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Circle Up 1 – Intimacy and Increase
https://youtu.be/TdvBpgaZcIQ
Does anyone want a better life?
Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Texas. My name is Chris Fluitt and
I am excited about our new sermon series.
Over the next weeks we are going to share a simple truth and see lives
changed for the better.
The simple truth from God’s Word is going to make your life better. You have been looking for better… Better is
nearer than you know. The better you are looking for is not hidden in a cave on
the other side of the word… better is on the other side of you. Just beyond
you, you will find a better life.
Circle
Does anyone know what shape this is?
You learned this shape in pre-school. The circle is a simple shape yet
powerful & useful. You see the design of the circle everywhere.
Over the next few weeks we are going to ask you to circle up. The design
of the circle is what you need in your life. Circle Up.
Circle up
We need to circle up, huddle up, gather up… it is here we find something
better.
Let’s look at this month’s scripture memory passage together.
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV2011) And
let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV2011) 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.
V24 tells us to think of ways to help each other.. encourage each other…
spur on another on toward our potential. Our potential in God – Love & Good
Deeds!
We need to circle up and fulfill our God given potential.
V25 tells us to help each other to NOT GIVE UP. By connecting, by meeting
together, encourage one another. And
that we should do this ALL THE MORE as you see the day approaching?
What is this day the writer of Hebrews is talking about? The day that
Jesus returns. The closer we get to that
day… all the more we should meet up, gather up, circle up, spur one another on
to reaching their potential, and encouraging people to not give up. ALL THE MORE! MORE THAN EVER BEFORE we should
do this!
In verse 25 the Greek word for “meeting together” means to gather up, to
circle up.
This verse is usually preached as a reminder that we need to gather
together for Sunday worship at a church site location. As important as it is that we are gathered
here today, using that verse this way really sells it short.
The Church in the book of Acts didn’t just gather at one location, one
time a week.
Acts 2:46 (NIV2011) 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,
Acts 2:47 (NIV2011) praising
God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved.
Every day.. at the temple courts… Every day… in their homes…
I want you to get the feeling that the early church, the church that God
birthed with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2… this church did things differently than
we are doing today.
Circles > Rows
The early church did not meet in rows. They met in circles. They circled
up in their homes, in public areas, in persecution, in prison, in good times,
in celebration… Every day and everywhere they circled up.
Rows are really failing us.
ever, yet more isolated, depressed, and sad people than ever.
the people on your row. You can be going through tragedy and no one on your
Church row even knows, because rows offer very little connection.
Circles are better than rows. We need to Circle Up!
Circle up
How did God expect this to work from the beginning? Let’s look in our Bible? What is the first book in the Bible?
Genesis!
Genesis 1:11 (NIV2011) Then
God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on
the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.”
And it was so.
Genesis 1:12 (NIV2011)
The land produced
vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing
fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
God creates a tree, and that tree is filled with seed, and that tree
multiplies itself.
God does not just create a tree, he fills that tree with so much creative
energy that it can fill the world. God creates forests inside a single
tree.
If God put this much attention into vegetation, what would He do for
mankind?
Genesis 1:27 (NIV2011) So
God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male
and female he created them.
Genesis 1:28 (NIV2011) God
blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the
earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and
over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
God puts his seed within man. He
creates man after His own image.
And God blesses and tells them to “be fruitful & multiply.”
From the beginning God reveals that He wants His creation to increase.
God wants you to increase.
God orders all of creation and designs it specifically for increase.
God wants you to increase and he wants everything in your circle to
increase.
Job, relationship, skill, purpose, finances, dream, children, community…
How much does God want you to increase? Is there a limit? He only wants
you to increase how much?
He told mankind in Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful and increase in number and
FILL THE EARTH. God wants you to increase to where you fill the whole earth. HE
HAS GIVEN YOU THE POWER TO DO IT!
Increase requires intimacy
God set this up from the beginning.
another flower. It requires intimacy.
This is why circles work better than rows. Rows lack intimacy, circles
bread intimacy.
God wants you to increase, but increase requires intimacy.
