Livin on the Edge # 4

“Dance as though no one is watching

Love as though you have never been hurt

Sing as though no one is listening

Live as if Heaven is on Earth”

ROMANS 12: 17-21

17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. 19 Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." 20 Instead, as the scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." 21 Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.

TO LIVE ON THE EDGE… We have to LOVE with reckless abandon! To Love as Christ Loved us.

A pair of hands methodically began to scoop up the loose ground, moving it into a pile. When a sufficient amount of earth had been placed in the pile, the hands began to move the earth around swiftly. The earth began to take a shape unseen before. When the earth had been fashioned into the desired form, the Creator bent down, looked approvingly at the shape and placed His mouth over the earthen lips of the form. He breathed, forcing air into the earthen vessel He had fashioned. Suddenly, miraculously, the form responded to the breath and sprang to life. Adam was aware that he was the culmination and climax of creation and that the Creator had just formed a special bond with him-a relationship of love (see Genesis 2:7).

The Very Nature of God is Love

Volumes have been written about the characteristics of God, but when it is distilled to the most basic categories, He is love (1 John 4:8), life (Jeremiah 10:10; Revelation 22:1), and holiness (Psalms 99:9). 

And in reality, His life and holiness are based upon and are an expression of His love: love gives, so He gives life; love desires the best, so holiness proceeds from Him.

Love is not something he chooses to do or give. It is the very essence of who He is. He doesn't just love-He is love (1 John 4:16). It motivates His every action, directs His activities, and reflects His desires (1 John 4:10). Love is the greatest and purest essence of who a person is and its proper expression brings fulfillment.

However, God's love is not like the love expressed by many in our culture today: a love of convenience and ego. That is, "I will love you as long as you add value to my life and please me. When that ceases, so does my love for you." For many, love is conditional. The conditions may be different depending upon the relationship, but there are still conditions to be met in order to "earn" our love.

William Bennett, former Secretary of Education and author of The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories (1993), once said that he attended a wedding where the vows had been changed to reflect this love of convenience. He decided to send a gift to the couple that reflected their commitment to the marriage-a package of paper plates! He said he figured the package would last as long as the marriage.

This attitude stands in stark contrast to God's unconditional love, which never fails (Psalms 52:8), endures forever (Psalms 106:1), is uncalculating (Proverbs 30:5), and not motivated by personal gain (1 John 3:16). 

Unconditional love does not mean that God loves everything we do, but rather His love is so intense that He loves every sinner, no matter how vile and despicable he or she may be in the eyes of humanity, so much that He provides a way for them to find love, life, and holiness (John 3:16). "Intense love does not measure, it just gives" (Mother Teresa).

The Focus of God's Love is Redemption

Daily, Adam and Eve walked with God, until the desire for pleasure overcame their love for God (see Genesis 3). 

This break in the relationship required redemption.

God's love (and our own!) is not an abstract ideal, but a concrete reality that finds expression. Love that is not expressed through the giving of self, practical action and sacrifice is not love. Love must meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of those loved. It is costly, brings vulnerability, and seeks the person's highest good (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

God's unconditional and intense love for fallen humanity motivated the plan of salvation (Revelation 1:5). Simply, salvation is God making us whole or complete. It is a healing of the soul, bringing us back to the state of Adam when God breathed life into him and made him a living soul. Separation from God, caused by sin, is separation from life. A person might have biological life, but not the quality of life God envisions for us.

A few years ago I encountered Marc, a house painter. He promptly told me that he knew I was a preacher, but he didn't have much for Christians or preachers because of some bad experiences. I quickly prayed for wisdom and said, "Marc, Christians are a lot like painters. Not everyone who claims to be one is. Of those who are, some are better than others. And even the best make mistakes." He paused and replied, "I've never thought about it like that." Our friendship continued to develop. One day, he called to tell me that he and his wife had given their hearts to the Lord. He was amazed that he felt so alive and free. God's love brings cleansing, freedom, and wholeness. True love is liberating, not restrictive. This does not give us a license to sin, but the freedom to serve God completely, motivated by love, and empowered by the Spirit.

God's love motivates His compassion and mercy (love in action). His love brings transformation. Usually at baptism, the minister will quote from Matthew 28:19 and baptize the person "in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We clap, raise our hands, and miss the truth of the event. It is more than a public expression of one's faith. At baptism, we are baptized (immersed) into the very character of the Father (love), the character of the Son (grace), and the character of the Holy Spirit (fellowship; see 2 Corinthians 13:13).

Salvation is based on God's fervent love and mercy, not our worthiness (Titus 3:4-5). One response (in the image of Jesus Christ's offering on the Cross) is that we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom 12:1).

