Kev’s on-line eGroup sermon notes Ballantyne Campus Sat. Jan. 25, 2020 Pastor Steven Furtick Sermon title: Kingdom Clout Part 3 “Ghosted” Elevation Worship – with Tauren Wells - release of his new Album – Citizen in Heaven • Echo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8agqyGIaD8 • Citizen in Heaven • Famous For • See A Victory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNd-PbVhnvA • Never Lost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IigZiYgPGT0 Scripture: • Acts 1: 1 to 9: 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” • John 2: 1- 11 • Luke 5 • Mathew 8 • John 16:7: 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. • Mathew 14:26: 6 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. • Luke 24 Sermon notes from “Ghosted” by Pastor Steven Furtick: • Opening Prayer: We just have so much to celebrate today. Yes we have a lot of things to worry about - however - we choose to focus on what God is doing in our lives – and when 1 we focus on that, it gives us a great perspective. The Bible says that when two of you agree on something that concerns your heart, and pray about it – in accordance to His will – then He will hear you and it will be done – so we need to agree with each other today – we are in a place today where we can align our faith together – and believe in God for a great visitation or habitation in our presence today. Open our eyes to who he is and open our hearts to what He has done. Father we thank you that you are working in this moment – in ways that we can’t see. We thank you for all of the great things that you are doing in our lives right now. You can take sorrow and turn it into victory and purpose – and you can do that. And can you do that today? We came to meet together – not to just sing a few songs or host a middle school pep rally. We came here to worship you – to be changed by you – to be touched by you. So we just want to pray for the person on our right and our left – Please speak to them today – they need to hear from You – and You know that. Please say it in a way so they know that it is You. And while you are at it, can you please bless us to? We need you. We need you in our minds. We need you in our finances. We need you in our decision-making processes. We thank that you are able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than what we ask or imagine. In Jesus name. Amen. • Comments by Tauren Wells following the release of his new Album – Citizen in Heaven – The Heart of the Project: I did not plan for this album to come out during an election year. I think the world and the church equally lose our minds when we start talking about politics and presidents – it is almost like we have forgotten that our hope is not built on a government system – our hope is not invested in an artificial kingdom. We serve at the pleasure of the king – and his is not just any King – he is the King of all Kings – He is the Lord of Lords – he is the alpha and omega – the beginning and the end. And, so we do not have to worry about who is next because God is the same person that he was yesterday, today, and tomorrow – and we have a citizenship that is higher than any earthly affiliation. We are citizens of Heaven. • This week is eGroup sign-up week. If you come to Elevation Church and don’t do the eGroup thing, this is like going to Ruth Chris’ steak house and to just drink water. You need to do this. This is where the real nutrition happens. Getting the message is one thing – digesting it is another. So when you get the message and they can break things down for you – it is a great way to connect – and I know that you are popular and already have friends – just shut-up and join and eGroup. People work on their bodies and work on all external components of their lives – but how much time do you spend each week to prioritize to keep your soul in a good spot? So that is what it’s for - and it is here for you. And if after you try three or four eGroups, the groups might not be the problem (sarcastic comment). • See Acts 1: 1 to 9 • In this text, we can find ourselves engaged at an emotional level – and we can find ourselves comforted by the hope that is Jesus Christ and we are empowered by the mission that he has given us. • I really think that God wants to use you this year – not just for you to ask God to pay bills – miss traffic – and that is fine – but this is the lowest level and that we experience a greater relationship with God - And my hope in preaching Kingdom Clout is that we understand that when we obtain approval from others, it feels empty – because it came from people and 2 they are just as messy as you are – unless there is a foundation beneath it as to why you do what you do. • In Acts 1, it explains how Jesus is building his Church – and the way he did it – all of his disciples had to navigate tremendous uncertainty – and if this is you today – and there are some things that you do not know – this message should be practical and powerful. • Acts 1 explains the whole book of acts – how the holy spirit came – and how the holy spirt was distributed – as the gospel went out all over the world. • And we could spend the whole year in Acts 1. • Say this: I know that I am chosen – despite that all of my mistakes. • Recall that Acts 1 was written after Jesus had gone to the cross – and all of his disciples except John have deserted him. • It touched me to learn that Jesus chose them at the beginning of his ministry – and helped me even more to realize that even after they left him and failed them – he still chose them. • This is really helpful to me. • Once God sees who we really are – when we have had four hours of sleep and we are angry with the kids in the car – where people make a snapshot judgment of you and make a decision as to who you are – God is not this way. • God has a picture of you that is not dependent upon the decisions that you make – and is formed by the destiny that He has created you for. • It says that Jesus chose these apostles and he gave them instructions. • Here is important free point: The chips and Salsa of the sermon that comes for free: Luke is writing his 2nd book (Acts 1) – where he writes that Jesus began to do and teach – after three years of ministry – after dying on the cross, Jesus was just getting started. • This is good for me to know that when Jesus died on the cross, it was only a beginning. • For the person that has the devil telling you that your best is behind you – and if he has been saying that you – he is liar – because Luke says in Acts 1 – when Jesus on this early, that was the just the beginning of what he came to do.