Today, as we continue “Wonderfully Complex” we want to stay...

  ...on this journey of recognizing God’s unique print upon us and our willingness to find our distinctiveness in God. We want to look for defining moments. Psalm 139:14 (NLT) “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

1. We must recognize those defining moments which reveal our destinies. Batterson – “Time may be measured in minutes, but life is measured in moments. And some moments are bigger than life. And it’s those defining moments that dictate the way we see life.” Some of these moments may be as predictable as a wedding day or the birth of a child. Others may be as unpredictable as an accident. These are the moments that define who we are. And managing those memories is a form of stewardship. Every past experience is preparation for some future opportunity.  

2. We must understand what our soul print is. Think about this...your finger print distinctly identifies and differentiates you from everyone else who has ever lived, but your finger print is only skin deep. Batterson -  “You possess a uniqueness that is soul deep. I call it your soul print. It’s not just who you are, present tense. It’s who you are destined to become, future tense. It’s not just who others see when they look at you from the outside in. It’s who God has destined you to become from the inside out.”  Psalm 139:16 (NIV) “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” As with the Psalmist all your days are ordained by God. It is our holy responsibility to discover that God ordained destiny. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

3. We must believe that we were conceived by God before we were conceived by our parents. You took shape in the heart and imagination of God before you took shape in the womb of your mother. Vincent van Gogh: Christ is more of an artist than the artists...He works in the living spirit and the living flesh; He makes men instead of statues. God is painting a picture of grace on the canvas of your life. God is crafting your character through the circumstances of your life. Batterson – “To see yourself as anything other than God’s masterpiece is to devalue and distort your true identity. And it’s in discovering your true identity that your true destiny is revealed.” A sense of destiny is your sacred birthright as a child of God. He strategically places us in the right place at the right time. God is setting you up and that ought to fill you with an unshakable sense of destiny. God will do the same thing for us if we seek Him with all of hearts. 

Today we start a new series “Wonderfully Complex...”

  ...Psalm 139:13‑15 (NLT) “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.” This portion of Scripture has always brought me a measure of comfort and of great consternation. God knows everything about me!

1. There has never been and never will be anyone else like you! This is not a testament to you.  It is a testament to the God Who created you. You are unlike anyone who has ever lived...you have your own finger prints...your eye scan would be different than anyone else...God is so incredible...snowflakes! Mark Batterson – “You owe it to yourself to be yourself. But more important, you owe it to the One Who designed you and destined you. Here is the good news:  There is nothing God cannot do in you and through you if you simply yield your life to Him. All of it. All of you.” 

2. No one can worship God like you or for you! This sermon is all about you, but it’s not about you at all. The fact that there has never been and never will be anyone like you simply means no one can worship God like you. Batterson - You were created to worship God in a way that no one else can. How?  By living a life no one else can – your life.  God has created you to fulfill a unique destiny and no one else can take your place. Fulfilling your true destiny starts with you discovering who you really are and this is probably our greatest challenge.

3. To find out who you are supposed to be you will have to dig deep. Batterson - Self-discovery is like an archaeological dig. It takes a long time to uncover the hidden treasures that lie buried beneath the surface. You can never be certain of what you will find or where you will find it. And it is a painstaking process. If we fail to dig deep in discovering who we are in Christ. It will result in a superficial life. Psalm 139:14 (NLT) Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  We not only cheat ourselves and others when we fail to discover our God given identities and God ordained destinies, but we also cheat God Himself. Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Keep digging and you will find your true identity and God’s true destiny for your life. As you do you will never see yourself the same way again because you will see yourself thru the eyes of your Creator!

Today we conclude the series “Under a Tree...”

  ...1 Chronicles 11:15-17 (NKJV) “Now three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" We see at this time in David’s life that it recalls, as usual, he found himself in hostile conditions…forced to flee into the desert or wilderness just to survive. Certain men had drifted into the hills to join David, a guerrilla army of friends and mighty men willing to show their bravery, loyalty, and devotion to him. At this time, David was just tired. David spoke out from his heart…"Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" Not a command…a wish. A wish from the king’s lips was powerful. These guys stayed close to their king.

1. Staying close to the King makes it possible to hear His wishes. The fact is that David’s wish was most likely uttered quietly, informally. You had to be close and in his presence to hear his wish. To be in the presence of the Commander (Jesus) is to be in a safe place; and to be able to hear His wishes demand a still time when listening is the most important thing. Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV) “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 

2. The choice to act is often taken at great risk. Nowhere do we hear that there was debate about going to get the king water. “Are you crazy” “Do you know where the well is?” “Get water for one person…nope!” I can’t stay here! David’s men heard the wish from the lips of their commander. The man or woman who takes the time to hear God speak is apt to have the same reaction: instant motion. 

3. God’s divine power creates our ultimate passion. From Genesis to Revelations there has always been this wonderful, powerful, mysterious power planted into the hearts of men and women to enable them to accomplish God’s wishes. We know that divine power and energy to be Holy Spirit. Everything we have spoken about in this series…weariness, dryness, and lack of intimacy with God was exactly what the disciples were going through after Christ was crucified. But what a difference when they tarried (they waited) in God’s presence for the Promise of the Father…the promised Holy Spirit. Weak, tired, and fearful men became giants when Holy Spirit came. I can’t stay here…I can’t stay under this tree…I must be filled with Holy Spirit and stay close to the King!

Today we continue the series “Under a Tree”...

 ...2 Samuel 11:1 (NKJV) “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.” Today I want us to look at what happens to us if we allow our spirits to go un-nurtured for a long time.

