lose sight of your dreams and trust God regardless that your story will be used for His glory.


Thirty-three year old truck driver Larry Walters accomplished his dream of flying even if his aircraft was unconventional. Larry had spent a good deal of time dreaming of flying but never had the opportunity until July 2, 1982. It was that afternoon when he and several of his buddies got together. They took an aluminum chair complete with green and white vinyl straps and attached 30 weather balloons to it. Apparently Larry strapped himself on to the chair and took pb and jelly sandwiches with him along with a six pack of beer, a CB radio to report to his friends and a BB gun to shoot the balloons down to control his flight.
Instead of leisurely floating through the air in his California neighbourhood, Larry’s chair when cut loose from its tethers shot more than two miles into the air. He went right through the approach corridor to the Long Beach Airport. Larry started firing his BB gun as fast as he could. When he landed, the emergency workers asked him if he would do it again. He replied, not in a million years. When asked why, he shared “You can’t just sit there, can you?’

We need more people with that kind of attitude. The realization is that I do have a life and more importantly I have a story, experiences, relationships that can be used of God to impact others. No matter how many wrong turns, mess ups or foul ups, none of it is wasted with God. We have the opportunity to bring good in spite of evil and that is what a noble person does. We need to pray that God would give us the opportunity to choose well.

If someone was to give you $525,600 what would you do with it? Would you pay off some debts? Would you build a new home? Would you give money to the church or missions? There are a lot of ways that you could spend that money?

Now you might think that I am going to bring up the landswap, but I’m not. The fact is that every year we have 525,600 minutes. What are you doing with them? What investments are you making? At the end of the day, our life is simply piling up those moments. There are definitely some big moments along the way and the more ordinary for sure. However, they all add up and the little things become a big deal.

My mom has about 70 laying hens. I have asked her mom why do you keep doing it, it is a lot of work to look after these hens, but they do produce. Everyday there are eggs and they are taken to the missions store in Fergus to be sold. The money received for the eggs there has gone often to support missions work in Haiti, to support a pastor, to build wells…A small decision keeps adding up and making a huge difference.

The place to begin our moments of truth, to love the best out in each other, to hold on to dreams starts in the home, starts with our spouses and our children.

We have been saved from something for something.



God gives us leaders to prepare us for good works Ephesians 4:11,12
God gives us the Bible to equip us for good works 2 Timothy 3:16,17
God gives us spiritual gifts to enable us to do good works 1 Peter 4:10
God gives us other Christians to spur us on toward good works. Hebrews 10:24

Rick Rusaw

Jesus did anything that advanced the will of God in the lives of others.

Discover your sweet spot. Find out what makes you passionate and the way God has designed you and then discover your purpose, let Him lead you to the good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Questions For Discussion and Small Groups.

What are the things you sometimes try to fit into the God-shaped vacuum of your life?
Have you ever had an experience in which your passions intersected with God’s purposes and you felt truly alive? What was it like?
What are your passions and skills?
Do you prefer working with people or working with your hands? Why?
As you look around your community, where do you think Jesus would go? What would He do?
How can you use your passions, skills and talents to give hands and feet to what Jesus would do?
Questions By Eric Swanson

We Are Family

This morning we tackle the doctrine of the church and the new community that God continues to build on the Rock of His Son Jesus. It is to be a warm, open, pulsating, dynamic, loving and attractive place that people can meet and experience family the way He desires. It has been said that the church is the hope of the world and so how do we embrace all that the Father desires for us? We will see ourselves for who we really are, oneness in unity, diversity of gifting and extravagant in love. We are here to turn this world upside down and it is my prayer that we will embrace becoming what He has designed us to be!

Our Foundation Is Jesus Matthew 16:13-19

It was Peter who correctly identified the truth that Jesus was the Rock on whom the church would be built on. The authorization to preach the forgiveness of sins through the Spirit empowered preaching of the gospel comes through the words of Christ when he taught us the truth that whatever you (plural) bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you (plural) loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (v18) We proclaim His forgiveness, His release, His freedom for all!

It is important that we realize this phrase, “I will build my church” Jesus is the architect and has the grand master plan.

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain... In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves" (Psalms 127:1-2).

