KJ Washington
[0:00] Good morning, Village. [0:01] I’m KJ Washington, and I’m the church planning intern here [0:04] with you all this summer. [0:05] It’s definitely been my great privilege [0:07] to be here serving alongside the Village [0:09] and growing alongside the pastoral staff here.
[0:12] Steve, Nate, and James have been great to me. [0:15] And just leading me and helping disciple me [0:17] these past few weeks so far. [0:19] And one of the things that kind of was a stipulation for me [0:22] coming here is that I had to grow a beard like Steve. [0:25] And so I’m in the process right now working on this beard
[0:27] right now, because I really want to have this beard. [0:29] And so apparently, the longer you preach, the longer it grows. [0:33] And so hopefully, as you see, I got a long ways to go. [0:36] But it’s it’s a privilege and it’s an honor.
[0:41] Jesus rocked my world and I love Jesus a lot. [0:43] And my hope is that we’ll be able to study scripture together [0:47] today and focusing on Jesus and we’ll be able to grow in that together. [0:52] And the truth that only comes from the word of God. [0:54] That’s the only thing that we can rely upon this morning. [0:57] Over the past few weeks, the village has been going through
[1:00] a sermon series called Real Life, went from real life to forgiven life, [1:05] to disciple life, to surrender life, to mission life, to praying life. [1:11] And today we’re coming down to empowered life.
[1:15] This series is branched from the core, the root of the gospel [1:19] of Jesus Christ going to the cross and dying for the sins of the world. [1:24] A king descended off his throne for his people [1:27] because he loved his people so much. [1:30] Not just to save them, but to redeem them. [1:35] But that we would walk in obedience to him.
[1:40] Jesus is suffice. [1:42] And this morning, we’ll go a little bit deeper into the series. [1:46] We’ll look at Jesus and how he impacts our lives daily.
[1:51] Because this matters.
[1:54] The village here believes that Jesus matters [1:56] and he wants to impact your daily lives. [1:58] So we’ll look at that this morning. [1:59] First off, I’m going to open this up in prayer because I like to pray [2:03] because we need Jesus during this time and during this moment. [2:07] So we’re going to go to the Lord in prayer.
[2:13] Father, thank you for who you are. [2:16] Father, I just thank you for this moment that you have ordained in history [2:20] for your people to dive into your scripture together. [2:23] Father, today, Lord, I pray that we see the concept that we find our empowerment [2:27] in you and you alone, that we must respond in obedience to that empowerment.
[2:37] What I pray for urgency on this matter and that we [2:42] we see a need to serve you. [2:45] Daily, father. [2:47] I think for opportunity to preach your word, [2:50] I pray that your word is made known and that people see Jesus this morning [2:55] and they grow to love him even more.
[2:58] In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
[3:02] So, sadly, to say there’s been this kind of cultural tendency [3:05] that’s happened inside of the the baptismic community. [3:09] And it’s that they love God, they love Jesus, they love the Holy Spirit. [3:13] But they’re a little afraid of the Holy Spirit in some ways.
[3:18] Another thing they do is this is that they’re like, hey, Lord, lead me. [3:22] Jesus, take the will and Holy Spirit, pump your brakes.
[3:29] Because we kind of kind of like, man, [3:32] I really don’t know how to deal with Holy Spirit. [3:34] I know she’s down the cross for my sins. [3:36] I know God’s the father, but the Holy Spirit, we don’t know what to do sometimes. [3:39] We know how to respond and to how to interact with the Holy Spirit. [3:44] There’s some reasons
[3:47] that you have some valid reasons for being kind of weary [3:50] because the Holy Spirit has been abused within the past 100 years a lot lately. [3:55] People claim the spirit of things when it’s not the spirit.
[4:00] So it’s OK to sometimes have a tendency to hesitate a little bit. [4:04] But the scripture tells us the truth [4:08] about who the Holy Spirit is, what the Holy Spirit wants to do in your life, [4:11] how it convicts you, how it leads you. [4:14] And so we can do is we can rely upon the text [4:18] for our truth in this part of the Trinity.
[4:23] Because the Holy Spirit is is one that works in our lives, [4:26] daily, who convicts us and leads us.
[4:30] Can’t be afraid of the Holy Spirit.
[4:34] I know some people might be kind of satisfied with without [4:37] with not worrying about the Holy Spirit, because you can kind of sit there. [4:39] You don’t have to worry about the convictions that you’re having.
