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Note: Transcripts are unedited. Please forgive any errors.
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THE ACTIVE WORD
TITLE OF
Message: "It's More Than a Word Fellowship"
MESSAGE DATE: 08/28/11 Sun: 12:30 p.m. TAPE NUMBER: T1454
Page 1 of 1
Scripture Reference for Message: 2ND Corin. 6
Opening Prayer Father this day I am thankful we can be grateful that you have given to us your kids your word, we don't have to wonder or guess your will, it's written down in black and white if we take the time to study we will see exactly what you had in mind for godly living and that's why we're here, we've decided to do life differently with your spirit guiding and leading and your heart echoing your desire if we tune in we'll hear and today we pray grant us the grace to heed that we might in all things honor you.
That's what we want to do honor you in Jesus name amen.
MESSAGE
Fellowship, fellow ship in English of course that one word defines and describes a close companionship kind of a friendly fraternity if you will a caring comradery, a sincere sorority a loyal league well you get the idea.
In the original language, Greek, it's as if the word now means so much more because it's closer, it's more friendly it's more loyal, it's more sincere, it's more caring because that word fellowship in English.
Well in the Greek again exclusive to our experience, the word is Koinonia, Koinonia what does that imply? Well it's something holy, truly, truly, listen again, exclusive to the church I'll explain.
Using Greek words the word Soma, Soma that's body, body, and you can have a body experience with another somebody and in physical form there's a form being built.
No I'm not talking about that I'm talking about this running with somebody, you have a running partner and there are you running and there they are running its physical because you run together and you sweat together you build a bond you bike together you get the idea, you skate together yes physically there's a bond being build because so much through soma.
In the same way now the word is Psyche in the Greek, it's our word for soul, you can have a soulish relationship with another soul and you can build a bond that way because now there's a string attached to the sharing and caring of what?
An emotion, so you sister's who cry with another sister what happens? Oh and we cried together, oh you cried together and that made you oh, now your kindred spirits, no your kindred souls you cry together that was a soulish relationship, you worry with someone, you laugh with someone you celebrate with someone, those are all emotions that's a soulish psyche connection.
However and again I say whenever the body of believers gathers in his name, now its Numa, Numa it's a spiritual electricity because his spirit lives in me and his spirit lives in you and now when two or more are gathered together in his name he is here.
Listen that's exclusive to us, Muslim's don't have that experience, Buddhists don't have that experience why? It's the spirit of the living Lord Jesus Christ.
You see Christianity separates itself from every other world religion because only in Christianity does the author of our faith live and abide and reside in us.
So when the two of you spend time together it's not just the two of you, if I had a private meeting with one other person who was a believer no, no, no, no, no it's not just the two, no suddenly he is there with us, and now that connection, that link that holy wow, wow that is something that sounds so.
Well if it's exclusive if it's unique if it's for us, the church that kind of fellowship, well it's why there are two words of warning here you'll read it, the heart of God, please when it comes to fellowship one don't fake it, two don't forsake it, fake it?
It's 2 Corinthians chapter 6 I'm going to draw your attention to verse fourteen, this is 2nd Corinthians 6 and 14 we read; do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship (there's the word right there) fellowship has righteous with lawlessness and what communion has light with darkness?
And what accord with Christ with and there's Belial, what what's Belial? That's a thirteenth century word for the devil, he wants to know what things did Jesus and the devil have in common?
And we continue; what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. And God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
Therefore come out from among them, be separate, says the Lord, do not touch what is unclean, I will receive you, I will be a father to you, you shall be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty, come on back your attention do not be unequally yoked.
Yoke, do you know what a yoke is? Yeah exactly and what happened when you gave your life to Christ is he said, and we read it well in the gospel take my yoke, come here take my yoke, learn of me, I'm lowly humble in heart, so you put your path in direct parallel with his path, you've got divine direction and now Jesus is leading you specifically by his grace to the place where you are supposed to be.
He says now don't mess that up, don't you now that your yoked together with me add a he or a she that is not equally yoked.
Equally yoked, yeah listen, if you are a single sister and you're hoping to find oh that someone so special, listen he's a believer, he's a believer well Bob right now I'm dating this guy right next to me he's not a believer.
Dating him what do you mean dating him? I mean we go out every once in a while and, you hope he becomes your husband? Well yeah, listen, you have a father, and according to the scriptures he has a father, if he doesn't know the Lord his father, listen you're going to have in-law problems right away, why?
Because your heavenly father is trying to lead you on a spiritual course, and if he's trying to take you on a fleshly course or a natural course there's going to be constant conflict, you see you will say oh I want my kids to learn the bible, I don't want them hearing that hog wash I got brain washed when I was a kid and that's not going to.
You see the conflict? He said don't be unequally yoked, please don't fake it, fake it, I have people many times say to me, oh it's all right missionary dating again, it's just one of those things where I hope that my witness to them while we're dating brings them to Christ.
You're compromising witness? What do you mean? Well of course they know your compromising you're not really taking this serious, did you just read what I read? He said don't do it.
