Today marked the end of our Corporate 21 Day Daniel Fast. It was 3 weeks ago on Sunday morning we began this fast. I know some of you participated in this fast in some way or another. As I was waking up this morning, the Lord had this song rolling out of my spirit, we sing it often: The Song is called Make Room. The part of the song that kept coming over and over to me was
Here is where I lay it down
Every burden, every crown
This is my surrender
This is my surrender
Here is where I lay it down
Every lie and every doubt
This is my surrender
[Chorus]
And I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to
To do whatever You want to
And I will make room for You
To do whatever You want to
***The Holy Spirit asked me How are my people going to make room for me?****
I responded Lord we make room for you through prayer and fasting. But I felt the Lord say yes and there is more.
Turn with me in your bibles to the book of Luke chapter 10
Luke 10:38-42
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
***The Theme of the Message today: Making room for God in our lives to do what he has called us to do
*** I want to warn you in advance some of this message will hurt but it is to your benefit and I purpose in my heart to deliver this message in love.
***This morning I am going to share my heart with you as a body of believers. I am going to share my heart as your pastor who holds a responsibility before God to give an account.
Hebrews 13:17
Amplified Bible
17 Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you.
***This passage of scripture defines the responsibility of the Pastor spiritually lead the people of the church congregation in the same way a Sheppard leads and cares for the sheep.
**Truths about Shepard and sheep is the majority of the time the Shepard is not the one who is the owner of the sheep but he is entrusted and responsible for the sheep.
Continuing to read in
Hebrews 13:18-21
King James Version
18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
***The 1st point of the message today: You belong to the Lord, Jesus is the great Shepard who calls pastors to care for his sheep.
To further support this point in the message, I want you to hear the words of Jesus to Peter after his denial of Christ and Jesus’ resurrection:
John 21:14-17
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Ephesians 4
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
***In this very passage of scripture we see Paul in verse 1 recognizes that God has him a prisoner. Yes Rome may have ordered him to House Arrest but he recognized at this moment in Time that was his vocation, that was his calling, and he was going to walk worthy of it. He was going to do the best job he could being a prisoner of the Lord!
***The 2nd point of the message today. God has called each of you to a vocation to do something for him that this time.
This word for vocation here in the Bible is the Greek Word: klay'-sis it is also translated to be “Calling” as we see in these verses below:
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; G2821
Tools
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling G2821 of God in Christ Jesus.
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Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, G2821 and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
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Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, G2821 not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
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Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, G2821 consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
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Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling G2821 and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
***You may say to me, Pastor Jon, I do not know what my calling is? I do not know what my vocation is. I do not know what God wants me to for the Kingdom:
***I have 2 responses to that question: The 1st response is point #3
***Point #3: All believers are called to be witnesses for Jesus and to give, fast, and pray.
You see as you give, as you fast, as you pray you are making room in your life for God to use you for his kingdom for his power, for his glory. This is when God shows us the specific gifts and callings God has for our lives.
Before we go on, I want to emphasis that when we make room for Jesus it is a deliberate action to clear our schedule and set aside time for him. Look at Luke 10 again. Jesus visiting Martha and Mary
Luke 10:38-42
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
***Point #4 of the Message today: Making room for Jesus does not happen by accident it is a decision of your will to set aside time for him.
Let’s go back and finish Ephesians Chapter 4
Ephesians 4:9
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
***Point #5 of the message today: As we make room for Jesus in Fasting and Prayer, he will show us our calling and bring us into unity of faith and perfection.
James 1:3-5
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
***The 1st point of the message today: You belong to the Lord, Jesus is the great Shepard who calls pastors to care for his sheep.
***The 2nd point of the message today. God has called each of you to a vocation to do something for him that this time.
***Point #3: All believers are called to be witnesses for Jesus and to give, fast, and pray.
***Point #4 of the Message today: Making room for Jesus does not happen by accident it is a decision of your will to set aside time for him.
***Point #5 of the message today: As we make room for Jesus in Fasting and Prayer, he will show us our calling and bring us into unity of faith and perfection.
***In closing today I want to share my heart in love about the present state of Joy Fellowship Church Leadership and congregation.
Over the past 6 years since the Lord called me to be senior pastor, God has done some absolutely amazing things.
- God has provided vision and mission for this Church to be an outreach in Hopewell to reach children and families of our area for Jesus.
- God has provided the equipment, the facilities and the talent for us to reach the reach children and families of our area for Jesus.
- God has blessed us financially to be able accomplish all that he has called us to do.
- God has brought people into the church who he has given skills, talents, abilities, gifts to reach the reach children and families of our area for Jesus.
Nevertheless, here is where we are: In our 3rd year of Upwards basketball youth outreach we have less Joy Fellowship Church members helping that we did the first year.
In our 3rd year of having, Joy Team breakfast meetings we can hardly get ½ of the team leaders to attend and hardly any other members who wish to serve.
Across the board, there are more people attending Church on Sunday morning but there are is less faithfulness in ministry support for any other service or outreach.
I want to hear the words of Paul the Apostle the Church at Galatia
Galatians 6:7-10
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
**I want you to ask yourself this question: Have you become weary in well doing? Are you spending time sowing to the flesh instead of sowing to the spirit?
I will tell you that in today’s world you will never have spare time to do anything.
God does not want your spare time. God wants your heart. God wants you to make room for him. God wants you to be deliberate about it in a way that is not convenient for you.
Proverbs 23:26
26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
***The 1st point of the message today: You belong to the Lord, Jesus is the great Shepard who calls pastors to care for his sheep.
***The 2nd point of the message today. God has called each of you to a vocation to do something for him that this time.
***Point #3: All believers are called to be witnesses for Jesus and to give, fast, and pray.
***Point #4 of the Message today: Making room for Jesus does not happen by accident it is a decision of your will to set aside time for him.
***Point #5 of the message today: As we make room for Jesus in Fasting and Prayer, he will show us our calling and bring us into unity of faith and perfection.