God has to build the house. It is His House, it is His name on the line. We can never become the caretakers of His house. Our love can ran dry, our spirit of hospitality can wane, our courage can only take us so far, but in His house we can “trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever” (Psalm 52:8).
We are subject to fatigue, weariness, but God never sleeps and never slumbers and sometimes it is just enough to get people here like the paralytic’s friends in Mark 2. We don’t always have the right words, but He does. Sometimes it is powerful just enough for them to hear God’s Word and let it speak for itself.
We can stay awake with them in their pain and suffering, we can care for others like family, but the house in which the suffering find unfailing love is the Lord’s. This is the house to which we must bring them. This is the house in which we must live. We are talking about something bigger than a building built by human hands. Lead the soul sick and the weary to the house of Christ.Jill Carattini, a Christian writer states, it is…

a house built not by human hands, but held up by the beams of the Cross. Here our souls find a house with rooms prepared for them and a table set with room for our enemies. God has invited us into the kingdom ; the doors of a great house are opened wide. And it is a house where hospitality is an extension of Christ's invitation: Come to me, all who are weary and I will give you rest. Peter continues to give us the blueprints of this house as he writes in 1 Peter 2: 4-6

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.

You might think of living stones and be led to picturing a house here and the idea of bricks, but again the picture of what Peter had in mind were stones that were carefully shaped and placed into position much like the work of a stonemason that carefully sets them into place to complement each other paying great attention to detail and design.

You will never be put to shame. You see shame is the belief that I am defective, that I am wrong at the core. Guilt is different – it says I have made a mistake. Shame says I am a mistake.

It is such a powerful statement because the confidence of my hope does not rest in me. It rests in the trust that I put in Christ. My heart is secure and steadfast because He has told me I am precious to Him and I have a perfect fit in His House, I am part of a holy priesthood!

Unity in Diversity 1 Corinthians 12:12-24

The church in order to function properly means that we all have a part to play. We are not in the cloning business and so we all have unique giftings and passions that serve every area of the ministry here. All of us together make up the body and it takes the active participation of all of us. Should a foot or a hand become numb or paralyzed, it should and will affect the overall health of all of us.

Oneness is impossible if the constituent parts of the body are all the same. Sameness results in uniformity. The world hates diversity and seeks for everyone to be conformed to its standards and be branded by its labels.



Ephesians 3:10,11

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are to bring Christ’s presence to our world. Everyone who is a believer in Jesus and follower of Him is a minister. We are all called to minister and the way that it happens is through our acceptance of our God given gifts and talents. We are all needed. The variety of the gifts should be exploited for ministry for the benefit of all. We are here to defeat the enemy of our souls and pray for those still had captive, for their release into the true freedom and expression in Christ. There is no competition or comparison in the body. According to Paul the eternal purpose of God is for the church to become the supreme expression of His wisdom forever and ever. Our purpose and place in the church continues to solidify and evolve as we continue to be His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do.




We are all ONE or all in this together… 1 Corinthians 12:25,26

to steal a line from HS Musical, but the realization is that we are there for each other. We are to be one flesh like husband and wife, we are in Christ. We are His bride and so fully understand how intertwined we really are. Your sorrow, your pain, your joy, your healing is all of our sorrow, is all of our pain, is all of our joy and is all of our healing to claim in Christ.

but come back to John 17 because it is significant here in Jesus’ High Priestly prayer that as he prayed looked to his death. You see you discover something about someone facing their death. They normally want to have their family close enough to them to possibly express one last blessing. It is there that the very last thought of a person usually expresses the passion of their life. We want to be there to hear that word, to receive that blessing as I did with my father. It was in his last few days that I sought His blessing to marry Sharon and to see his smile, his affirmation, his desire to help pay for it which I course I told him wasn’t necessary. However in that he longed to be my provider.

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me- so that they may be one as we are one. John 17:11

So, here in these final words of Jesus before going to the cross, the disciples listen in on His prayer and He didn’t just pray. He implored God the Father to protect the oneness of His followers. Jesus knew that this was central to the mission that there was an incredible sense of community in such a fragmented and community starved world. Jesus knew it was the church that properly functioned as a whole that would expand beyond the initial disciples.

Jesus taught us community by His prayers as well. He taught them to say, ‘Our Father, give us our daily bread, forgive US, deliver US. He had trained them to think of themselves as a community not as individual relating to a private God. Matthew 6:9-13

Galatians 3:26-29

There are no distinctions anymore when we become part of His church. The only differences that really matter are now those which pertain to ministry. The differences we have now are based on our gifting and where we fit into the whole.

