Walk up with Happy. He introduces.
Do you ever find
yourself standing somewhere and wonder how in the world you got there? Standing
up here to preach… starting a new Vineyard in BN… is one of the last places I
ever thought I’d be… you may not realize how miraculous it is that I’m here…
not only from a spiritual standpoint, but physically alive even.
Jesus has been
faithful in spite of the fact that I wasn’t always following Him in the best
ways possible. It astounds me to think where I am today.
· Before Jesus, I was
consumed with selfishness and hatred and anger.
· There are so many
times as a young man that I did something externally that put me “near death” –
like cliff-diving, bridge jumping, riding with 9 people in an open top jeep…
worse
· Then, I met Jesus in
the summer of 1994… and some things changes, but God’s miraculous hand on my
life didn’t.
· And internally I
really became consumed by religion and external “righteousness” due to the
company that I was keeping.
· Externally - Near
death in college internship (share story)
· As I got into
ministry, externally I became consumed with “work” and ministry and nearly
killed myself a few more times as my health declined… sometimes working two and
three jobs.
Life is full of ups and downs… life is full of highs
and lows… life is full of mountains and valleys… good choices and bad
decisions.
But – perspective on life can change everything… It
all depends on what shapes the lens through which you view the world.
I’m sure my family has prayed for me a ton… BUT, I am
not here because my parents didn’t give up on me… I am not here because my
grandma prayed for me… I’m not here because my wife has propelled me to greater
things:
I’m here for one reason: Jesus
never gave up on me… and He hasn’t given up on you either.
Dilemma –
Most of us
believe with our heads that Jesus is faithful, but we don’t trust Him with all our
hearts. We think faithfulness still depends on us.
Perspective
Perspective on life can
change everything… what effects your lens? We’ve been given incredible access
into the heart of the Father. If you’ve been doing your daily Bible reading,
you’re probably in the early OT where it required the Israelites to always be
faithful and not mess up = blessings.
BUT, everything changed with the cross
of Jesus.
*We’ve now been
given complete access into the throne room (Hebrews)
*We now have
received Jesus’ righteousness due to His sacrifice (2 Corinthians)
*We now have the
very presence of God’s Spirit with us at all times (Romans 8).
*This is the heart
of our church’s mission… this truth of the gospel is way too good to keep in
just one town!
But, you and I can
intellectually grasp these concepts with our head AND still not trust the Father to be faithful. That kind of
trust can only be found in “Knowing Jesus” intimately… not
knowing about Him, but having a relationship with Him… not meeting Him one time
and saying “Yes,” but meeting with Him weekly, daily, hourly, and letting His
heart transform yours. Letting the realization that God has “never given up on
me” become reality in your hearts.
Bible
Perspective changes with connection to the Father’s heart…
John 15 - 1 “I am the true grapevine, and my
Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch
of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear
fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the
message I have given you. 4 Remain in me,
and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed
from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the
branches. Those who remain in me, and
I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do
nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is
thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into
a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may
ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When
you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to
my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father
has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When
you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s
commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told
you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
Rooted in Jesus
teaches us things we can’t be taught anywhere else.
-
Knowing HIM… abiding in
HIM…belonging… “MeKnown” (greek)
-
We can’t be taught about His faithfulness if we are
“rooted” elsewhere
-
Worries, complaints, depressions… even in relationships
with others
-
Who we give license to speak into our lives actually
matters.
-
Environment is the KEY to understanding Jesus –
community, worship, silence, listening to His voice above all others,
relationships à Nod to Putty’s
message on “Attention” here
-
RESTING
IN HIM
One of my favorite
places to do this is: Being know by Jesus in worship
-
Times of worship (Story: Sanctuary at Ohio church)
-
Listening to worship music now (Elevation Church)
-
Times of strengthening
-
Times of knowing Jesus
-
Scripture reading – story of the Bible – He is the main
character
-
Bible with worship
-
I CAN FEEL IT WHEN I’M NOT IN THIS PLACE.
How faithful is He really?
Our perspective
tends to flow toward our problems first and our blessings second. His
perspective doesn’t see our brokenness. What time in His presence helps us with
is this… it’s helps us to Know him to be
faithful in spite of our brokenness
-
Where we may see: Destructions, disappointments, sins,
disillusionment
-
He is still Faithful through it à To bring us through any trial
-
Why? BECAUSE Jesus sees destiny, calling and purposes not
our sin
- Share the gospel here.
- John 15:3 à You have already been pruned and purified by the
message I have given you.
- Jesus sees us as
potential children… not enemies.
- Can you imagine if
we saw ourselves “purified” not tainted by mistakes?
Jesus is faithful to
make up for our weaknesses
-
Personal example: Mercy gift – lack
of J à personality inventory
-
Ohio State joke
-
Corrie knows it’s not
-
John 15:5b “Those who
remain in me, & I in them, will produce much fruit.”
-
Called a pastor
-
Only by the grace of God à “He’s never given
up on me/us”
Jesus is faithful to
bring out your true self
-
Before Jesus – I was pretty shy à More internal thoughts – poetry
-
Verses living out and growing out of a leadership passion
-
Not liking speech class
-
Holy Spirit radically brought stuff out of God’s plan for
me
-
Prophetic voice of leadership
-
Faithful to bring out my call – even though I had
suppressed it – sometimes very intentionally
-
John 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you
Jesus is faithful to
give grace to every area of our lives because He sees our destiny, calling and
purposes not our disappointments and our sin.
And because of His
perspective, He is willing to go with us into the stretching places… He is
willing to step out with us… He is willing to go somewhere new with us… He is
faithful... He’s not giving up on us!
Now what?
As my family (picture) took the leap to
help start the BN vineyard, we had to trust Jesus in new and profound ways. Cor says our whole journey has been
this way.
-
Church planting in Ohio, having 5 kids, our move to CU…
and now?
-
Trusting Him with what’s already built – team, groups,
etc.
-
To build new relationships, ministries, small groups…
community influence
-
To build the new church/campus – believing for 100s our
first weekend!!
-
CAMPUSES: all of you have felt that leap yourselves
-
HUGE TRUST factor…it’s built out of being “known”…living
room of grace.
-
Story: Standing on the
mountain of clarity… seeing the next mountain in the distance… knowing that’s
what you’re called to… asking God for the bridge… “The bridge is man made. I did not make the bridge… I made the valley… and
if I call you out, I will go with you.”
For some of you,
today what you need to do is renew your mind to Jesus’ faithfulness in your
life… Romans 12:2 Don’t
copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a
new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s
will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. …spending time in His presence and taking
stock in His goodness towards every area of your life.
For you, the action
step is THANKFULNESS (for God’s faithfulness)
-
Trying times
-
Good times
-
Social media – stress – shout from rooftops the good
stuff
-
Regular practice
-
HALF SHEET HANDOUT – dinner of faithfulness
-
John 15:11à I have
told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy
will overflow!”
Our thankfulness
will produce in us TRUST
-
You’ve heard your destiny
-
You’re call has been spoken over you (privately &
publically).
-
You know the next mountain.
-
You just need to trust that Jesus will go with you when
the journey begins.
Perspective changes
everything… and that perspective is born in times of being known intimately…
and knowing intimately…
Take a listen as we
see first-hand what happens when we take a leap of faith.
INTRO Video.
Hap and core team
come up
Hap prays for team.
Thanks to all who made this such a special weekend!
