THE ALL IN YOU
Sermon repost written by Pastor Todd Boxley
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, and Georgia, this week.
As the schools continue to empty out for the summer, I’d like to take a moment before we look at today’s message to encourage all the parents who build all their love and sacrifice around their children this year.
I’m constantly praying for the Lord’s hedge of protection around God’s gifts to parents. Parents are the shield for their child’s educational direction. Schools do not own your children.
God has always placed the responsibility of children knowing the Lord on parents, not schools. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). When your children were born into your loving arms, there were no school administrators there.
Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, I thank you for gathering us together around your spiritual alter. Lord, I pray your words would gather hearts as a hen gathers her chicks.
May your word be proclaimed with power and authority, and may your love be felt by all who find “Try Jesus.” Lord, as many gather throughout this country on the phones, tablets, and computers, please open their searching hearts to experience a love worth finding.
Lord, you are our rock and our fortress, our hope, and our salvation today. May your Holy Spirit empower many to hear the Spirit of truth today. Lord, I pray for those who need your comfort and healing today.
I ask that you touch their lives with your love and grace. May you be glorified in this message, not man or flesh, for all the praise and honor belongs to you, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
How many of you consistently hear yourself saying “Hey, what are you doing in there?” “Hey! get down from there!” “How in the world did you get in there?” Sometimes these expressive words typically apply to parents and children.
Although, they can apply to husbands and wives. I really am hearing right now a wife saying to her fix everything husband, “How did you get the ladder stuck in there.”
Many of you can relate to hilarious stories you can share about how your child got stuck in something. I grew up with four sisters and two brothers. My parents got used to saying words like, “How did you get your finger stuck in there.”
But getting into things doesn’t apply to just humans. Many if you have pets that left you laughing and scratching your head over how your pet got entangled in such a precarious situation.
Cats are known to find themselves in every place in your own. I remember the first time I allowed my daughter to get a pet, she chose a cat. I’ve always been a dog person myself.
But not knowing how this would turn out, I told her about the responsibilities of owning a cat. Cat’s may take care of themselves, but owners still have to properly care, groom, and clean after them.
I quickly found out that cats get into every nook, crack, and cranny that draws their curiosity. A friend of mine at work told me (after hearing I had purchased one), that when it comes to cats, they don’t live in your world, you live in there’s.
Over the years I found this out on a regular basis. One day my daughter’s cat got out of the house. I’m not sure how it got out, but I thought to myself, “has this cat figured out how to open the screen door?”
Anyway, I went outside with my daughter to see if we could locate “Myette.” After searching around the house, I heard a loud meow above my head in the backyard. We had a tall pine tree.
I looked up and saw her cat halfway up the tree. At first, I tried to coax her down with some food. That didn’t work. I thought about calling the fire department but didn’t feel I needed to involve them.
I eventually asked my daughter, “why won’t she come down?” I’ve seen this cat climb on, in, and around everything in my home. This was before I learned to train it. How could this cat climb a tree but wouldn’t come back down.
My neighbor told me cats can be afraid to climb down somethings. I placed my hand on my forehead in unbelief. I couldn’t believe this “scaredy-cat” was afraid to climb down out of this tree.
I finally realized after a few hours had passed, I was going to have to climb this tree to save my daughter’s cat. Before I took on this challenge, I had to change out my dress clothes and put on some jeans and good work boots.
I also put on a pair of gloves. Well, I walked over to the tree and started climbing. As I got closer, I could easily hear her cat’s meows getting louder. I finally got to where she was and tried to pet and calm her down.
As I grabbed her around the scuff of her neck, she panicked and tried to stay in the tree. I thought to myself, “I’m not having this, not today!” Remember everyone, I’m halfway up a tall tree on unsteady branches.
I just wanted to get down on the earth, where my feet belong. I grabbed her again and started climbing down. As I was climbing down, she panicked again, but this time she surprised me with a gift.
She was still a little above my head. But all of sudden there was an outburst of pee squirted on my face. Ok, you guys can stop laughing now. My frustration just kicked in a notch.
I couldn’t let go and wipe my face because that might mean a broken arm or leg. I simply let out a scream, “Hey, Hey, what are doing!” My daughter and neighbor were on the ground with other neighbors who had walked over.
I couldn’t believe this was happening. As I finally got near the bottom, I decided to jump from about 8 or 10 feet from the ground. I was tired, hot, and exhausted. This cat had been through everything in my house.
But now he showed me how he could get into everything outside as well. My daughter quickly came over and took her beloved cat back into the house. There I stood in front of a few neighbors with cat urine all over my face.
After the neighbors stopped laughing, they asked me was I ok. I looked at them and said, “I just want to go in and take a long hot shower.” It was a day I’ll never forget.
