Sunday, July 20, 2008

 

Announcements -- Bruno
1 Cor 3:10-11
Bruno and Sam were in New Orleans helping to build a house -- they got to cut the roof decking with the circular saw (Bruno's not real handy)
Sam said it was like we're carefully building our relationship with God, the elements are distracting us

 

We are in the Halton Theatre for the rest of August
Missions Contribution is Sept 28
There is a teen week in Columbia, SC
Kammy Philemon's nephew is in the hospital, awaiting test results -- please pray for him

 

Communion -- Mike and Anne Dames
They are celebrating their 12th anniversary
Jer 29:11   plans for you
Ps 118:4-6 
Anne -- the cross means freedom to her
free from the sin that Satan uses to enslave her
she was born in Harleyville, SC, her mom was 16 years old, she didn't know her father
she was overweight, 200 pounds in 7th grade, she wanted to fade into the background
the sin she always struggles with is fear, fear of what other people will think of her
she cared more about what people thought than what God thought
God wanted to be her Father, she wasn't a mistake
God is still working on her
Her pride was exposed recently at work when errors were pointed out to her in front of others
Jesus died to keep her free
Mike -- deny ourselves daily, carry our cross daily -- that's why we do communion every week
John 8:34-36  you will be free indeed

 

2 Cor 9:10-11  contribution

 

Corrie McClarey
He feels good, the last few months were rough
He is now leading the SE Central Region, too
Sat Aug 16 8 - noon at the  Bethlehem Center, the SE Central Region is doing a service project and everyone is welcome to participate -- they are painting classrooms
The Youth and Family ministry is blowing him away - 13 studies going on in the teen ministry right now
Teen workers are studying with teens and teens are leading other teens in Bible Studies
The Middle School Ministry -- the 3rd Wednesday of the month, middle schoolers get up and share with the group

 

2 Cor 1:3-11  powerful passage from Paul
2 Corinthians is about Paul's maturity as a Christian
ministry of comfort - it's not being comfortable, where you are at, or being content
vs. 3-4   when do we need comfort?   when things are going the way we planned?  when we're on top of the world?  no, when life gets hard -- when we have trials and tribulations
Paraclete - Greek Word -- translated as the Holy Spirit
The ministry of comfort is the ability to communicate a Holy Spirit life through suffering

 

1st, you must receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
You can't do it alone no matter how hard you try
2nd, you must endure the suffering, and look with spiritual eyes and learn from that trial
it's not waiting it out, doing nothing about it
God does not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power
are you communicating a Holy Spirit life to others?
God wants us to be different -- how are we different?
we're positive when trials come -- we're joyful
it doesn't make any sense to the world
why do we suffer?    because Jesus suffered, and we are following Jesus
God says rely on Him, stop relying on yourself
Heb 12:11  no discipline seems pleasant at the time . . . for those who are trained by it
Are you in a comfort ministry or a cave ministry, having pity parties

 

What happened in the month of June?
Corrie wasn't home but four days in June
traveling, tired, Satan knocking at the door and Corrie invites him in for a drink
doubts, insecurities
He is weak and a sinner -- that's why he needs God

 

How do you know if you experienced the ministry of Comfort?   you suffered, had hardship, and learned from the Holy Spirit can can communicate to others

Joseph is one of his favorite people in the Bible
He had two dreams, I'm going to rule over you -- his brothers hated him, wanted to kill him
He was well-built and handsome
Potiphar's wife entices him - he ran from her
She lies - Joseph goes to prison
The cupbearer forgets him for two years, Joseph then interprets Pharoh's dream
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers
Gen 45: 4-5   "It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you"  
Joseph must have been looking through those hardships with spiritual eyes

 

We all need to be in the ministry of comfort
We've all had the opportunity to experience the ministry of comfort
2 Cor 1:8-9   this happened that we will rely on God
we too often rely on ourselves
Isaiah 63:  7-10   grieved the Holy Spirit
it means to Consistently be unrighteous, say unholy things, not have self-control in your lives
darkness and hardness of hearts  -- fills these areas
darkness prevents us from seeing our sin -- hardness of hearts prevents us from having Godly sorrow

 

Corrie went to the doctor, had many doctor visits and tests.  He was feeling ill, didn't know what was going on.   He was thinking the worst, not relying on God.
The Doctor said "you're fine, nothing is wrong with you.   You're internalizing stress and it's eating away at you.   What I want you to do is pray." 
You're the doctor, I'm the ministry, what did you say?
It's amazing how God sends people into our lives to give us messages. 
Corrie was 27 years old when he became a disciple - he was waiting it out
Then God humbled him out
God is trying to save us, but we won't listen to the message and we're grieving the Holy Spirit
1 Cor 12:21-27
what's the big picture
some of us think we're not important in the body because we're not up front or in leadership, things people see
God says you're important
Patrick Stallings -- the standard used to be here (high) and we've lowered it to here (low)
you're important
If you don't come to church, midweek, you're missing out on the ministry of comfort and impacting someone's life
They need you
That's why we need to be there
We need each other
I understand life & all that goes on but we need each other
Impact someone for God's kingdom

 

Corrie wants to be used by God
How are you communicating the Holy Spirit in your household?
when there are discussions, are you talking responsibility for your actions?
Do you apologize when you mess up?   or is it "I'm the parent, you're the child"
Is communicating with your family group important?
What about work and school?
are we involved in gossip and slander?
are we communicating the holy spirit life?
what about with other disciples?
especially need to communicate the holy spirit life to other disciples
we have so much trouble saying I'm sorry
you can no longer be a tool for God when the pride kicks in

 

You can be a minister in the ministry of comfort, you can be a tool used by  God
Charlotte Church, let's go out and show the world how to live a Holy Spirit life