Oneness is only as effective as there is free and total participation of each person in the body


We are Extravagant In Love John 17:23


The essential characteristic of this community is love in v23 Love is the divine reality that existed before time came into existence, before the world was created. It was in the heart of God that sent His Son to the world. We need to love each other well, go to bat for each other, go to the wall, stand in the gap for each other’s family.

We love each other into a

Shared faith and purpose – to bring people to the cross Philippians 3:10
Shared lifestyle – a lifestyle of purity Colossians 3:1-11, a life of compassion Matthew 9:36,37: James 1:27 a life of giving 2 Corinthians 9:13,
Shared authority – the authority to confront – Matthew 18; the authority to restore Galatians 6:1; the authority to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28
Shared worship – John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 14:24,25; communion – we are called to remember 1 Corinthians 11


The Takeaway

When the church is done well, it is a community that is irresistible!

It is irresistible because its head, Jesus has done away with shame.
It is irresistible because it is shared and experienced together,
It is irresistible because the church gifts and empowers us
It is irresistible because it loves unconditionally and it is a love that gets messy




Questions For Discussion and Small Groups

1. What are some of the elements of authentic community?
2. Describe the differences between viewing the church as a hierarchy and as oneness.
3. What does the mission of Southside mean to you? Our mission is: To pursue Jesus passionately and connect people to their God given family
4. What is the most challenging part of loving someone into the body of Christ? Is it a shared lifestyle, a shared authority or a shared faith and purpose? Why?

Imago Dei

There is a new game show catching a lot of attention. It is ‘The Moment Of Truth’ and this game show takes contestants, straps them to a lie detector test, and asks them 21 intensely personal questions. With close family just off center stage watching they have to answer each question and if they answer right, they win more money. However, there is a price to pay and that price is in those close to them discovering the real answer. One person was asked the question, ‘do you care about the starving kids in Africa’ and her response was no which turned out to be the truth.

We are studying the doctrine of anthropology and discovering the truth of what God says about human beings. Apart from an understanding of being made in God’s image we have no reference point for the value of life. If we are mere random happenings, then our lives and personhood have no more significance then what is attributed to us by the powers that be. It is the lack of this belief that leads us to the greatest of human atrocities when humans are left at the mercy of whatever criteria may seem popular at the time. When we recognize God as the intentional designer of life, then life acquires infinite worth and significance. We will discover our image in God’s transcendence, our inmost design and our dynamic authority. We will also face the reality of the Fall of Man in Genesis and God’s plan to restore what a sinful nature has stolen.

The Image of Transcendence

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Divine transcendence was defined as a characteristic of God and what sets Him apart from all of creation. However the way in which we as humans have been created and our relationship to the rest of creation sets us apart as different and above the rest of creation. We were the climax of God’s creational achievement.

The Hebrew word for image is tselem and in ancient Near Eastern culture there was a specific cultural image being painted in their minds. It would be said of a king that he was to rule in the image of his god. King Tut’s full name was Tutankhamen meaning the living image of the god Amon. He was the embodiment of that god and to see the king was to see their god.

Psalm 8
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
Here we see the distinction conferred upon us.

Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

God put the breath of life into us so that we would become responsive and responsible living beings. In essence this teaches us our personhood and ability to relate to God.

To make sure Adam thought that the woman was of no less value than him was that God reached right into his chest and took the part right next to his heart, his rib and created her. Two complementary facets of God’s image were now in existence. He split them apart and then declared them one flesh. We see the character of God in both male and female. Paul captured the essence of this in how he related the growth process of developing believers in

1 Thessalonians 2:7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

Now some of you might say but didn’t God refer to Eve as Adam’s helper?? Well, I’m glad that you brought that up….

Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

The Hebrew word for helper is used as a designation for someone who saves or rescues from difficult situation. The English again loses the essence of the word in that an English translation would define it as a subordinate assistant. We find a number of great examples where this same word is used of God in designating Him as our helper in Exodus 18:4; Deuteronomy 33:7; Psalm 33:20; 70:5…

We now see this word in a whole new light. The woman was the God appointed rescuer who would help preserve the divine image in human life therefore her name becomes even more significant Eve = life as she becomes the mother of all living. Genesis 3:20

Take the image of God one step further in that Jesus taught that entrance into the kingdom of heaven meant that we must enter as a child in Matthew 18 and that as we celebrate and welcome children in His name we welcome Him, we become like Him in every way.

As we protect the image of God in children, we honor God

Checking out the Makeup!

