Embracing God's Presence: From Surviving to Thriving
Summary
### Summary
Kia ora koutou katoa e te whanau. Talofa lava. Morena. Good morning, everyone. It's a joy to see you all here today. We are gathered to celebrate what God is doing in our midst, and it's truly exciting. This morning, I want to talk about the importance of making room for God's presence in our lives and in our church. One of our core values is that God's presence is our priority. When we make space for Him, He fills it abundantly. We are called to cease from striving and enter into His rest, leaning into the secret place where we can hear the heart of heaven for ourselves and those around us.
As we reflect on our journey, it's clear that God is preparing us for more. Gideon spoke last year about preparing the way of the Lord, and this year, we are seeing the fruits of that preparation. We are moving from a place of surviving to thriving, with growth and expansion in various areas of our lives and ministries. This includes new campuses, businesses, and families. God is pruning us, removing the dead and unfruitful parts, so that we can experience healthy growth.
In this season, God is calling us to greater alignment with Him. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. This alignment may require us to let go of old assignments and embrace new ones. There may be frustration in the transition, but great joy will come as we operate in our God-given lanes. We are called to be specialists, each working in our unique assignments to bring about unity and oneness in the body of Christ.
Our church, Harmony, is growing, and it's a beautiful thing to witness. More people are coming through our doors, and we are seeing lives transformed, families healed, and marriages restored. We are blessed with a diverse congregation, representing over 30 different nationalities. This diversity enriches our community and reflects the heart of God for all nations.
As we continue to grow, it's important to love the house and the people in it. Love covers a multitude of sins, and we are called to practice hospitality and create a welcoming environment for everyone. This means inviting people into our homes, sharing meals, and building relationships. It's about being the culture we want to see, embodying love and unity in all that we do.
We are also called to be generous and to sow into the house of God. Every year, we have seen miracles as we have sown into Heart for the House. God has blessed us abundantly, and we are called to give with a heart of faith, trusting that He will provide for all our needs. It's not about the amount we give, but the heart behind it. When we give, we partner with God in building His kingdom and seeing His purposes fulfilled.
In this season of acceleration, we are seeing new opportunities and open doors. God is releasing new ventures, promotions, and breakthroughs. What has been shut down and repressed is now being released. This is a time of preparation and alignment, as we position ourselves for what God is doing. We are called to intimacy with Him, seeking His face and His heart above all else.
As we conclude, let's remember that it's all about Jesus. He is the one who changes our hearts and impacts our lives. We are blessed to be part of this beautiful Harmony family, and we are excited to see what God will continue to do in our midst. Let's pray and yield to Him, trusting that He will grow us and use us for His glory. Amen.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Presence is Our Priority: We must make room for God's presence in our lives and church. When we prioritize Him, He fills the space abundantly. This involves ceasing from striving and entering into His rest, leaning into the secret place to hear the heart of heaven. This is where transformation begins, both for ourselves and those around us. [01:24:31]
2. From Surviving to Thriving: God is moving us from a place of merely surviving to thriving. This season is marked by growth and expansion in various areas, including new campuses, businesses, and families. Pruning is necessary to remove the unfruitful parts, allowing for healthy growth and greater fruitfulness. [01:13:10]
3. Alignment with God's Kingdom: Matthew 6:33 calls us to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. This alignment may require letting go of old assignments and embracing new ones. Though the transition may bring frustration, it will ultimately lead to great joy as we operate in our God-given lanes, becoming specialists in our unique assignments. [01:19:32]
4. Loving the House and Practicing Hospitality: Love covers a multitude of sins, and we are called to practice hospitality and create a welcoming environment. This means inviting people into our homes, sharing meals, and building relationships. It's about embodying the culture of love and unity we want to see in our church and community. [01:27:20]
5. Generosity and Sowing into God's House: We are called to be generous and sow into the house of God. Every year, we have seen miracles as we have sown into Heart for the House. God blesses us abundantly when we give with a heart of faith. It's not about the amount, but the heart behind it. Our generosity partners with God in building His kingdom and fulfilling His purposes. [01:37:17]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:04:49] - Activating God's Promises
[01:13:10] - From Surviving to Thriving
[01:19:32] - Alignment with God's Kingdom
[01:24:31] - God's Presence is Our Priority
[01:27:20] - Loving the House and Practicing Hospitality
[01:37:17] - Generosity and Sowing into God's House
[01:39:31] - Communion and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
2. 1 Chronicles 4:10 - "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request."
3. Ephesians 3:20-21 - "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6:33, what are we instructed to seek first, and what is promised as a result?
2. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, what specific requests does Jabez make to God, and how does God respond?
3. Ephesians 3:20-21 speaks of God's ability to do more than we ask or imagine. What is the source of this power, and what is the ultimate purpose of it?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does seeking God's kingdom and righteousness first (Matthew 6:33) align with the sermon’s emphasis on making God's presence a priority in our lives and church?
2. The prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10) asks for blessing and expansion. How does this relate to the sermon’s message about moving from surviving to thriving and experiencing growth and expansion?