[4:43] But there’s a call to respond through the Holy Spirit. [4:47] And we’re looking to act chapter one, verse eight to start us out. [4:51] I mean, six through eight starts out this morning. [4:54] Because right before Jesus ascended.
[4:59] He gave the commission to his disciples and he was like, hey, I’m gone.
[5:05] But I’m going to give you something. [5:08] And this is why the Holy Spirit matters, because this is that something is the Holy Spirit. [5:12] So we’re going to read this passage and it reads this. [5:15] So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time [5:20] restore the kingdom to Israel? [5:23] He said to them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons
[5:26] that the father has fixed by his own authority, but you will receive power [5:32] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem [5:37] and all Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth.
[5:43] So as the disciples were in this moment, they’re trying to figure out, hey, [5:47] Jesus, when are you coming back, man? [5:48] We need you.
[5:51] And they’re trying to figure out this time, this timetable when he’s coming back. [5:55] But he kind of flipped the script on them. [5:58] Hey, don’t you worry about that. [6:01] But worry about what’s coming. [6:04] It’s going to comfort you as we see other places in scripture. [6:08] But in this passage right now, where as we’re talking about empowerment,
[6:11] it says the power will come through the Holy Spirit [6:17] for the purposes that we can be the witnesses that were called to be through Christ [6:22] so we can fulfill the mission that God has called us to.
[6:31] So as we focus in on the Holy Spirit [6:35] this morning, how? [6:38] God sent the sun, the sun sent next to Holy Spirit. [6:41] To come and to lead us to dwell inside of us.
[6:48] As believers.
[6:51] The Holy Spirit matters. [6:53] Jesus matters, the Holy Spirit matters and God matters.
[6:59] As we see in Acts Chapter two, we see when the Holy Spirit falls, [7:03] we see the church in one of its purest states. [7:06] People were just radical for Jesus. [7:08] I know there’s a new trend going on nowadays [7:09] where we’re talking about being radical for Jesus. [7:12] Well, the church was in its purest state and Peter preached that sermon
[7:14] and 30,000 people were cut to the heart of the gospel [7:18] and they end up receiving the Holy Spirit. [7:22] And how we saw that church just interact with each other [7:24] in such a beautiful and glorious way of how they lived in community together. [7:29] And the thing that brought them together was Jesus. [7:33] And they cannot do it on their own.
[7:35] The Holy Spirit enabled them [7:39] to be able to live in community in that way.
[7:44] So we see how vital the Holy Spirit is in our lives, [7:49] because this is the way that God empowers his people, [7:53] convicts and leads his people. [7:56] It’s through the Holy Spirit. [7:59] Man, the God of the universe loves us this much to entrust with us [8:03] the Holy Spirit.
[8:04] I’m going to give you a definition of empowerment real quick [8:06] before we dive into Philippians. [8:08] Empowerment means this to give an official authority or legal power to.
[8:15] So the God of the universe has given you the Holy Spirit [8:20] to live and to dwell inside of you, to fulfill his mission, [8:24] because you’re part of his royal priesthood, [8:27] because you’re a holy people, because he loves you.
[8:33] But as we see in the text, we’re going to study this morning. [8:38] There must be a respond to this power. [8:42] This is not some lofty concept where it’s like, oh, hey, I’m in power [8:46] through Jesus, I can just go and go do whatever and do all these miracles. [8:48] It’s not about that. [8:50] It’s about living obediently to the gospel.
[8:54] It’s fulfilling the mission that Jesus has commissioned to his people.
[9:01] That’s the purpose.
[9:04] I think Jesus lays that out in Acts one, six, eight.
[9:09] We got work to do. [9:12] But we must respond in obedience. [9:19] To that truth.
[9:22] We’re going to the main text this morning is Philippians, Chapter two, [9:26] which is 12 to 13. [9:28] Again, that’s flipping in Chapter two, which is 12 to 13. [9:30] It’s going to be on the screens next to me. [9:34] And the text reads this is this, therefore, my beloved, [9:37] as you have always obeyed.
[9:39] So now not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence. [9:44] Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [9:48] For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
[9:54] This leads us now to point number one, [9:57] which is Jesus equips us to live obedient lives. [10:01] Again, that’s Jesus equips us to live obedient lives. [10:04] And we see how Paul in the early stages of this part of the passage [10:08] where he’s like, hey, look, therefore, beloved.