So the Devil shows up in the garden, and what does he do? The serpent
attacked their intimacy. He attacked
Adam & Eve’s intimacy with each other, and their intimacy with God.
The devil understands that God has a plan. The devil understood that if
he can stop intimacy, he can stop increase. If he can do this, he will stop the
plan of God and you will never fulfill your purpose.
Anything that attacks intimacy has its roots in the devil.
Sin – breaks intimacy with God and other people.
Pornography – it is an experience without intimacy.
Sexual relationships outside of marriage – They share intimate
experience, but do they have true intimacy? Do they bring the increase God
designed them for?
Divorce – It destroys intimacy. It destroys future generations by
multiplying heartache.
When talking about divorce God says this to the prophet Malachi.
Malachi 2:15 (NIV2011) Has
not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does
the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be
unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
God wants Godly offspring. He wants us to multiply the seed image He
placed within us. This can’t happen
without intimacy. God hates divorce
because it destroys intimacy.
2 chapters later Malachi ends his book and the entire Old Testament with
this verse.
Malachi
4:6 (NIV2011) He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the
hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the
land with total destruction.”
It is God’s desire to bring us back to intimacy. Without intimacy, there
is no increase.
Increase requires intimacy
Are you willing to get out of your row and circle up?
Have you been lacking intimacy? Is it why you are lacking increase?
Before today is over I want us to allow God to turn our hearts back to
intimacy.
4 aspects of my life
Public Me
This is the me I allow you to see. What you see is often better than what
is really going on behind the eyes, in the mind and heart… But this is public
me, the me I allow you to see.
Sometimes public me is fake. Public me decides how much of myself I want
to share…
1 Thessalonians 2:8
(NIV2011)
so we cared for you. Because
we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel
of God but our lives as well.
We are to not only share the gospel… BUT OUR LIVES AS WELL.
Public me often lacks intimacy and increase.
The Mask – Secret
The mask we were hides the truth.
Behind the mask we hide our struggles, fear, failure, doubt, questions.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV2011)
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and
renounces them finds mercy.
Behind the mask no one prospers. No intimacy and no increase.
James 5:16 (NIV2011)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you
may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Scripture tells us there is forgiveness when we take the mask off and
confess to God (1 John 1:9), but here it tells us there is healing when we take
the mask off and confess to each other.
Could it be that the healing you need is in this room right now? The
healing you need may be in the face of a brother or sister.
Blind Spot – the me you see, that I don’t see
Have you ever had some food stuck in your teeth? Ever have something
wrong with your clothes or hair? Ever realize that many people saw you but no
one told you?
There are some things we can’t see about ourselves. It is only in
intimacy that we learn these things about ourselves.
Proverbs 27:6 (NIV2011)
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
You need intimacy. You need people who see and care enough to tell you
what you can’t see.
Potential me
No one truly knows their potential. I don’t know and you don’t know. GOD KNOWS.
God created you to increase. Only He truly knows our potential.
We need to circle up with God. We need intimacy with the one who sees our
true potential.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV) For
we are labourers together with God…
Ephesians 4:16 (NIV2011)
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
We is better than me
God’s plan is for you to increase, but you can do it alone.
…But I have been hurt. …You don’t
know my story.
I totally understand this. The
worst thing about being around people is… people.
People can hurt you. People can say terrible things and really disappoint
you.. It is true.
They did this to Jesus. They hurt him. They said the worst things. If anyone could have cut people out of His
life it was Jesus… But from the cross he drew a big circle around everyone and
prayed a prayer of forgiveness.
You really want to increase…? Increase today in trust and forgiveness.
Tear down your barriers and make a circle. We is better than me
Your Bible says…
1 can chase a 1000, but 2 can chase 10,000… because we is better than me
2 are better than 1 because if one falls down the other can lift them up…
We is better than me.
Iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another… because We is
better than Me!
musician
Circle up
Redemption we need to circle up.
We need to go beyond the row.
We need intimacy and increase.
What is your circle? Who are you sharing your life with?
Is God in your circle?
Is there room in your circle for others?
Will you join a circle today?
