Resurrection Life Church

We all need each other.  Whether we believe it or not or whether we distance ourself from others in hopes that they will leave us alone, the truth still remains, we need each other.  Have you ever be going through a difficult time in your life; divorce, death of a loved one, job relocation, a prodigal child, etc... and someone gave you an encouraging word or they just showed up and were there?  If you have, then that person was a Titus.  Titus in the Bible was one of the many young men that the apostle Paul mentored.  When Paul was going through a difficult time in his life Titus was there to encourage and lift him up.  Paul was eternal grateful for that.

We are all in need of others.  Even those of us that think we are just fine on our own.  God designed us to for each other.  He said “its not good for man to be alone.”  Yes, He was talking about creating Eve but He was also talking about relating to others as well.  We were never meant to be alone.  That is what lifegroups are all about.  Connecting with others and growing in our relationship with God together.

Pastor Allen share several principles about relationships and what it take to be a “Titus”, in this weeks message.  We pray that the mercy, love, joy and wisdom of God rest on you as you watch and/or listen to this weeks message on encouraging and being there for one another.

Life can get a little hectic and overwhelming at times and can be taxing on the soul.  We can get a little downcast and depressed when things don’t seem to go the way we thought they would or we make bad decisions that have detrimental outcomes.  We as followers of Jesus Christ have a hope that the rest of the world doesn’t have.  This is a hope that give us a joy that is unspeakable, a love that is unimaginable, and peace that is incomprehensible.  That will only come as we put our hope in God and not the current affairs of this world.

You may ask, “how did I get to this place of being so downcast?”  There are a few things that if not dealt with will drive us to a place of being downcast and depressed.  First make sure you pay attention to the “rest” that you get.  When you are tired physically you are more susceptible to the attacks of the enemy.  Second you have to allow God’s love to cast out the fears you have within.  When you don’t you start to believe the lies of the enemy and you take up offenses.  Lastly don’t allow the conflict in your life to steal your peace no matter whether they are within your control or not.  

God is near to those who are downcast and He wants to lift them up.  Why so downcast? Put your hope in God.  He and He alone can bring you the joy, peace, and love that can change the world.  

Jesus came that we might have life and not just mere existence but an abundant, adventurous and exciting life.  We, as Christians were not called to the mundane, boring, cold, and stiff life.  That's what the walking dead is all about, mindless and imbecilic lives. 

We will become the walking dead if we don't do a few things.  First we must check our vital signs or a least have the people around us check them for us.  That's why small groups are so important.  It's hard to see pride in the mirror. 

Second we must pay attention to the details of our life.  Nobody ever dreams of getting divorced or becoming an addict but because they did pay attention the details of their life the enemy crept in and slowly and intentionally destroyed them from within. 

And lastly if we are to not become the walking dead we are going to have to live our life in rows and not circles meaning its not about Sunday morning attendance but the small groups and connections of our lives that will keep us safe from becoming the walking dead.

The walking dead always consume and never brings life to others but the followers of Jesus alway bring life because life flows to and through them.

We were never meant to just blend in as followers of Jesus Christ.  We were meant to have an impact on the world in which we live.  The early church affected and infected the culture in which it lived and made a difference in the world.  People didn’t just see the signs and wonders in the church but the love, joy, and peace that came as a result of following Jesus.

However, the state of the Church is America as a whole is that she is a sleeping giant.   Yes, there are some “pockets” of life giving churches but as a general rule the church in America has lulled itself to sleep.  

Its time we are once again activated.  Not activated to busyness but to the call God has placed on His Son’s bride, the Church.  We are to constantly affect positive change in our world and in so doing we bring glory and honor to Jesus.

In order to do all that we are going to have to do a few things first.  We must change our way of thinking.  Realize that we have been given something the world around us desperately needs.   We have been given gifts and talents by the Holy Spirit that are to be used to change our world.  When the Church does these and more we become the bride God intended and our world, no matter where you live, is changed for the better.  It’s time to activate!  

What does it mean to be blessed?  Ask any Christian and you’ll get a different answer from everyone.  However, in America we have a tendency to define much of what the Bible says through the lens of an America ideology and popular culture.  To be blessed in America equates to money or possessions.  If that is true what about the guy living in India’s slums who is a disciple of Jesus?  Is he not as blessed as were are?   What make us blessed is not money or possessions but God’s presences.  It is not being in a worship service, though God’s presence can be there.  It is not riding down the road listening to Christian radio, though that is a good thing to do.  It’s about living in such a way that we are constantly walking and “abiding” in Him 24/7.    When that happens we live a life of love, we have a joy that is not only unspeakable but unfathomable and unexplainable.  A joy that the world envies.  We don’t have to live with fear controlling our lives and lastly we live a life that is marked with supernatural activity.   Answered prayer will not be a surprise to us but an expected result.  Healing will not be something that God uses someone else to do but you will be a yielded and open vessel which God uses to display His power.

Pastor Allen Hickman ministers these points and more as he discusses what being blessed truly means and how we are to live as blessed people and children of God.