You know, I’m not even sure my daughter said thank you. But I realized something later that evening. Just as my daughter would seek out her cats, and find them in precarious situations, The Lord seeks us out in the same manner.
In life, we get into all sorts of trouble. We find ourselves stuck in the cycle of a destructive lifestyle. But God is seeking us out on a daily basis. He is wanting to give you life, not just any life, but an abundant filling life.
Did you know God is everywhere? Did you know God desires to be closer to you than you are to your own skin? Those of you who are parents with Toddler’s know you have to watch their every move because they can get into anything.
Parents know that if the phone rings they have to pick up the baby also because if they turn their back for a second and get distracted, that Olympic crawler can get into places we never thought possible. (Smile).
God desiring to fulfill every aspect of our lives is similar to that of the marriage relationship. Husbands and wives live lives of oneness. The husband should be all into his wife, and she should be all into him.
But what does that mean exactly? Well, the word of God tells us that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church. (Ephesians 5:25). Obviously, there’s a comparison to match up to.
Most couples who know this verse, may be able to quote it verbatim. The issue starts to unravel a little bit once you start to examine “How does Christ love his church?” To find out the answer to that question, you have to get closer.
You have to find out through the word of God, how Jesus treated and delt with his church. You cannot simply say “I love my wife, and that’s all I need to do in my marriage.” Just telling someone “I love you” is not enough.
It must be expressed in action. It involves you getting into meaningful deep discussions and showing your mate why you love them the way you do. Look at the next few verses after (Ephesians 5:25).
26} “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27} That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28} So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29} For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30} For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:26-30 KJV).
The husband loving his wife involves some high standards to follower after. Some of you gentlemen have had to meet your bride’s father before you got married. Remember hearing those words, “So my good man, what are your intentions towards my precious flower?”
Being completely into your wife and the wife being completely into her husband in comparison to how Jesus loves his church can be a difficult task at times. But if Jesus is allowed to be Lord of that marriage, he can engage two hearts to love as he does.
The husband is to manifest similar love toward his wife, and a similar desire that she should be prepared to walk before him in white (Purity in matrimonial love). The husband should also understand the tremendous effort his wife makes to look appealing for only his heart.
Typically a woman in the Bible days would go to great lengths in the purification process to be presentable to her soon to be husband. This took place months in advance and involved costly unguents.
There could be six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of her impending nuptials. (Psalm 45:13-14). God wanted Israel to also be that special bride, but Israel kept pulling away from God. (Ezekiel 16:7-14).
Have you ever felt like your mate tends to pull away when matters of the heart and serious discussions need to take place? When either mate says to other, “I need some space to be by myself,” that could be cause for concern.
When husbands tell their friends, “My wife gives me my space, I keep her out of my fishing trips when I drive up to Lake Erie.” That potentially could be a ticking emotionally time bomb 💣 waiting to explode.
Especially when the husband or wife feels left out. It’s even more concerning when they call home and tell you they are staying overnight on the boat, and you hear other voices in the background having a great time.
The Christian marriage relationship is the greatest example to show the world how God is unified and in oneness with the body of Christ. I’ve always told the couples at church that their oneness is being observed every time they come to church.
Does this mean couples should put on fake appearances in the church if they are having some struggles in their marriage? Of course not. They should be willing to engage in prayer at the alter with leadership and seek out continued support and counseling.
So, further looking at (Ephesians 5:26,27) the daily task of the young virgin maiden was to be purified and prepared for her husband by washing and by anointing. This is the way the church is to be prepared to meet Jesus each Sunday.
It is to be made pure and holy by the word (John 17:17). Do you feel your marriage is consecrated to God? This always involves and symbolizes the spiritual unity and oneness of couples. It is seen as a joining of souls (John 17:19-21).
So, by the time when we get to (Ephesians 5:28-31), we see the bride resembles the church in (Revelation 21:1-5,9,10). So, each spouse should then love one another fully as they would care for their own body.
So, then outwardly there is to be the application of water, (Baptism) the symbol of purity; and within there is to be holiness of heart (2 Corinthians 11:2). When we come into the family of God, he doesn’t love us from a distance.
Spouse’s should never try to love each other from a distance. (That is, taking separate vacations from each other). When this is consistently happening, there is a breach in the relationship.
Satan will certainly try to destroy it in many tempting ways. Paul mentions staying spiritually connected at all times. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Married couples have the responsibility to care for each other.
God is, as many sports teams use the words, “I’m all in!” This denotes someone who is fully committed to a task or endeavor; to give or be prepared to give all of one’s energy or resources toward something.
The Bible says it similarly this way, 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 (Ephesians 4:4-6 KJV).