I can't believe, well hey maybe it's beyond relationship maybe its business and you're the president of a company and you've decided to co-president? Wait a minute, two partners they decide to write an agreement fifty, fifty, you're got an unbeliever your doing business with but God showed you last night in the world your new marketing strategy and you show up the next day at work and say, "You know what the Lord showed me in the bible, I think we need to branch out in."
And he goes, "The Lord showed you in the bible?" Don't fake that, because lots of times again people come to me and they have their excuses they have all their reasons they have all their justification they have all their logic and I go what did you do?
Let me tell you what we did, you didn't believe that was true, and even though you're saying, it's fine, no, no, no, it's give and take, give and take, you k now he's this I'm that and I let the kids be a part of his thing and he lets the kids be a part of my thing and I say that thing is very, very confusing.
Don't fake it, but what's more than faking it, he says don't forsake it, forsake it.
Leaving here 2nd Corinthians chapter 6, its Hebrews chapter 10 and I want you to look with me starting in verse 24, Hebrews 10 and 24 we read; and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much more as you see the day, that's capitol'd' day approaching.
What's the capitol'd' day? That's judgment day, he says listen, judgment day is soon approaching before we get there don't you forsake this assembly. Now two words first forsake, circle it close by, leave someone behind, he says don't leave somebody behind why?
Because the second word assembling is nearby circle the word write the collection of the whole, it's like we have a collection, this is a congregational collection, everybody that's supposed to be here is here and although you may not think that you really belong here, let me tell you something, he wants you to belong here because once you say I'm a part of this, you now use your part to bless the other parts.
I can illustrate it to you this way, I have in my hand a puzzle piece, just a piece of the puzzle, now this puzzle piece is very alone, it's single not to say anything about you single folks but to say as an individual piece until it finds it's missing pieces it will always be incomplete.
Now keep in mind there's a box with a bunch of pieces and their not having a good time today because they know if the owner opens the box and tries to put the things together the missing piece makes the puzzle incomplete.
Well here's the box of God and all of one of you, you're integral you're important you're imperative to making the big picture the big picture.
You say Bob you're just trying to make the church bigger, you don't mean to tell me that one piece matters.
Let me tell you, the one piece that matters most to you right now is the one piece that you know matters most to you, for instance, if you have kids and you drop them off that piece is very important to you, it's your kids Sunday school teacher, that piece matters.
Why? Because if I take away that piece those kids are in absolute ciaos oh no, no, no, I want them to have a supervisor I want them, you know what would be really nice if for every Sunday school class we had a few pieces a few persons, well then we need those missing pieces.
But if in fact you're a missing piece today where are you? We're trying to do this thing we need, we need people for the parking lot, we need people in Sunday school, we need missionaries, and we need and we need and we need like every ministry we're looking for the missing parts, and sadly some of the missing parts that aren't here, are here they're just not here.
What do I mean by that? You're here watching on the internet but you're not here because you decided to forsake the assembly.
Oh man Bob don't make them feel that bad, no, no, no listen I'm going to make everyone feel bad that's within five miles, if you're within five miles and your watching, well wait a minute you're still in your jammiess, you should be out of, do you know what time it is, this is the last service, wait, put your coffee down okay, put your coffee down get out of your jammies time to shave hello what's that?
Let me tell you exactly what that is, they don't need me that's a big church, that's a big church they got plenty of people there they don't need me.
He goes don't you do that, why? Well because you're, it's so, you're missing what fellowship is, fellowship, yeah it's the first of four and each sentence starts that way, fellowship is, and I will say to you that fellowship is number one if you're taking note jot it down, fellowship is contact and connection, contact and connection.
Now we're going to leave Hebrews chapter 10 you're going with me to Galatians chapter two, but before we read the verse I will designate I'll set the stage and say to you that the apostle Paul before he's Paul the apostle is the notorious Saul of Tarsus.
And Saul of Tarsus happens to be a real church hatter, he would before he's converted hate this gathering, in fact if you're a note taker don't turn there but later on read Acts 9 and 1; then Saul still breathing threats and murders against the disciples of the Lord went to the high priest.
Well wait a minute, Bob I'm new to the bible what did you just say? Before the apostle Paul was the apostle Paul he was Saul and Saul was actually persecuting the church?
Yeah Paul actually went to the high priest he wanted letters to go into home bible studies arrest Christians and bring them to justice, but on his way to persecute the church he saw the light, and the light was so bright it knocked him off his high horse and he suddenly became a believer.
Now he wants to join the church, sadly however again don't need to turn there Acts 9 and 26 we read; and when Saul came to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
Can you imagine this? Here is the guy who ends up writing more than half the New Testament he wants to join the church but because he's got a reputation for rottenness, it's kind of like the Grinch showing up at the Christmas service and you see him through the doors and you go oh, oh, oh, no way.
Or maybe it's Tony the New England mobster and you know he's a mobster and you know he's down here on vacation, and now he's, that's Tony the mobster what's he doing in church.
And here's what you do, you start to shun him, oh what are you doing, what are you doing, what are you doing?
Well here's what you need to know has got to happen if the Saul's of Tarsus are ever expected to become the apostle Paul's.
