At the Gate: In or Out?

At the Gate: In or Out?


Acts 3:1-6

I. Introduction
-What do you expect here?
-What are you looking for here?
-Maybe what you seek, is all you will find?
1. How far you're willing to go is all the farthest you'll ever get!
2. You are the church!
-Different Question: What do you want to be spiritually?
1. What do you want God to make you?
2. Are you content where you are at?
3. What would you be willing to do to grow in the Lord? (Give up sin.)
-Ill. Song: "Somewhere between Jesus & John Wayne."
1. I hate that song (on Christian radio).
2. Is that all you have?
3. Is that all you ever will be?
4. If so, I'd say you were a spiritual lame beggar.

II. Scripture

III. Peter & John Together
-Unity
-The greatest battle of the church today is for unity.
1. I'm not talking about disagreement &/or difference of opinion.
2. I'm addressing unity.
-At the hour of prayer... there must be unity.
-The greatest battle of the church today is a unity of spirit.

IV. Background
-They took him to the gate to beg for alms.
-Never expected to go into the sanctuary.
1. I'd say he knew what went on in the sanctuary, but never really participated.
2. But he did beg for change from those coming & going.
-He hoped for a little ‘over flow' blessing.
1. Some left-overs.
2. Some scraps.
-Query: I wonder why we settle for left-overs?

V. New to Church
-Sinners/ Lost/ New to church kind of enjoy the gate.
-Sinners at the gate experience the leftovers/ crumbs and think it is wonderful.
-Compared to the world, the gate is a great place!
-Problem: But for many, years from now, if they settle for the gate, they'll be in the same place... a lame beggar living off crumbs.
1. And they'll still think its great.
2. And they'll think they great with God.
-Just b/c you get blessed at church doesn't make you a Christian.
1. That just means you have a soul!
2. That just means you still have a spirit w/in your body!
-You're living off the blessings of others.
1. You're living off the spirituality of the preacher.
2. You're living off the walk of your parents.
-Ill. Wedding clean up.
1. Rice, napkins, cake, confetti
2. You can tell what happened in the place, but that's much different than being in the wedding!
-Don't settle for crumbs at the gate, when our Savior has prepared a banquet table/ a feast!
-Ill. Prodigal Son
1. He was eating pig slop.
2. He was happy to come back and be a servant in his Father's house [at the gate].
3. But his Father was ready to make him a son again!
-Don't you dare...
1. ...stop at the gate!
2. ...settle for spare change!
3. ...be content with a good service!
4. ...adjust to spiritual begging
5. ...get use to God working around you!
-Not when God wants to work in you!

VI. "Regular Attenders"
-People in the church, but not "in the sanctuary."
-Some here this morning are just barely surviving spiritually.
-It's hard to describe where you're at spiritually.
-When ppl talk about where you are at, what might they say?
-Might they say...
1. Out and out sinner.
2. Godly saint.
3. ...or maybe: I don't know.
-"Some are too saved to be lost, but too lost to be saved."
1. Who knows?... only God?
2. They've got it! They've not.
3. Maybe! Maybe not!
4. And if you're there, you're trying to figure out where you're at too!
-You don't have to set an alarm on Sunday morning, you just wake up, but your ears have dulled to the voice of the Spirit.
1. If God sat right next to you and screamed in your ear you wouldn't hear it.
2. You know when to sit, when to stand, & when to sing.
3. But you don't know how to get to the banquet table.
-You're barely surviving spiritually & you're content with that.
1. You've done just enough to feel like you'll make it.
2. Just enough to seem deep.
3. Just enough to appease the preacher.
-You're at the gate.
-You're keeping God at arm's length.
1. That tension is not normal, it's you fighting God trying to move you past the gate!
2. God never intended to be kept at arms length.
-The Bible only once tells you to go to church; but over & over again it commands us to be the church.
1. What if you stopped coming here and started belonging here; had a calling here?
2. The more spectators we have (ppl at the gate) the weaker we are as a church!
-Where are you at spiritually?
-You'll never know what you're missing if you never make it past the gate!
-When the lame man finally got into the sanctuary (praising God), the crowd saw him...
1. v. 10b "...And they were filled w/ wonder & amazement at what had happened to Him."
2. You "get in" and ppl will be amazed.