[10:12] The people whom God loved first is only a way that Paul was able to love these people. [10:17] He acknowledged that. [10:18] But he goes on to say how you have been obedient. [10:21] He acknowledges their obedience to the gospel. [10:25] The roots of their obedience, only they were able to obey was because of Jesus.
[10:32] I think that’s something we need to hear from time to time. [10:36] The only reason why you’re obedient is because of Jesus. [10:40] Remember that. You committed a good act. [10:43] It was because of Jesus, Christ, who lives in you. [10:46] So Paul, Paul saying this to them in this moment, [10:50] and he goes on to even add on to that, he’s like, you’ve been obedient since I’ve left you.
[10:54] Because during this time here, we have to know that Paul was one of the men [10:58] that were bringing the gospel message to their friends. [10:59] He was there at the front door.
[11:04] He was faithfully preaching the gospel to them day in and day out.
[11:10] But he had left them.
[11:14] He doesn’t say, man, you’ve obeyed when I was here and when I was gone.
[11:21] Please don’t get this twisted. [11:23] It wasn’t about Paul being there or Paul not being there. [11:28] It’s about the concept of you were faithful to the gospel, [11:32] no matter what the circumstance was, who was there, who was watching you.
[11:37] Where are you at with that today?
[11:40] Outside of Sunday morning, are you faithful to the gospel? [11:43] Will Paul say the same thing about us this morning?
[11:53] Jesus enables them to be faithful and obedient.
[11:59] We see that Jesus provides all we need. [12:01] Jesus is suffice to allow us to live obedient lives. [12:07] And through the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit leads us, it guides us [12:11] and living obediently and following Jesus. [12:16] So where are we at with this? [12:19] As we like to talk about, hey, like, I know I have Jesus.
[12:21] I’ve been justified. I have my position in front of God. [12:24] He has deemed me holy.
[12:29] But we have to obey Jesus as well. [12:33] And that’s why I said it goes back to the fact of who Jesus is on the cross. [12:39] If you think of Jesus just as a salvation gimmick, you’ve missed the mark. [12:44] You think that Jesus is just a bailout package, a cop out package. [12:48] We have missed the mark as believers. [12:50] Because he wants to finish the work that he has started inside of us.
[12:55] Because he loves us that much. [12:58] If you would turn for me, we’ll go to Titus, Chapter three.
[13:04] It’s going to be Titus, Chapter three, verses one through seven.
[13:12] And it reads this. [13:14] Reminding them to be submissive to rules and authorities, [13:17] to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one. [13:21] So avoid quarreling, to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy to all people. [13:26] For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, [13:29] led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures,
[13:32] passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, hating one another. [13:36] But when they saw us, they were not afraid to say, [13:37] When the goodness and loving kindness of our Savior appeared, [13:40] He saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness, [13:43] but according to His own mercy, by the washing, [13:46] regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.
[13:49] He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, [13:54] so that being justified by His grace, [13:57] we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. [14:01] And this is what Paul’s getting at to Titus in this passage. [14:04] Crete is a really messed up place right now. [14:06] There’s a lot of hypocrites, people walking around.
[14:08] They’re serving pagan gods.
[14:11] But this is what Paul says, and this is a reminder we need to say, [14:14] the only difference between you and them is Jesus.
[14:17] You’re only able to be obedient is because of Jesus. [14:20] That’s the only way you’re able to be obedient.
[14:24] You were once disobedient, you were once a slave to all these other things [14:27] in your life, but Jesus freed you from that bondage. [14:30] He set you free and deemed you holy. [14:32] He regenerated your heart, made your heart new for the purpose of using [14:36] you to fulfill the work of the ministry, which is the missions why the Holy [14:39] Spirit came down to call us out and send us out to reach His world.
[14:49] Jesus is suffice.
[14:53] And that power that comes from the Holy Spirit.
[14:57] It’s to reconstruct our hearts, [15:00] to change our will, to change our wants so that we’re serving Him.
[15:08] The only difference from us and the rest of Midlothian, [15:11] Jesus, you get upset with your people that you work with, [15:14] you get upset with different people that you encounter when you’re driving. [15:18] I know some people probably do have road rage in here.
[15:21] I’ll be foolish to not think so, but you get upset with them. [15:24] You’re like, man, they’re an idiot. [15:27] Maybe they don’t know Jesus. [15:29] Maybe that’s why they flicked you off or something. [15:31] It’s because they don’t know Jesus. [15:33] And if that’s you, you might want to check yourself if you’re doing that.
