Lordship

When you get pulled over in what order do you react? First, you see the police officer (the law), then you panic, you check your speed (recognizing your sin), you slow down, and inevitably you get the ticket (there are always consequences). The takeaway is will you choose anger and keep doing it or will you praise God and learn the lesson? Go to the cross daily. Be the word before you preach the word. Christianity is a belief system, not a behavior. The uncool people who love Jesus are the coolest. Put Jesus at the center of health, career, development, hobbies, fun, money, friends, family, and faith. Get a life! Get a Jesus! Give up comforts. Put God and others before yourself. I tell myself, "I won't do it unless God tells me I can." Being arrogant hinders your ability to see His kingdom.

In the story of Jonah, the sailors on the boat were crying out for a savior in the middle of a storm and Jonah just slept. While the world cries out the Christians are sleeping and they need to wake up! Serving is showing up and doing the dishes. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) Be intentional. You are the product of your desires. Do it in this order; master, mission, mate. When you don't feel His presence lean on Him more. Love and fear the Lord. We all want to be disciples but don't want to be told what to do. You're a leader as you follow Jesus. When heading out to the mission field go gently like a sponge, you are not above them. When it's over don't go back home go forward home.

What I want now doesn't lead to long-term growth and fruit; what I want most requires sacrifice and perseverance. For every hardship you go through remember you're getting a story. Without the presence of God, the wilderness only offers anxiety, isolation, and despair. (Deuteronomy 8:2) The source of sin is you, don't blame anyone else. Bless don't curse or it'll come right back on ya. Six points on Lordship are following Jesus and being led by the Spirit, knowing your identity, knowing true freedom, being in Christ, freedom from being under the law, and friendship with Jesus. God's love is unconditional but you have to receive it. Think of intimacy as 'into me see'. His friendship is conditional but His only command is to love others! Obedience is God's love language. God is more committed to fulfilling His purpose in your life than you are. As long as it's in love it's good. If you wanna be a hero on outreach knowing someone's name is powerful!

Are you willing and obedient when it is difficult or do you murmur and complain? Learning to endure builds character. When you experiencing unbelief you need to lean on someone. At this time what are you struggling with more than normal? Confront that. Fear, lust, etc is sudden. Will you overcome temptations? Satan attacks just after your greatest experience! Persevere. Learn to walk by faith. Don't just see what you see but see what God sees. Consecrate means to devote yourself. Clean out the house and dedicate all the good things. Recommit yourself every morning. Everything is possible with God but not alone. It is all about the heart, not the performance. Embrace change! If you're not committed to anything you'll never know who you are. Relinquish rights! Let go of them. You don't have rights, you only have responsibilities. This means don't hold onto what you think you deserve. Take responsibility for your thoughts, words, actions, attitudes, and motives. Ignore your arrogance and insecurity and love others.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross He overcame the power of sin, but not the ability to choose sin. Saved by grace, justified by faith. (2 Peter 1:5-10) Water follows the path of least resistance. I can't make you drink, but I can make you thirst. Dead in sin, alive in Christ. Enemies will reveal what's truly in your heart. Tell people when they irritate you but don't blame them. Your attitude and character determine your future. If you clothed yourself this morning take responsibility for your attitude. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Whatever you are looking at will control you. Don't fix your eyes on your problems. Living in the past is lonely but you must also be careful living in the future. Live in the present! (Matthew 6:31-34)

Having a loud voice or looking cool doesn't make you bold but knowing God's voice does. There's fear of speaking because that's where there's power and Satan knows it. Somedays just because you're not feeling a lot doesn't mean you shouldn't be loving a lot. I'm gonna declare it even if I don't feel it. The journey is belonging, believing, and then behaving. (Ezekiel 36:24-28) You're in control, but give God control. When you are doing well, God is close. When you're not doing well, God is closer but you push Him away. Don't keep a veil over your heart; don't get defensive. If your button gets pushed then you realize you have a button, so get rid of it! Scars are okay but wounds will infect others. His love wants to pour in us, through us, and out.

Run the race that has no finish line but still look back on your goals and see that you have reached them. Feed yourself so that you can then feed others. Keep moving up the maturity line and know that we are all on different levels. Treat people with respect as God strips away their shame and you wipe their butts. Look at the log in your eye before you point out the speck in theirs. When you've touched God like an electric fence you become a little more careful. If you want to know yourself read the Word. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Look for transformation, not knowledge. (John 3:30) I am ordinary alone but extraordinary with God. The enemy brings fear but God brings faith. When God speaks there's faith which then should come obedience. You are held responsible for what God speaks to you. The Kingdom of God consists of order, beauty, and abundance! Believers are the encouragement of the world; we all need it!

I am winning if God is in my heart. Faith is hard to measure but obedience is measurable. Tell the people who try to contain you to "shut up!" When you worship, thousands upon thousands of angels gather around you like a choir. When you praise God it releases Him to be the truth of who He is in your life. If you feel "nobody seems to love me" then love others more. If "nobody seems to notice me" notice others more. If "nobody seems to encourage me" then encourage others. Keep developing yourself. Be somebody! Stop waiting; go out and activate something. Personality is God's gift to you, character is your gift back to Him. What you fear is what you worship. Don't say words that mean nothing. Guilt is from doing, shame is from being. Search for the root, not the fruit. Bring it into the light to be healed. You can always have joy but not always happiness. When you have nothing you have everything and when you have everything you have nothing.

Notes from Mark Parker's lecture