Sermon Notes
Three things are required to prepare ourselves as a dwelling place – Offering, Sacrifice and CONSISTENCY. Day by day, continually we offer our lives to Jesus. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday . . . not just on Sundays at church, we have to commit our hearts to only do what honors Him, constantly, regularly, perpetually, never stopping. We keep coming, and we don’t back down!
Being a long-term, successful follower of Jesus, requires consistency. No one can choose it for you, you must choose for yourself every day. It can be our biggest challenge, giving our life to Jesus and staying in love with Him. It’s through a relationship and connection with Him that is the means by which we are victorious in every area of our life, valuing the connection and relationship itself, and not valuing what comes out of or from the relationship. The moment what is given takes priority over the giver, we open ourselves up to deception.
Are you ready to offer all of your heart in worship to Jesus?
Are you willing to lay your life down as a sacrifice and live only for Him?
Have I been using Jesus as a means to the end, instead of the end Himself?
Sermon Notes
In order to answer the question, “How do you know if you’re a follower of Jesus?” We must ask the question, “Who is determining my direction and route of movement?” If you’re making decisions without prayer and seeking the face of God, then it’s you. BUT, if you want to go after Jesus, and let Him be your direction and determine your route of movement, to be your leader, He invites us to take up our cross, lay everything of our own down to do whatever it takes to follow Him. This isn’t a question of salvation, it’s a question of if you are following Jesus, knowing Him, the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. As Paul says through it all, “even if I die, I will attain the resurrection of the dead.”
Sermon Notes
We want to be a dwelling place for God. BUT, first comes the altar and the sacrifice of dying to ourselves, climbing up onto the altar, and saying – “God I just want what you want.” That offering is a sweet aroma of reconciliation to God. And He wants to come and dwell and consume what we offer Him. It’s an every. single day thing to present our bodies as a living sacrifice – holy and acceptable to God. From your heart, begin to offer God something that is a sacrifice. Something that will require death to your comfort and preferences. Our offering to God, will require death of our flesh in our lives.
Sermon Notes
In Exodus 20, when the intense presence of God came, and the people saw it, they trembled and backed away, and stood a far off where they were more comfortable. They told Moses that they wanted him to talk to God, and then Moses could tell them what God said. Encountering God’s presence can be uncomfortable. When He shows up things move and shake. But, are we people who stand a far off, or draw near to Him? Are we hungry for Him, or hungry for lunch? The Bible says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” God’s desire has always been from the beginning to dwell with us. His Presence is everything.
Sermon Notes
There is no “good person,” “church-going” category of people in the end. There are only two categories – in Love with Jesus or Not! When a person is pregnant in the natural, everything is changed to accommodate for the one they are pregnant with. They are careful, mindful and protective of what is more valuable on the inside of them than their own preferences and desires – the things they eat, drink and participate in. Mary said, “Let it be to me according to your word.” And it cost her. Carrying the presence of God, Him living in us – should affect and change us. It should and will cost us – how we live our lives, our reputation, our friends and family. Are you willing to let God live on the inside of you? At any cost?