[15:38] I’m not playing when I say you should check yourself, because if we have the [15:40] Holy Spirit, we have the power from the Holy Spirit. [15:42] We’re supposed to live obediently to the [15:43] gospel because Jesus gives us what we need.
[15:48] To fulfill the calling that He has for us.
[15:52] The difference is Jesus. [15:56] And that grace and love that He has for us is suffice enough. [16:01] For us to be submissive to Him. [16:05] This leads us on to point number two.
[16:10] Jesus empowers us to respond in obedience. [16:15] This is taken from the second half of verse 12, which reads, work out your own [16:19] salvation with fear and trembling. [16:22] I know this kind of scares a few people [16:24] in here because, like, man, I got to work out my salvation. [16:26] What does this mean?
[16:29] I thought it’s not based on works, right? [16:31] That’s you’re preaching to me all the time. [16:33] That is not what Paul means in this moment. [16:36] It’s not about your works. [16:38] It’s about living out the position that you have in Christ, your positional holiness. [16:42] The way that God sees you through Christ is live this out.
[16:46] Walk this out daily.
[16:51] Yes, we were justified through faith.
[16:55] But we must respond to this. [16:59] And the way that Paul closes off is with fear and trembling. [17:02] In our culture today, there’s not a reverence of God and who He is.
[17:08] We like to go, if I’m a friend of God and think it’s OK, just to claim God is that. [17:13] This is the God of the universe we’re talking to. [17:17] We should have some type of fear because, like, Lord, I want to serve you. [17:20] I want to glorify your name and make you known to the world. [17:25] This is the God of the universe we’re talking about.
[17:30] And He loves us enough to empower us for us to respond in obedience. [17:35] He gave them what they needed to walk and live this out.
[17:43] Paul goes back even pointing back to earlier, it’s all because of the cross. [17:48] The reason why they’re able to be obedient and to live this out, their salvation is because of the cross. [17:53] And as a daily thing of them reflecting on the cross and who Jesus is. [17:58] There has to be our mindset daily. [18:01] Well, how can I be obedient to you in this moment? [18:03] I know you have acquitted me to do this, but how can I do this?
[18:06] What does this look like? What do I need to sacrifice?
[18:10] What am I making a God in my life? [18:14] Well, you’re the only God.
[18:17] For us to say that God does not have the power to purify your heart in that way [18:21] and to empower you to obedience, that’s foolish. [18:24] That’s making a mockery of God.
[18:29] The God of the universe wants to work in us. [18:32] We have to be open and willing to submit to who He is. [18:38] And allow him to work. [18:40] And the Holy Spirit wants to convict us and wants to lead us through his path to grow us. [18:46] So make us into the men and women of God that he’s called us to be.
[18:51] The big concept that slows us up in the Christian faith is this sin.
[18:57] Sin is something we don’t like to talk about. [18:59] Sin is something we could kind of shoot under the rug. [19:02] We try to do that all the time in regards to sin.
[19:06] But one thing we have to realize through the power of Jesus, [19:10] that sin has no authority, has no dominion over you.
[19:16] It’s time to live in freedom through the gospel that enables us to live in obedience. [19:22] To Jesus. [19:24] So we look at Romans six, verses 12 to 14 to look at sin and how it affects us.
[19:33] But as part of us living out. [19:37] The salvation that we have.
[19:41] Romans six, 12 to 14, reads this. [19:44] Let not sin, therefore reign in your moral body to make you obey its passions. [19:49] Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, [19:53] but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life [19:58] and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. [20:00] For sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law,
[20:05] but you’re under grace.
[20:09] Paul starts out, Romans six earlier on. [20:12] Because the Romans are struggling with this concept of justification. [20:15] What I talked about earlier, your position on holiness.
[20:19] That we gain power through God because we’re his people, [20:22] we’re his chosen people that he loves.
[20:27] But they’re struggling with this concept [20:28] of their justification, their position in front of God because they’re like, hey, [20:32] I’m justified. [20:34] You saved me. I can do whatever I want.
[20:38] Hey, why not? [20:39] Why not go and sin with everybody else? [20:42] When I go be a. [20:44] A hypocrite. [20:47] Why not go and do that? [20:50] And Paul says this.
[20:52] May you continue and sin and make grace abound by no means.
