Embracing Generosity and Authority in Community
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor acknowledging the importance of preaching in the church, but emphasizes that it is not the only significant aspect. He highlights that changing lives and producing transformation happens through various outlets and that the congregation has a shared responsibility in this process. The pastor shares the vision of raising over a million dollars on December 3rd for the children's ministry due to the growing number of children attending. He then reflects on a recent encounter night at the church, emphasizing the importance of showing up and being present for the corporate gathering. The transformative experience that occurred once they arrived shifted the pastor's focus away from fatigue and worldly distractions, leading to a personal encounter with Jesus.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of gathering together as a church community and the significance of generosity in the early church. He explains that generosity gave credibility to the message of resurrection and demonstrated love. The pastor encourages the congregation to embrace generosity as a key aspect of their lives and the church's mission. He also emphasizes the importance of closing the gap and reaching out to lost souls. The congregation is encouraged to prioritize reaching humanity and experiencing the fellowship, hospitality, and generosity that comes with it. The pastor emphasizes that it is the shared responsibility of the community to stand in the gap and ensure that lost people experience the redemption of God.
The pastor discusses the dual role that believers play as both kings and priests. They have a personal relationship with God that grants them authority and power, enabling them to confront the assaults of hell in the world. The pastor then highlights the significance of Jesus in restoring authority to humanity. Jesus, as the image and likeness of man, exemplifies what it means to live as sons with authority on Earth. He demonstrates this authority by speaking to the wind, commanding fish to provide tax money, and riding a colt that submits to his authority.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of generosity and giving within the church community. The pastor references the early church, where believers sold their possessions and brought the money to the apostles to meet the needs of others. The pastor highlights the various ways in which the church utilizes the resources provided by its members, such as flying to Zimbabwe, operating a dental clinic, building churches, and even providing a home for foster care kids. The pastor encourages sacrificial giving, drawing inspiration from the story of Abraham offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice and experiencing God's blessing.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of standing in the gap and protecting what God is doing. He refers to a passage in Ezekiel where God is searching for someone to interject themselves into a critical moment and preserve His work, but He finds no one. The pastor applies this message to the current state of the nation, highlighting the need for individuals to rise up and do the right thing.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes that changing lives and producing transformation happens through various outlets and that the congregation has a shared responsibility in this process. The congregation is encouraged to prioritize reaching humanity and experiencing the fellowship, hospitality, and generosity that comes with it. ([12:45])
- The pastor highlights the significance of Jesus in restoring authority to humanity. Jesus, as the image and likeness of man, exemplifies what it means to live as sons with authority on Earth. He demonstrates this authority by speaking to the wind, commanding fish to provide tax money, and riding a colt that submits to his authority. ([28:30])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of generosity and giving within the church community. The pastor references the early church, where believers sold their possessions and brought the money to the apostles to meet the needs of others. The pastor encourages sacrificial giving, drawing inspiration from the story of Abraham offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice and experiencing God's blessing. ([35:15])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of standing in the gap and protecting what God is doing. He refers to a passage in Ezekiel where God is searching for someone to interject themselves into a critical moment and preserve His work, but He finds no one. The pastor applies this message to the current state of the nation, highlighting the need for individuals to rise up and do the right thing. ([42:00])
- The pastor discusses the dual role that believers play as both kings and priests. They have a personal relationship with God that grants them authority and power, enabling them to confront the assaults of hell in the world. ([49:33])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ezekiel 22:30: "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."
2. Matthew 16:18: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
3. Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the phrase "stand before me in the gap" in Ezekiel 22:30?
2. In Matthew 16:18, what does it mean when it says "the gates of Hades will not overcome it"?
3. What does Genesis 1:26 imply about the authority and power given to mankind?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of standing in the gap, as mentioned in Ezekiel 22:30, relate to the responsibility of believers in today's society?
2. How does the promise in Matthew 16:18 of the church's victory over Hades reflect the authority restored to humanity through Jesus?
3. In light of Genesis 1:26, how can we understand our role as believers in exercising authority over creation?
Application Questions:
1. Can you identify a situation in your community or nation where you can "stand in the gap" as described in Ezekiel 22:30? What specific action can you take?
2. Considering Matthew 16:18, what is one way you can exercise your authority as a believer to confront a challenge in your life this week?
3. Reflecting on Genesis 1:26, how can you demonstrate your God-given authority in a practical way in your workplace or home?
