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Last Updated 12.25.09

 

January 3, 2010 - re:CREATE #1:

Out of Chaos

Core Ideas: Out of Chaos -- Genesis 1; Luke 1; Luke 11; Acts 2; Titus 3

The Spirit of God hovering over the mess of what was no world and no universe, the chaos of the deep. The Spirit of God was just waiting for God's word to be spoken and to begin to bring God's creative power and order to the chaos.

  • "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (Genesis 1:2)
  • The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be calleda the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)

Time in the Word Focus:

  • In the chaos of our lives, in our experience of church and faith, we practice what the early church practiced, but we do not experience what the early church experienced.
  • In the mess of our lives, we throw advice, books, seminars, counseling, sermons and host of other things, most of them very good things, but we leave out the power to make transformation happen.
    • Romans 8:5-13
    • Does this (this release of the Spirit's power) really happen in our lives? Do we know this experience in our own lives?

But we are afraid because we don't know what to do about the Spirit. We've got all sorts of ideas and doctrines, but very little experience. We don't talk about the Lord's work in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

So we're left to mere will power and seeking the church where we're most comfortable or which offers the most entertaining things for us or for our kids. When we go there, we go through the same motions, say the same words, and the new stuff entertains a bit, but nothing really changes for most of us.

We're angry at our religious practice. We're irritated and not sure why. We feel something is missing. We want someone to involve us or motivate us or use for God. While what is lacking is the real, vibrant, presence of God in our lives. The power to change chaos into beauty and order. The power to take a virgin girl and put God, as a baby, alive in her womb.

But how do we do that? Put it in cornbread English. Why do we feel this gap? Why do we feel something is missing? Why does our faith leave us flat? Why does our dissatisfaction level rise or we simply go to sleep going through the comfortable and predictable motions of church?

In plain cornbread English, we don't have this presence of God in our lives because we don't ask for Him!

  • James 4:1-3 ...
    You don't have because you don't ask!
  • We've spent our time building models of the early church and not falling at the feet of God and asking Him in deep humility, to fill us with His Holy Fire, the creative power behind everything, the Holy Spirit.

We've forgotten that the best gift we can ask for in prayer, Jesus says, is the Holy Spirit! (Luke 11:1-13) Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will be given to those who ask for Him! So why don't we ask, expecting God's gift!

We don't emphasize the key gift that comes at our baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The Spirit cleanses and inhabits us and lives in us to empower us (Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; cf. John 3:3-7). Salvation is more than being saved at the end of time, it is living a saved life doing the work of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit! The Titus 3 passage really describes this as grace that takes us from a life of rebellion and destruction and turns it into a life of goodness!

Key SoHills Emphasis:

So here is what got to happen!

  1. Return to emphasizing the importance of the Holy Spirit in baptism and the power and personal indwelling God promises us!
  2. Pray for God to release His Holy Spirit into our lives to live to honor Him!

Key Passages:

To experience of the Spirit's presence in our lives, these verses are very helpful: Luke 11:1-13; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32; Titus 3:3-7; John 3:3-7

Suggested Songs:

  • Create in Me a Clean Heart O God
  • We Believe in God the Father
  • Spirit of the Living God
  • My Eyes are Dry
  • Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

Drama, Media, & Connecting Pieces:

  • Pre-video:
  • Video Piece: TBD
    • Direction
  • Scripture readings
    • Luke 11:1-13

Daybreak Focus: (All services meet together at 10:00 a.m.)

Refresh Focus: (All services meet together at 10:00 a.m.)

Sundown Focus: (All services meet together at 10:00 a.m.)