3. Ephesians 3:20-21 talks about God's power at work within us. How does this passage encourage us to trust in God's ability to provide and bless us abundantly, as mentioned in the sermon?
#### Application Questions
1. Prioritizing God's Presence: Reflect on your daily routine. How can you make more room for God's presence in your life? What specific changes can you make to prioritize time with Him?
2. From Surviving to Thriving: Identify an area in your life where you feel you are merely surviving. What steps can you take to move towards thriving in that area, trusting in God's pruning and growth process?
3. Alignment with God's Kingdom: Are there any old assignments or roles in your life that you need to let go of to embrace new ones? How can you seek God's guidance in this transition?
4. Loving the House and Practicing Hospitality: Think of someone in your church or community who might feel isolated. How can you practice hospitality and build a relationship with them this week?
5. Generosity and Sowing into God's House: Reflect on your giving habits. How can you give with a heart of faith, trusting that God will provide for your needs? What specific action can you take to contribute to your church's mission?
6. Embodying Love and Unity: How can you actively contribute to creating a welcoming and loving environment in your church? What practical steps can you take to embody the culture of love and unity?
7. Intimacy with God: What does seeking intimacy with God look like for you? How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Him, focusing on His heart rather than just His blessings?
Let's pray and yield to God, trusting that He will grow us and use us for His glory. Amen.
Devotional
Day 1: Making Room for God's Presence
When we prioritize God's presence in our lives and church, He fills the space abundantly. This involves ceasing from striving and entering into His rest, leaning into the secret place to hear the heart of heaven. This is where transformation begins, both for ourselves and those around us. By making room for God, we allow Him to work in and through us, bringing about change and growth that we could never achieve on our own. It's about creating an environment where His presence is welcomed and cherished, leading to a deeper relationship with Him and a more impactful ministry.
[01:24:31]
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to create space for God's presence in your daily routine? How can you make room for Him to speak and move in your life?
Day 2: From Surviving to Thriving
God is moving us from a place of merely surviving to thriving. This season is marked by growth and expansion in various areas, including new campuses, businesses, and families. Pruning is necessary to remove the unfruitful parts, allowing for healthy growth and greater fruitfulness. As we embrace this process, we will see the fruits of our labor and the blessings of God in our lives. It's a time of transformation and renewal, where we move beyond just getting by and step into a season of abundance and flourishing.
[01:13:10]
"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:2, ESV)
Reflection: What areas of your life do you feel God is pruning right now? How can you embrace this process and trust that it will lead to greater growth and fruitfulness?
Day 3: Alignment with God's Kingdom
Matthew 6:33 calls us to seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness. This alignment may require letting go of old assignments and embracing new ones. Though the transition may bring frustration, it will ultimately lead to great joy as we operate in our God-given lanes, becoming specialists in our unique assignments. By aligning ourselves with God's kingdom, we position ourselves to be used by Him in powerful ways, bringing about unity and oneness in the body of Christ.
[01:19:32]
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)
Reflection: Is there an old assignment or role that you need to let go of to align more closely with God's kingdom? What new assignment might God be calling you to embrace?
Day 4: Loving the House and Practicing Hospitality
Love covers a multitude of sins, and we are called to practice hospitality and create a welcoming environment. This means inviting people into our homes, sharing meals, and building relationships. It's about embodying the culture of love and unity we want to see in our church and community. By loving the house and the people in it, we reflect the heart of God and create a space where everyone feels valued and accepted.
[01:27:20]
"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Who can you invite into your home or share a meal with this week to practice hospitality and build relationships? How can you embody the culture of love and unity in your interactions with others?
Day 5: Generosity and Sowing into God's House
We are called to be generous and sow into the house of God. Every year, we have seen miracles as we have sown into Heart for the House. God blesses us abundantly when we give with a heart of faith. It's not about the amount, but the heart behind it. Our generosity partners with God in building His kingdom and fulfilling His purposes. By giving generously, we demonstrate our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His work.
