Connect To the Person of God Pray for & dismiss children to Sunday School Take 30 seconds and greet someone next to you. Mention LLUSA Leaders Conference in Grand Raoids, MI To the Person of God

Do you feel like your life is a juggling act? Introduction Do you feel like your life is a juggling act? Do you feel like following Jesus is a juggling act?

Connect To the Person of God ”Connect” Person of God= Holy Spirit

Connect To the People of God People of God= Church

Connect To the Purpose of God Purpose of God= The establishment & advance of the Kingdom of God

Connect To the Person of God

What has been your “juggling experience”? Satisfaction Contentment Joy Peace Struggle Hardship Disappointment Frustration

The Art of Juggling Body Position Eye Position Correct Technique 6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Malachi 3:6  Body Position--Trust– Stand Firm (Ephesians 6) Our ability to trust Him is linked to His identity---who he is! He is unchanging. The same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

The Faithfulness of God  ”Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations” Deuteronomy 7:9  “If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself” 2 Timothy 2:13 ”But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” 2 Thessalonians 3:3  His faithfulness is an expression of His character. We learn to trust God’s future faithfulness by remembering His past faithfulness.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. John 14:15-20 He is faithful to His promises. Promise= “I will not leave you as orphans” We’re not alone! Share testimony.

The Art of Juggling Body Position Eye Position Correct Technique Eye– Position--Direction– Fix your eyes (Hebrews 12:2)

The Example of God 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11  Connection happens at the cross.

The Art of Juggling Body Position Eye Position Correct Technique

The Demand of God 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? ”They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” Matthew 20:20-23  The Demand of God= Crucifixion (Repentance) This was not only Jesus’ destiny but His disciples’ destiny! Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Too often we desire Jesus to die for us rather to die with Him.

The Demand of God 20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink? ”They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” Matthew 20:20-23  Too often we desire a crown not a cross. The Gospel is first about a change in governance and second about a change in reality. The Lordship of Christ.

Connect To the Person of God How do we connect to the person of God? Know & Trust Him (Body Position) Follow His example & surrender to His control (Eye Position & Correct technique)