1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,680 Thank you for listening to this message from Life House Church. 2 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:17,560 All right, good morning. 3 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:18,680 Good morning, Life House. 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:23,360 Come on, turn to somebody, give them a high five, tell them you look all right for a Sunday. 5 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:24,760 You're looking all right for a Sunday. 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:25,760 Come on. 7 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:30,200 A little bit of encouragement. 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,800 Yeah, first gathering. 9 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:33,800 You're awake. 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:34,800 You got some coffee. 11 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,040 I see coffee getting tilted all over the house. 12 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:42,480 Listen, it is good to be here starting this week. 13 00:00:42,480 --> 00:00:46,320 Last week we ended the series loud and clear. 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:51,320 And this morning I really kind of want to talk a little bit, begin to preach about community 15 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,600 a little bit because community, how many know community is important? 16 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,000 Yeah, right, right. 17 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:02,040 It is actually said that community is one of the fundamental needs with every human 18 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:07,040 being that all of us have this desire to belong to a group. 19 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:08,700 We all want to be part of a tribe. 20 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:11,200 We all want to be part of a family. 21 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:17,880 We all want to be together in some location that we're with people that are our people. 22 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,880 How many know you got people? 23 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,480 There used to be a commercial like that. 24 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:22,480 We got people. 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,440 And to quote a line from a very old TV show that had a very old theme song, right? 26 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,440 We want to be a place where everybody knows our name. 27 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:30,720 Anybody ever hear that theme song? 28 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,320 Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. 29 00:01:32,320 --> 00:01:35,360 Everybody 40 and over in the house, raise your hand. 30 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:36,700 Where everyone knows your name. 31 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:37,700 You want to be part of a community. 32 00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:40,200 You want to be part of a place where people know you. 33 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:45,120 And the Lord has really put something deep within us that causes us to want to connect 34 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,160 with others. 35 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,400 And you don't need a PhD to figure this out, right? 36 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,920 In sociology, just take a good look around you. 37 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:53,880 People crave community. 38 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:55,480 They crave coming together. 39 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,840 That's why most of us want a little bit crazy during COVID, right? 40 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,240 Some of us want a little bit not so some of you are like, ah, it's OK. 41 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,660 But some of us want completely crazy because we want to be in community, right? 42 00:02:05,660 --> 00:02:06,660 We weren't allowed to touch. 43 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:08,680 There was no getting near other people. 44 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,020 We had to keep at least six foot plus distance, right? 45 00:02:12,020 --> 00:02:16,120 No hanging out in the coffee shops, no going to the park, right? 46 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,520 No restaurants, just hanging out in the restaurant, that kind of thing. 47 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,440 We want a little crazy because we got isolated and because we crave community. 48 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:25,760 It's something inside of us. 49 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:32,120 And it's why we are surrounded with all kinds of different communities everywhere you look, 50 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:33,760 really. 51 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:38,880 Groups of people who kind of have this sense of commonality of some kind come together 52 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:43,560 in community with someone right of same likenesses. 53 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:47,880 And there are community groups for just about anything you can think of. 54 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,000 If you get looking online, it's crazy. 55 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,200 And there are some strange ones out there, right? 56 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,160 I got to give you just a couple, right? 57 00:02:54,160 --> 00:03:00,000 Like the Durham University Assassins Association, DUAS, it's a real thing, right? 58 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,440 It was founded in 1996. 59 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:08,080 DUAS is one of the oldest as well as one of the most active assassin societies in the 60 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:09,080 world. 61 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:12,240 They run a number of different games throughout the school year, ranging in duration for a 62 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,600 few hours to a few weeks. 63 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,840 And the games consist of players attempting to kill other players normally with a nerf 64 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:18,840 gun. 65 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,960 OK, or a cardboard knife. 66 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:23,960 This is our higher educated at work. 67 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,920 OK, I was like, I'm like, this is out of university. 68 00:03:26,920 --> 00:03:29,960 OK, run around with cardboard knives and nerf guns. 69 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:30,960 All right. 70 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,520 Or the Caterpillar Club, even an older club. 71 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:39,400 The Caterpillar Club was founded in 1922 and it is a worldwide organization for military 72 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:44,200 and commercial aviators who have a life saving experience with a parachute. 73 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,240 Buy a caterpillar, because at that time parachutes were made from silk. 74 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:53,240 So the metaphor of a caterpillar, caterpillar spinning a safe cocoon and emerging from it 75 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,360 to take flight was an apt one. 76 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:00,040 And it's estimated there's over 100000 people who are part of the Caterpillar Club. 77 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:01,040 Right. 78 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,760 Over the years, there's people like George H.W. Bush and Charles Lindbergh were a part 79 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,260 of this group. 80 00:04:07,260 --> 00:04:09,260 There's community for everything. 81 00:04:09,260 --> 00:04:13,600 And my favorite one and final one I'm going to give you is the Luxorian Flowing Hair Club 82 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:14,600 for Scientists. 