February 16, 2020
MORE CONNECTION
1. Unity brings oil
Psalm 133(NIV) 1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Bestows- Commands and Orders.
A unified house is a blessed house!
2. Jesus prayed we would be unified.
John 17 20-23(NV) 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
We get the incredible opportunity to be the answer to what Jesus prayed.
3. We are called to unity.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
MORE CONNECTION
1- Being Together
Community- common unity
Community: Koinonia(fellowship)- The coming together, sharing of life.
We can only be the body if we are together!!!!
1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
2. Eat together (Acts 2:46 )
3. Play together
4. Pursuing Jesus together.
Colossians 3:16 (NIV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God
Go through the word together-
Worship & Pray together
5. War together
Romans 12: 15 (NIV) Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
“Warring together is spent on the battlefield AND at the victory table.
I Corinthians 12:26(NIV) If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
6. Working together
We serve together
We implement our gifts together.
I Corinthians 12:4-11 (NIV)4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a (1)message of wisdom, to another a (2)message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another (3)faith by the same Spirit, to another (4)gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another (5)miraculous powers, to another (6)prophecy, to another (7)distinguishing between spirits, to another (8)speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the (9)interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
This oil wasn't for him….IT WAS FOR US!
February 09, 2020
Exodus 30:22-33(NLT) 22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 "Collect choice spices—12 1⁄2 pounds of pure myrrh, 6 1⁄4 pounds of fragrant cinnamon, 6 1⁄4 pounds of fragrant calamus,[a] 24 and 12 1⁄2 pounds of cassia[b]—as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. Also get one gallon of olive oil.[c] 25 Like a skilled incense maker, blend these ingredients to make a holy anointing oil. 26 Use this sacred oil to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, 27 the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and all its accessories, the incense altar, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the washbasin with its stand. 29 Consecrate them to make them absolutely holy. After this, whatever touches them will also become holy. 30 "Anoint Aaron and his sons also, consecrating them to serve me as priests. 31 And say to the people of Israel, 'This holy anointing oil is reserved for me from generation to generation. 32 It must never be used to anoint anyone else, and you must never make any blend like it for yourselves. It is holy, and you must treat it as holy. 33 Anyone who makes a blend like it or anoints someone other than a priest will be cut off from the community.'
The Oil of the Spirit:
1. Is applied for a purpose
Anoint (hebrew mashach/ greek…Chrio) "to smear or rub with oil", "to consecrate for office or religious service."
Christ: The Anointed One.
Luke 4:16-21(NLT) When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favor has come." He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!"
2. Equips us with power
He is the ANOINTED ONE We are the anointed "ones."
"What was smeared upon Jesus is smeared upon us."
Acts 10:38(NIV) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
John 14:12(NIV)Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
3. Postured us for holiness
You are anointed to be Holy.
"We don't have to perform holy to have him; we are holy because of Him!"
2 Corinthians 7:1(NIV) Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
4. Produced by process
Jesus at the Mount of Olives
Gethsemane(Matthew 26:36-56) “The Olive Press”
This oil wasn't for him….IT WAS FOR US!
This oil wasn't for him….IT WAS FOR US!
January 19, 2020
Jesus robs graves
1. Lazarus
John 11:17-26 (NIV) On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:38-40 (NIV) Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
John 11:41–44 (NIV) 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, (IF Jesus wasn't specific by saying "Lazarus come forth" everybody would have been raised and the grave yard empty.)come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
2. His own body
Revelation 1:18 (NLT) I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (NLT) Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
3. Us
Just as he said to Lazarus, He says to us….
1- Come Out He calls us out of the grave.
He is calling us out of the grave and into grace!
2. Remove the grave cloths.
I Corinthians 15:54–55 (NIV) 54 “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
Romans 5:8(NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Isaiah 53:3-6 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
January 12, 2020
Matthew 25: 1-13(NIV) "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us! '12 "But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
The Wise…
1. A Posture of expectancy
2. Prepared
3. Carry the oil of intimacy
———————————————————————
Lamps
Psalms 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
1. The written word
Hebrews 4:12(ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2. The word made flesh
John 1:1(NLT) In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is what the Father is saying.
John 5:39(NLT) You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
Cultivating the oil intimacy
1. Devotion- Setting your intentions & decisions on the lord.
Proverbs 20:27 (NIV) The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
2. Delight- Setting your emotions and affections on the lord
“Intimacy is not just a devoted lifestyle but a delighted heart.”
Psalm 16:11(NIV) …You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
3. Nearness- A heart that is set towards him.
Psalm 73:28(NIV) But as for me, it is good to be near God….
" In order to hear you gotta get near."
“Intimacy with Him is developed by having a constant conversation with the Lord.”
Psalm 145:18(NLT) The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
4. Tenderness- A heart that is moldable.