Connect To the Purpose of God Pray for & dismiss children to Sunday School Take 30 seconds and greet someone next to you. To the Purpose of God

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

Connect To the People of God People of God= Church Who are the People of God? Priceless! Why should we connect to the People of God? With great privilege comes great responsibility! How do we connect to the people of God? Humility & Service (Body Position) “Us not me” (Eye Position) Dependence on the Holy Spirit (Correct Technique)

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

Luke 19:28-44 28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” Last week, Steve revisited the Cross and the Easter Story. I want to continue in the same direction and use the story of Palm Sunday as the framework in which we assess our connection to the Purpose of God. Introduce Passage: Large numbers of Jews were heading to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. The authorities had given an instruction that anyone who knew were Jesus was to inform them so that they could arrest Him (John 11:57). Very public act by Jesus revealing His courage.

Luke 19:28-44 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Luke 19:28-44 41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” What lessons can we learn from this story?

Jesus had purpose 28 And when he [Jesus] had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. (19:28) Jesus had purpose Palm Sunday is a timely moment to talk about purpose. You have purpose. Tell person next to you. Because of your identity. Our identity is not ours to decide, it’s our to receive.

Jesus’ purpose existed in community 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples (19:29) Jesus’ purpose existed in community. Jesus carried out his purpose together with his disciples. Jesus, through the H.S, carries out his purpose through you and me. Our purpose exists in community. It’s not just about what you’re going to do but who you’re going to do it with. Our mission for Faith In Christ Fellowship is to grow in our love for Christ, love for each other, and love for the lost so that the grace of Christ would be seen in our homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods to the glory of God. Examples: Sheridan Story & WyldLife Club What is the purpose of our joining?”

The disciple’s purpose was an act of obedience 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them” (19:30-32) The disciple’s purpose was an act of obedience. Your purpose is an act of obedience. Share testimony of moving to MN.

Jesus’ purpose provoked a response “…the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (19:37-38) 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” (19:39) 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (19:40) Jesus’ purpose provoked a response Positive Zechariah 9:9- “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”. Negative Your purpose will provoke a response Discern the voices in your life The same crowds that celebrated the triumphant Jesus, demanded that He be crucified on a cross just a few days later! Listen to those you trust Ground yourself in the Word Keep in alignment with scripture and the heart of Our Father. Is pursuing this purpose bringing you closer to Jesus and His people? Connecting to the purpose of God here in FICF should deepen your relationships with those in FICF.

Jesus’ purpose was misunderstood, ignored, refused and rejected 41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes (19:41-42) Jesus’ purpose was misunderstood, ignored, refused and rejected. Your purpose could be misunderstood, ignored, refused and rejected. The cost of Connecting to the Purpose of God will be your time, money, comfort and pride. Purpose is a journey of discovery If you have no idea what your purpose is, don’t panic, just keep digging. If you are convinced what your purpose is, hold on, don’t forget to keep digging.

3 Components to a Mature Ministry Calling Gives Identity Gifting Gives ability Anointing Gives purpose 1 Corinthians 1:1, “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus” 1 Peter 4:10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,  and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” Calling and Gifting is irrevocable Anointing ebbs and flows.

Purpose is… Deepening your relationship with the Holy Spirit Within the church community He has joined you to So that exercising the gifts He has given you, will reflect your true identity And therefore reveal the King and establish and advance His Kingdom Are you dissatisfied with your purpose? A dissatisfied purpose is an issue of: a disconnected relationship to the H.S a disconnected relationship to the church a misunderstanding of the gifts God has given you A disconnected purpose produces a broken identity; a distorted image of Jesus in our lives; and a disempowered Jesus in every area of our lives.

What is the strength of your connection?