I want to take a few minutes to focus on the many facets of our immaterial makeup that reflect various aspects of the whole and at times overlap as well

Soul – nephesh – in Genesis 2:7 a living being, the center of emotional experiences. It is from this core of the being that we experience the ranges of sympathy, despair, bitterness, hate, love…
Spirit – ruach, pneuma - Hebrews 12:9; I Corinthians 2:11 In Paul’s teaching, he directly focuses on this part of man as the immaterial part of us that can be awakened by Christ, but is always present like the soul and is the center of one’s thoughts and emotions as well. It was the transformation of this area of life for Paul and that we let Christ be the determining factor here

Heart – is used as the center of our intellectual, emotional and volitional life as seen in OT and NT alike from Deuteronomy 8:5 to Matthew 15:19,20. There are a few instances to the real organ but 955x it speaks to this part of a person.
Conscience – the witness that is inside of us to teach us what is right and wrong. Acts 23:1

Mind –Romans 3:11 Paul speaks of this as an area that can be darkened, we are also taught to take every thought captive in 2 Corinthians 10:5

Flesh – Galatians 5:17 This term is used to describe our disposition to sin and oppose God

Will - The Bible speaks more about the will of God than the will of man, but the will is certainly implied as part of man in Romans 7 in Paul’s tug of war between the Spirit and the flesh.

The Fallout From The Fall:

There are many aspects to touch on including loss of the most beautiful place on earth, but I want to talk about the most painful and devastating losses -

Image Lost

We only have to read further in Genesis, 3 specifically to see what we lost and God trying to undo the affects of the Fall. What was the temptation ultimately? It’s your turn now, your turn to be God, your turn to be equal with Him. It is your turn to define the value of life and so man did and only one generation after the first couple exited the garden do we see the first murder committed by Cain against Abel.
What is the very essence of sin? It is the rejection of God’s sovereignty over human life and to declare yourself sovereign – to dismiss God and to make yourself God. Sin is ultimately a declaration of independence from God.

Image Distorted Genesis 3:7 states that their eyes were opened and their shame was revealed. They were now alienated from God

Friendship Broken - there was a loss of a sense of oneness with God in the communion that they once experienced. They would not only experience lonliness apart from God, but in their own selfishness experience lonliness between each other. Adam in defending himself shifts the blame to Eve alienating himself from her as well.

So God gave us His image to bear, He gave us gender and He gave us something to do – take care of His world.

John 10:7-10


Replacing What Was Stolen!

Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,

What did Jesus do with the image bearers… He reconnected our eyes with the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. He made us connect again and become what being fully human is in Matthew 5.

When people aren’t treated as fully human, that is called hell and Jesus railed against that.

Instead of seeing labels, poor, invalid, handicapped…He showed us how to see humans.


Rob Bell in his most recent book tells the story of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp and the British Red Cross that arrived with a very large quantity of lipstick. They were screaming for other supplies. But there they were, women, dying, with red scarlet lips. At last someone had done something to make them individuals again. No longer were they just tattooed with a number on their arm. They could take an interest in their appearance and that little act in itself started to give them their humanity back.

What is in your “makeup” that you need to give away???


Our job is to become a little Jesus with a small j


The Takeaway

The goal for us is to live and represent the image of God by protecting and esteeming it in others.

It is in this way that we get to the place where we are conformed to the image of Christ, the ultimate human reflection of God. We are to be the embodiment of that to all those around us.

Questions For Discussion and Small Groups:

Do you agree with this statement. “How you treat creation reflects how you feel about the Creator.” Why?

What attitudes, conversations, gestures, comments, decisions that you can make to protect the image of God in others.

What has the enemy robbed you of and what part of God’s image do you need most restored in you?

So Great A Salvation

• We can all too easily fall into the trap of taking for granted the things that we have. I vividly remember one of my earliest messages on being thankful for the simple things in life from the joy of laughter to the beauty of sight. However as easy as it is to enjoy these things, a study of the intricacy of the eye leads you to such a depth of awareness and then there is a whole science behind laughter teaching us that it releases endorphins in our brain. In our study of the great doctrines of the faith, we come to soteriology, the doctrine of salvation. You might be thinking, ‘I know I’m saved,’ but it is my desire to teach you a profound understanding of that salvation and how amazing it really is. We will discover the richness of our atonement, justification, ransom, reconciliation and adoption!
  
  
  SALVATION IS:
  
  1. Holiness Served
  
  Atonement
  
  1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
  
  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
  
  The word for here is translated ‘hyper’in the greek meaning in the place of, a substitute.
  