4. How can you practice generosity in a tangible way this week, following the example of the early church?
5. Can you think of a person or group who may feel lost or disconnected? How can you reach out to them this week to demonstrate fellowship, hospitality, and generosity?
Devotional
Day 1: Shared Responsibility in Transformation
We all play a role in the transformation of lives and the growth of the church. It's not just about attending services, but actively participating in the fellowship, hospitality, and generosity that comes with being part of a community. [12:45]
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: Reflect on your role in the church community. How can you actively participate in the transformation of lives and the growth of the church?
Day 2: Living with Authority as Sons of God
As believers, we are called to live with authority on Earth, just as Jesus did. This authority is not for our own gain, but to confront the assaults of hell in the world and to bring about God's kingdom. [28:30]
Luke 10:19 - "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."
Reflection: How can you exercise your God-given authority to confront the challenges in your life and in the world around you?
Day 3: Embracing Generosity in the Church Community
Generosity is a key aspect of our lives as believers and of the church's mission. It's not just about giving money, but also about giving of our time, talents, and resources to meet the needs of others. [35:15]
Acts 20:35 - "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
Reflection: How can you embrace generosity in your life? What are some ways you can give of your time, talents, and resources to meet the needs of others?
Day 4: Standing in the Gap for God's Work
We are called to stand in the gap and protect what God is doing. This means interjecting ourselves into critical moments and preserving His work, even when it's difficult or uncomfortable. [42:00]
Ezekiel 22:30 - "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you could stand in the gap for God's work. How can you interject yourself into this situation and preserve His work?
Day 5: Embracing Our Dual Role as Kings and Priests
As believers, we play a dual role as both kings and priests. This means having a personal relationship with God that grants us authority and power, and using this authority and power to confront the assaults of hell in the world. [49:33]
Revelation 5:10 - "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
Reflection: How can you embrace your dual role as a king and priest? How can you use your authority and power to confront the challenges in your life and in the world around you?
Quotes
"Preaching alone in and of itself is not going to do it...changing lives and producing changed lives happens through many outlets." [51:47]
"Generosity sets the pace of the vision...we're believing that we're going to raise in excess of a million dollar on December 3rd." [53:28]
"The credibility to the message of Resurrection was in demonstration of power but the credibility to I love you was in generosity because you can tell somebody you love them while you digging the meat of your fet Manan out of your teeth and their bellies are growl and they don't believe it there's something about Jesus given the bread to satisfy the hunger so I can speak to your ear because you can't hear me in your ear while you're listening to your belly growl generosity was a key for the new church it helped give credibility to the message that I was given you notice what it says acts 244" [01:38:20]
"They sold their property and possessions and shared their money with those that were in need chapter 4 of the book of Acts because generosity was not a one-time expression it was a part of the lifestyle that was filling the Gap and helping them Reach the world that is around them which is the responsibility because the key is we're giving them Redemption it says and it says and they were no needy people among them what there was no needy people among" [01:38:51]
"Jesus is intentional to bring restoration of that Authority back in the earth... the Creator is stronger in authority over creation." #!!01:24:54!!#
"We have this personal relationship with God that induces us with a level of authority and power that when we walk out into the world the Kingdom of Heaven that's suffering violent the violent push back on the assault that hell is throwing against the Earth." #!!01:22:19!!#
"Jesus saved us so he can use us in the Gap... all of a sudden you become in right standing you're the person you're the choice it's not a preacher In a Pulpit only it's all of us working together in concert in unity to close the gap because we know Jesus is coming and when he comes there's no more opportunity." #!!01:44:17!!#
"It cost money to fly in a plane to Zimbabwe, it cost money to operate a dental clinic, it cost money to build churches...but guess what we get to do because you have been generous, we get to have a home that foster care kids are coming into and they're finding Ministry and they're finding love and they're finding hope." (#!!01:40:01!!#)
"I'm looking for somebody to interject themselves into this moment to preserve to protect what I'm doing and he said I couldn't find anybody." (#!!56:54!!#)
"God Is So intentional with his numbers Teach Me No Moses wrote In the book of Psalms to number my days that I may incline my heart to wisdom if you watch the math it'll make you wise in knowing what you should do for the sons of isachar knew the times and the seasons of what Israel ought to do I mean they were paying attention to the time and the season and it positioned them to make sure that they was given a right response." #!!01:29:15!!#
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