[20:57] Because you who have died with Christ have been raised again. [21:00] You have a new perspective, you have a new outlook on life now because of Christ. [21:04] So you don’t want to live a lifestyle that is in sin. [21:07] So if we’re sitting here this morning and we’re living a lifestyle that’s in sin, [21:10] we got to check ourselves because you’re going to get wrecked.
[21:14] Without Jesus, you’re going to get wrecked.
[21:18] Because we must realize that if we are sin is died, has been buried with Christ. [21:24] It has no authority over us.
[21:29] And so our members, our body parts, our minds, our hearts can be used for righteousness, [21:35] not unrighteousness or self-righteousness.
[21:39] And so the sins that are our lives, you’re free from that bondage.
[21:48] And Jesus took care of it.
[21:52] He empowered you to be obedient to Him. [21:56] He equipped us for that. [21:58] He empowers us to be able to do this. [22:00] And this through Him and through the cross.
[22:04] So there’s no excuse. [22:06] Well, I’m already a good person. [22:08] I do enough good things. [22:10] You know, I just got a little sin in my life. [22:11] I’ll just put in my closet and shut the door. [22:13] Nobody else knows about it.
[22:15] And Jesus wants to radically shake your life for that we’re only focused on Him.
[22:25] The Lord loves us that much to do that. [22:29] This leads us on to our second passage for this on point is Colossians 2,6. [22:35] And it reads this. [22:36] Therefore, as you receive Jesus, Jesus, the Lord, so walk in Him rooted and built [22:41] up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught abounding in [22:45] thanksgiving. So the same way that the Colossian Church
[22:47] had received Jesus as their savior. [22:51] Hey, Paul, so hey, live it out. [22:53] Same thing we just talked about earlier in the Philippians passage. [22:56] Live this out. Put your money where your mouth is. [23:00] A lot of people are about the lip service, but they’re not about living out who Jesus is. [23:04] That’s why Christians get called hypocrites.
[23:08] Because we say this is true. [23:09] We say this is authoritative in our lives, but we’re not living by the book.
[23:15] And Jesus has empowered you to be able to do that.
[23:20] And so he tells them to walk in Him, rooted and built up. [23:24] And this is a continual thing. [23:26] Christ daily wants to to work in your life. [23:29] He wants to firm your foundation. [23:33] But we have to submit to scripture as being truth. [23:37] It’s like, Jesus, I need you today.
[23:39] I need you every day.
[23:43] If you go through a day without talking to Jesus. [23:48] Something’s wrong. [23:50] Because that’s telling me that you think that you’re good enough to make it on life, you’re on your own.
[23:56] And this should be a constant check for ourselves, because the only way that we’re able to live life and live it abundantly is through Christ. [24:02] Through the Holy Spirit leading us through this empowerment. [24:07] But we must respond to the gospel and obedience.
[24:15] So let’s let’s look at our lives. [24:18] Where our hearts at during the week. [24:21] You can go to Sunday service and go to your village group during the week. [24:26] Even go to the discipleship group. [24:28] But if you’re not about Jesus any other time.
[24:32] You’re a faker.
[24:35] Now I’m blunt. I said it. [24:37] Faking.
[24:41] And I pray if that’s you this morning or anybody in here. [24:45] I pray that we see that we must live in obedience to Jesus daily.
[24:49] We don’t pick the times or the place. [24:53] She said, I’m gonna give you this. [24:54] He responded this way. [24:56] It was a command. [24:57] You will receive power. [25:00] Now if you don’t want the power, you’re going to receive it.
[25:05] This is going to lead us to our third point. [25:08] Which is Jesus changes our will and work for his good pleasure.
[25:16] I’m going to say for his glory. I’m sorry.
[25:19] The verse has good pleasure in it. [25:21] Verse 13. [25:21] Let’s dive into this passage. [25:23] For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. [25:27] We have to first acknowledge that it is Jesus himself first that is doing the work in us. [25:32] Have you ever had that moment where somebody really makes you kind of upset?
[25:37] And that moment of grace just kind of happens? [25:40] You don’t even know. [25:41] The words just came out. It was almost like word vomit just comes out. [25:45] You’re like, what just happened? [25:47] I was like, because I was really feeling this way. [25:50] Don’t think too highly of yourself.
[25:52] I think it was you. [25:53] It was Christ who lives in you that’s doing this work in you. [25:57] I was just talking to Joey earlier that it happened to me the other night. [26:01] Because somebody made a comment to me. [26:04] I’m not going to say the comment, but it was disrespectful by all means. [26:08] And so my first response, I was like, what?