You need a Barney, a Barney, his name is Barnabas and he's the one Son of Encouragement that see's Saul, hey is that not Saul?
Look at his face my goodness it's radiating, that guy, I heard he got saved, oh man you know what I need to do for him, and you know what he does for him? In the book of Acts in that same ninth chapter he begins to befriend him, but now it's months later and in Galatians chapter 2 in the 9th verse he decides to take it one step further and in the ninth verse Galatians 2 we read; and when James and Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised, what happened?
Well now Barnabas says, hey, hey, hey, it's time for you to get connected and have contact with the other brothers, they were afraid of you but I'm going to make sure there is fear no more.
Come here, come here, come on Saul come on over here, and there's John and there's Peter, oh it's the guy that's just beating the snot out of church goers, oh.
And Barnabas says this, I want you to meet my brother and I want you to know he's a true brother and I want you to right hand of fellowship, what's the right hand of fellowship?
Well it's not the left hand why? The left is what's left, this is the right thing to do, yes make sure that someone feels welcome, make sure they feel connected why?
Stay with me, because the connect you provide is the connect that they need, God has arranged the parts of the body as he's determined, don't be surprised when you come to the house of God if you're seeing somebody whose either going to meet your need or that you're the one whose divinely designed to meet their need, it's the way that he works.
You see come here to the house of God and you strip yourself of your vocation to worship but you still have your vocation as a tool to use to bless someone else's life.
For instance, don't be surprised if you're the guy in the tire business that you're sitting next to a woman who has wobbling tires, and what happens is you have the chance to say hey how are you doing good morning, you're waiting for the service to start so how's your life?
Oh I've got wobbly tires I don't know what to do, wobbly tires I fix wobbly tires, don't tell me that I just prayed out in my car and I said Lord I don't' know what to do, do you really fix wobbly tires?
Now I do know that there's a guy in this church that fixes wobbly tires because he's fixed my wobbly tires, not just because I'm Pastor Bob but because I'm in the fellowship I know other people in the fellowship and if you need something hey I know somebody all right, I'm connected, I'm really connected what do you need?
You need tickets come on give me a call I know a guy that's into tickets; you know what do you need; now you go Bob!
That's truly because your Pastor Bob that's not just because you're Bob, no let me tell you something that has been happening in my life in the fellowship since the very beginning of my relationship to the fellowship, it's the way that God works.
And sometimes listen all you need is a hug, all you need is a pat on the back, sometimes all you need is an encouraging word it's what is supposed to happen in the fellowship because when you come into the fellowship you have the spirit of God and the person sitting next to you has the spirit of God and he's trying to get the spirit that's in him, that's in you and in them to connect in such a way that you go oh man, this is the coolest place I can't believe this place.
And how did that happen to me? Listen you may not know this but I was such a heathen, I was so wrong and wicked that even after I got saved I didn't think I belonged in the church, I was convinced that everybody that went to church was really holy and real spiritual, I know better now, but I was so convinced that if anybody actually went to church they were so pure and so perfect that every time I'd go to church it would like ah.
Now you can ask her, mark my words this is so true, I would come to church first couple of weeks being a brand new believer and I would feel such conviction and I don't even know why I'd want to leave I'd want to escape.
And my sister-in law she'd feel the anxiety and she'd look and I'd go got to go I can't stay here I got to go, and she'd go no your staying, you're staying you belong here and I just didn't think I belonged in the church.
Well don't you know it's my third week and Jim and Teresa are going to do something I, they call me and say, I've got to now put on my big boy pants and go by myself.
I don't want to go to that church by myself, I don't want to meet anyone I don't want to know anyone I don't want them to know me I'm sure that once they look in my eyes they'll see sin, sin, sin, I'm not, I'm trying to be right but I'm still working at the casino I don't know how long I'm going to stay there, what happens I come in.
Now I take the row at the end and I take the seat at the end so I'm right where you're at right there, you see my finger I'm right where you're at, and I'm sitting there and I'm sweating, and worship starts it's like I don't belong here, I don't belong here, I don't' belong.
Now the first week I was there my brother and his wife introduce me to one of the elder's Tom Shelton, Tom was a big strapping guy a lovable guy a big teddy bear, you're Bob Jim and Teresa have been praying for you, I'm glad you're in the kingdom that's great, man you're in the music business I heard hey limo's famous people is that you?
And he just was really nice to me, now here it is three weeks later, I'm sitting in my seat, I so don't belong here I can't wait to get out I don't know if I'm going to stay, and I'm looking at the exit sign and I'm looking worship is about to begin and I.
Tom see's me, and Tom walks over to where I'm at he reaches those big old barrel arms around me and he goes, he says am I ever glad to see you here Bob mmm man, and he walks away.
They know my name here, I am a part, I'm a believer, I belong here, they know my name, now listen, listen, listen, listen, tune in here's what you're thinking, you don't know my name do you Bob?
You're bothered by that, well I just thought I've been coming here now four weeks and you don't know me, do you know what listen, when our church grew to over a hundred I suddenly realized I don't know everyone's name, how many names, how many people do you go hey let me give you complete connection to, I can't do it.