Support group, Connect Group, Play Groups…
View all episodes
By Redemption Church Plano Texas
5
11 ratings
https://youtu.be/TdvBpgaZcIQ
Does anyone want a better life?
Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Texas. My name is Chris Fluitt and
I am excited about our new sermon series.
Over the next weeks we are going to share a simple truth and see lives
changed for the better.
The simple truth from God’s Word is going to make your life better. You have been looking for better… Better is
nearer than you know. The better you are looking for is not hidden in a cave on
the other side of the word… better is on the other side of you. Just beyond
you, you will find a better life.
Circle
Does anyone know what shape this is?
You learned this shape in pre-school. The circle is a simple shape yet
powerful & useful. You see the design of the circle everywhere.
Over the next few weeks we are going to ask you to circle up. The design
of the circle is what you need in your life. Circle Up.
Circle up
We need to circle up, huddle up, gather up… it is here we find something
better.
Let’s look at this month’s scripture memory passage together.
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV2011) And
let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV2011) 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.
V24 tells us to think of ways to help each other.. encourage each other…
spur on another on toward our potential. Our potential in God – Love & Good
Deeds!
We need to circle up and fulfill our God given potential.
V25 tells us to help each other to NOT GIVE UP. By connecting, by meeting
together, encourage one another. And
that we should do this ALL THE MORE as you see the day approaching?
What is this day the writer of Hebrews is talking about? The day that
Jesus returns. The closer we get to that
day… all the more we should meet up, gather up, circle up, spur one another on
to reaching their potential, and encouraging people to not give up. ALL THE MORE! MORE THAN EVER BEFORE we should
do this!
In verse 25 the Greek word for “meeting together” means to gather up, to
circle up.
This verse is usually preached as a reminder that we need to gather
together for Sunday worship at a church site location. As important as it is that we are gathered
here today, using that verse this way really sells it short.
The Church in the book of Acts didn’t just gather at one location, one
time a week.
Acts 2:46 (NIV2011) 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,
Acts 2:47 (NIV2011) praising
God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved.
Every day.. at the temple courts… Every day… in their homes…
I want you to get the feeling that the early church, the church that God
birthed with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2… this church did things differently than
we are doing today.
Circles > Rows
The early church did not meet in rows. They met in circles. They circled
up in their homes, in public areas, in persecution, in prison, in good times,
in celebration… Every day and everywhere they circled up.
Rows are really failing us.
ever, yet more isolated, depressed, and sad people than ever.
the people on your row. You can be going through tragedy and no one on your
Church row even knows, because rows offer very little connection.
Circles are better than rows. We need to Circle Up!
Circle up
How did God expect this to work from the beginning? Let’s look in our Bible? What is the first book in the Bible?
Genesis!
Genesis 1:11 (NIV2011) Then
God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on
the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.”
And it was so.
Genesis 1:12 (NIV2011)
The land produced
vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing
fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
God creates a tree, and that tree is filled with seed, and that tree
multiplies itself.
God does not just create a tree, he fills that tree with so much creative
energy that it can fill the world. God creates forests inside a single
tree.
If God put this much attention into vegetation, what would He do for
mankind?
Genesis 1:27 (NIV2011) So
God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male
and female he created them.
Genesis 1:28 (NIV2011) God
blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the
earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and
over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
God puts his seed within man. He
creates man after His own image.
And God blesses and tells them to “be fruitful & multiply.”
From the beginning God reveals that He wants His creation to increase.
God wants you to increase.
God orders all of creation and designs it specifically for increase.
God wants you to increase and he wants everything in your circle to
increase.
Job, relationship, skill, purpose, finances, dream, children, community…
How much does God want you to increase? Is there a limit? He only wants
you to increase how much?
He told mankind in Genesis 1:28 to be fruitful and increase in number and
FILL THE EARTH. God wants you to increase to where you fill the whole earth. HE
HAS GIVEN YOU THE POWER TO DO IT!
Increase requires intimacy
God set this up from the beginning.
another flower. It requires intimacy.
This is why circles work better than rows. Rows lack intimacy, circles
bread intimacy.
God wants you to increase, but increase requires intimacy.
