Guess I never posted part one either…

Message notes from August 3, 2021 

It’s Time to Get Excited (Part 1) 

Well, we are officially back to having services in the 1010 building. In case you missed it, they are now happening on Tuesdays at 6pm instead of Sundays.  

Sometimes it can be hard to get excited, but as we begin to transition back to “normal”, it’s time for us to get motivated again and find things to be excited about.  

I know I’m excited because I am back downtown and starting to do all the things I used to enjoy. For the message, however, I’m excited because I know God knows us, He is with us, and He is not done with us yet! 

Isaiah 43 tells a story of God speaking to the Jews through a prophet. In verse one, He says, “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” 

I’m excited because it is God who made me and knows me best. Ephesians 1:4-5 reminds us that we are adopted into God’s family through Christ. 

Isaiah 43 continues in verse two, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” 

I’m excited because God is always with and in us. He is a redemptive God who does not give up on us. First Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19 remind us that we are the temple of the Holy spirit and God’s presence is IN us! That’s something to get excited about. 

Finally, we read Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” 

I’m excited because God is not done with us yet! There are times where we may feel abandoned (like, the last year and a half), but we must hold on to the hope that God is always in charge of His plan and he will not give up on us. Jesus reminded us that, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 

Oops! forgot part 3!!

It’s Time to Get Excited (part 3)

1 Peter 2:4-10 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (NIV) 

When Peter refers to the cornerstone, he is quoting some Old Testament prophecies from Isaiah and Psalms. The main point is that we must have a solid foundation, which, of course, now comes through Christ. 

Let’s break down verse nine, as the specific language used here makes it much more powerful. 

“You are a chosen people”-The Greek word for chosen here is “eklektos” which is the same word Jesus used when He said, “many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Peter is telling the church that we are the chosen! 

“A royal priesthood”-First, I’ll tackle the priesthood. This obviously echoes back to Matthew 27:51 where we read that the veil which separated the holy place from the most holy place was torn. This was apparent to all believers that the death of Jesus meant that they could now come to God on their own, without a priest to stand in for them. However, it goes further; in the older days, the royalty and the priesthood were separated and kind of envied each other. Paul intentionally put these two terms together as to signify that we have the lineage of the King of Kings in us and we are now our own priesthood! 

“A holy nation”-This was a serious deal. God said in Leviticus 11:45, “I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” Paul actually referenced this just a few paragraphs earlier in 1 Peter 1:16. How are we made holy? Through Christ’s death and resurrection, of course! 

“God’s special possession” You may remember it as “a peculiar people” (KJV) but most versions say “special possession” as it’s actually a better translation of the Hebrew word used there. Think back to your favourite stuffy (stuffed animal) from when you were a child, for example. That’s how God sees you! 

Finally, why does He do this? So we can tell others about it. Let’s get excited about this and tell others! 

It’s Time to Get Excited (part 4)

Last week I talked about how we can get excited when we see ourselves the way God sees us. Today, I want to discuss how we can get (AND STAY) excited if we learn to “walk in the Spirit”. I know there are a wide variety of beliefs regarding the Holy Spirit, but I believe we must walk IN the Spirit, which is a daily decision.  

Galatians 5:16-17 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.   

How do we walk in the Spirit? 

• Abide in Him  

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me 

• Remain devoted (fasting and prayer) 

Mark 9:28-29 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” ²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer. (KJV “prayer and fasting”) 

I believe Jesus was referring to a lifestyle of devotion (not so much fasting about this particular thing).  

“It isn’t that prayer and fasting make us more worthy to cast out demons. It is that prayer and fasting draw us closer to the heart of God, and they put us more in line with His power. They are an expression of our total dependence on Him.” (Guzik) 

• Trust His will and timing 

Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 

• Avoid strongholds 

Ephesians 4:25-28 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 

• Have faith 

This is pretty obvious, but walking in faith is essential to being a part of what God is doing. Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

Now, this whole message has been a set up for next week’s message where I will discuss miracles. Do you believe in miracles? Sometimes they can be “small miracles” like getting a good price on something you need to buy. Let’s learn to walk in the Spirit and get excited for “big miracles”! 

It’s Time to Get Excited (part 2)

It’s Time to Get Excited part 2 

What is stopping your excitement? How do we remain excited in difficult times?

Have you ever been really excited about something and had someone say something to you that destroyed your excitement? Maybe you’ve done that to a child? 

Proverbs 13:12 reminds us that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” 

Imagine you’re the Israelites and you’ve just been freed from slavery. After all these plagues, you’d think the worst is behind you. Imagine their excitement at that moment, then they come to another challenge.

The Israelites found themselves between a rock (Pharaoh’s army) and a hard place (Red Sea-150km wide)  

Exodus 14:10-12 ¹⁰ As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. ¹¹ They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” 

It’s easy to look back and only see the good, but it’s hard to look forward and only see the good. It’s easy to give in to our emotions in times of trouble.  

Psalm 42:5 reminds us that we have to tell ourselves to shape up! 

The story continues with Exodus 14:13-14 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

Moses could not have known what God was up but his faith was steadfast. Notice that he does not question God or make excuses. Here, he is much more mature than he was when God met him in the burning bush.

The word originally used for still is actually derived from the Hebrew word rapha which means “to be weak, to let go, to release.” Essentially, it means surrender. 

Step 1: Identify the problem. What is it that is overwhelming you?  

Step 2: Identify what you are most anxious about. Why do you feel this way? 

Step 3: Identify what response you can control. 

Step 4: Remember that God often calls people to walk forward blindly, to step into uncomfortable, sometimes dangerous roles and to do the very thing they fear the most. 

FINALLY, we read Exodus 14:16- Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 

God provided for them! We can be excited because God is leading us and holding us. 

God expects us to remain still and wait for Him, but soon after He asks us to trust Him and move on. Remember that God will finish the work He has started (Philippians 1:6).

Our Three Parts

OUR THREE PARTS-It’s important to understand the way God created us. First, I need to be sure you HAVE a phone. Then, you need to give me your number. Still, even if those two things are checked off, you need to have your phone ON and you must notice when it’s ringing; and answer. Once you understand how you are created and listen for God’s “call”, I believe you’ll notice that God is trying to get your attention.

1 Th 5:23- May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I am a SPIRIT-this is our eternal part. This is how God’s spirit can resonate with ours.

Rom 8:15-18

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 

I have a SOUL-Greek “psuche”=psychology  

It’s basically the “stuff” we’re made of (mind, will, emotions). Often interpreted as life/breath in the Bible. 

In Psalm 42:11, we see King David kind of talking to himself. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” 

I live in a BODY our temporary part that dies. 

WE HAVE A CHOICE Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please God” 

2 Cor 5:7 “we live by faith, not by sight.” (We must recognize which part we are walking in.) 

Rom 10:17 “faith comes by hearing…the word” (What is your atmosphere like?) 

James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” 

WE ARE NOT ALONE We were never meant to do this alone. 

John 14:26-27 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

Remember you can watch this video on YouTube at “Atypical Church”