But here's what I do know, you're a habitual sitter if you continue to sit where you're sitting at some point in, because those are your seats, at some point in time you will be known and they will know, and you'll walk in and go hey Charlie, how's it going, hey man, hey missed you last week, you missed me, well here's what happened yeah and it's just kind of fellowshipping thing, why?
Because the fellowshipping thing has everything to do with connection and contact, you see there is somebody here today that genuinely has a need and you might be the person to meet that need, and listen again, it may be as simple as a smile, in the real word out there there's not a lot of smiler's you know, when you're driving in the real world there's a whole, there's not a whole lot of people hey you go, go ahead you go it's your turn come on.
We come on church property and we're supposed to come on the property and suddenly ha, ha, ha, ha, hi welcome we're so glad you're here take a minute, take a minute say hi to the person that you don't know nearby, just say hi how are you?
And just give them a little pat on the back, here's your pat on the back, just say it, just do that real quick okay, yeah actually do it, somebody you don't know you're wives are not included you should know her by now, just say hi, just say hi, just say hi, okay keep it simple okay now stop, now here's what I want you to do.
Listen, listen, check and make sure you still got your wallet, of course you still have your wallet, this is the church we're supposed to behave that way, now listen, stay with me, if people don't feel welcome here with the opportunity to be connected mark my words there's plenty of places that they can and do feel welcome because there is a bar in Broward County on every corner.
Do you know that you could go to a bar after church sit on a bar bench order a drink draw some attention to the game on the screen and start a conversation with somebody who really doesn't care about your skin color or your economic status, they don't care there.
But for some strange reason we come into the house of God, their touching my arm, I don't know them and they don't look like me augh! It's the body of Christ he is here he lives in the person sitting next to you and he's supposed to be living in you please augh.
I got connections, but I want you to have the same connections I enjoy why? Because there's nothing like it, there's nothing like it, now I'm known in Broward County of course and somebody will say hey Pastor Bob, hey Pastor Bob, and somebody said to me recently I bet you hate it always being recognized.
And I say this all the time, I love it and I'll tell you why, because I'm not known for throwing a football far, I'm not known for my face on the big screen, I'm known because of the good grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that's in this place and I would love to continue to be known for that, that's what I want to be known for, but stay with me, listen to this.
These guys because their faces are seen, they start being known and you if your face is seen, you start being known, you see it's a matter of face time and the more you have face time with the fellowship the more people know who you are and so that when you're missed you're actually missed why?
Because your part of the collection, he says hey I'm bringing the whole twelve thirty crowd together, and you're a twelve thirtyer.
Why are you not a ten fifteener? Why are not an eight o'clocker?
Bob get behind me don't even mention that, there's something about you that has you come here at this service at this church, somebody else goes to another church at a different service their still a part of the fellowship but they go somewhere else why?
Because God has something specific for you to do here if all it is, smile, be nice, be kind, why? Because it's supposed to be that place where there is a flavor of contact and connection and you don't know but that the next person you don't hug becomes the next Pastor Bob.
I didn't want to go back to that church, I wonder what would happen had Tom Sheltee had not just embraced, you see there are some people right now that are on the edge for one reason or another there could be somebody here right now that goes, you have no idea the week I've had, and I don't feel like I belong, because you know what I struggled last week, and I did some stupid things, and I don't feel I belong in a place as holy as this.
No, no, no, no, he's the one who makes it holy, we get in by his grace, it's the place for contact and connection, number two, number two.
Fellowship is if you're a note taker, the place of common commitment, common commitment, I want you to go with me to Acts chapter two, and in Acts chapter two you'll see the very first place that the word fellowship is employed in the new testament this is acts two we'll start in forty, acts 2 and 40 verse 40, Acts 2 we read; and with many other words he (that's of course the apostle Peter) testified and exhorted them saying, "be saved from this perverse generation."
So he's talking about outsiders telling people who are outsiders to come inside.
He says this, then those who gladly received his word were baptized and that day about three thousand souls were added to them and they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and there's the word fellowship and the breaking of prayer and prayers then fear came upon every soul and wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Now all who believed were together and they had all things in common and sold their possessions and goods and divided them among all as anyone had need.
So continuing daily in one accord in the temple and breaking break from house to house their ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart praising God and having favor with all the people all the people and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Now here's what I want you to know in forty the subject is salvation, reaching people who were a part of a perverse generation. At the very last verse we looked at forty-seven it's still about people getting saved.
What is the common commitment that we have? Listen, the common commitment we have is the cause of Christ, what's the cause of Christ? To save souls, save souls, now what does that mean?
Well they just added three thousand souls to the church in one day and those three thousand that came in felt welcomed, they felt welcomed why? Because there was this common commitment to make sure that the people on the outside sense that they could come to the inside and be a part of what was happening on the part of God.
Now how does this work more practically? Let me illustrate it to you this way, listen, end of the service most weekends, I get to a place where I say hey if you're interested in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I'm inviting people to join the fellowship.