[26:11] And I was like, it’s okay. [26:14] And I walked away the other way. [26:16] But in my head I was like, Lord. [26:17] I know that was you because that wasn’t me.
[26:23] And something John Piper talks about is this is that there’s this war that goes on. [26:28] This war we always like to deem as our flesh. [26:30] The war is not with flesh, it’s with sin.
[26:34] Sin impacts our lives, [26:36] but it’s God’s will to purify our lives. [26:40] So that we can submit to Jesus. [26:44] Jesus already paid it all. [26:46] We believe that, we say it’s the truth. [26:48] We need to live it out.
[26:50] And we need to realize that it’s Jesus who is everything.
[26:54] And so God is the one who initiated our salvation. [26:58] And as well he has initiated this process for us to respond in obedience to him.
[27:05] He does this all for his glory.
[27:11] He works in us. [27:13] Because he’s showing and painting this beautiful picture of reconciliation. [27:19] Restoring something that’s been broken and making you whole.
[27:25] Jesus loves us that much. [27:27] We’re gonna read this text in 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 3 through 8.
[27:35] For this is the will of God, your sanctification. [27:38] That you abstain from sexual immorality. [27:40] That each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor. [27:45] Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God. [27:49] That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter. [27:53] Because the Lord is an avenger in all these things.
[27:55] And as we told you beforehand,
[27:58] and solemnly warned you. [28:00] For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. [28:04] Therefore, whoever disregards this, [28:06] Disregard is not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
[28:13] God works in you to show his will. [28:19] Through the empowerment of Jesus, through the working of the Holy Spirit, [28:23] our will changes into God’s will. [28:25] And God’s will for our life is sanctification. [28:29] For us to be pure. [28:32] Because God is holy, he wants his people to be holy too.
[28:34] And as we look at the cross, we have to see this. [28:39] That’s why I said it matters. [28:41] If you just look at the cross as a salvation tool.
[28:46] God did not want you to be saved and satisfied, but to be saved and sanctified.
[28:54] He wants to finish the work that he started in you. [28:58] But we must respond to that and live obediently. [29:02] And that brings glory to him. [29:05] The one who deserves the praise.
[29:13] The Lord wants us to submit to him today. [29:15] To be obedient to him in every aspect of our lives. [29:18] And there’s some are sitting here like, man, I don’t need this. [29:21] I’ve heard this before. [29:23] You know, it’s like, I’m a good Christian.
[29:27] It seems like it’s about yourself in that moment. [29:30] But how can we fulfill the mission that God commissioned to his people early on? [29:37] How can we be a part of fulfilling that? [29:40] Jesus wants to work in you.
[29:44] He wants to purify you.
[29:48] Because he loves you. [29:50] And the only way that we can do that is through Jesus. [29:54] We’re empowered through the cross. [29:57] So that we will respond in obedience to the God of the universe.
[30:03] As a band, they can begin to come up now.
[30:09] We have an opportunity here.
[30:13] To not just be content with our lifestyles. [30:18] But to submit.
[30:21] To Jesus.
[30:24] Empowerment is not just this lofty thing that we just think about. [30:28] But it’s like, man, I’ve called you to respond. [30:31] How are you going to respond today? [30:33] Is this just another service for you? [30:36] Or you’re like, Lord, clear my heart.
[30:43] I just want to focus in on you. [30:45] Because you’re the God of the universe and you’re worthy.
[30:50] A response is needed. [30:52] Wherever you’re at today.
[30:58] Every person has areas of their lives that they need to submit to Jesus.
[31:04] And with somebody, you can talk about empowerment to people, [31:06] but hey, it’s Christ who lives in me that enables me to do things for him. [31:11] It’s not myself. [31:13] It’s not about being that Superman Christian that we like to be at times.
[31:19] It’s not about that. [31:21] It’s all about Jesus.
[31:28] Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you.
[31:31] To guide you. [31:34] And be obedient to that.
[31:38] There’s a way that we’re going to give an opportunity this morning. [31:41] To respond. [31:43] To our empowered life that we have through Christ. [31:47] That we have the opportunity to partake in the table this morning.
[31:53] Because on that cross, Christ’s body was broken for you and for me.
[32:02] His blood was just poured out for us as well too.
[32:07] Because he loves you. [32:10] So I pray that as you come to the table this morning.
[32:14] That you’re like, Lord, help me check my heart. [32:20] I need you to work in me. [32:24] Come to the table this morning.