VII. Continued...
-"At the gate" ppl are the least ministered to.
1. You might come to church often, and b/c you do you fade into the background.
2. Regular attendance does not = heaven.
-You might be "regular" but you need to move beyond the gate.
1. Don't sit there Sunday after Sunday unresponsive.
2. Say "Yes, Lord" more than just when we sing.
-Ill. We talk a lot about "being fed" in a church.
1. What we don't talk about is helping prepare the food.
2. We treat this place like a restaurant... we want to be served.
-Ill. Evangelist & a "gate man"
1. "I didn't get anything out of your preaching."
2. "That's b/c you didn't put anything into my preaching."
-But that attitude will leave you begging at the gate.
1. It won't take you into the holy place!
2. It will leave you a spiritually lame beggar!
-But oh if you would move past the gate... into the presence of God!

VIII. Past the Gate
-Examples of people going past the gate.
-Ill. Geneva Penick, Larry P's mother.
1. Mother of 4 boys & 2 girls.
2. Gathered them every night around her feet and read from the Word.
3. Getting past the gate.
-Peter in the boat.
1. "Lord if it's you ask me to come to you on the water."
2. He stepped out of the boat and walked to Jesus. (He did risk a lot!)
-Ill. Edi Burton
1. Naomi Nazarene
2. Breast cancer, lived 4 weeks after moving there.
3. "Come morning we'll meet by the river."
4. They carried her into the sanctuary that morning, but only physically.
-Ill. Willard W. Metz
1. Kneeling around the couch.
2. I can still remember the smell.
3. They passed the gate every day, but never paused to beg for crumbs.
-You'll never know all God wants to do if you stand at the gate and look in.
-You'll never be in the middle of what God is doing... only catching the run-off.
1. You'll never be a 1st hand witness to the work of the Spirit... only through hear-say will you be privy to the work of the Lord.
2. You'll never experience Christian fullness... only scraps from off the floor.

VII. Conclusion
-I was asked one time if I went to a full Gospel church.
1. "No a half Gospel church."
2. "No a 2% Gospel church."
3. YES!?
-We teach the whole message of God's Word.
1. You've got to do more than like Jesus.
2. You've got to do more than love Jesus.
3. He must be everything to you.
4. He must be your Lord & Savior.
5. All your life must glorify Him!
-Ill. Eating at parishner's homes growing up.
1. For dessert... cherry pie!
2. Every time!
3. Meals included onions, peppers, etc.
4. #1 Rule: You have to try it.
5. "If you don't try it you'll never know if you like it."
-Problem: The Devil will make you believe that you're okay at the gate.
1. Are you okay with someone else's leftovers?
2. Are you content with spare change?
-Or are you looking for a healing?
-If you came seeking alms this morning, I hope you're disappointed.
-If you've grown comfortable at the gate; I hope you're uncomfortable this morning.
-I don't want you to stay at the gate.
-May I say to you like Peter said to this lame beggar: "Rise up, and walk [on into His presence]." -Come for a healing today, get past the gate.

Response: "Rise & Be Healed"

Wait for the Vision

Wait for the Vision

Habbakuk 2:2-4

I. Introduction
-Franklin Field "Poor eyes limit your sight; poor vision limits your deeds."
-E. Paul Hovey "A blind man's world is bound by the limits of his touch; an ignorant man's world by the limits of his knowledge; a great man's world by the limits of his vision."
-Dictionary defines vision as...
1. The faculty of sight.
2. Something that is, or has been seen.
3. Discerning perception.
-Vision has to do more w/ seeing things from a spiritual angle.
1. Not about business acumen.
2. Not about sense of style.
3. Rather a sense for the Spirit.
-Can you perceive the movement of the Spirit in the most dire of situations?
-Habbakuk 1
1. The prophet's complaint...
2. God's response...
3. Spiritual intimacy of this conversation.
-Ill. "Can't see the forest for the trees."
-Ill. Chess game observer
-Habakkuk witnessed the collapse of the kingdom, rise of Babylon, reign of injustice/wickedness.
II. Scripture

III. God does have a purpose...
-He does want to use you.
-He does want to work in your situation/circumstance.
-He does want to sinners to come to repentance.
-He does want to move among us!
-God wants to work!
-God has a plan/a will/ an agenda!
-God has a plan that is unfolding.
1. From Genesis to Revelation.
2. From your conception to your last breath.
-Psalm 139:13-17 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. [14] I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. [15] My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. [16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. [17] How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!"
-Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
-Proverbs 29:18a "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

IV. Do you Have Vision?
-I'm not asking if you can see.
-I'm asking if you have begun to see things as God sees things.
-I'm not gauging your spiritual maturity.
1. I'm not asking if you are more spiritual than others here.
2. I'm not asking if you are hyper spiritual.
-False distinction of super-Christians and ordinary Christians.
-What I'm talking about is something for the normal Christian.

