05/16/10 - Out Of This World PT2 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "Out Of This World" in this Sunday service.

Out Of This World PT2
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, April 16, 2010

www.churchatmirrorlake.com


Sermon Notes:

Don’t let familiarity and deception dull our senses to the “alien nature” of our King. Everything He does is out of this world. Don’t try to fit it into our senses and ability—it is beyond anything we can imagine. Don’t limit His out of this world nature to a historical event—let Him invade your world today. So many of us know Jesus as Savior, embracing His cross and resurrection for us, celebrating that He died for us, but too few of us embrace His living for us and in us. We too are aliens here and the God kind of life He has for us cannot be found in trying to fit His life into this world—it is an out of this world life that cannot be contained by the parameters of this world’s systems. Break out and find life!

Mark 14:62-62 “Then the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”


Colossians 1:13 “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son”

In this world, but not of it… Out of This World—People need us to be “Other-Worldly”—to think and act like we are from another planet. We must engage the culture, but not to fit in, to show them a better way. We must run for political office, participate in community, find ways to do life with this planet without compromising our planet’s values.
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego—Daniel 3
This is not a children’s Bible story—it is a Bible truth! Ordinary men, engaging the culture without compromise. Walking in the supernatural and changing the world.

1. Celebrate your planet—act like Heaven is real. Live like you are going there. Talk about it with fellow citizens. Don’t miss opportunities to gather together with them. Look at the way immigrants in our country love to connect with “like-minded” people—those from their homeland. Notice the birth of the Church in Acts 2. Gathered together—out of this world experience (Holy Spirit)—power to engage culture (Peter speaking)—culture changed (3000 saved)—gathered together—out of this world experience (weekend celebrations, doing life together, generosity)—culture changed (favor and growth).

2. Protect your culture—focus on others. Be a servant. Find ways to serve everyday. Don’t allow your “history” to get swallowed up as you engage this world’s culture. Be “peculiar”. No excuses—I’ve fallen and I can’t get up. Note Acts 4: Peter and John—couldn’t help but act like they were from another planet (vs 19-20)

3. Step out of that Earth suit regularly—make appointments with Heaven—Bible reading, personal worship times, fasting, prayer, giving. Embrace the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives (repent, request, receive). Note Acts 4:13—ordinary men who had been with Jesus.

How do I spend time with Him? I can find Him in every book of the Bible:
In Genesis Jesus is the Ram that took Isaac’s place..
In Exodus He's the Passover Lamb, our perfect sacrifice.
In Leviticus He's the High Priest.
In Numbers He's the Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.
In Deuteronomy He's the City of our refuge.
In Joshua He's the Commander of Heaven’s Army and the Scarlet Thread out Rahab's window.
In Judges He is our Righteous Judge and merciful lawgiver.
In Ruth He is our Kinsman redeemer.
In 1st & 2nd Samuel He's our Trusted Prophet.
In Kings and Chronicles He's our Reigning King.
In Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe.
In Nehemiah He's the Rebuilder of everything that is broken.
In Esther He is the Mordecai pointing us toward our destiny
In Job He's our redeemer that ever lives.
In Psalms He is my Shepherd and I lack for nothing.
In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He's our Wisdom.
In the Song of Solomon He's the Beautiful Bridegroom.
In Isaiah He's the Suffering Servant and Prince of Peace.
In Jeremiah He is the strong Right arm of God.
In Lamentations He is the One who understands our sorrows.
In Ezekiel He's the One leading us into the River of God.
In Daniel He’s the 4th Man in the midst of a fiery furnace.
In Hosea He is my Love that is forever faithful.
In Joel He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.
In Amos He's our Burden Bearer.
In Obadiah He is mighty to save.
In Jonah He is the one who loves the undeserving.
In Micah He is the Messenger with beautiful feet bringing Good News.
In Nahum He is the Protector of God’s beloved.
In Habakkuk He is God my Savior.
In Zephaniah He is the Lord mighty to save.
In Haggai He is the Restorer of our lost heritage.
In Zechariah He is our Fountain.
In Malachi He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings.
In Matthew He is the Christ the Son of the Living God.
In Mark He is the Miracle Worker.
In Luke He's the Son of Man.
And in John He is the Way, the Truth and the Life
In Acts He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus.
In Romans He is our Justifier.
In 1st Corinthians our Resurrection.
In 2nd Corinthians our Sin Bearer.
In Galatians He redeems us from the law.
In Ephesians He is our Unsearchable Riches.
In Philippians He supplies our every need.
In Colossians He's makes us complete.
In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians He is our Soon Coming King.
In 1st and 2nd Timothy He is the Mediator between God and man and the great Pastor of His Church.
In Titus He is our Blessed Hope.
In Philemon He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.
In Hebrews He's our High Priest and the Blood that cleanses us from sin.
In James He is the Power behind our faith and the Great Physician.
In 1st Peter He is our example.
In 2nd Peter He is our purity.
In 1st John He is our life.
In 2nd John He is our pattern.
In 3rd John He is our motivation.
In Jude He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints.
And in Revelation:
- He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.
- The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
- The Bright and Morning Star
- The Lamb of God
- And The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

When I spend time with Him I know:
He always was, He always is, and He always will be...
He is Unmoved, Unchanged, and Undefeated.
He will
- never leave me,
- never forsake me,
- never mislead me,
- never forget me,
- and never overlook me,
- When I fall, He lifts me up!
- When I am weak, He is strong!
- When I fail, He forgives!
- When I am lost, He is the way!
- When I am afraid, He is my courage!
- When I stumble, He steadies me!
- When I am hurt, He heals me!
- When I am broken, He mends me!
- When I am confused, He is my clarity!
- When I am sad, He is my joy!
- When I am lonely, He is by my side!
- When I want to quit, He leads me to victory!
- When I am blind, He guides me!
- When I am hungry, He feeds me!
- When I am thirsty, He is my refreshment!
- When I face trials, He is with me!
- When I don’t know what to say, He speaks for me!
- When I don’t know what to do, He shows me!
- When I face persecution, He shields me!
- When I face problems, He comforts me!
- When I face loss, He provides for me!
- And when I face Death, He will carry me Home!
- He is my Hero!

Mark 11:22-23 (Message) “Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you. This mountain, for instance: Just say, 'Go jump in the lake' and it's as good as done.”
What are the mountains you are facing right now? What have you labeled as “impossible” and allow it to remain in your life, knowing it is not God’s best for you? Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to come “up-on” us and remind us that we are “out of this world” because of Jesus.

Some of us need to repent for failing to trust Him.
Some of us need to come to Him and tell Him you are wore out, your faith is low and your strength is gone.
Some of us need to ask for a fresh baptism in His Holy Spirit.
Some of us need to rejoice in what He has done and is doing right now in our lives.
Some of us just need to experience His presence.