1. Running on empty. Last week we talked about the person who is drained and today we are speaking of someone who has been drained for some time. This person’s intake spiritually has almost disappeared. Dry. The unfilled tank spiritually is an invitation to disaster. We must understand that when we run out of gas, it not only affects us, but those around us. Like the cars on the bridge. Romans 14:7 (NKJV) ^“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.”

2. King David facing another giant. As we study the life of King David I believe we can see a man who is dried out spiritually and because of that he is faced with the temptation of adultery and murder. A man in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing getting himself into trouble. Aren’t we kings in our own little domains in the privacy of our castles or offices, we make a command and just one click of the mouse…we are in trouble. He was supposed to be with his army doing what God had purposed him to do. He would have called on God, like before but he was not there. Absentee warrior. Dried out, David made a number of bad choices and in the process, he destroyed a number of lives. Sadly, it took David a year to discover the magnitude of what he had done. How could David after years of close wonderful fellowship with God get himself into such a mess? We are all vulnerable…all of us. When you are weak and dry you can make horrible choices.

3. Repentance and humility will restore us. Psalm 51:5-12 (NKJV) ^“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Repentance…turning back to God will help you get out from under the tree. Live a life of repentance. 

Today we continue the series “Under a Tree...”

  ...1 Kings 19:3-4 (NLT2) “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life…” Let’s look at the effects of this spiritual weariness. 

1. Spiritual hangovers. Hopefully most of you can say that you have never had a hangover from being drunk the night before. Let me just use my profession as an example. So many pastors, after a Sunday or weekend of speaking and giving of themselves and all their inner resources can have this feeling of a hangover. People who like to over-spiritualize everything choose to not understand that the supply of energy and passion (even in a Spirit-filled Christian) is not inexhaustible…it can be depleted. MacDonald – Young men and women surmise that the brute strength of their physical energy level can carry them on indefinitely. It can work for a while. But not forever! One day, having ignored this possibility, they awake to the extreme inner stress of exhaustion of spirit. It is a terribly confusing experience.” We see this in Elijah.  

2. Elijah is totally drained. Just a few days after this amazing victory, Elijah is now in the hangover of his life. It is difficult to describe what the encounter on the mountain top had taken out of Elijah. All we have in scriptures is the foul mood Elijah was in when he ran for his life from Jezebel. Death threats. He needed bread (Word) and water (Holy Spirit).

3. That still small voice. Elijah was still not whole when he left the broom tree. He still felt all alone (I am the only prophet left). He did not need another Mount Carmel experience. He needed something better. 1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV) “Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” Hear me…He was alone but not by himself. He needed a gentle wonderful amazing encounter with God. Not wind, not fire, not an earthquake, not another Mount Carmel, He needed an encounter with God. I can’t stay under this tree…I must get to that quiet place where I can hear the beautiful voice of God.

Today I am returning from vacation but want to continue the series “Under a Tree...”

 ...1 Kings 19:3-4 (NLT2) “Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life…” Maybe it is just my imagination but it seems like more and more of my conversations with friends and church people are spent on weariness, over commitment, and just being border line ready to quit. So what is the result of this pushing and pushing and going and going? Doing more and enjoying it less?

1. We deal with inner weariness. Not just an older person problem…I see young parents running to and fro on the earth taking kids to multiple sports events and art events. They try to keep it all together but feel rattled. It is not necessarily our bodies (though it affects our bodies) but it is a weariness within. It shows up in exhaustion, weariness, and an increasing loss of passion. But if we wait. Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV) “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength;”

2. There is always one more thing to do. MacDonald – Anyone who has given themselves to the leading, caring, or developing of people knows that there is always one more thing that could be done or done better and more completely. Listen to David: Psalm 27:4 (NKJV) “One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” 

3. A gentle fountain or a fire hydrant. Let me give this illustration of the un-relentless flow of good things to do as a person trying to drink from a fire hydrant that is turned on full blast. A little bit of water from a gentle MacDonald – “As our eyes are drawn more and more to the events and data of the public world even if it is Christian, the private world, the heart, becomes increasingly starved for attention and inner maintenance. More time for activity means less time for devotion. Doing more for God may mean less time with God.” We have substituted praying with talking, seeking God with seeking counseling. Though these things are good, they may not be the best. We have much output but no input in our lives. As we continue to hear more of us speak of being tired and burned out, shouldn’t we evaluate. Maybe we should take a step back and look at Jesus…he was not a jet setter like many are today. He took time to rest and pray. I can’t stay under this tree…I must slow encounter God. 

Today I want us to look at Lazarus being raised from the dead...

  ...and how God gave him a second chance...a second life.  John 11:39-45 (NKJV) Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." Let’s look again at the ancient burial traditions of the Jews.  

When Lazarus died: His feet would have been bound at the ankles. His arms would have been tied to his body with linen strips. Then his body would have been wrapped in about 100lbs of grave clothes. The grave clothes would have been to protect and preserve the body. Some scholars believe the head would have been wrapped so much that it would have been a foot wide. The symbolism here is amazing to me of how Christians can remain in bondage even after Jesus has set them free. The ankles being tied is an indication to me that the devil wants to restrict where you go. There is a big problem if you want to go to church or on a missions trip but no problem if you want to go to a bar. The arms being tied would be a restriction of being able to minister for the Lord...it would be okay to embrace sin and substance but not the things of God. One hundred pounds of grave clothes...how many of us see Christians weighed down with the cares of this life and cannot get free?

The binding of the grave clothes would be the enemy keeping you isolated from the Spirit or the Word penetrating your heart. The clothes around the head indicates what a thick head we can have when it comes to getting right with God. Jesus is saying to you what He said to Lazarus: John 11:43 44 (NIV)  “When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Today could be your day...be free!