The Goal of God's Love is Relationship

Ephesians 4:29 New International Version (NIV)

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

Love requires relationship, as love is a dynamic force or presence that naturally seeks expression. Simply put, love loves! And in order to do that there must be an object of that love or it is incomplete.

God's love is revealed in that He created us in His own image (a position of responsibility before God) and likeness (moral freedom; Genesis 1:26-27; Job 33:4). Part of that image/likeness is freedom of choice. We can choose to accept and embrace God's love or we can choose to ignore or reject it. We were formed from dust, but because of God's great love for us, we received the breath of God, with its intrinsic and inherent life. This life gives us the capacity and desire to be in relationship (understanding; self-awareness; communicative; ability to have fellowship) and to love in return. To live in God is to live in love (1 John 4:16).

Our relationship with God is an intimate one. There is a sacred knowledge and expression that takes place. To know Him intimately is to open the door for revelation and fulfillment. It brings change or transformation-change of essence, expression, behavior, desires, identity, and security. The bond is so strong that God says a nursing mother may abandon her child, but He will never abandon us (Isaiah 49:15-16). He becomes the ultimate Father!

When we reflect upon the intensity of our relationship with God, self-doubt often arises. Can we keep our end of the bargain? Of great comfort (and a pressing challenge) is the thought that our relationship with God is not the sum of our activity directed toward God, but the intensity of our relationship with God as expressed through our devotion to him, our obedience to his wishes, and our attitudes toward his will and best desires for us. He loved us first, enabling us to respond properly to His love (1 John 4:10-11). And His love (and ability) never fails.

A young student asked Karl Barth to share the most significant theological truth he had discovered in all of his years of study. Barth, one of the most prolific theologians of the 20th century, wrote approximately sixty volumes of commentaries and theological studies. This brilliant man that many call the most important theologian of modern times thought for a moment, smiled, and said, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

Nothing-absolutely nothing-can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:35-39)!

Living on the Edge # 3

“The Greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To Fear and NOT be afraid… that is the paradox of faith.”

- A.W. Tozer

In our FIRST message in this series…

• Romans 12 showed us that we have to be willing to let go of control and we must surrender it to the ONE who knows us BEST and who loves us MOST

• We talked about what a Surrendered Life actually looks like

• We asked the question… “are you in or only in half way?”

In our SECOND message in this series…

• We asked you the question… “Why Wait?!”
• Do you really WANT to be well? - John 5

• To Live On The Edge, you must POSITION yourself to be where the BLESSINGS are!

• They're cannot be any excuses… the proof is in the pursuit!
• Jesus said to let the dead bury the dead

This morning in our THIRD message in this series… Question: “Are you getting God’s Best?”

• A practical, but most difficult step to Living On The Edge - Separate yourself from the World’s Values and Actions
• Jesus said…”If you hand causes you to sin… or if your eye causes you to sin, cut it off or pluck it out!”

Then He said to them all; “If anyone would come after me, he must DENY himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it!” - Jesus of Nazareth

How do you get the very best from God?

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind. THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is… His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

• Look at the last 19 words of this verse…. 

“THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is… 

            His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

• Can you imaging that were is something we ca actually do that God promises will allow us to “Test and Approve” (the idea is to fully and completely experience) how good, pleasing and perfect His will is for our lives?!

• Think about that! GOD wants you to experience his good and pleasing will in your marriage, your job, and your future He even wants you to experience His perfect Will is a difficult situation as you learn to wait, learn and see God’s wisdom and grace sustain you and I.

• All of this to say… God wants to give us the VERY BEST. I didn't say the easiest… and don't confuse THE BEST with how YOU define it. BUT, the Creator of the Universe knows your name, sees your heart, knows your pain, and longs to pour out His good, acceptable, and perfect will into every area of your life and relationships!

• Sadly, most christians… yep, you and me…. don't experience God’s best. Most christians get seduced and conned into believing lies that keep them conformed to this world and they miss out on all the wonderful things God wants to give them.

• Here’s REALITY… WE ARE IN A BATTLE! We all struggle. We all all have missteps and failures on our journey; but it is GODS DESIRE for you to experience His good, pleasing and perfect will! HOW?

Here’s how one man described it….

“I still struggle at times with my thought life and I am very susceptible to visual messages, so I have to be very intentional about what I watch or where I let my eyes go. I have battled workaholism, pleasing people, and self righteousness in my journey. However, I rejoice at God’s work in my life, but I still have daily temptations and that deep, lasting, significant change has occurred in my motives, speech, behavior, and relationships…. which have become deeper and better than I ever imagined. God’s good and perfect will is sweet!”

• The battle will CHANGE SHAPE as you continue to mature, but real transformation IS possible! This life is available and waiting for you! Those last 19 words in Romans 12:2 can describe your life when you learn by faith to put into practices the first 22 words of Romans 12:2! Results require Action. You will not experience one without the other!