  We speak of healing in the atonement of Christ. Atonement comes from the word ‘at one’ and it relates to the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and the satisfaction of the demands of a Holy God
  
  Justification
  
  This is a legal word used in a court of law to declare someone, “not guilty’. We are only declared this because the sentence has been served by Christ. Romans 3:23-26
  
  
  2. Freedom Received
  
  
  Ransom
  
  Christ’s gift of life as ransom shows that a transaction has been made to secure our freedom Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 1:18.19. ‘Give me back my son!’ like Mel Gibson in his passionate cry in Ransom is how God is jealous to pay the price for our freedom to release us from the grip of sin and the enemy of our souls.
  
  Salvation
  
  The word also comes with the meaning of deliverance, liberation. It paints the picture of people who have been rescued and who have been caught in a hopeless situation. It captures the image of the realization that we were all held in the stronghold of death until Christ came and through His death overcame the enemy of our souls, saved us from his power and set us free. Mark 3:23-27; Colossians 1:13,15; 1 Thessalonians 1:10
  
  3. Relationship Restored
  
  
  
  Chosen By God!
  
  All biblical statements about predestination have a direct correlation to a collective reality. God has decided that there will be a community of faith. It is clear that when God speaks about individuals and salvation, we see the teaching of free will in the statement, ‘whosoever will’.
  
  Probably the best illustration of this is found in the OT. The chosen people of Israel did not automatically get their admission into the ranks of the chosen. Being born a Jew certainly helped, but it did not seal their fate either way. The original covenant given to Abraham was that he would be the father of many nations in Genesis 17:5. So, being chosen was not limited to a certain race even before Christ. The basis of being chosen was dependent on a free decision on their part. They had to obey God and keep his commands…the Schema…Deuteronomy 6. To experience God’s blessing, God always expected them to respond to Him in love, walking in His ways and holding fast to Him.
  
  In the NT, we see this illustrated in the story of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22. A wedding banquet would last several days in Jesus’ time. The invitations are sent out but the king’s offer is turned down, no one chooses to rsvp or for that matter the invitation is abused. As a result, the king’s offer is taken to the streets and all were offered a chance to come to the banquet and the ones who do become His guests. They become the ‘choice’ group because they freely responded to the opportunity. The king did not predetermine the decision of those who would come. Becoming chosen had been part of their choice all along.
  
  Predestination, foreknowledge are all terms used to describe those who have come to faith. It is a beautiful term for those who believe and these terms are addressed to a believing community. We do not find Scripture that teaches God predestined people to hell and separation from Him. The lack of choosing to accept God’s sacrifice in His Son Jesus is a self destructive decision.
  
  It is clear from Scripture that God definitely calls and chooses individuals for specific types of ministry. Before Jeremiah was even born, he had been appointed as a prophet to the nation, Jeremiah1:5. He accepted his calling reluctantly but followed through. God even chooses the unsaved to perform specific tasks to be used to advance God’s purposes such as the monarch in his time, Cyrus, who was instrumental on his behalf in Isaiah 44,45. Paul is another example with his dramatic commissioning to ministry on the road to Damascus.
  
  
  Reconciliation
  
  1 Timothy 2:3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. NLT
  
  Everybody Matters To God!
  
  Luke 15:3-7 In fact, one sheep is so important to Him that He is ready to pull out a search and rescue operation and throw everything He has at it, including His one and only Son.
  
  James 4:5 Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? The note on this verse states that God jealously longs for the spirit that he made to live in us. He doesn’t want you to worship anyone else but Him! He has a jealous love for you.
  
  Don’t you ever for one moment think that God does not care about you. That is a lie from the enemy. Romans 2:14 teaches us that instinctively we know that there is a God because He has written His laws on our heart.
  
  John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. People like to talk about rights a lot today and God put salvation right in your court!
  

Adoption Romans 8:15-17

Regeneration

This is a word to describe the process of rebirth that we go through and respond to God’s call on our life. It is the miracle of transformation that goes on inside our hearts and is best described in 2 Corinthians 5:17. It is that point where God intervenes in our life and works a miracle through the forgiveness of sins. The dormant spiritual nature in our life becomes activated by God and we begin the process of change more and more into God’s image. Colossians 3:10; 2 Peter 1:4; Titus 3:5 The renewal is meant to be so personality shaking that it is likened to a resurrection from the dead!