83 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:15,600 All right. 84 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:16,600 Come on. 85 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:17,600 It's true. 86 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:18,600 This is the thing, right? 87 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:24,160 If you're a scientist and you do not and you have an unexpected gorgeous mane of hair, 88 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:29,200 then you might be a candidate for the Luxorian Flowing Hair Club for Scientists. 89 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,640 There are just a few steps standing between you and membership. 90 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:37,080 Photo evidence of said Luxorian Flowing Hair, right, which has to be there's a strict rule. 91 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,640 It has to be below the clavicle and a link that from your employer that says you are 92 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,160 actually a legitimate scientist. 93 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,160 And if you have a pithy statement to go along with it, you're in. 94 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,880 OK, this is a it's a thing. 95 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:50,880 All right. 96 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,320 There is community for just about everything you can. 97 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,280 You can see it for there's a community for dill pickles. 98 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:57,280 All right. 99 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:01,960 Literally, there's one for an association for dressing and sauces you can belong to. 100 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:02,960 Yep. 101 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:03,960 It's a thing. 102 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:04,960 Rock, paper, scissors. 103 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:05,960 How many ever played that game? 104 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,800 There's an association you can be a part of. 105 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:08,800 Right. 106 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:09,800 It's everywhere. 107 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:14,960 We crave community, we crave being together, we crave being apart. 108 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:21,360 And we need to talk about what makes Christian community a cut above all other communities. 109 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,920 What makes it so different? 110 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,840 Why should I belong to a Christian community? 111 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:27,400 I get asked that at times. 112 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,000 There's people that ask that question. 113 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,320 What's so special about a Christian community? 114 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,800 What makes it unique from every other community that you can be a part of? 115 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:35,800 Right. 116 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:36,800 Because there's a million of them. 117 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:38,220 Well, in a quick word, it's this. 118 00:05:38,220 --> 00:05:39,880 First of all, it's Jesus. 119 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:40,880 Amen. 120 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:41,880 That's the first thing. 121 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,320 Jesus is the common bond for our community of believers. 122 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,440 Jesus is the reason for the community in the first place. 123 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,020 And of course, Jesus provides incredible power. 124 00:05:50,020 --> 00:05:53,720 He provides provides incredible benefit in his community. 125 00:05:53,720 --> 00:06:00,720 And it is Jesus who has made this a worldwide, actually universal community. 126 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:07,840 Jesus has the only say only the only eternal community on the face of the planet. 127 00:06:07,840 --> 00:06:13,720 It's the only one a community without end, a community that will transcend this earthly 128 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:18,680 existence and actually go into the next existence. 129 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,120 Jesus has the only community because he is transcended. 130 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,280 We can be transcended. 131 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:24,840 It's the only one in the face of the earth. 132 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:30,660 And the beautiful thing is that Jesus provides a one step process to belong to this community. 133 00:06:30,660 --> 00:06:32,720 And we know this is believers, right? 134 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,840 Even the luxuriant flowing hair club for scientists has two. 135 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:38,680 Jesus has one, right? 136 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:40,040 And it's this. 137 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:44,560 The only qualification is that Jesus has to be Lord and Savior of your life. 138 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:46,320 You don't have to have beautiful hair. 139 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,360 You don't have to be a scientist. 140 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,200 It's not even a big deal if you don't have any hair. 141 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,200 Some people say amen and now it's right. 142 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:53,200 All right. 143 00:06:53,200 --> 00:07:00,480 If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, if you recognize that we are far from God and that the only 144 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,400 way to come near to God is through Jesus Christ. 145 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:08,720 If I understand that the only way that I can remedy my sin issue, right, the problem of 146 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,560 sin and death in my life is through Jesus Christ. 147 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:16,560 And I recognize that and I see Jesus sacrifice as Lord and Savior of my life. 148 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,560 If I see that my path, right, is set. 149 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,600 It is a one step process. 150 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:27,200 I can approach a holy God because of Jesus holiness that covers me through the blood 151 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,880 that was shed for me by him. 152 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:30,880 Right. 153 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:34,280 And me acknowledging that and committing to that. 154 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,240 It's a one step process and I belong. 155 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,920 I am a member of this community. 156 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,400 I got people. 157 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,200 I got a lot of people. 158 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:44,200 Right. 159 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,120 The Christian community is huge. 160 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,960 It is the largest on the face of the planet. 161 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:53,600 There's not a corner of the earth that you can go to that you're probably not going to 162 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,080 bump into a believer somewhere. 163 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,420 A follower of Jesus Christ. 164 00:07:58,420 --> 00:08:04,000 It is the single binding factor to belong to this community that Jesus is our Lord and 165 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,000 Savior. 166 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:09,080 And once you're in and you're part of this largest community and connected community 167 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,080 on the face of the planet, it's an amazing thing. 