And what happens is somebody gets out from their seat and they start to come forward and walk, and as they start to walk what happens here?
Well in this house you very naturally respond very supernaturally, and in other words the supernatural thing that's happening is your spirit which is Christ's spirit is celebrating someone who was lost now being found, someone who was blind now seeing.
They start to come forward and here you guys start to applaud, yeah, yeah, yeah, now listen, if your new to this I never taught you to do that, and in other words there was never a week where I said hey are there are heathens here today?
Okay you're a heathen get out, another heathen get out, get out I want to just talk to believers okay, now that the heathens are gone, next time I do that invitation thing and one of the heathens come forward applaud make them feel like their welcome would you just, I never had to teach you that.
But here's what's happening as I said heathen, you're thinking Bob don't use that language right now because I brought one brought a heathen with you.
Now less you misunderstand that's not me being mean or me being antagonistic that's just another term that the bible uses to describe somebody who, you don't have a heart for God that you have a heart just for the world.
Now when I describe it to you that way and I go a heathen, a heathen, here's what you're thinking, Bob don't use that language please.
And the reason you're concerned about that is you want me on my best behavior for your heathen friend.
Think about it, you never prayed so hard for this church service then when you're bringing somebody who doesn't know the Lord.
Oh I hope he's good, well I hope, I hope he shows up, sometimes he doesn't even show up and we get a substitute teacher, I hope he shows up, I don't mind of its Fidel but some of those other guys I just don't want that to happen.
And here's what else you pray, I hope he doesn't talk about, I just hope he loves them, I hope he makes us laugh, I hope he doesn't talk about homosexuality or abortions or anything, I just, Bob be nice I brought a heathen, be nice.
That's what you're thinking; do you know what I'm thinking? Lord make them be nice today, make them be kind to all the heathen's that come, why?
Because every once in a while in my office I get a letter from somebody who tried our church do you know the biggest complaints, one is, and I, the letter read this way, I know you guys are into saving souls but I don't understand why you guys are also into saving seats.
What's that? Many of you that seat is yours, and we don't know it's yours, and what you do is you mark it with a bulletin, you put a bulletin on an arm and that's supposed to tell every visitor that's my seat, and then you go out and you fellowship then you come back and there's you're here, you don't know this is my seat.
I didn't it's my first week I'm a heathen.
Well ask the people around you, that's my seat, this is not my seat; yeah it's my seat can you go?
All right I will and I found out that some of you boot, listen, the second complaint is from people who have a heart for this commitment that's common, when I'm inviting people forward and you're one of the people going backward out the door, a lot of people write me and go make them stop, why are they leaving when it's such a critical time?
Well because they're missing what we read in Philippians one and five, leaving the book of acts in Philippians one and five, listen, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, the apostle Paul is thanking the church in Philippi for their fellowship in the gospel, they all have the same heart they have the same desire.
They want to see people get saved, so you're hoping I'm on my best behavior, I'm hoping you're on your best behavior, why?
Because I want somebody to come in and say oh I've never felt so welcomed in all my life but that church of yours that common commitment to salvation causes everyone to be on their best behavior because.
Well I'll tell you because seems to work in my, do you have a hoe? You're a guy, if you're a guy like me and you have a house like me then you also have a chair, it's your chair, and everyone in the house knows that's dad's chair, it's usually the biggest chair, my chair is a leather chair, my chair bends back.
Next to my leather chair I have a table where my subjects, I mean my children serve me beverages, son beverage, Caitlyn feet, now I'm having fun, you know this is the way it works.
Somebody comes over their company and what do I say? Hey come on sit in this chair, oh no, no, I know that's your chair, no it's not my chair it's your chair, this is the chair for company, this is the one you sit down.
And I force them into the chair; I bring up the back I go I want you to be why? Hey it might be my chair but when there's a guest in the house it's their chair because I want them to get the very best of my hospitality I want the people who come into this church to get the very best of your hospitality.
You see that's how it's supposed to work. Bob I just feel like it's, there's got to be more to it I mean here we are in this church and it just seems like.
I know what it seems like, it seems like it's just a big box it seems like there's just a lot of people let me tell you something, it becomes a whole lot smaller when you smaller, when your nice, when you greet somebody.
This is outreach magazine and their the folks that do the thing on the hundred biggest churches every year and their magazine every issue has got a mystery visitor going to a church, the mystery visitor is always an unbeliever, now I don't know how they hire these people.
Hey you a heathen? I want you to go to church and rate it for me.
But listen to this it actually says a fifty something female visited, she visited this church and its unbeliever reports.
On an unannounced visit to one of the largest churches, now this is not our church but she grades it, she gives it an 'a' for its advertising to get her into the church.
She gives it a 'b' for her first impression pulling up on the property, but then she gives it a 'c' minus for her connection to anyone in the congregation.
Listen, did anyone connect with you in the church, she responds I greeted others and was greeted by people near me, the minister welcomed guests and said he was glad that all were attending, I did not feel any true warmth shown to me as a visitor, either as a part of the service or informally.