V. Why No Vision?
-Some are not looking for it...
-We simply do not want to see things from God's perspective.
-Some are not looking in the right direction...
-Ill. Farming w/ grandpa Henry
1. Difficulty of making straight rows on the tractor.
2. Look behind? No.
3. Look to the side? No.
4. Fix your eyes on the destination.
-Luke 9:62 "Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
-We're looking to our job, our possessions, HollyWood, relationships, reputations, etc. to give us vision.
-It must be Christ centered.
-Query: Ask yourself if Christ is honored in these areas of your life...
1. Job... if not... quit it.
2. Possessions... if not get rid of them.
3. HollyWood/entertainment
4. Relationships... if not dissolve them.
5. Reputation... if not, then reject it.
6. Credit card statement... do the purchases glorify God?
7. Etc...
-Note: We often see things the way we want to see them.
-We have vision, but will not act on it.
-Ill. Rosebud going to the carrier to see the vet.
1. As soon as she sees the cat carrier she panics.
2. Even though it is what is best for her!
3. Did you get in a fight w/ a barb wire fence?

VI. The Vision
-Try this on...
-...a life in which God is working.
1. Growing closer to him everyday.
2. Becoming more like him.
3. Learning to delight in him more.
4. Trusting him more.
5. Committing all your ways to him.
-...a place where God is working.
1. The lost are being born-again.
2. People are being delivered from their sin (forgiven & delivered= salvation)
3. People are finding victory over despair, depression, addictions, attitudes, etc. in Christ Jesus!
4. Believers are being baptized in the Spirit.
5. Christians are being equipped by the Spirit!
6. People of God are going out of this place in power! (Spiritual weakness comes from sinfulness.) 7. Spirit-filled Christians are growing & maturing.
8. People are seeking God, crying out to God, and waiting on God.
-...a people in whom God is working.
1. What does it mean to be Christian?
2. What does it look like in your life?
-So much hypocrisy breeds more hypocrisy.
1. It also breeds a skepticism of what God is able to do in people.
2. Don't allow the sinfulness of other professing Christians to deter you from victory in your life!
3. Don't allow the hypocrisy of others to cause you to forfeit what you seek for in Christ!

VII. Conclusion
-I'm not talking about imagination.
1. You cannot imagine what you cannot conceive of.
2. You can only have a vision for that.
-I'm not asking you to be creative, I'm asking you to step into the holiness of God and catch His vision.
-I may not have been helpful this morning.
1. I haven't told you the ‘how-to'
2. I can tell you how to pray, how to witness, how to get to church, how to read your Bible...
-I cannot tell you how to receive a vision from God.
-Few ppl receive a vision from God.
-Around steps = no one else
-Around altar = others to pray with you.
-Only God can give you what I am talking about.

Response

Called By a New Name: In Need of a Name Change

Called by a New Name: In Need of a Name-Change

Isaiah 62:2-12

I. Introduction
-Names are fascinating.
-The Variety of names.
1. Especially across cultures.
2. All over the world.
-They help us distinguish among one another.
-Ill. Jared K. Henry
1. Klayton vs. Kyle
2. Psychology together.
3. Receiving his e-mails from his girlfriend.
4. I was worried he would be receiving mine!
-When you first meet another person you exchange names
1. Sometimes before you meet you inquire about one's name.
2. Names hold significance.
-You can sometimes know something about someone by their name.
1. Like their background
2. Gonzalez- Hispanic
3. O'Malley- Irish
4. Rolff- Germany
5. Turcotte- French
6. Use to tell your vocation (carpenters= wood workers; brewers= brewery; etc.)
-Your name may have meaning attached to it.
1. Jr, II, III, etc.
2. Named after a grandparent, aunt/uncle, etc.
-Ill. Sean John Combs
1. Puff Daddy
2. Then- P. Diddy
3. Now just Diddy
4. Going to be a father? Then Diddy Daddy!?
-I've been thinking about names.
-Ill. Pastor's family in IN w/ four boys.
1. Matthew, Mark, Luke, & Roy
2. I don't know.
-Ever ‘google' your name?
1. I did.
2. It's scary what you can find on the Internet!
-If you could change your name what would you change it to?
1. Someone who changed their name... what do you call them?
2. Ladies transition to new last name.