168 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:13,080 Right. 169 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:14,080 It's it's it's universal. 170 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:15,460 It truly is. 171 00:08:15,460 --> 00:08:19,920 And when the community functions like it should, how many know you can function dysfunction, 172 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:20,920 right? 173 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:22,660 How many others dysfunction on the earth. 174 00:08:22,660 --> 00:08:26,580 But when it functions like it should, there's not anything on the face of the earth that 175 00:08:26,580 --> 00:08:28,840 resembles the Christian community. 176 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:33,160 And when it functions like it should, it resembles our leader. 177 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,160 It looks just like Jesus. 178 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:36,660 And there's nothing like it in the world. 179 00:08:36,660 --> 00:08:38,000 There's nothing even close. 180 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,320 You can search the planet. 181 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,460 You can go join every club that you want. 182 00:08:41,460 --> 00:08:45,480 But if you understand what it is to be part of authentic Christian community, there is 183 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:46,480 nothing like it. 184 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:51,920 It is why it is so special, because if it's working right and it takes on the attributes 185 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:59,900 of the leader, it becomes a special fellowship fellowship, say fellowship fellowship. 186 00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:03,840 Now Christians, we think we've got the corner market on this term fellowship. 187 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,680 You'll hear fellowship talked about in the church a lot. 188 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:10,760 But fellowship is actually a description of a friendly relationship between members of 189 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:11,760 a community. 190 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,160 And fellowship actually happens in every community on the face of the earth. 191 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,640 It really does. 192 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:17,960 We live in Carlisle, right? 193 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:22,280 Most of us live in Carlisle, some of you are on the outskirts of Carlisle somewhere. 194 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,400 And there's something that happens that's pretty unique in Carlisle. 195 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,760 On a regular basis every year, there's about 12 car shows that take place, right? 196 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:32,200 Now for the people that live here, they're like, man, all that does is cause traffic. 197 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,440 But for those people who love cars, it's a big deal. 198 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:36,880 There's these car shows. 199 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:40,720 And if you go to a car show, one of the car shows, you could go to the Ford show, the 200 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:41,780 Chevy show. 201 00:09:41,780 --> 00:09:44,880 We got the largest Corvette show in the world that takes place here in Carlisle. 202 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,680 If you go to one of those shows, what's the commonality? 203 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:50,280 Everybody loves cars there, right? 204 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:56,320 And they will stand around for an entire week by their cars talking about cars, right? 205 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:57,400 They'll chat about them. 206 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,040 They'll go out to dinner and discuss them. 207 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:01,560 They'll compare them. 208 00:10:01,560 --> 00:10:03,440 They'll have shows with them. 209 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,240 They'll do all kinds of things, right? 210 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,000 And there's this fellowship that takes place. 211 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:09,480 There's this connection. 212 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:10,480 Car guys talk. 213 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,080 They got their own language, man. 214 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:13,080 They're starting to talk. 215 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,320 Sometimes you don't even know what they're saying, right? 216 00:10:16,320 --> 00:10:18,080 There's a fellowship. 217 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,960 Fellowship is not unique thing to just Christians. 218 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,400 It's been around as long as people have been around. 219 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:29,040 Farmers talk fellowship farming with other farmers, right? 220 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,200 Doctors talk and fellowship with other doctors. 221 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,720 Teachers talk and talk and they fellowship with other teachers. 222 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,320 Some sports people, right? 223 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,400 They talk sports and fellowship with those other sports people. 224 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,800 Gym people that go to the gym, right? 225 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:44,800 Craft people. 226 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,280 They talk about the things we got in the house. 227 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:47,280 Craft people. 228 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:48,280 They got a whole thing going on, man. 229 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,280 You go up to Bedford County for a solid week. 230 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:52,240 It's consumed, that whole area, right? 231 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:53,240 Craft people. 232 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,120 They're fellowship with one another. 233 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:56,800 You may listen. 234 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:57,800 Star Wars. 235 00:10:57,800 --> 00:10:59,400 How many may the force be with you? 236 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:00,560 Okay, come on. 237 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:03,640 There's a fellowship there, right? 238 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:04,640 They dress up. 239 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:05,640 They do the whole thing. 240 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:12,920 But there's a unique fellowship with Christians because of Jesus Christ, because of our leader. 241 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:17,080 And 1 John 1-1, if you got your Bibles, you can turn to 1 John 1-1. 242 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,000 And I want to pray over the Word quickly this morning. 243 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:20,520 Lord, we thank you for the Word. 244 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:22,080 Guys, we dive into the Word. 245 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:25,600 God, I pray that you would speak into our hearts, into our lives, and into our minds 246 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,120 and God may it manifest in everything that we do. 247 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,240 And we just give you glory and honor in Jesus' name. 248 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,440 Everybody said together, amen. 249 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,960 1 John 1-1, it says this. 250 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:40,000 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, 251 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:45,040 which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled concerning the word of life. 252 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:51,480 The life was manifested and we have seen and bear witness and declared to you that eternal 253 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:57,880 life which was with the Father and was manifested to us, that which we have seen and heard, 254 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,500 we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. 