This Sunday at Discovery, Our friend Keith Dionise will be our guest speaker.
Keith and his wife Jessica will be heading to Wyoming in May to work with SROM (Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries).
Keith has a deep relationship with God’s word.
Monthly Archives: January 2017
RHYTHMS OF MY TRIBE – PART 1
We were made for rhythm.
The rhythm is in us.
All of creation is filled with rhythm
Night and day
Beginnings and Endings
Seasons of winter/spring/summer and fall
Rhythm and pace and cadence are essential for a healthy balanced life.
GO TO THE RHYTHM MAKER
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-29 (MSG)
THE PROBLEM
We are in “A Constant state of partial attention” – Huffington post
The song is written on your heart already ….may you live in tune with it.
How do I get in rhythm with your creator?
How can I mentor myself to have a heart that beats with the rhythm of His heart?
Jesus knew we would need help keeping in rhythm with God’s heart do he gives us a pattern of prayer that will help us keep in step with the heart of Father God.
Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The is a rhythm a symmetry to the Lord’s prayer to will help us get in sync with the heart of Father God.
#1. THE UPWARD RHYTHM.
Vs. 9 – Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
prayer is the most powerful, intimate and wonderful activity in which a believer can engage. Jesus taught His disciples to begin their prayers by first seeking God’s face before looking for His hand.
Seeking HIM before seeking His blessings
A.B. SIMPSON [lyrics from his hymn, HIMSELF.]
Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word;
Once His gift I wanted,
Now, the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.
#2. THE DOWNWARD RHYTHM.
Vs. 9 – Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Teach me to value the things you value. I surrender my will to you. I say ‘yes’ to you and your plan for me before I even know the outcome because I trust that you know what’s best for me. Just as you are on the throne in heaven, I place you on the throne of my life…”
Pray something like – “God I’m tired of my kingdom. I’m tired of my economy that only values the strong, the rich, the influential, the good looking, those that have it put together, the powerful. I want to see your kingdom values in place. God, I want your pattern of values to be the pattern of values in my heart, in my home, in my workplace, in my school, in my neighborhood, in my church, in my family, in my city, in my world”
#3. THE INWARD RHYTHM.
Vs. 11, 12 – Give us this day our daily bread….And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
We can trust God to meet not just our physical needs, but also the needs of our souls.
Pray something like – “God, you gave the Israelites manna in the desert and provided for them in the most unlikely of places. I ask You to provide for me in such a way that brings you eternal glory, just as you did with manna. Forgive me for where I have grumbled even though you have provided. I ask for you to provide for me these needs that I have today:”
#4. THE OUTWARD RHYTHM
Vs. 13 – And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
This is where we ask Jesus to lead us – mentor us and teach us how to do life.
This is the part of the Lord’s Prayer where we ask God to protect us and use us as he leads us. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Conclusion: Back to Matthew 11:28-29
THE UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-29 (MSG)
“My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus was speaking to people who understood “YOKES”
The yoke is understood as a “staff on the shoulders” (see Isaiah 9:4) in order to harness their power for pulling loads such as a wagon or plow. Hence, the two pictographs can also represent “the ox in the yoke”. Often two oxen were yoked together. An older, more experienced ox would be teamed up (yoked) with a younger, less experienced ox. The older ox in the yoke is the “strong authority” who, through the yoke, teaches the younger ox.
God is calling you do a field – a task – a purpose…but he is not calling you to do it all by yourself.
He is calling you to be yoked with him – the stronger, wiser, older one who will carry the weight and show you how to do life at his PACE, His CADENCE and His RHYTYM.
Rhythm (from Greek ῥυθμός, rhythmos, “any regular recurring motion, symmetry”
That is a picture of our life in America -We are in “A Constant state of partial attention”
But Hebrews 13:8 tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Walk with me – work with me —watch how I do it.
KEEP HIS PACE AND RECEIVE HIS PEACE.
UPWARDLY – DOWNWARDLY – INWARDLY – OUTWARDLY
LET US PRAY
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
RHYTHMS OF MY TRIBE part 2
“Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor. He put his bronze helmet on his head and belted his sword on him over the armor. David tried to walk but he could hardly budge. David told Saul, “I can’t even move with all this stuff on me. I’m not used to this.” And he took it all off. ”
1 Samuel 17:38,39 (message)
David couldn’t move around comfortably in “hand me downs”. He had to get out of another person’s armor to fight effectively.
