Sunday, 03.08.09

Sunday, 03.08.09
Message Title: “The Power of Unity” 
Scripture: Exodus 15

MESSAGE RECAP:
Pastor Daniel said that sometimes when our expectations aren’t met our response isn’t “God you are good to me”.  Instead we quickly forget what He did for us just one month ago.  We so quickly forget how GOOD God has been to us.   So yes sometimes blessings are dangerous because of US…and because it is dangerous we need to be aware of the pitfalls.

The Israelites have seen some amazing miracles: the ten plagues to free them, the parting of the Red Sea, a whole army drowned in the Sea they just crossed over in order to deliver them.  And now the Bible says they are 3 days into their journey and they have a problem.

What is their immediate response?  They complain against Moses, the man of God, their leader! We find ourselves in a bitter place in our life and get stuck there and never leave.  We get bitter.   Bitterness spreads like cancer and can kill.  It can kill a family, it can kill an organization, and it can kill a church.

Just 3 days prior the Israelites were singing, dancing and partying it up and now they are complaining.  Just three days earlier Moses is great – the people are unified around a single purpose.  And now Moses is “an idiot who led us out into the desert!” If you and I are not careful we can fall into the same trap and forget how good God has been to us.

Overnight they went from being a unified group of people who had accomplished the amazing task of crossing the Red Sea and now they are complaining and divided!  And no matter how gifted the leader, no matter how big the budget, no matter how good the track record, no matter how beautiful the building – DIVISION will kill a family, an organization and has killed many churches!!  Why?  Because Di-vision means that everyone is NOT locked into the same vision. 

There are at least  three barriers to UNITY:
1.      Disappointment – you get your eyes on something other than Jesus!!
2.     Not Following the Leadership – God has an ordained leadership structure for the local church, just as He does for the home, etc.  We are all in roles of mutual submission with different roles and responsibilities.
3.     Giving Life to Complaining – gossiping and rallying support for your point of view instead of going through the proper channels to express concern.

They were complaining and Moses’ response is incredible.  All of us should first respond this way to criticism.  He sought the LORD - He asked God what to do.  And the Bible says God showed him a tree. Pastor Daniel said that sometimes when God gives you a direct vision from God, others will criticize you. Often, people leave you hanging when God gives you a clear directive.

Pastor Daniel had 25 names in the chairs before people sat down. The names in the chairs represent all kinds of situations - financial ruin, depression, sickness, broken marriage, dead-end career, regrets, unhappy marriage, unable to have children, rejected, loneliness, unfulfilled, job loss.  And we have the answer.  In fact, if we don’t believe that the message of Jesus is completely true, we need to sell our church equipment and call it quits.

The TRUTH is that God has strategically placed us in neighborhoods and jobs so that PEOPLE FAR FROM GOD WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S DESIGN FOR LIFE. We quickly forget what it is like to live with regrets, unhappiness and feelings of rejection.  But most importantly we too often forget what it felt like when Jesus changed us – how grateful we were!! 

The bottom line…what could God do through us in the next 5 weeks if we determined in our hearts that no one within our sphere of influence was going to be left far from God?

Together we are powerful. Together we are united. Together we can change our community!

SERVICE ELEMENTS:
“You Are” - Todd Fields
“Walk in Love” - Elevation Worship
Welcome / Intro - Josh Lazar, Creative Arts Pastor
“Let Me Sing” - Todd Fields
“No One Compares” - Lifepoint Worship Original
Message Video Intro
Message - “The Power of Unity” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1 - Lifepoint Church is looking for a Graphic Design Intern for the Summer of 2009. Please email info@visitlifepoint.org for more info
2 -  You do not wan’t to miss our Easter Services: 9:30 & 11:15
3 - We gave away Krispy Kreme doughnuts to celebrate the Time Change!