Sunday Morning, February 17, 2013
scriptures: Hebrews 13, James 5, Ephesians 6
audio file: click to open in a new window or right-click to download
NOTES
Today we will have communion. It is a follow-up to our conversation last Sunday about commitment to Christ.
You have to decide whether or not you will be committed/married unto Christ.
Make sure you are serious about it before you partake in the Lord’s supper.
Joshua – choose this day who you will serve. You have to decide.
We need to know who in this congregation is committed to serving Christ and working in the fellowship.
If you are not committed to God, you show disrespect to Him!
The world questions why you’d leave a good job, with good benefits. WHY would you leave the
good God, with all His benefits?
Jeremiah 2:13 – God says that you have left me, the fountain of water to go to containers that won’t even hold water.
God cares less about what your job is, but rather that you are committed to working for Him.
Paul says that he has learned to take things and bear things because God gives us strength.
If you consider yourself married to God, you plan your life and schedule around God. If you cannot find yourself doing for Christ, then you are already lost.
God wants our best, not the leftover strength and time.
If God doesn’t affect the details of your life, it throws of the whole picture.
Fact: There are people who will choose not to commit. Don’t be one of them.
If you are not willing to forsake all, you cannot be God’s disciple.
Hebrews 13:15-17
Giving thanks and praise is part of the Christian life/responsibility. You cannot be a Christian who doesn’t want to look Christian. It’s like not wanting to wear your wedding ring.
When people don’t communicate, they don’t care. God says he who keeps His commandments is he who loves Him.
God is pleased with knowing that you express Him and obedience your relationships.
There are many fragile things on this earth that may look pretty, but are easily broken and cannot hold things.
People who are fragile do not hold up and may break or cut you when pressed.
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!
We shouldn’t be afraid to talk to people that we think are fragile or may “go off”. If a person is not controlled or not standing in Christ, talking with them will only reveal what is there.
If you are emotionally fragile, you are lacking something to give you strength. That is what you need to seek from Christ.
If you are in a fellowship and cannot communicate, then something is wrong. What good is it if you cannot communicate sincere, genuine faith?
Believers should operate under guidance of a pastor, a spiritual teacher (helping you learn to get better), caring for your souls (accountable and praying for you).
To whom you reveal yourself and concerns, shows who you care about. The congregation of believers should be the ones that you care about and who you pray for and ask to pray for you.
Believers have a responsibility to respond, ask for prayer.
James 5:13-20
The scripture doesn’t say to go handle it by yourself.
Ask for help from people who are wise, don’t look to commiserate with others with no strength.
Bitter spirits often seek other bitter spirits. To be right, seek strength from God.
He that walked with wise men will be wise.
This prayer is to help us deal with the impact of sin. We have to submit and seek God for the solution. If you have a problem, you have to be open and trying to get better.
Prayer does change things. Elias was human as are we.
Convert – it’s not about confession of sins just to admit that you’re wrong, it is about seeking change, to be right, to be converted.
Sinners are headed in a bad way. Conversion is crucial. It is not just saying you are sorry for the action, but making sure that there is a change of direction to be different, better.
A converted person is saved from death. This is about salvation, not about preference.
LOOK AT THE CROSS
Jesus died so that we could become godly people. To pay for the sins that we have committed.
We have to put away the way that we are to become the way that He wants. If you are not willing to change, with bitterness, unforgiveness, then you are not coming to Christ. You have to be right, committed to being right with God to partake in communion with Him.
If God is strengthening you, you cannot blame people for your weakness. We have to make decisions.
Before partaking, you have to evaluate whether you are committed. If you have things that are not like Christ, repent. Ask God to cleanse you and commit to live God’s way.
This is thanking God for His sacrifice and willingly submit to Him.
We cannot continue to be broken when we have a healing God.