So the Devil shows up in the garden, and what does he do? The serpent
attacked their intimacy. He attacked
Adam & Eve’s intimacy with each other, and their intimacy with God.
The devil understands that God has a plan. The devil understood that if
he can stop intimacy, he can stop increase. If he can do this, he will stop the
plan of God and you will never fulfill your purpose.
Anything that attacks intimacy has its roots in the devil.
Sin – breaks intimacy with God and other people.
Pornography – it is an experience without intimacy.
Sexual relationships outside of marriage – They share intimate
experience, but do they have true intimacy? Do they bring the increase God
designed them for?
Divorce – It destroys intimacy. It destroys future generations by
multiplying heartache.
When talking about divorce God says this to the prophet Malachi.
Malachi 2:15 (NIV2011) Has
not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does
the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be
unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
God wants Godly offspring. He wants us to multiply the seed image He
placed within us. This can’t happen
without intimacy. God hates divorce
because it destroys intimacy.
2 chapters later Malachi ends his book and the entire Old Testament with
this verse.
Malachi
4:6 (NIV2011) He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the
hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the
land with total destruction.”
It is God’s desire to bring us back to intimacy. Without intimacy, there
is no increase.
Increase requires intimacy
Are you willing to get out of your row and circle up?
Have you been lacking intimacy? Is it why you are lacking increase?
Before today is over I want us to allow God to turn our hearts back to
intimacy.
4 aspects of my life
Public Me
This is the me I allow you to see. What you see is often better than what
is really going on behind the eyes, in the mind and heart… But this is public
me, the me I allow you to see.
Sometimes public me is fake. Public me decides how much of myself I want
to share…
1 Thessalonians 2:8
(NIV2011)
so we cared for you. Because
we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel
of God but our lives as well.
We are to not only share the gospel… BUT OUR LIVES AS WELL.
Public me often lacks intimacy and increase.
The Mask – Secret
The mask we were hides the truth.
Behind the mask we hide our struggles, fear, failure, doubt, questions.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV2011)
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and
renounces them finds mercy.
Behind the mask no one prospers. No intimacy and no increase.
James 5:16 (NIV2011)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you
may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Scripture tells us there is forgiveness when we take the mask off and
confess to God (1 John 1:9), but here it tells us there is healing when we take
the mask off and confess to each other.
Could it be that the healing you need is in this room right now? The
healing you need may be in the face of a brother or sister.
Blind Spot – the me you see, that I don’t see
Have you ever had some food stuck in your teeth? Ever have something
wrong with your clothes or hair? Ever realize that many people saw you but no
one told you?
There are some things we can’t see about ourselves. It is only in
intimacy that we learn these things about ourselves.
Proverbs 27:6 (NIV2011)
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
You need intimacy. You need people who see and care enough to tell you
what you can’t see.
Potential me
No one truly knows their potential. I don’t know and you don’t know. GOD KNOWS.
God created you to increase. Only He truly knows our potential.
We need to circle up with God. We need intimacy with the one who sees our
true potential.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV) For
we are labourers together with God…
Ephesians 4:16 (NIV2011)
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
We is better than me
God’s plan is for you to increase, but you can do it alone.
…But I have been hurt. …You don’t
know my story.
I totally understand this. The
worst thing about being around people is… people.
People can hurt you. People can say terrible things and really disappoint
you.. It is true.
They did this to Jesus. They hurt him. They said the worst things. If anyone could have cut people out of His
life it was Jesus… But from the cross he drew a big circle around everyone and
prayed a prayer of forgiveness.
You really want to increase…? Increase today in trust and forgiveness.
Tear down your barriers and make a circle. We is better than me
Your Bible says…
1 can chase a 1000, but 2 can chase 10,000… because we is better than me
2 are better than 1 because if one falls down the other can lift them up…
We is better than me.
Iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another… because We is
better than Me!
musician
Circle up
Redemption we need to circle up.
We need to go beyond the row.
We need intimacy and increase.
What is your circle? Who are you sharing your life with?
Is God in your circle?
Is there room in your circle for others?
Will you join a circle today?
Support group, Connect Group, Play Groups…