II. Scripture

III. Biblical Names
-Naming a child was significant
1. It was more than sentimental or family meaning.
2. The name described who you were or something you had done.
3. Even places had names that were significant.
-For example...
1. Genesis 28:19 "He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first." (Bethel = house of God)
2. Joshua 5:9 "And the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day."
(Gilgal = to roll)
3. Matthew 27:33 "And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull)."
-The names of people...
1. Genesis 17:5 "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations."
a. Abram- exalted Father
b. Abraham- Father of a multitude
2. Genesis 17:15 "And God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name." (Both = princess)
3. Genesis 32:28 "Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.""
a. Jacob= deceiver/
heel grasper
b. Israel= he strives w/ God
-Point: There's something about an encounter w/ God that changes names.
1. When God moves or works in a place... the name changes.
2. When God comes into relationship with a human being... their name changes

IV. Has Your Name Been Changed?
-Query: Have you received a new name from the Lord?
-How to...
1. Acknowledge a need for something more that you cannot attain alone.
2. Acknowledge you do not presently have it.
3. Acknowledge you must reject lifestyle & values up to that point and adopt new ones!
4. Believe in your adoption into a new family!
-A new name is not something you claim it is something that you are given.
-v. 2 "and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give."
-Wouldn't you like that kind of name?

V. Your Name
-Your reputation is attached to your name.
1. If you are not well liked your name can bring an unpleasant response.
2. If you are well like it can bring a pleasant response.
-There's something of who you are attached to your name.
-I wonder what people will say about you at your funeral as they remember your name?
1. "What name did you make for yourself?"
2. A great preacher?
3. Made a lot of money?
4. An intelligent person?
5. Wise? Foolish? Religious?
6. Church attender? Church worker? (There is a difference.)
7. Loving? Judgmental? Hateful? Kind?
-Your name is not created by what you wish you were, but what you truly are!
1. Everyone wishes they had a good name in the community.
2. But that doesn't decide how everyone views you.
3. Who are you really?
-Query: What would make you the Christian you wish you were?
-Note: What you desperately need spiritually will not come w/out cost (resources, time, focus, energy, etc).
1. An investment in spiritual things is always well worth it!
2. It's what you really want... are you willing to pay the price for it?

VI. A New Name
-Some of you have had the kind of encounter w/ God I am referring to.
1. A name changing encounter.
2. A Born-Again experience.
-But you've denied your birthright.
-You've shamed your new name.
-Discouragement & defeat and chained you again to your past.
-Point: Remember the new name you are called by!
1. Remember who you are in Christ Jesus.
2. Remember the freedom that Jesus paid for!
3. That's not who you are any more!
-Ill. Israelite Forgetfulness
1. Shame the Name
2. Took the name of forsaken & desolate.
-v. 4 "You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called ‘My Delight Is in Her,' [Hephzibah] and your land Married; [Beulah] for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married."
-O the joy of a life lived that God delights in!
1. Sin = shame!
2. Hephzibah = joy & freedom
-Face temptation w/ new name!
1. That's now who I am!
2. I cannot shame the name of Christ!
3. I'm apart of the family of God now!

VII. Conclusion
-1 Corinthians 9-11 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, [10]nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] [GOOD NEWS] And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified [made holy], you were justified [made right] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
1. I was a liar, thief, gossip, self-centered, sexually immoral, drunk, hateful, boastful, prideful, arrogant, impatient, adulterer, etc.
2. My name was forsaken & desolate.
-But then I came to Jesus.
1. My name was changed from Jacob [deceiver] to Israel [he strives w/ God].
2. From Forsaken to Hephzibah.
3. From Desolate to Beulah!
4. From sinner to Christian!
5. Lost to Found!
6. From Darkness to Light!
7. From Slave to Son!
-I've received a new name from the mouth of God.
-v. 12 "And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken."

Response