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Mar 10, 2019

Simplicity

Simplicity

Speaker: James Gallaher

Series: The Heart of Freedom Fellowship

Category: Sunday Morning

In a world of tremendous complexity, Jesus gave one simple command.

The Heart of Freedom Fellowship Church - Seven Non-Negotiables 

  • #1 Intimacy with God and Intimacy with others
  • #2 People are Priority 
  • #3 Seek God's Heart Not Just His Hand 

This week's message:
#4 Simplicity - Do life in a simple way. Do the Gospel in a simple way.

Pastor James gives an example of the intense golf swing instructions. In the same way, we also tend to make life complicated. Some are so concerned with "reaching their potential" that the potential becomes their god. We've complicated so many things, like sports, that it can lead to burnout. We do the same in our churches because we overcomplicate it so that no one can be successful at their calling, purpose, gifting . . .

We are sometimes chasing a potential that might not be there. Am I seeking a potential that men says to seek, or am I seeking a God who shows me what my potential is? In that place of seeking the things that God has prepared for us, we can avoid the failures of this world. We need to uncomplicate what God has prepared for us. We need to demystify and uncomplicate the process of getting to what God has called us to be. 

We drift toward complexity - to a cycle of doing more and more. Let God ordain our steps means He has blessings in every step. Stop and celebrate those blessings and see the purpose in every step. If I am seeking God's direction, then it means that there is purpose in every step that I take. 

Matt 4:18-22 

Do you want to be a disciple? Jesus gave one simple command - "Follow Me." Discipleship doesn't have to be difficult - it requires a relationship with God and then allows Him to direct those steps before us. 

We need to become people that others can come to. Stop the restrictions of what it needs to look like or what others need to do to come. Make sure you are people that are worth following. Look to God and His direction rather than others and their direction for us. When we study the life of Christ, He is telling us all that He is releasing us to. He is telling us all the things that He has granted to us as a son or daughter of the Son of God.

Jesus gave this command (follow Me) as the Jews had a huge amount of laws, from 10 commandments to some 613 laws (most were laws of restriction). The law cannot save; it has no ability to redeem. The law was about religion, not relationship. Jesus' words to the Pharisees . . . Matt 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Paul said everything begins and points back to the cross. The entire purpose of life is found in Jesus Christ and His work at Calvary. Nothing matters if it's not built on the cross. Nothing matters if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead. 

John 3:16

A simple gospel = a complete work that was enough for you, me and anyone who calls His name. The simple gospel demands that we present Jesus as approachable because He died for you and for me!

Paul spends years after conversion unheard from. He comes out of that time and says, I Corinthians 2:1-5 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God.

The message of the Gospel becomes effective, not because of persuasive speech but because of the simple understanding of the Holy Spirit coming to empower to do great things in an individual's life.

John 14:15  If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Love = Obedience that comes naturally. Does it conflict with the church's message? It's not an "if - then" message. Start with love! 

II Cor 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. 

Jesus took off my garment of sin and then wrapped us with His garment of righteousness. It's not a message of "do better" or "change" and then Jesus will come. Jesus says, let me do something in your life so you can change. Faith in Jesus is the step required to see change in our lives. 

Simplicity in the gospel means preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't give up the simplicity of the gospel. Matt 22:36-40 These 2 commandments.

Simplicity = Loving God, Loving People. It's the kind of love that surrenders desires to know His desire. 

What objects or restrictions do you put in the way of letting others come in? Do we keep people out because we are afraid of what they will see?

What garments conceal the broken areas of our life? the garment of perfection? the picture of being altogether? What veil is up in your life that covers the real me? What veil is up in our relationships? 

Discuss the difference in Jesus dying because of your sin vs Jesus dying for your sin?

What change in my life and schedule can I make to know God more?

Describe the simple gospel?