It begins with negative conviction, a realization of our own guilt and need. The conscience is stirred up with dissatisfaction about life and one’s own inability to fill that God shaped vacuum This sense of loss can take a person over so completely that they strive to fill it through human relationships, addictions and work. 2 Corinthians 7:10

There is also positive conviction which leads a person to the question “what must I do to be saved?’ It is positive in the sense that one realizes it cannot come from within and the openness to the source of mercy and love in God.

Conversion or coming to faith in Christ is made up of two elements, one negative and one positive and they are repentance and faith.

repentance

A great example of repentance is David’s prayer in Psalm 51. It is the prodigal son crying out, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” in Luke 15:18. God be merciful to me sinner. Luke 18:13 It is that place where we come completely honest before God and see ourselves for who we really are in His sight. It is also accompanied by a realization of the need to ask for forgiveness.

As repentance brings us to our knees, faith makes us rise up in newness. As we ask for forgiveness in repentance, faith now comes and receives it. It is the prodigal son accepting his father’s embrace

faith

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please God.

The absolute, unshakeable definitive act of His love is the cross. The cross draws us heavenward because Jesus gave us Himself and with outstretched arms paid for our forgiveness and shows us mercy.

Repentance and faith produce together what makes regeneration possible. Apart from God we are disconnected and through salvation we experience what we lost in the garden…intimacy and communion.

Sanctification- means to be set apart for holiness, to purify, to make free from sin. It is the process of becoming more Christlike. Ephesians 4:13;24 Colossians 3:10

Can salvation be lost? John 10:25-29


The Takeaway

Salvation is the holiness of God served in my life so that my freedom is gained in Christ that I may walk in the Spirit with Him.

It is what I was always intended to do from the beginning.

As we come to communion, I want to say this…

We often worship God because of His grace. More often than not, we come to God with songs of praise when we can see the blessings. God is providing, our family is in harmony, we have great friendships, but what happens when the bottom falls out? What happens when we aren’t talking with those close to us, when our kids are in trouble, when we are someone close to us in battling a dreadful disease.

You see that is why we are urged to worship God… in view of His mercy in Romans 12:1. We can worship God because we aren’t getting what we do deserve. To remind ourselves because our salvation alone, we aren’t getting what we do deserve. To learn that God is good all the time even when life isn’t good or whether you feel like worshipping or not.

We can still worship Him for His mercy alone.

Questions For Discussion and Small Groups:

1. Relate your salvation story to the outline today. What part of your salvation do you experience most at the time of your conversion? (holiness served, freedom gained or relationship restored) What part of your salvation are you most experiencing now?

2. What is a sure fire way not to doubt your salvation?

3. Does justification mean becoming righteous?
4. Is there any connection between sanctification and the image of God?

The Wind of The Spirit

In Ephesians 5:13 we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. The word for be filled in the Greek is ‘plerousthe’ meaning constantly being filled. There are some who have likened this to the picture of bottle filled to overflowing but a better word picture would be that of sailing or windsurfing. To move, you constantly need to be filled. If there is no wind, you are basically dead in the water and drifting with whatever current is flowing. You have no power to direct your course or steer and it is downright frustrating. You have to determine the direction of the wind and either pull hard on your sail in or cut it loose while adjusting your rudder. You then find your sweet spot to as you get the correct angle. Being filled with the Spirit is being constantly yielded to His control, to God by faith to go in His direction and living life the way He wants me to. This morning we will explore the work of the Spirit and how we experience Him in His fullness! Get ready to feel the breeze!

Today we will study of pneumatology which comes from pneuma, the Greek word for breath.