God really wants to speak to you about this! PERSONALLY!  Using the acronym TRUST ME…

Think about the pathways to LIVING ON THE EDGE in your life. As you hear these and

 think on these things… listen to the Holy Spirit and follow HIS leading out onto the EDGE!

THINK - Read Romans 12:2 over slowly with a special focus on the last 19 words

REFLECT - What comes to your mind when you think about doing God’s will? Does your mind gravitate to words like difficult, painful, distasteful; or do you see His will as GOOD, Well Pleasing, and custom made for your benefit and joy?

UNDERSTAND - How and where have you struggled the most in your walk with Jesus? What habits, sins or setbacks seem to thwart your relationship with Christ?

SURRENDER - Ask God to begin opening your eyes and your heart to what His Good and Pleasing will is for your life.

TAKE ACTION - Discipline yourself and include an accountability partner if needed to walk away from things that are getting in the way of your walk with The Lord

MOTIVATION - Write out this prayer on a 3x5 index card or onto something else and tape it up somewhere you will see it…

“Father, help me not to let this world squeeze me into its mold, but transform me from the inside out as I meditate on and apply your word to my life”

ENCOURAGE SOMEONE - Jot a brief note to someone who knows Christ, but who is struggling in the day to day walk with Him. Just let them know you care and that you are praying for them today!

Living on the Edge! #2

“Living On The Edge”

TEXT: John 5:1-11

I. At Certain Seasons

There are two Greek words for time. “Chronos” from which we get chronological. It equals calendar time or quantity of time.

In this passage however, the second word is used. “Kairos”. It deals with quality of time. 

Actual definition is “A divine appointment of God” or “a favorable time”. This word is used 168 times in the entire Bible. 168 times in the 1600 years it took for the Bible to be written.

The truth is that we can’t miss the kairos moments in our life. We must not miss the season of troubled waters. Who knows when the “time” the “kairos” will come back again. If we miss our kairos moment due to pettiness, pride, bitterness, anger, who know when another kairos moment will come. 168 times in 1600 years. We may only have one shot.

 See we don’t create the waves we only ride them. It is essential for us to become like the Sons of Issachar described in I Chronicles 12:32. 

The Bible says they were men who understood the times. We must become men and women who understand and perceive when a kairos moment is upon us.

Look at your neighbor and say it is time! (We are face to face with a kairos moment this morning will you perceive it or miss it?)

II. No One Can Get Your Blessing Or Revival For You = Verse 7

God has made each of us a free moral agent. In other words we must each choose for ourselves. I can’t get revival for you. I can’t get blessed for you.

I might be a part of your blessing but you have to choose it and want it

yourself. If you set back and wait you will never get it. If you are waiting

on someone to package it just right and come and place it in your lap it will never happen. If your waiting on your pastor to bring revival to you you will be waiting forever. We have to get it for ourselves.

III. Others Are Not Going To Wait On You To Get Blessed. Therefore, You Can’t Wait On Them. = Verse 7

No since waiting on so and so to get right. No use waiting on your boyfriend or girlfriend, your spouse, your neighbor, your parents, aunts or uncles before you step into revival. You may say, “When Brother So and So straightens up” or “When Sister Such and Such gets in I will too.” “I am waiting on him to dance or shout.” I have got news for you today I’m not going to wait on you to get blessed. The other person isn’t going to wait on you to get blessed. When the opportunity presents itself I’m going for it and so should you. Don’t wait. Get in while the waters are troubled.

Can you imagine the scene. It is a mad rush to get into the water when they are troubled. The blind man hears the cry go up, “the waters are troubled.” So he begins to make a sprint to the water. But in his blindness he trips over the lame man’s cane. He turns and yells at the man but he is actually yelling at a man that seems to pay no attention. He is deaf. All the while the mute man is trying to direct traffic with sign language. A huge dog pile takes place at the pool’s edge and the blind man in anger turns his seeing eye dog loose on the mob.

Fighting to get in. Desperate for the move. There is truth here. Get up, get in or get out of the way. If you get in the way of revival, if you wait on someone else you may get trampled by desperate people. 

WE ARE COMING THRU. WE WON’T WAIT.

IV. Those Positioned Appropriately Got The Blessing = Verse 7

Who got the blessing when the water was troubled? Why after 38 years had this man not been the first into the pool? Why after all this time had he not been the one to be healed? Why after being beaten time and time again into the water didn’t he position himself appropriately? Who got blessed and healed? Those who were close to the water. Why after 38 years wasn’t he on the edge of the water? I would have been hanging over the edge every day.

The word is this. . . Who is going to experience revival? Those who position themselves appropriately. Where is the appropriate position? As close to the water as possible. You can’t be a long ways off and expect to get in you have to get ready now. If revival hits and you have to begin preparing, praying, fasting you will miss the wave. Get ready! Position yourself! Get close, stay close! Camp out near the water. Don’t miss, don’t skip, don’t blink! Get ready, stay on the edge.