255 00:12:02,500 --> 00:12:07,600 And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 256 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,840 In these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 257 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:16,240 This is a message which we have heard from him and declare to you that God is light and 258 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:18,640 in him no darkness at all. 259 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:23,160 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice 260 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:24,160 the truth. 261 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:28,920 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have what? 262 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,500 Fellowship with one another. 263 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:36,000 And the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 264 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,280 What is this unique fellowship? 265 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:44,480 What is so out of this world about this fellowship in the Christian community? 266 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:49,520 Well, it's the fact that the fellowship is really out of this world. 267 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:50,520 It really is. 268 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:56,400 The fellowship begins and continues with the divine, with God. 269 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:00,720 The fellowship is not just a mere human to human relationship. 270 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,420 It is not just a mere interest to interest kind of relationship. 271 00:13:04,420 --> 00:13:06,940 This fellowship goes beyond the natural. 272 00:13:06,940 --> 00:13:08,680 It goes into the supernatural. 273 00:13:08,680 --> 00:13:12,160 It is heaven and earth interwoven between one another. 274 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:17,520 It is a relationship and a connection that goes beyond and transcends just earthly existence 275 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,680 and just earthly things. 276 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:26,040 It is a unique community and it is not just based on human to human interaction. 277 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,540 It is human to God. 278 00:13:28,540 --> 00:13:31,120 There's nothing else like it on the face of the earth. 279 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:38,040 This fellowship is not based on some kind of temporal common interest like cars, nerf 280 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:39,040 guns, right? 281 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:40,640 Crafts, right? 282 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:48,760 But it's in a common eternal identity that is a result of our fellowship with God. 283 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:51,120 Huge difference between the two. 284 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:59,320 It's not based on a temporal common interest, but in a common eternal identity. 285 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,520 This is the result of our fellowship with God. 286 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,560 It's not just an interest thing. 287 00:14:04,560 --> 00:14:06,340 It's an identity thing. 288 00:14:06,340 --> 00:14:09,160 It's who we become in the fellowship. 289 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:13,560 It's not just discussing something on the outside and on the surface, but it is actually 290 00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:18,000 a fellowship that results in a change in who we actually are. 291 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:25,880 First Peter 2, 9 says this, but we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 292 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:31,760 his own special people that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness 293 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:37,260 into his marvelous light, who once were not a people, but are now the people of God who 294 00:14:37,260 --> 00:14:43,240 had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 295 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:49,560 This fellowship changes who we are, how I identify. 296 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:56,600 Once before Christ, I had some kind of other identity. 297 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,160 I identified in some other way. 298 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,640 We know that this is a big issue these days. 299 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:05,860 People call out their own identity. 300 00:15:05,860 --> 00:15:11,760 Some people used to identify with their jobs, with labels, with status. 301 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,400 The world even questions gender these days. 302 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:16,380 They do all these things and we identify. 303 00:15:16,380 --> 00:15:23,480 But once I am in Christ's community, a part of his fellowship, all identities disappear. 304 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:29,000 Once you come in and you are part with Jesus, my identity is wrapped up in him. 305 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,220 The word of God says I become a royal priesthood. 306 00:15:32,220 --> 00:15:37,220 Now I can spend the rest of the morning, probably the rest of the month unfolding what that means, 307 00:15:37,220 --> 00:15:39,080 but it's a royal priesthood. 308 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,860 You are a chosen generation in him. 309 00:15:41,860 --> 00:15:43,920 We become a holy nation. 310 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:48,080 We are God's own special people. 311 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,560 It is identity based. 312 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,200 It is not interest based. 313 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,700 It is completely different. 314 00:15:55,700 --> 00:15:57,300 We are Jesus people. 315 00:15:57,300 --> 00:16:00,520 We are in a community that is without end. 316 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:02,060 It doesn't end. 317 00:16:02,060 --> 00:16:04,800 Look at the person beside you right now. 318 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,440 If they are in the community that I am talking about with Jesus Christ, you are stuck with 319 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,320 them for all of eternity. 320 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,680 Come on, smile at them real big right now. 321 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,960 You better like them a lot. 322 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:17,960 Because they are in the community. 323 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:22,320 If they are identifying with Jesus Christ, they are part of that community. 324 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:23,960 It's not just a now thing. 325 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:25,400 It's not a car show thing. 326 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,000 It's not a craft show thing. 327 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,860 It's not like Thursdays we meet and do these kind of things, right, a knitting club. 328 00:16:30,860 --> 00:16:31,860 It's not that at all. 329 00:16:31,860 --> 00:16:34,360 It is identity based. 330 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,720 It is different than anything on the face of the earth and it goes from this life into 331 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:38,720 the next life. 332 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,200 I am going to see you all there. 333 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:42,840 You are going to see me there. 