As I walked out, no one attempted to talk to me, it seems as if people wanted or needed to leave as soon as the service was over. You go Bob honestly I'm here with a few friends I leave I don't know anybody so here's what you do.
Church is over you're with the rest of the Calvary cattle, on my way to my feeding troth wherever that is.
And here's all I'm asking you to do, I know, it's like make friends when you leave the next Heat game, no, get out of my way I'm trying to get to my car, sometimes it's like the big boss says no, no, no, no, no, here's all you have to do.
You're walking you turn to somebody you go, hey how are you doing? Great service huh? Yeah great, I mean you don't have, I mean if it was bad, that's the first service I said that.
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Listen I'm not saying you have to say it was a good service, don't lie for me I'm not saying that I'm just saying be nice, just be nice, why?
Because in the real world right now there's not a lot of nice, and so when you come to the house of God you'd like to have this place where you go and you sit in your seat and somebody goes how are you doing today?
How am I doing, what are you selling timeshare? No, I'm not selling anything, I'm part of the fellowship, and in this fellowship we just learn to be nice to one another and you're nice and if there are colored barriers and there are no economic barriers because we're a part of the kingdom of God on earth before we get to heaven.
When we get to heaven you're going to be with everybody here. So right now we're here and there you are you go don't touch my arm, you know when you said that they moved it closer.
Who gets the arm rest anyway, have you decided? If you have both your sinning, you should have learned that doing air travel, you only get one arm for your okay, the other one you go well if I have this one I don't get this one, but if anyone gets both you're a glutton, it's embarrassing.
Number three fellowship is comfort and care, you're in Philippians chapter one just go a couple of pages to the right Philippians chapter 3 and look with me at verse 7.
Philippians 3 and 7; and there is where you discover it's the heart of God as he writes concerning what he had, this is what Paul had, Paul had heritage and pedigree, he was the top law keeper.
He says this however verse seven of Philippians 7; but what things were gained to me, these things I've counted loss, yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I've suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is thorough faith in Christ the righteousness which is from god by faith.
And then here's the verse I want you to focus in on, that I might know him, the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being conformed to his death, that if by any means I might obtain the resurrection from the dead.
Here's what the apostle Paul prays for he goes, you know what I want to know as a believer? Two things, one I want to know the power of the resurrection, and that's one of those powerful pump me up things.
I want to know the power of the resurrection and then he says this but I also want to, I want to have the fellowship with the sufferings of Christ, what would you experience if you had fellowship of the sufferings of Christ?
Well that's easy because in 1st Peter 3 and 18 the bible tells us he suffered for sins, so when he suffered for sins when we have the fellowship of his suffering we're also suffering because of sin.
You ever suffer because of sin; you ever have sorrow because of sin? I have I just did recently I don't mean to gross you out or simply highlight in dramatic form a very tragic occasion.
But when a dad decides to take the life of his wife and his kids, that one horrific act always leaves me emotional because I can't imagine being the last kid dad is chasing after him he knows what's happening.
And I will get emotional reading the newspaper watching the news why? I don't even want to imagine that moment, that's the kind of thing that break the heart of God.
Now in contrast to the horrific world we live in, there's his house, this is his house, so the fellowship says, let's get to God's house why?
When we get to God's house what will happen? Well we'll get together with other God fearing people, and because we have his spirit when we get together there's a lifting of the burden of the world due to sin.
The bible says that he inhabits the praises of his people, so it just is a matter of worshipping God, we're all worshipping God and pretty soon all of the heaviness that we're wearing like a garment seems to just slide off our shoulders and next thing you know we're praising him and we're exalting him and we're lifting him, and the heaviest experiences we may going through suddenly are adjusted in the house of God because the people of God are praying for the people of God and the comfort and care that is given to the people of God it's the church.
For instance, yesterday at noon there was a memorial service here about fifteen hundred people gathered together to grieve the loss of a twenty year old girl who was a two thousand and nine graduate here at CCA.
She went to central, or she went to the university of Florida and she got very busy shinning a very bright light she had however type two diabetes, and she battled with her blood sugar as folks with diabetes do, she's all excited about the devotion she was going to give being the chaplain of her sorrierty.
So she met very late night with a roommate who's also a CCA grad and she shared her devotion, she said here's what I want to teach them, it's like Christians are like, like t-bags and water and when you hear the sound of the whistle you know, we know that we are exalted.
It was this whole beautiful devotion, the last song she listened to on her pod was a very popular hit if I die young, now if you know the lyrics of that song it's like woe, she wrote a letter to her mom and dad, and they don't know when she wrote it, but it read something like this, dad you're the best dad a girl could ever have, and I remember this and I remember this.
Mom I want to just tell you how much I love you, and then she signed the letter I'll see you at the wedding feast, whew, now she had no idea she was going to pass that night but she did and everything was in order so in order that Pastor Doug Sauder actually preached her devotion at her memorial service.
And when I met with the parents because this girl was so dialed in to God I looked in their eyes and they're telling me about the memorial service at the University are telling me that it was a celebration, they're telling me about how many lives have been touched and changed.
