Our Place in One Another's Lives

CHRIST CARES

John 11:1-16
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory ofGod, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

CHRIST HEALS

"How can you cope with the end a world and the beginning of another one? How can you put an earthquake into a test-tube, or the sea into a bottle? How can you live with the terrifying thought that the hurricane has become human, that the fire has become flesh, that life itself came to life and walked in our midst? Christianity either means that, or it means nothing. It is either the more devastating disclosure of the deepest reality in the world, or it’s a sham, a nonsense, a bit of deceitful play-acting. Most of us, unable to cope with saying either of those things, condemn ourselves to live in the shallow world in between…
– N.T. Wright, For All God’s Worth

Fighting through very real hurts and disappointments

"Faultfinding without suggestions for improvement is a waste of time." - Ralph C. Smedley, Founders of Toastmasters International

Matthew 7:1-5
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

CHRIST CREATES COMMUNITY

God's design:

No one is an independent contractor. What I do affects my family (in Christ) and what my family (in Christ) does affects me.

John 11:38-44
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Referenced this clip in the message. Listen to the podcast. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lCdY8xS_TGE

Ephesians 5:18-21
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Proverbs 18:1
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

Jesus is the one who miraculously raises dead parts of our hearts and existence to life. He then commands that those in your church family help unwrap the grave's clothes and help you get released when you are stuck. The only way it doesn't work is if you don't submit (Ephesians5:18-21) or avail yourself (Proverbs 18:21) (picture Lazarus trying to hop away).

Come to Christ and His cross to be transformed. Engage His people to see the grave clothes come off. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Repentance and humility - choosing to do things His way will bring us into that life.

Second City Church: Body Talk Sermon Series 2016

Man on a Mission: "Fighting For Our Lives"

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War, Special Edition

I almost feel like this message should be part of an introductory packet to the city of Chicago offered at the Welcome Center We begin this week with Jesus' baptism as the perfect Son of God Matthew 3:13-17

It is Jesus' 30th year and the beginning of His three year ministry that would turn the planet upside down and literally save the world. Baptisms in the culture were symbolic of purification and washing. It was also indicative of priests being set apart for their divine and holy service.
Once again, Christ set an example for us with his baptism. He was perfect in his righteousness, but did all to fulfill the law and lead by example. In effect, He has never asked or commanded us to do anything, as we remain in Him, that He has not done Himself. This includes his victory over temptation and sin in the daily bouts of life.
It is significant that at the beginning of His ministry, as in the beginning of this church, it commences with a fight.

 Matthew 4:1-17

*The Spirit of God led Jesus into the desert, not to tempt Jesus, but into warfare, being tempted by Satan. Without a doubt, we are in a fight of faith that will either refine us like gold as God intends, or destroy our lives as the enemy desires (ref. John 10:10). There is no demilitarized zone. (Rest comes solely in the presence of God.)

There are many types of resistance from Satan's forces, but the names utilized for our enemy tells us a lot about one of the components of the battle in which we find ourselves:
- Devil (Greek: Diabolos) means accuser, slanderer. The word was used for that sinful activity in instructing the church.
- Tempter (Greek: Peirazo) means to try, test by solicitation, entice, allure. Different from another Greek word dokimazo which means to test in order to prove someone good. Peirazo involves entanglement to discover someone's weakness or strength in attempts to show them unacceptable.

“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”  ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

It was after Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights in the desert that the enemy brought the onslaught of temptation. The same is true for us in the wilderness periods of our lives when we feel like the things that normally satisfy (in relationships, work or pleasures) are withheld from us for a season. It is here when our love for God and His bride are tested. If Jesus had faltered, we all would have been lost.

If you don't embrace the fact that there is going to be, without a doubt, warfare in your life, you will waste your emotional energy on two things rather than one. You will not only be fighting the battle itself, but you will spend strength that should have otherwise been allocated to the fight condemning yourself for even being in a fight. This is inappropriate since the Son of God Himself modeled the fight. Focus and expend your spiritual vigor accordingly.

I've never spoken to a veteran that enjoys the battle, with bullets flying and the threat of death surrounding them. It is a healthy fear however, that preserves their life.
God is showing us clearly that, like Jesus, as we step out to reach a city, there will be increased spiritual warfare for which we must be ready.

A traditional understanding of where these attacks lay are:

Jesus' appetites (fleshly desires for sex, sensory indulgence and physical food)
Jesus' sense of testing the boundaries It is here that we find Satan's manipulation of Scripture. It is the trap that many fall into because they do not study the Scripture to understand context or God's intended meaning. Rather they go on what they are taught by the diatribes of popular culture raging against God, or the church providing tradition which inadvertently misleads its followers and separates its adherents from the head (Matthew 15 - we'll discuss more later)
The allure of power for Jesus (fame, riches and prestige fall under these categories. The things that you are willing to sacrifice to obtain these are tested here. Many a man and woman have lost integrity, family and purity on these fronts - i.e. - the business community and entertainment industry)

Spiritual warfare = nonsensical conclusions based on the facts

These attacks against Jesus had nothing to do with reality. He had already been confirmed audibly and publically as the unique Son of God by the Father. However, Satan makes a direct attack on His identity (and thus His place of importance in the world and to others), His relationship with the Father and His abilities.

The attacks against us come in the similar ways, many times directly assaulting what should be most obvious, or our areas of strength. This can be in a relationship, a gifting, or your very security before and from God. Where the greatest attacks lay often indicate the greatest places of promise from God.

Where is the battle?: In our emotions and in our thought life II Corinth 10

Hence that general is skilful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skilful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack.” ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

It is when we don't acknowledge the reality of the enemy's unseen attacks in our relationships, when we are discouraged and when we have trials, that He is able to win the fight.

The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist.”  ― Charles Baudelaire, or Keyser Soze from The Usual Suspects

The tactics of the enemy:

Accusation - Revelation 12
Discouragement and Isolation - Psalm 2; Hebrews 3

*Co-Dependent Mentalities are a trap of the enemy

Independent Responsibility, Interdependent Relationships is where God wants to take us for health and victory

If you continually blame your shortcomings or sin on a lack of accountability or help given by others, you are living with a co-dependent mentality that will leave you crippled.
Here in this culture, Sunday isn't a day for God, it's a day for me so that I can rest and revitalize myself, rewarding myself for a long work week. In doing so, I cut off the very mechanism, the gathering of the brethren, which God has given to strengthen us in our core, our spirit, from whence all life flows.

It is in this place that we learn to use these weapons found in God's Word:

Memorial stones of Gods faithfulness as a weapon.
Speak to our souls - the Psalms (i.e. - Psalm 57:8)
Every sigh turned into a prayer

* If we will allow Jesus to lead us through these trials, we, like him, become more than conquerors (Romans 8 - we're seeing how all Scripture works together). Jesus' destination was not to live in the desert, it was a passing through. We don't need to camp there in our mentalities.

* Our sin is never just about us. It affects families, churches and cities. In the same way, our victories in Christ are never just about us. God wants to release generational blessings through the obedience of individuals and communities of faith!

Jesus emerging as more than a conqueror had a message to preach to others to see them set free: Repent (Change your mind and actions) for the Kingdom of Heaven is near! (Matthew 4:12-17)

If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.”  ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Practical Faith Challenge of the Week: This week, identify where the enemy's attacks have been in your life and apply the good news of God's word for your freedom and someone of like condition.

This week read Matthew 4:18-25 in preparation for "Man on a Mission" Part 5 - "Following and Fishing"

2nd City Church - Man on a Mission Sermon Series 2012