V. No Excuses Allowed = Verses 6-7

Jesus asks a silly question or did he? He asks a man who had been sick 38 years if he wants to be healed. That is a “yes” or “no” question. But notice the man’s answer. He doesn’t say yes. He doesn’t say no. He makes an excuse. He had become comfortable with his sickness. He had become comfortable with his present state. He was comfortable with the routine of coming to the pool every day. After 38 years of the same daily routine and after 38 years of making friends around the pool he was satisfied where he was.

Jesus is troubling the waters and He is asking, “Do you want revival?” It is a “yes” or “no” question. But what is our answer? Are we comfortable with our sickness called sin. Are we comfortable with our present state spiritually? Some of us have been the same for 40 years, 4 years, 4 months. But there are no excuses allowed. We either want it or we don’t.

But I can’t get into revival because so and so setting on the 4th row hurt me, my past won’t let me, this revival doesn’t push my buttons, the songs aren’t my style, the preacher isn’t firey enough, the preacher didn’t pray for me personally so I can’t have revival. No Excuses Allowed!! It is a yes or no question. We must make up our mind that we want revival so bad that we will take it any way we can get it and at any cost. If God sends us a cinnamon revival and our favorite flavor of revival is vanilla we should still get in on it. If we prefer fast songs but revival comes through slow ones, if we like choruses and it comes through hymns, if we want a Caucasian revival and He sends a black or brown revival we should still be a part of it.

No Excuses Allowed!! THE PROOF OF DESIRE IS PURSUIT. We must desire revival so bad that we will pursue in any shape, color, or form. And the great news is that we you can’t get to the water the water has come to you. Just answer yes and have revival.

VI. People Will Try To Box Up Your Revival = Verses 10-11

If you experience revival someone will try to clean it up, formalize it, place tradition on it. There will be someone who won’t like the way you sing, dance, shout, or pray. I suggest that you answer them like this man did . . . “Jesus told me to do it.”

When you know God said dance. When you know He said shout with the voice of triumph. When you know He said to run. Others will try to box you up. “We never did it that way.” “Your in the flesh.” I am convinced we are more scared of being in the flesh than we are of being dead. Do what you feel like God said do and let Him make up the difference. Err on the side of life rather than death.

If you know God said to do it answer them like this man did and keep on trukin. You notice he didn’t’ sit back down and stay around the pool another 38 years. He walked on into victory. We must do the same. When the devil laughs, when people laugh, when friends laugh, when neighbors laugh and say your making a fool of yourself just tell them who told you to do it and walk into victory.

It Is Time... The Waters Are Troubled!!

PRAYER:

1. If here and want revival but been waiting on someone else.

2. Not positioned appropriately and need to get closer to the water.

3. Been making excuses.

4. Letting others box me in.

5. Ready for revival.

Living On The Edge Intro

Living on the Edge

Experiencing the “The Spiritual” the way it was intended

• Romans 12 is the place to start if you want a RENEWAL of your SPIRITUAL CONNECT with the Supernatural! 
• What most Christians sadly misunderstand is that God isn’t into religious activities or performance based Christianity. Instead, Romans 12 reveals to us a RELATIONAL profile of what it means to be a disciple, as well as a proven pathway to becoming more like Jesus everyday!
• If you have become stagnant in your spiritual growth… START HERE
• If you have become disengaged with your church experience… START HERE
• If you are a relatively new believer and unsure of how to grow spiritually… START HERE!
• If you are a mature Christian and are looking for a pathway to disciple others or even yourself… START HERE.

• Over the next few weeks… we are going to be talking a lot about LOVE. Love from God, Love for each other… and we are going to look at Practical ways to do that!

Our message series is called LIVING ON THE EDGE. 

• How to give God what He wants most  (Romans 12:1)
• What does God really want from us?
• Why is it so hard to surrender to God?
• Do we believe that God has our best in mind?
• What does a surrendered life look like anyway?
• Are we all in or still only part way?

• How do you get God’s BEST for your life?  (Romans 12:2)

• How do we come to grips with the REAL me? (Romans 12: 3-8)
• Who do we think we are?
• Have we answered life’s really big questions?
• Where do we “fit” in God’s family?
• Do we know God’s PURPOSE for our lives?

• How to Experience Authentic Community (Romans 12: 9-13)
• How to overcome the enemy when he is aiming straight at us? (Romans 12: 14-21)

ARE WE READY to see God do the IMPOSSIBLE?

To really understand what its like to experience LIVING ON THE EDGE… we have to let of our own way of thinking and acting and really GIVE IT ALL to Him. (Proverbs 3:5-6)