334 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,800 It's not, it's an eternal thing. 335 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:45,800 Amen. 336 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,800 Come on, you are all looking at me like I am crazy, but it is true. 337 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,140 The word of God says we are marked for this. 338 00:16:51,140 --> 00:16:53,180 We are sealed with this. 339 00:16:53,180 --> 00:16:55,400 We are in this community of fellowship. 340 00:16:55,400 --> 00:17:00,920 Ephesians 1.13 says, in Him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel 341 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:08,660 of your salvation in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. 342 00:17:08,660 --> 00:17:11,360 When you come into this community, you are sealed. 343 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:16,080 I kind of almost wish God would just plant a big old seal right in our forehead, right. 344 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:20,480 Just like how many of you know you get those little stampers you push and sometimes their 345 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:21,480 address and stuff. 346 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,240 Don't give them to your grandkids, man. 347 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,440 They will stamp everything. 348 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,480 But I almost wish sometimes God would stamp us like that. 349 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,880 It talks about that in Revelation in the end times that there will be some folks that will 350 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:32,880 be sealed. 351 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,600 I think you are going to physically see it. 352 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,240 But we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. 353 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:38,240 We are sealed with promise. 354 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,280 We are part of a community that goes without end, right. 355 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,480 It's for eternal. 356 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:47,480 And the Holy Spirit is the word of God says who is the guarantee of our inheritance until 357 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,120 the redemption of the purchase possession. 358 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:51,040 We are the purchase possession. 359 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:59,480 Jesus paid for our right and passage to be with God, to praise His glory, right. 360 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:04,100 We are that we identify with Christ. 361 00:18:04,100 --> 00:18:06,380 Our identity is wrapped up in Christ. 362 00:18:06,380 --> 00:18:10,040 It's not in a Harley jacket or t-shirt, right. 363 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:11,960 You can't take it off and put it on. 364 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:13,880 It's not even a gang tattoo. 365 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:15,880 I mean, gangs got tattoos. 366 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,800 It goes, listen, it goes way beyond some ink on you. 367 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:25,600 You're sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance. 368 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:26,600 You're marked. 369 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:30,400 We're included in the fellowship and it changes who I am. 370 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:34,480 When I came into the kingdom, it changed who I am. 371 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:38,760 The longer I've been a Christian, the more I realize all the things that I labeled myself 372 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,520 with, I lay it down. 373 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:44,560 I put it behind me because it really has nothing to do with who I am in Christ. 374 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:46,320 It might be a part of my history. 375 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:49,560 It might be a part of my past, but I am different now. 376 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,120 I am in Christ. 377 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:54,120 You want to start walking past some things that you've been in the middle of for a long 378 00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:58,000 time, just start locking your identity down in Jesus. 379 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,120 Start talking identity in Jesus. 380 00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:02,880 Just say, hey, I am a child of the most high, right. 381 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,520 Man, I spend most of my ministry. 382 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,840 People think you spend a lot of your ministry getting people to Jesus. 383 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:12,000 I spent a lot of time in my ministry getting them to Jesus, but even more time trying to 384 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,760 tell them who this is who you are now. 385 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,640 This is who listen, your past does not define you. 386 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:19,720 Your past. 387 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,120 Can I say that again? 388 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:24,020 Your past does not define you. 389 00:19:24,020 --> 00:19:25,920 It does not define you. 390 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,300 This is different than any other community. 391 00:19:28,300 --> 00:19:31,360 When you come into Christ, you are a new creation. 392 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:33,400 You are a new creature. 393 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,020 You become brand new. 394 00:19:35,020 --> 00:19:36,880 Your identity is new. 395 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:42,080 Man, when you get a hold of this, all those things that held you back there, they don't 396 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,240 hold you anymore. 397 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:45,240 They don't hold you. 398 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:46,960 Your past can't hold you. 399 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:47,960 It can't. 400 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:48,960 Amen. 401 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,000 It's true. 402 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:52,000 Believers around the globe. 403 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:57,200 Listen, believers around the globe in this community, when you bump into them, you realize 404 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:58,840 that identity. 405 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,960 And I've gone to places, I've gone to other countries where we don't even speak the same 406 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:02,960 language. 407 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:03,960 And it's the funniest thing. 408 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:07,240 When you bump into another believer, there's just this connection, right? 409 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,840 There's this eternal community spirit to spirit connection. 410 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:12,120 And you can't even talk to each other. 411 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:13,400 You want to, right? 412 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:16,080 You want to talk with these other folks who don't know your language and they don't know 413 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,760 your language and you're just trying to eke it out, anything you can. 414 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:22,880 But there's this deep abiding community. 415 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:28,000 There's this deep abiding fellowship with other believers of Jesus Christ. 416 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:29,360 And it is worldwide. 417 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:31,120 And it is amazing. 418 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:33,440 Their identity is in Christ. 