Well, let’s start with the metaphors that Scripture uses – because a picture is a thousand words!
Jesus referred to the HS as a wind—in John 3:8 - a metaphor which seems to make the obvious realization that the Spirit works and moves in wonderful and mysterious ways. It is not something that you can track with relation to the nature of his moving in the hearts of people to give them life and bring them to faith
In connection with his personal and glorious ministry to people, Jesus referred to him as water in John 7:37-39. This picture speaks to the Spirit filling the depths of longing in our souls to enjoy eternal life in John 4:14; 17:3. As such, water of promised messianic blessing and the presence of the kingdom in a new and powerful way in Isaiah 12:3 32:15; 44:3; Ezekiel 39:29. In Matthew 3:22 and paralleled in each gospel we see the Spirit descending out of heaven as a dove. The symbol of the “dove” best represents the beginning of an age of blessing, the inauguration of Christ’s ministry
Another metaphor for the Spirit is clothing in Acts 1:8. This idea involves being dressed by another person so that one we are clothed in power from on high! In the case of the Spirit, it refers to his gift of power to us so that we might live in unity with the gospel as we boldly take it to the nations
The Spirit is also referred to as a guarantee or pledge of the Christian’s glorification Ephesians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 1:22,23. In this case, the present gift of the Spirit is the guarantee that the totality of what has been promised to us will someday be fulfilled in Romans 8:30 The understanding of ‘guarantee’ has been described as the first installment, deposit, down payment. It secures a legal claim and makes a contract valid.
Closely related to the idea of a seal or the One with whom Christians are sealed by God. In 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:14; 4:30. Christians are said to be “sealed” by the Spirit of God. A “seal” in the ancient world referred to a “mark (with a seal) as a means of identification so that the mark which denotes ownership also carries with it the protection of the owner in Rev. 7:3
The Pentecost Spirit is also likened to tongues of fire in Acts 2:3. Fire represents the holy presence of God, as for example, in Exodus 3:2-5 and the “burning bush

Also, the final picture is that of new wine in Matthew 9:17. The ministry of the Spirit is a new thing and cannot be contained in the old way of the ceremonial law. The expression of the Spirit gives birth to freedom of worship

2. The Person of The Spirit


The Holy Spirit is a person, the 3rd Person of the Trinity and Jesus referred to another (allos) meaning just like Him who would come and take His place. The word used is parakletos (enabler, encourager, comforter counsellor, one that comes in a personal way.)

The HS can be grieved – Ephesians 4:30
The HS can be quenched – 1 Thessalonians 5:19 extinguish…we can ill afford any wet blankets on the ministry of the Holy Spirit!

The HS can be resisted – Acts 7:51 stiff necked people proclaimed by Stephen

The Word teaches us that the Spirit searches the things of God 1 Corinthians 2:10 -13 He possesses a mind and teaches people.

The Holy Spirit is God. Acts 16:7; 1 Corinthians 6:11 He has the attributes of God, omniscience – Isaiah 40:13; 1 Corinthians 2:12; omnipresence – Psalm 139:7; omnipotence – by virtue of His work in creation Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30

The Holy Spirit was the agent in the virgin birth, the Spirit was the active presence giving inspiration to the Scriptures.
2 Peter 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Blasphemy and lying to the Spirit are seen as sinning against God
Matthew 12:31,32; Acts 5:3,4
We see equality with God in Matthew 28:19 in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit ( equality is found in the singular use of the word name.



3. The Practice of the Spirit


He convicts people of sin – the need for a Savior John 16:8
Righteousness – the need to be clothed in the righteousness of the Son
Judgement – the coming judgment for those who do not know the Lord and the awareness of testing of the quality of our service to the Lord.

He baptizes 1 Corinthians 12:12,13

12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.



He directs the activities of followers of Jesus Acts 16:6-11 God gave Paul a vision of the people that he was to minister to and also clearly led him to the exact place where he was to travel.

He guides believers into truth by hearing, speaking and showing John 16:12,13 and the Spirit reveals Jesus v14
The Spirit intercedes Romans 8:26 He enables His people to pray and prayer in the Spirit where words cannot interpret but where God knows.


He Fills Us With More

I was really moved to pray for the 'muchness 'of God to fill the leanness of our souls…it comes through soaking in His presence through prayer….and we receive boldness, passion, life!

Ephesians 5:13 -it comes through surrender and it is empowering and enabling



He Gifts

Joel 2:28
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. It happened at Pentecost and it is happening again!


The First Three Gifts –

Apostleship –1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11 in the general sense of the word is means one who is sent. It is used of Epaphroditus in Phil 2:25. It is a gift for those who plant new works and is often accompanied by special signs. I have seen real evidence in Ashok Andrews ministry in Kolkota, India.

Prophecy – Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:1-40; Ephesians 4:11 This gift refers to proclaiming God’s truth and the ability to speak into the future. In the OT, the prophetic gift was poured out very selectively and exclusively, but by the time you get to the NT, you can see just how prominent it becomes under the influence of the HS. I believe we are seeing an increase breakthrough and I believe this gift is not just limited to pastors. I believe the HS wants to speak now more than ever before and the question is are we ready to listen to our inner ear for His promptings. He will speak to you through His Word and often it is for us, but He wants you to speak into the lives of others. There are definitely those will an anointing for prophecy