And I see something in them, and you know what that is? That's that thing that I know is in the Lord, and when they say to me Bob you would not believe this church, the moment she passed we started getting phone calls, it was first Pastor Mark, and then it was Pastor Doug, and then we had to go up to U.F. and get the things out of her dorm and bring them back here, and people came with us, and people met us there and I thought oh my this is what you pray a church does.
But while that thought was coming from my mind I thought how does anyone grieve the loss of their twenty year old daughter when they're not in a church?
You see, there are a handful of things that happen in life that you're not supposed to do alone, you're just not supposed to. Do you understand I'm moving furniture with my son in his bedroom, and he's got this big long chest and I stretch over I go Christian grab the other side and he goes, let's see how big dad is, dad do it by yourself.
Now he's joking with me, playing with me, I go Christian grab the other side why? He knows a listen, it's a two man job, that's what we call it, we call it a two man job, two people are required for this, you don't do this by yourself.
Sometimes you'll see it's on the outside of a box, and on the outside of the box it says it takes two people to lift this box. Let me tell you something, there are a handful of things in life bankruptcy and home foreclosure you should not be doing on your own.
There's a body of believers we care, we help people, we help people who are going through hospital surgery, you're going to go in for surgery and you don't tell us?
Well Bob I know your busy, stop I've hired men and women who do nothing but go to hospitals and care for people and love on people, you're not supposed to do that by yourself.
And my burden is this, sadly you'll wait until tragedy and you'll feel all alone and that's when the enemy will amp the magnification and say see you're alone, no one cares, you might as well.
Might as well what? And when he talks to a dad and he can't pay his bills and he's embarrassed because he doesn't have a job, he looks at the family and he's got no connection with God, you now know the kind of thoughts that guy is thinking about, and I'm going, no, no, no, how dare you.
That's why last week when we did hey you want to open your home for a connect bible study, a hundred people said you could be in my home, we already got three, four hundred bible studies meeting.
If we had another hundred this week that's five hundred places where I know in our county Jesus is waiting to meet you, so you can't go into somebody's home and at the end here they are all gathered together, hey got any prayer requests, got any prayer requests?
I didn't want to come to this bible study, but I'll admit this prayer, I'm out of work pray for me. You're out of work, what do you do? I didn't know that, you believe this, you're an accountant, I have a friend who needs an accountant he just.
But if you're not a part of the fellowship and you've decided to do it on your own, I'm not into organized religion I don't need the church; I meet with Jesus on the beach.
Every once in a while you go, I can't believe he said that, no what you really can't believe is what I don't say, everyone once in a while angels hold onto my tongue, don't say that, don't' say that.
I'll say it to you this way now that it's been filtered, if you're not connected to this church it's not my fault, don't get mad, oh that big church, let me tell you something, this church is the best dysfunctional family going.
Hey, we're not perfect, we're not perfect, we don't have it all together, but I know this church is filled with people who care enough to care enough to care enough and I know this, I know that if anything happened to me, the bible promises the righteous will not go hungry, why don't the righteous go hungry?
Because if you've been living a righteous life you know what, you probably meet a handful of friends that will make sure that will make sure you've got a meal on your table and a roof over your head, I'll guarantee that.
If you're a part of this church we'll make sure that you've got food, we'll make sure there's a roof over your head, I can guarantee that why? Because I know the resources of those who care that way.
But if you're not connected, nothing I can do, because you've decided I'm an island, I'm the captain of my destiny, I need no man, yeah that's a foolish thing to say, angel hold me back please.
Last place, 1st John, 1st John it's not the gospel of John that's 1st John, go to Revelation if you're new to the word it's at the end of the book, come back it's left a handful of pages, it's 1st John, it's the first chapter we'll pick it up on the fifth verse.
And if you're a note taker let me read you fellowship is contact, and connection, fellowship is a common commitment, fellowship is comfort and care and fourth and finally fellowship is covenant and communion.
Look at the way this looks, 1st John its first chapter it's the fifth verse, this is the message which we have heard from him and declared from you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all, if we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness well we lie and don't practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin, if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, if we say we have not sinned we make him to be a liar and his word is not in us, come on back your attention please.
Did you see fellowship with him, fellowship with us, fellowship with him he says come here, come here, come here, come here, let's have fellowship, fellowship?
Yeah I want my blood to cleanse you from all of your sins, that's how we have fellowship, now remember it's Isaiah who says, God's arm is not so short he can't save, nor is his ear deaf that he can't hear, your sins have separated you from God so what do we do about sin?
We allow the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from sin, so Jesus cleanses me from sin now I have fellowship with God, but now that I have fellowship with God because my sins have been washed away I have great fellowship with you because you're sins have been washed away, because now we make this complete holy whole, because I'm clean you're clean, he made us clean.
So there's nothing that should be separating us because he who cleansed me cleansed me completely, he who cleansed you cleansed you completely and now husband and wife, brother to brother, sister to sister, friend to friend, there's nothing, there's nothing.
I have peace and joy laying my head on the pillow tonight when I put my head on the pillow here's what I know tonight, I put my head on the pillow I'm really good with God, I got no issue right now with God, God has no issue with me and my issues with you, I don't have anybody mad at me and I'm not mad at you, I love everybody right now seriously.