419 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,680 And there's unique qualities to this community, to this fellowship. 420 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:41,680 This fellowship is an authentic care for other members of the fellowship. 421 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:42,720 All right. 422 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:43,720 There's authentic care. 423 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,920 Now, listen, I'm not saying that there's not authentic care in other fellowships, in other 424 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:54,320 groups or could be, but care for one another in this fellowship and in this community must 425 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:55,600 be a part of who we are. 426 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:56,680 It looks different. 427 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,680 If you've been in church any like the time, you're going to know this scripture. 428 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:04,880 Galatians 5 22 says, but the fruit of the spirit, right? 429 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:10,560 Remember that was the seal and the guarantee, the mark of who we are is love, joy, peace, 430 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:15,720 long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such. 431 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:16,880 There's no law. 432 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:21,760 And those who are Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and its desires. 433 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:26,160 If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. 434 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:32,240 Let us not become conceited provoking one another or envying one another. 435 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:37,880 Authentic care for one another in his fellowship in his community is not optional. 436 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,640 Love joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, right? 437 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,960 Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 438 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:46,500 Their personal characteristics of the fruit of the spirit in your life, but they are also 439 00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:51,480 community characteristics that should be in place in authentic community. 440 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:55,560 These should be in place personally and they should be in place in the community. 441 00:21:55,560 --> 00:22:01,080 If Holy Spirit is present, these characters that these are fruits of the spirit, right? 442 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:05,360 We teach kids this all the time in Sunday school and in kids class. 443 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:06,360 We don't have Sunday school. 444 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:07,360 I went back. 445 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:08,360 I flashed back there about 40 years. 446 00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:09,360 All right. 447 00:22:09,360 --> 00:22:12,200 We have kids clubs and we have uptown, right? 448 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:18,160 But the Holy Spirit, if he's present, these characteristics are present in the fellowship. 449 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:23,640 Their personal, their personal traits, their community traits, their fellowship traits. 450 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:29,120 Scripture doesn't name these personal community fellowship traits, but Scripture has given 451 00:22:29,120 --> 00:22:31,680 us a two-step process here. 452 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:32,680 All right. 453 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:37,040 If we're going to see this in the community, there's going to be authentic care in our 454 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:38,040 community. 455 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:43,040 This unique community of God, it's a two-step process. 456 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:44,040 First is this. 457 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:48,760 According to the Scripture, the Holy Spirit has to be present because these are fruits 458 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:50,740 of the spirit. 459 00:22:50,740 --> 00:22:53,480 We can't leave the Holy Spirit out of this fellowship. 460 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:58,240 We can't leave him out of this community because if we do, those things aren't present, right? 461 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:02,960 Love, joy, peace, patience, long-suffering, generous meekness, all that stuff goes away 462 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:04,360 without the Holy Spirit. 463 00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:05,560 These are fruits of the spirit. 464 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,360 So first of all, the Holy Spirit has to be with us personally. 465 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:14,000 It has to be with us in a fellowship and in the community for this authentic care to take 466 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,000 place. 467 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:20,400 And the second part of that scripture says those who are Christ have crucified the flesh 468 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,640 with its passions and desires. 469 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,880 Those are the two steps, right? 470 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,080 It's authentic care in the community fellowship. 471 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:30,280 It's two parts. 472 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:31,280 It's almost like epoxy glue. 473 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,000 I mean, have you ever used epoxy glue? 474 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:34,640 Right, do you ever get those now? 475 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:37,560 You know, now they usually put them in two tubes and you just squeeze it all in one, 476 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,160 but you cut the end off each one, you squeeze it out, right? 477 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,920 If you use epoxy glue and you mix it all together, then all of a sudden it makes this strong 478 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:49,360 bond and it makes this poxy glue that is super strong, right? 479 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:51,000 It's a little like that. 480 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,240 We have to have the Holy Spirit is one part of the poxy. 481 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:55,880 He's got to be present in the community. 482 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:57,480 He's got to be present personally. 483 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,760 He's got to be present in the fellowship. 484 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:03,880 And the second part of that poxy is that we have to crucify our flesh. 485 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,600 Right? 486 00:24:06,600 --> 00:24:07,600 We got to do that. 487 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,800 Holy Spirit's presence and we got to crucify our flesh. 488 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:15,280 It's got to be Holy Spirit's presence plus me crushing my fleshly passions and desires 489 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,320 equals authentic Christian care. 490 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,740 I've given you a math formula, by the way, all right? 491 00:24:19,740 --> 00:24:21,680 It's an addition thing this morning, right? 492 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:22,680 It really is. 493 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:27,560 Holy Spirit's presence plus me getting myself out of the way equals authentic Christian 494 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:28,640 care. 495 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:29,880 It's a two part thing. 496 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,300 Holy Spirit always does his part. 497 00:24:32,300 --> 00:24:34,920 If we have Holy Spirit there, how many know he's perfect? 