The same is true for all of us. We have got to have a tailor made faith that fits us perfectly. We can’t live a life based on another persons faith or beliefs.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FAITH AND FINDING GOD’S PURPOSE, ITS ALL GOT TO BE ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC AND NOT BORROWED.
A good fitting faith is a personal tailor made faith.
“We are all born originals…don’t die a copy.”
Jesus Has a powerful way to find your FIT and to FLOW in the UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF HIS GRACE AND CALLING.
Rhythm and pace and cadence are essential for a healthy balanced life.
GO TO THE RHYTHM MAKER
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-29 (MSG)
#1. IF YOU KNOW YOUR WHY, YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND YOUR WAY.
Some work for CASH.
Some work for a CAREER.
Some work for a CAUSE.
BUT A BIGGER KEY QUESTION IS: DO YOU HAVE A CALLING?
Our ultimate goal at Discovery… is for you to live the life you’re intended to live.
To inspire people to walk in the rhythm of their God intended purpose.
When you know your WHY, your WHAT has more impact because your walking toward your purpose.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16
#2. GET THE INSIDE RIGHT THEN THE OUTSIDE WILL FALL INTO PLACE.
- You were made by God and for God and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
- You cannot fulfill God’s purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans.
“You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” Psalm 51:6
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps. 139:13
#3. GO TO YOUR CREATOR TO FIND OUT WHY YOU WERE CREATED.
Jesus ask all of us three questions:
What do you want me to do for you? (Mark 10:36, 51)
When we start going to Him for the answers we star getting into a rhythm with him.
* WE ARE LOVED BY GOD. * WE ARE KNOWN BY GOD * WE ARE CALLED BY GOD.
John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–
and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
If you get the calling right , the chores are bearable.
KEEP HIS PACE AND RECEIVE HIS PEACE.
How do I get in the FLOW ZONE?
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-29 (MSG)
WALK WITH ME – WORK WITH ME – WATCH HOW I DO IT.
“ I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.”
#4. HAVE THE COURAGE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT HE IS CALLING YOU TO START DOING.
If God only used perfect people, nothing would get done. God will use anybody if you’re available.
It’s so easy to drift along and never get down to actually doing what God put you on this planet to do.
Don’t just strive to live forever, strive rather to create something that will live beyond you.
RHYTHMS OF MY TRIBE PART 3
Week 1 Rhythms Of Prayer
Week 2 Rhythms Of Purpose
Week 3 Rhythms Of Promise
GO TO THE RHYTHM MAKER
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-29 (MSG)
“If You Want To Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want To Go Far, Go Together.” – African Proverb
“I Can Do Things You Cannot, You Can Do Things I Cannot; Together We Can Do Great Things.” – Mother Teresa
“None Of Us Is As Smart As All Of Us.”– Ken H Blanchard
What scripture says about coming together.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
when God’s people live together in unity!
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
1. I can’t seem to “get IT together”.
The church is not built on the people who come and go,
it’s built on the people who stay and serve!
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
Acts 2:1-4 (the message)
2. SO MANY PROMISES…….UNREALIZED.
There are so many promises in scripture that we will never be realized in this lifetime if we only understand that they are intended for us as individuals…many of the promises of God can only be realized when the entire church gets together.
Psalm 78:41 They limited the Holy One of Israel.
When you isolate yourself from the flock you paralyze the promises of God from your life.
The promises of God are not written to ME…they are written to WE!
It was his intent that through the church the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms…according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished inn Christ Jesus – Ephesians 3:20
3. TOGETHER WE CREATE A RHYTHM WHERE GOD CAN WORK.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
4. Jesus was BROKEN APART on the cross so we could COME TOGETHER as His Church.
JESUS WAS BROKEN IN PIECES SO WE CAN COME TOGETHER.
What God did through Jesus on the cross by allowing him to be broken to pieces is what holds us together.
And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. ! Corinthians 11:24-26
Communion
Walk with me – work with me —watch how I do it.
KEEP HIS PACE AND RECEIVE HIS PEACE.
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