But I'm really putting on my thinking cap when I go who can't I stand, who bugs me, who do I just want out of my world, nobody, I love everybody, now you go well I don't like you.
Oh, well then you need communion don't you? Yes and that's what we're going to do right now.
Father we come to you in Jesus name and as the communion elements are passed we know it's our opportunity to not just get clean but to help other's stay clean, for the forgiveness we provide could be to them the forgiveness they receive, and the forgiveness they receive could be for them the freedom to find fellowship with you.
So we pray that today God with these elements in our hand, we're able to affirm again yes Lord I want you in my life, and with that invitation realize we're bringing the entire body into fellowship with us God, you loved us first it's why we love you.
Thank you God for that amazing grace in Jesus name we pray.
Hey I'm not going to say amen because I'd still love there to be that spirit of presence here, so as the spirit of presence is here in just a moment the elder's and deacons and ushers are going to pass out the communion elements, Pastor Clay is going to lead us in a song and here's what I want you to do.
When you're holding that juice and that matzo, just hold it when you first get it just hold it and I'll say that a third time because I see people not do that, when you get this just hold it, and we'll come back just for a brief moment, I'll say just a couple of things and then we'll partake together.
But for this time, listen to the lyrics of the song, worship the Lord and prepare to get closer to the Lord, Pastor Clay if you'd lead us in song.
1st Corinthians 11 and 27, therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner they will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and the cup for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself not discerning the Lord's body.
And for this reason many are weak and sick among you, many have slept or died but if we would judge ourselves we would not be judged.
When we are judged we're being chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with this world.
As a kid growing up I was told erroneously you've got to examine yourself make sure your worthy before you take communion, and so if there was some sin in my life I knew I was behaving foolishly well we just didn't take communion, in fact some Sundays as a family we just didn't go because we knew we weren't worthy.
My dad misappropriated that word it has nothing to do with my worth, there is no one in this room today that's worthy to take communion, no it's about his work, he alone is worthy.
There's no one righteous no not one, but what's supposed to happen in my heart when I hold these elements in my hand, I recognize the worth of this his body and his blood, you see this is my chance for a D.O. is what we say in the Coy house, a do over, there are times when you just do something dumb or do something foolish well you know if you're a husband if there hasn't been a time when you turn to your wife hey can we just start all over?
You really want to star tall over?
Yeah , well are you sorry, yeah I'm sorry, you're not meaning it, no I just want, let's just start all over let's not do this thing.
I'll start over if you'll start over, well I'll start over listen, God's saying to you, you want to deal, you want a do over? I would love to start over, well when you eat this and you drink this here's what you're confessing.
I don't want to do life on my own God I want you to help me and I so want you in me, I'm going to eat and drink the symbolic representation of who you are, and when I do it's my way of saying of course I want you in my life.
Now you could have already prayed that prayer, but you know walking through this world your feet get muddy, your feet get dirty, so this is a fresh opportunity for great grace, this is a opportunity for us to just get clean, it's like being filthy and then you just go in you bath and when you come out of the shower you go oh man it just feels so...he wants to do that to your soul.
But there is a buyer beware, if he makes you clean, when it comes to your brothers and sisters here in this body, your obligated let's be clean with them.
I don't know if it's your mom or your dad or your brother or co-worker, with him in you you'll have everything you need to go and make peace with somebody else.
So there should be and he said it you've got to discern the Lord's body, let's think about the Lord's body, every time I take this I think of the Lord's body, I think of the Lord's body his frame, his frame I don't know how tall how big how small Jesus was but I think about his body on the cross every time I take communion I think about his body on the cross his frame.
It's not the only body he's talking about he said discern the Lord's body, not frame fellowship, think about the Lord's body to fellowship, is there anybody here you've got anything against, now here, you married was there a little stupid thing that went on, you don't have to have a conversation but all you have to do is husband and wife, before you eat and drink this let your eyes meet her eyes, his eyes and with that just eye contact here's what you're saying I'm a fool, yes you are and I'm glad no don't do that.
Hey we both been foolish in the way we've behaved, God has diving us a d.o. let's take this let's start all over are you ready, I'm ready, and it's just you and the Lord it's just the two of you, you go God I'm ready and when I eat this and drink this I'm going to go out with my fresh forgiveness and make sure that anyone who doesn't know I love them or care for them knows.
This is another chance, you do that I'll do the same and when you're done with your prayer you eat and drink, he loves you.
Amen, let's stand, fresh forgiveness there's nothing like it, there's probably somebody who needs it and now your filled and you have a chance to bubble, and let the effervescence splash on somebody else.
Hey if you're in need of prayer for whatever reason it might be in the front of this platform as soon as we're dismissed and the song comes to an end there's a group of people that stick around and they pray for you and they pray with you.
If you need prayer come on up after the song and let us see how we can help we'll do our best it's about that fellowships thing you know.
If not you just head on out don't forget today is the day you have to be nice, okay, Pastor Clay if you'll close us in song.
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