498 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:36,320 He never messes up. 499 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:37,320 He's God. 500 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:39,280 If he's there, it's going to be right. 501 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,680 If he's there, love, patience, right? 502 00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:43,880 Long suffering, all those things are going to be present. 503 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,560 But where it gets messed up is me. 504 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:51,880 Where I get where I mess up the whole thing in the community is my flesh. 505 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:55,040 Holy Spirit will get right every time and I'll mess it up sometimes. 506 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:59,880 I'll get in the mix and in the middle and our flesh does not automatically care for 507 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:02,440 other people in the Christian community. 508 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:07,360 Just because you got saved and you realize you got saved from death, hell and the grave 509 00:25:07,360 --> 00:25:12,560 and destruction, that does not automatically make me a caring Christian. 510 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:14,960 As a matter of fact, how many of you ever met a mean Christian? 511 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:16,200 Come on, raise your hand. 512 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:17,200 Be honest. 513 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:18,200 Yeah, see? 514 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:19,200 Right? 515 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:20,200 There's some mean Christians out there, right? 516 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:21,200 They're the opposite. 517 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:22,200 You know why? 518 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:23,320 Because they're in the flesh. 519 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:27,120 They got saved but they're not crucifying their flesh, right? 520 00:25:27,120 --> 00:25:29,200 As a matter of fact, they don't care so much. 521 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,760 They're kind of like, whoa, it was great for me, it sucks for you, right? 522 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,600 You can die and go to hell and I don't care. 523 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,400 I know that's harsh, right? 524 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,040 But it's almost the attitude sometimes with them, right? 525 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,680 There's almost this, it would be somebody spiritually arrogant. 526 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,800 Oh man, come on, right? 527 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:49,200 They're spiritually arrogant, it's just all up here, right? 528 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:50,760 They're a mess. 529 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,760 That's the flesh. 530 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:53,760 We got flesh. 531 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:55,340 We're selfish by nature. 532 00:25:55,340 --> 00:25:57,720 We got to crucify that thing. 533 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,080 We got to crush that thing in us. 534 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:05,480 Holy Spirit's got to be present and for authentic care, I got to put myself, come on, we have 535 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:06,920 all done it, right? 536 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,160 We've all said somebody, we've all looked at somebody and said they don't deserve it. 537 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:11,960 I'm not going to show them any care. 538 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:14,000 They messed this up themselves, right? 539 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:15,720 They made this bed, let them lay in it. 540 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,600 Let me tell you something, we all made our own bed and we're laying in it. 541 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:22,760 We're all sinners saved by grace. 542 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:27,400 Romans 8.1 says this, there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ 543 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,680 Jesus who don't walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit for the law of 544 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:36,120 the Spirit is life in Christ Jesus who has made me free from the law of sin and death. 545 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:40,000 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending 546 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,720 His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin. 547 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:48,480 He condemned sin in the flesh that this righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled 548 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,880 in us who do not walk according to the flesh, right? 549 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,920 So you can be saved and walk in the flesh but according to the Spirit for those who 550 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:59,440 live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh but those who live 551 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:05,160 according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death. 552 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:06,160 Wow. 553 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:07,280 All right. 554 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:09,340 You want to kill off any Christian care? 555 00:27:09,340 --> 00:27:10,760 Be carnally minded. 556 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:11,840 All right. 557 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:17,760 But to be spiritually minded is life peace because the carnal mind is an enmity against 558 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:22,600 God for it is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be so then those who are in 559 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,480 the flesh cannot please God. 560 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:32,060 If we want to kill authentic community Christian care just walk in the flesh. 561 00:27:32,060 --> 00:27:34,300 Don't crucify yourself, right? 562 00:27:34,300 --> 00:27:36,160 Don't put down your own interests. 563 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:40,480 Don't, you know, make sure you're judging everybody that comes by on based on your own 564 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,320 bias, right? 565 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:44,320 Come on. 566 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,040 Is it true? 567 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:47,040 It's true. 568 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:51,440 I have to crush my flesh. 569 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:55,880 If we're going to come into this community this amazing fellowship that Jesus paid such 570 00:27:55,880 --> 00:28:01,920 a high price for I've got to have the Holy Spirit present so that that His attributes 571 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:03,160 are there, right? 572 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:06,640 That love and that peace and that patience and that long suffering is there and I've 573 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:10,280 got to crush some of my own junk, right? 574 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:13,040 I've got to put that stuff down. 575 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:17,080 Jesus gave us the most vivid picture of this. 576 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:25,560 He physically died on a cross so that I could experience authentic care in Christian community. 