9/7/14 YEAR OF EQUIPPING TO SERVE
LIVE IT!! Alive - Not Dull
WOW!! That’s really living!! What are the circumstances that cause people to say that? Ask for response.Fancy cars, mansions, private jets, a staff of personal servants, ???
German Company Develops $4,000 Toothbrush
In January 2013, a team of “dental hygiene experts” and design gurus gathered in Germany and decided the modern toothbrush needed a makeover. The resulting product: a $3,200 Euro (about $4,300 USD), full-titanium toothbrush. The company’s website offers a video that likens its creation to a world-class sports car:
Undulating curves of the sleek and slender body encompass elegance and sumptuousness. A unique design … German precision engineering … A decisively lightweight full-titanium body which has unparalleled durable strength. The accomplished silhouette captures elegance and timelessness where beauty, functionality and utility complement each other. A timeless luxury is now an option.
Their entry-level “Premium” package price includes one “everlasting” titanium toothbrush in a color of your choice, one titanium toothbrush holder (with “anti-slip pad”), a bumper, and what they call “Fresh Service” for three years—every six months, they’ll send you six bristle heads (choice of soft or medium) and a new bumper. You can also personalize it with an engraving for an extra $540. But keep in mind that after the three year “Premium” plan runs out, you’ll need to pay a few hundred bucks for another upgrade. Who said luxury was cheap?
Adapted from Zachary Crockett, “The $4,000 Toothbrush,” Priceonomics blog (8-7-14)
The December 2013 issue of GQ magazine quoted actor Matthew McConaughey, named GQ’s “Man of the Year,” argues, “I’m a fan of the word selfish. Self. Ish. When I say I have gotten a lot more self-ish, I mean I am less concerned with what people think of me … Selfish has gotten a bad rap. You should do for you.”
Jessica Pressler, “Man of the Year,” GQ (12-13)
What do you think of that attitude? Would you like to have that person as your best friend? Do you think that would make a pleasant atmosphere to be in? What about that toothbrush that cost more than my first car, which was brand new? I wonder what happens when you lose it?
As believers in Jesus, as Christians, we have a life in Jesus that is what the world is really seeking. There are many times that might not seem to be true on the surface. But the issues of serving Jesus and growing a strong personal relationship with him make the true Christian life the most awesome life possible. The by-products of peace, hope, joy, etc. that come with following Jesus are amazing.
As we enter this fall season, we are going to take some time to look at the life we have as Christians. We are going to look at the thought of Live It!! We are Alive -- Not Dull. God has given us His power and Word and we are to be equipped to live this awesome Christian life. The supernatural power of God has NOT diminished one bit.
Here’s a challenging, as well as awesome, passage to start out. These are the words of Jesus just before He was arrested and crucified. These are some of His final parting words to His disciples.
John 14:12-14 NKJV
12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
This statement needs to get our attention. Jesus said “greater things” would be done by His followers.
It is Jesus’ plan that Christians do what He did. The gospel will be spread and people will be saved. Miracles will continue to happen. We have just spent several weeks going through the Book of Acts and we saw the supernatural was a normal part of the life of the church. We can expect that many will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The power of the Holy Spirit will flow through believers and things beyond our belief will happen. God will do amazing things.
Jesus told us to ask in His name. We recognize that He is fully capable of doing what His plan is. We stand in His name and authority. God’s power is greater than any other source. Our faith must continue to grow. There is no limit as to what God can do. We pray with trust in God.
We must take doubt out to the dumpster and get rid of it. We must get beyond the thought, “I know God can do this, but He probably won’t”.
Ephesians 1:15-23 NKJV
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
One of Paul’s purposes for writing this letter to the Ephesian Christians is found here. He longs for every believer to grow in their walk with Jesus. To grow in faith, love and wisdom in what God has already done. He wants them to know Jesus more and understand his purpose for them. All believers need to learn to live a life that is worthy of identifying with Jesus the Leader of their lives.
Paul wrote to strengthen their faith and spiritual foundation by showing a complete picture of God’s eternal purpose of salvation in Christ.
God has called us to LIVE the life that He gives when we make Him our Lord and Savior. This means living it daily.
LIVE IT!! Alive - Not Dull
APPLICATION & DISCUSSION
What has God done in our lives, in our fellowship? Supernaturally?
Let’s talk about the miracles. Let’s talk about the expectation of the awesomeness of God’s involvement in the challenges of life. It is too often too easy to think that nothing really happens here. That is a mentality that God wants us to dump.
PRAYER
What do we need to see that doubt would convince us can’t happen? We need to pray for those things and ask God to help us increase our faith.