[01:37:17]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can practice generosity this week, whether through your time, resources, or finances? How can you give with a heart of faith, trusting that God will provide for all your needs?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We do not live under the world's economy we live under God's economy kingdom economy thanks Samuel I saw large doors opening to new fields new ventures and many will receive promotions in their different areas many will finally move into some of the promise that they have been in process for after a long time for some it has been decades of preparation there will suddenly be release into the world and we will see new ventures emerge and things open up bigger and more advanced than imagined some who have been in a holding pattern for years waiting on the fulfilment of promise will see it this year things that have been hindered or delayed in the past will suddenly spring forth and joy will be released as projects that have been stalled will finally make headway for some it will be a time of letting go of what has been to make room for what is to come if our hands are full with the past we can't take that away from us we can't take the future" [01:16:58]
2. "God is calling us to a greater alignment with him he's bringing a refining and a focusing of assignments some will find that their old assignments no longer fit and they need to let go of them to fully embrace the new there will be some frustration in the transition period but great joy as the fat of mixed agendas is trimmed off and put away off and a new purity of heart and purpose is released as we start to operate in our lanes. There is nothing like running in the lane that we're created for. What is it that you do where you do something that you think, oh I feel God's pleasure on this." [01:19:32]
3. "We all are when we're in misalignment there's continual tension. Friction, exhaustion and fruitlessness. He's connecting us more and more with those who we have synergy with and limiting beliefs will fall away as we move forward with accelerated speed. I see new friendships and connections and pieces will suddenly fit together and a new momentum. Are you in the right alignment for this? Season? What do you need to do? What has God spoken to you about aligning and how you position yourself for this season?" [01:22:48]
4. "The greatest call to the church in this hour is actually to intimacy. There's such a strong call back to the secret place and Gideon's been speaking about it for the last year but it's not just for our church. It's actually the church global. A call back to the secret place. A call back to the things that are of great weight and great importance. Seeking his face, not his hand. His heart, not his blessing. We're becoming what we are beholding and he's calling us to live in the frequency of heaven." [01:23:22]
5. "Our mission statement is transforming the world with the good news of Jesus. How can you contribute to that? How can you partner with that? Will you play your part in this house? We're super grateful for the nearly close to 100,000 which has already been promised or given already for Heart for the House. It's amazing. What's not amazing is only from a third of our givers. So that means a third of people have contributed to Heart for the House. Two thirds have not yet. And I'm just guessing that you just didn't know about it like Kathleen and you're going to be doing that this week. Because the thing is, even if you're contributing $5 a month, you're contributing and you've got skin in the game and you're investing into the house." [01:35:02]
### Quotes for Members
1. "God is continuing to grow our hearts and as he does more and more people are being reached how exciting is that I mean not that many months ago three months ago we were sitting here and this was, this amount of people was it now the 11 o'clock has been a wee bit fuller than the 9 o'clock but you come again at 11 and that's how many more people are coming to Harmony since February exciting more and more people are coming through the doors and we're seeing oh such beautiful things and Judah actually you can just start chucking up some of those photos of our beautiful Harmony family more hearts are being touched and more lives are being changed families are being healed marriages are being strengthened and put back together and lonely find a place of welcome dreams and visions are being released and we lift our eyes to the God of revival oh isn't that cute that's so cute it's all about Jesus it's all about Jesus it's all about Jesus and Him changing our hearts impacting our hearts it's all about Him it starts and finishes with Him do you know Him" [01:08:39]
2. "I believe there's a call for the church to be in alignment each working in their God-given assignment to bring which is oneness. Working together harmoniously. I believe God is wanting to bring that alignment at harmony. Who you are connected with matters. We don't have to be the same to be in unity. Sameness is not unity. And unity is not sameness. But who are you connecting with? Who are you connecting with here? We had the most extraordinary thing at Life Group on Tuesday night where somebody came for the first or two people came new for the first time and it turned out that quite miraculously that there was connections with them. With people in the room that they didn't realise were there. And it's just amazing how God positions us and puts us with people around us that can actually encourage us and support us." [01:21:09]
3. "We are so excited to partner with what God is doing at Harmony and there's much more to be accomplished. And we do this as not only partner with God, but we partner together. We partner with one another. You know, we get alongside people and we say, hey, how can I help you? We take people on the journey. Hey, how can I grow you? Help grow you. Because like when we talk about the heart for the house, some of the areas that we've been sowing into is the home base. Right? The facilities. There's a few things that we would like to still do around here in terms of soundproofing and dampening sound and some decoration. We want to put a veranda out there so because you will notice when everybody's here and there's the crossover particularly, the foyer's very small. So we want to you know, sort of have some kind of veranda out there. About building community and that can come in all sorts of forms." [01:32:31]
4. "So love on the house. We're blessed to have this building and all the people who fill it up every Sunday and who minister during the week because our house, Harmony House, isn't just what happens here on a Sunday. It's what's happening throughout the week and we're seeing amazing things. And this is where, you know, heart for the house and your contributions to heart for the house is actually allowing a lot of that stuff to happen. Let me be real. It costs money. Loving the house, loving what's happening here also means giving of yourself. And we can't just talk about culture. We've got to actually be the culture. So what culture are we? When we say we're loving, what does that look like? How are we loving? How are we loving on our house? How are we loving on the people in our house? How are we loving on the people in our community?" [01:27:20]
5. "I mean did you see that team here this morning we are growing an amazing team here we're growing expanding congregation that is both intergenerational and with ages from babies or not yet babies and there's a few cooking there's a few cooking we'd like to see a few more cooking and there's a few cooking and then we have right through to I think actually Rona would probably be our most senior so we're going from babies or not yet babies right through to 90 plus it's amazing it's amazing our family is ethnically diverse with over 30 different nationalities represented here and the nations continue to come in wow how wonderful you know because I'd had this conversation with God because I loved I loved being in YRAM I loved going to the nations and then it was like now I'm in Christchurch with this handsome man honestly honestly when I when I rented to YRAM I thought we were going to live in Europe I thought I was going to live in Europe and so I had this conversation with God but God I thought you were taking me to the nations and so God says watch me I'm going to bring the nations to you and we're seeing that with over I mean over 30 30 different nations represented in our church that's incredible I think it's so exciting" [01:10:51]
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