577 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:26,560 He died. 578 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:32,520 He physically took on a crucifixion being completely innocent in my place so that I 579 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:39,200 could experience authentic Christian care so I would know what salvation is so I would 580 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:44,680 know what it is to have peace in my life so I would know what it is to experience care. 581 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:45,680 It's true, right? 582 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:51,280 And you might say, well, why are you preaching so much about this community? 583 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:52,520 Because here's the thing. 584 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:54,280 We're engaged in two things, right? 585 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:58,760 We're engaged in glorifying God as believers and as Christians and the other thing is, 586 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:00,600 is we're part of a rescue that's taking place. 587 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,800 Now, I don't know if you realize it or not, but you're part of the rescue, right? 588 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:10,960 Once you come to Jesus, our job after that, the idea after that is that we begin to engage 589 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:13,760 in bringing other people to Jesus. 590 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:17,160 You can think of it along these lines and if I could, I'd give everybody some kind of 591 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:18,640 symbol for this, right? 592 00:29:18,640 --> 00:29:22,800 I was talking this morning and we were talking, Sean and I were talking about car accidents 593 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,880 and I was thinking about first responders who go to something, right? 594 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:28,280 How many know when you're a first responder, right? 595 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:30,740 They're just waiting around for the rescue. 596 00:29:30,740 --> 00:29:32,000 They're waiting around for what's going on. 597 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:35,520 So they're just going through life doing what they do and they're getting, but they're ready 598 00:29:35,520 --> 00:29:37,040 for the rescue. 599 00:29:37,040 --> 00:29:41,080 Every step that they go, they're ready for the rescue and that's what we should be doing 600 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,320 as Christians and I don't know if we could get us all uniforms, right? 601 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,680 The paramedic uniforms that we get up every morning, you know, or maybe just we should 602 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:48,680 all wear a cross. 603 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:49,960 I seriously thought about this over there. 604 00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:51,920 Maybe we ought to start wearing a cross every morning. 605 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,280 We get up in the morning, we look in the mirror and we see a cross and we realize we're part 606 00:29:55,280 --> 00:30:01,040 of the rescue and we're part of bringing people into authentic Jesus community. 607 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,120 A community that's like no other. 608 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:06,520 A fellowship that's like no other. 609 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:07,520 That's why we're here. 610 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,400 We're here to glorify God. 611 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:11,280 I'm going to ask if you'd stand right now. 612 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:17,960 We're here to glorify God and we're here to be part of the rescue. 613 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:19,440 Here's the thing. 614 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,480 I got to crucify my flesh to be part of the rescue. 615 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:26,880 I can get so wrapped up in me throughout the week and what I'm doing. 616 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:27,880 It's the weirdest thing, right? 617 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,960 I can be totally wrapped up in ministry and forget the rescue. 618 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:32,240 How weird does that sound? 619 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:33,840 But you can. 620 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,320 You can get busy doing things, right? 621 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:40,280 Ministry things, whatever your thing is, whatever your job is, whatever you're in the middle 622 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:42,960 of and we forget about the rescue. 623 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:47,920 And to rescue people, we got to bring them into the community where Jesus is at so that 624 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,680 they're part of this amazing community. 625 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,680 We need a Holy Spirit and we got to crucify our flesh. 626 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:59,020 Listen, as you're standing here and as East Shore is standing currently and if you're 627 00:30:59,020 --> 00:31:02,720 listening online, hear what I'm saying in this. 628 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:04,560 Now I'm talking to believers this morning. 629 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:06,400 Well, I'll address some believers in a moment. 630 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:08,240 You know, those who want to come into the kingdom. 631 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:14,840 But I'm talking to people who are in the kingdom today talking about talking about us. 632 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,200 They care in the community. 633 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,720 Holy Spirit, let's crucify my flesh. 634 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:24,560 Holy Spirit, let's crucify my flesh. 635 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:26,560 We have authentic care in the community. 636 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:31,040 Now can I throw in one little bonus thing? 637 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:35,400 If you're in the community and you don't tell anybody you need something, don't get mad 638 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:39,600 when you don't receive anything. 639 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:43,440 If you're hurting, if you need something, you need to talk to the community. 640 00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:48,080 You need to let them know what's going on because God put us together to care for one 641 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:49,080 another. 642 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,720 He put us together, right? 643 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:53,400 Those mean Christians forget about the mean Christians. 644 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:55,080 Don't worry about that. 645 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:56,520 They need Jesus a little bit more, right? 646 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:59,880 They need they need to get they need to crucify the flesh. 647 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:02,360 But we're here for one another. 648 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:05,440 And we're here to bring people in to the kingdom. 649 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:11,080 I know I want this was the long I took the long way around a tree to get to this, but 650 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:12,080 you needed to see it in Scripture. 651 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,080 I'm gonna ask you to bow your heads. 652 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:24,080 Thank you for tuning in to this message from LifeHouse Church. 653 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:28,080 We pray that you were impacted powerfully by this message. 654 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:36,080 If you have been personally affected by our ministry and you would like to partner with us as we love God, love people every day, 655 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:42,080 visit our website at www.lifehousecog.com.