Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Post Easter One John 20:19-21 4-15-07

Sermon 4-15-07 Post easter One – Confirmation John 20:19-21

This will preach. This is an amazing moment
But not because of the disciples
Jesus was dead. The disciples were hiding in a room in fear
Now he is risen and they are still hiding in fear

He appears to them. Gives them hope and confidence. Receive the Holy spirit

How do yo know when you are touchted by the holy spirit?
Holy spirit is speaking to us when he moves us off of dead center

Sometimes it takes more than knowing you should change
· I am a bad marriage counselor
· You did what? Stop doing that…………..

Sometimes you have to open yourself to that touch from above…….
Sometimes it takes the Holy Spirit to speak to us to help us truly change

Pontoon boat discussion 2 years ago
Men, there is something that maybe you should be doing
I am asking you in the name of Jesus Christ to step up and be leaders
What should we do….I don’t know, but ask the questions

He sends them out…where did they go?
They went out to give their lives for the sake of the gospel---

We are an Easter people. We are changed

Easter is not simply to become nice, kinder consumers of this world,
But we are called to leave our world of comfort and touch a dying world for Jesus

Nothing wrong with living an average life if that is your potential

To be average is acceptable if that is your potential that god gave you
To be below average is acceptable if that is the extent of your abilities

But how sad it is to be can’t think of anything more sad than to be filled with possibility and opportunity and live an average, mediocre life

To have within you the seeds of greatness and shrink back from them to become one of the crowd

Sometimes people do this
They see inside themselves possibility and they are frightened
Because it is hard to excel

Hard to excel, to follow dreams
Hard to believe in who you are
And in who god has made you

Sometimes people don’t want to stick out…they shrink back, hide in the stuff
Engage in strange behavior because they are hiding from what God has called them to do or be

Track coach……….Brinkman, you are dogging it

Dear Christian
You don’t have the right to hold yourself back from fulfilling your potential
If God has blessed you, then you have a responsibility to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to????

We are an Easter people. We are changed

Not simply to become nice, kinder consumers of this world,
But we are called to leave our world of comfort and touch a dying world for Jesus
Any takers………..What would that look like?

Be a nicer, kinder person

Take sack lunches to Westport
Make food for the needy
Fold clothes in grace place

30-day missions
Long-term life missions
You’ve been a giver, become a goer

Somewhere for you, there is a Call into the ministry
More time for work of Christ, less time for my interests

Believe and dream great things for God and take responsibility for them

Talking to friend
Telling me how
How god was scratching, itching at that place where heart is begin to soften
[Where is that place for you?]
Certain situation, didn’t want to participate----Certain group he did not want to help
God was asking nagging chasing

He couldn’t say no
Gripped by god, seized upon
He began to open his heart and life
To reach these people
He didn’t care about for his own sake, in his own mind

Living outside of himself
To help someone one in need

Friends-You can live an extraordinary Christian life

Some of you will live and die and never have money, ever
Never be famous, ever

But every single one of us can live an extraordinary x life
Can chose to live in ways that common avg people,
people who are satisfied with mediocrity
Will say, O my gosh
Look at that person, look at what they are doing

Hear, Listen to the Holy Spirit
Not for what is easy for you
Not for what makes you feel good but
For what is hard for u---For What breaks you
For What makes you dependent on him

Someday I hope you can look in mirror---who is this person
I am doing what does not come naturally to me
This is not who I normally would be

But God compels me
I have to do this thing
I have to be about this thing

So we can give ourselves away in extraordinary fashion-------Amazing

Conclusion-------Jesus told his disciples----“Receive the holy spirit”
This is amazing…………
As the father has sent me, so I am sending you. Receive the Holy Spirit

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