Reset Series: Recharge

Reset Series
Recharge - Part 3
January 14, 2018

Introduction:
They have been in a series called Reset! Today I have a message God has given me titled “Recharge!” We are going to go to the book of Hebrews in a moment for our text. Since we are going to be looking at being recharge I thought I might get a humorous thought or two about electricity:
Q: What did the light bulb say to the generator?
A: "I really get a charge out of you!"
Q: What is an electrician's favorite ice cream flavor?
A: Shock-o-lot!
Two atoms were walking down the street one day, when one of them exclaimed, "Oh no - I've lost an electron!" "Are you sure?" the other one asked. "Yes," replied the first one, "I'm positive."
Q: Why did the lights go out?
A: Because they liked each other!
A man with a hearing problem walked into a power plant for a tour. He arrived late and had to join the rest of the group already on the tour. The man was reviewing what he had just told the group. He told the group that they wouldn't move on until they answered this one question: What is the unit of power equal to one joule per second called?" The man with the hearing problem hadn't heard the question very well, so he raised his hand and asked "What?" (Note: What = Watt, for those who are not electricians)
Everything in our world requires power so some sort to function. In this tech age we live in we understand the new to connect devices to recharge them. The same is true of each of us individually we need power in our lives to operate and we must be recharged!

YouTube video - Recharging Your Batteries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0iBO5FQU0I please cut at 2:37 seconds
Because I have an older iPhone my battery is constantly dying as a result I have had to learn what drains it of power (brightness of display, length, etc.) this got me to think about the fact that it life there are things that drain us of power and things that renew or recharge us.
The Bible makes it clear that Satan is the enemy of life and power in our lives – God’s says he has come to rob, steal and destroy. If you serve him and follow him he will rob you of God’s life-giving power. But our text shows us the pathway of the abundant life (power) Jesus spoke of.
First,
  1. We recharge by connecting with God19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus
The text speaks of the “Most Holy Place!” This writer of Hebrews knew the 1st century church would understand that this is the place of the very presence of God.
God is the author of Life – He is the sustainer of live! It is because of Him that we live and move and have our being!
One of the more powerful ways we recharge is through worship – intentional entering into God’s presence by focusing on him – who he is and what he has done! We can do this because …
  1. With an unswerving hope – a confidence
  • ‎This is an allusion to the case of the high priest going into the holy of holies. He went with fear and trembling, because, if he had neglected the smallest item prescribed by the law, he could expect nothing but death. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
    1. With a confidence in the living way
  • The word "holiest" here is taken from the holy of holies in the temple – the idea here is that we now have access to heaven and the throne room of God. Prior access into the most holy place was forbidden to all but the high priest; but now access to the real "holy of holies" was granted because of Jesus!
Point? To recharge in 2018 make worship a priority, corporate as well as individual worship
Secondly, reminds us that …
  1. We recharge by connecting together25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. NIV
I think we all understand that to recharge anything you must make a connection! Wires alone are not enough must be connected to a source. You can come into this building and stand and observe others worship but until you worship you will not make a connection with the Lord. This is true with connecting with God and it is also true of connecting with the people of God.
The text shows us that we connect with the people of God…
  1. By encouraging each other
  • The first two marathons I ran I wonder if I would have finished them without the power of encouragement.
  • My brother in law, Elke’s youngest brother, Norm Haas helped me across the finish line in my first one in Chicago. I although he wasn’t running the race he showed up at key times (mile markers) With words of encouragement. The second marathon was in Dallas, TX. I was in trouble – physically and mentally – I was at the point of quitting when a friend and church member, Tim Holland, came along side me – he told me “hey we are going to finish this together!”
  • There are people here today that need you to come alongside them and encourage them (Some might be at the point of quitting) This race we call life isn’t meant to be run alone!
The text also tells us that we connect with the people of God…
  1. By putting love into action
  • Did you see it tells us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds?
  • You see love isn’t just words or emotions real love is requires deeds or actions … watch this …

Play Sermoncentral video “Love Come to Life”
We are rejuvenated, recharged when we connect to others. Get connected by encouraging and putting love into action – Connect Groups start next Sunday night, 1st and 3rd Sunday Evenings, -- Project Serve in 2018.
Finally,
  • We recharge by decluttering our hearts 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Is it just me or does it seem that the more apps I have on my phone the quicker it seems to drain my battery? I’ve read that there are some apps that draw and drain the battery quicker than others. So, I have cleansed – purged decluttered my phone of them!
More than the clutter of our phones, the house or the garage the place we need to be the most concerned about is our hearts.
Our hearts easily get cluttered with sins of :
  • Lust of all kinds
  • Pride
  • Anger
  • Unforgiveness
  • Selfishness
  • Fear
  • Worry
  • Bitterness
  • Grudges
So how do we declutter our hearts …
  1. By having a clear conscience
    • Our hearts are cleansed, decluttered, when we draw near to God and …
    • Ask him to reveal our sin
    • Ask him to forgive us of than sin, wrong thinking and actions
    • And we asked based on the new living way Jesus
We declutter and recharge our hearts ….
  1. By having a committed obedience “and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
  • Clearly a reference to baptism – if you haven’t been baptized after repentance - you’re in disobedience not committed obedience!
  • Have a committed obedience to – God’s Word, To Prayer, To Worship will declutter your heart so that it will be cleansed.
Altar Call:
This morning the Lord directed me to address two groups of folks:
  • Does your heart require some decluttering?
  • Do you need to be recharged?
Location: Abundant Life Assembly of God

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