Sharon stopped in at a service center on the 401 on her way back from Windsor this week. As she was eating, she prayed, "God if there is someone you want me to minister to today have them sit right next to me. Well, shortly after a couple sat right next to her with their subs and God confirmed they were the ones. She then asked the Lord what do you want me to say and felt God was telling her the verse in Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart... and distinctly, 'the Lord will provide'. Well she was working up the courage and then went to the washroom. When she got out, they were gone...so she wondered maybe it was just her. As she left she noticed them in the Tim Hortons line up so she said ok, God, if they come out right away, I will tell them. Well, she was pulling out of the parking lot and they started walking down the walkway right towards so her so she was obedient and dropped down her window. She started to speak and studder a bit and tell them the Lord have given her something to tell them. She then asked if they were believers to which they replied yes. She then quoted the verse and said that the word was that the Lord will provide. The lady looked at Sharon and with tears she said, I have a word for you. She told Sharon that were just on the way to meet with a real estate agent to look at buying a house! Amazing. Sharon drove the rest of the way home praising God!

I read an excellent book titled, “You Shall All Prophecy” by Stephen Thompson and I look forward to more teaching on the gifts and how powerful they are if we step into our anointing.

Miracles and Healings – 1 Corinthians 12:9,28,30; John 14:12

This gift to be used of God to see miracles in people’s lives – especially as it relates to healing. There is so much need for inner healing as well. The greatest miracle of all is the transformation of a life – when the gospel gets a hold of a person.

Tongues and Interpretation -

Tongues - 1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 2 The Holy Spirit can use glossolalia in the life of a believer as a private devotional expression to God and it is edifying to oneself and an expression of our groaning to God. Tongues were also direct languages that authenticated the message of the gospel at Pentecost. Tongues were used in services along with interpretation also brings about prophecy for the mutual edification of the church. They will not contradict the written Word and they are not the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Evangelism – Ephesians 4:11- the ability to express the gospel with exceptional clarity

Pastor – Ephesians 4:11 – refers to the ability to shepherd, provide, care and protect the flock.

Serving –Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:12 in the broadest sense of the word to help and support others

Teaching – Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4;11 The ability to bring understanding to the Word of God – often used in connection with the pastor gift

We just did a whole series on faith and it is a gift, encouragement, discernment, mercy – with the sick and afflicted, giving, leadership, wisdom and knowledge are all needed in the church TODAY!


The Spirit Producing Galatians 5:22,23

The fruit of the Spirit – JOY! If the Holy Spirit is in your life, notify your face! The Spirit brings an overwhelming sense of joy and He brings all the other great characteristics beginning with love. Notice that it is fruit singular. All these manifestations are the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our life. The Holy Spirit brings all of it – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

The Takeaway

Posture yourself to receive the supernatural.

Meaning this – as you pray, listen and if the Holy Spirit leads you to speak, then speak into people’s lives.

For some of you, this may be hard to believe because it doesn’t fit into what you know. The church suffers from the spirit of judgment and it is pride when we don’t let the Holy Spirit move because we say that can’t be real because it hasn’t happened to me or people that I know….brothers and sisters, that is stinkin thinkin!!

His ways are past finding out and God is doing a new thing. I have had many people inside and outside Southside feel strongly about this. Let us move into this place of revelation and envious blessing! What we focus on is what we will empower. If we doubt, we will not receive. It will be done to us according to our believe…pray to God to help you overcome your unbelief as the boy’s father in Mark 9:24 exclaimed in his desperate desire to see his son healed of an evil spirit.

Jesus said everything is possible for him who believes!

Hurting people hurt people. We need to pray that we will all be ON for God, many of you have dealt with what was stolen and HS is in the business of restoring what was lost! Contend, sweat, wrestle and have patience and God will breakthrough in the supernatural!

Challenges For Discussion and Small Groups:

Memorize this great verse!! So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

1. Begin tonight’s group by taking time to pray for each person individually through the laying on our hands. Practice listening to what God is saying to you and what He might have you speak into their life.

2. Talk about spiritual gifts, but instead of telling others what you think your gifts are, let others take time to affirm the gifts that they see in you and see if they match up with what you have felt or discovered. The community of the body of Christ is so crucial in enabling us to believe that which God has given us!

3. Commit to go on an ultimate ‘treasure hunt’ as a group sometime in the next month. Begin the night by praying about the people that God may bring on your path and then step out in faith and go to a public place where you each individually may be led to someone to share with. If nothing comes to you to share then take the opportunity to pray blessing into their life. Most people are open to being prayed for.