God is “all in” on us today. Are you “all in” on him? The Bible tells us that the earth is the Lord’s. He has a right to invade it, because he is the owner.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1 KJV).
“Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” (Isaiah 66:1 KJV).
God’s presence is everywhere. He shows up in places because he simply loves his creation. If God is all in on redeeming his fallen people, then what role do you think Satan has?
God absolutely did not create humans to randomly destroy them. That description belongs to Satan alone. When people reject the only love gift given for eternal life, they have made a devastating choice.
It will be impossible for anyone on earth to look into the eyes of Jesus and say, “You never wanted me.” God does not throw away humans the way we throw out our trash each week. There are doctrines that impugn and incorrectly stretch God’s sovereignty in definition error.
[God is “over” all. This describes his overruling power (transcendence). He is “in all” and “living through all.” Jesus shows his active presence in the world and in the lives of believers (immanence). Any view of God that violates either his transcendence or his immanence does not paint a true picture of God.]
If you are trying to understand how God loves and is the common Father of “all,” then continue to read his word. God is still the God of all people. He is the God of the rich and the poor; the bond and the free; the learned and the unlearned.
He is no respecter of persons. Nothing would tend more to overcome the prejudices of color, rank, and wealth, than to feel that we all have one Father. We are all equally the objects of his favor (Acts 17:26-30).
When you see someone being mistreated solely because of their heritage or race, ask God to open your heart to love on that individual. Jesus approached everyone he loved the same way. Jesus is “all in” on building a relationship with you.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 KJV).
HOLY SPIRIT NOTES:
When Jesus comes into a life that calls out to him, he never leaves that life ever again. Even when he told his disciples he would be leaving them, he promised them he would send them a helper (John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7-10; 1 John 2:1; Acts 1:8; Hebrews 13:5; Joshua1:5).
The helper, comforter, paraclete, the promise, advocate or counselor is just a few names to describe the Holy Spirit, who Jesus told his disciples he would send after his ascension to the Father.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you have the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. Ask God to fill you with these same gifts in order to fulfill his mission for you.
The Greek word (paraklētos) means someone who is called to come alongside someone else. An intercessor consoler. An advocate, comforter. Being summoned, called to one’s side.
Jesus sending the Holy Spirit is equated to you moving into an apartment. You do not own the residence, but you bring all you have to make your life livable. Sometimes you sign a lease that come with living conditions.
If you violate that lease, the owner can have you evicted from the property. But God doesn’t operate like a dissatisfied landlord. Once he moves in, he stays with you during the good times and the bad.
This is what separates true Christianity from religion. Religion is like moving into an apartment but not bringing anything with you. An empty apartment may provide shelter, but not the substantial things you may need to live Adequately.
That’s why following the ABC,s of religion, reading the Bible, going to church only on Easter, giving so they speak your name, following legalistic or man-made traditional rules doesn’t make you qualified for heaven.
Quick question, which I’m sure many of you can give a quick answer. Why did the thief on the cross go to be with Jesus in paradise when he died? Was it because he lived a life like the Pharisees and Sadducees?
The only way people get into heaven is by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Lord, meaning, master, ruler, owner. Like the landlord who owns the building. Jesus paid a serious debt for your life (1 Corinthians 6:19,20).
[People are slaves to sin until they commit their lives to Christ, who alone can conquer sin’s power. Sin, pride, and fear no longer have any claim over us.]
[The Bible says we become Christ’s slaves when we become Christians, but this actually means that we gain our freedom because sin no longer controls us (Romans 6:12-23; 8:9.]
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you have the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us; therefore, we no longer own our bodies. (Like you in an apartment building).
Because your body belongs to God, you must not violate his standards for living. God wants you to have a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth and give you divine strength needed to enable you to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of his kingdom.
The person of the Holy Spirit operates in the church as a definite personality. He the person given as a gift to the church to assure that the ministry of the resurrected Christ is expressed and verified.
The Holy Spirit is not recognized in many cults and religious denominations to be a person. He is also seen as a force, like electricity. You can find all these false doctrines on the drop-down page “TJForLife.” Look for the Christianity vs. Cults.
Here are 6 things about why you should be “All in!” on letting the Holy Spirit reside in your life. He is the perfect roommate to help with the living arrangements of your soul.
1) He possesses the attributes of mind, will, and feelings (Romans 8:27; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:30).
2) He engages in such activities as revealing, teaching, witnessing, interceding, speaking, commanding, and testifying (2 Peter 1:21; John 14:26; 15:26; Hebrews 10:15; Romans 8:26; Revelation 2:7; Acts 16:6,7).
3) He has a relationship with human persons who repent and except Jesus as Lord. He can also be grieved, lied to, and blasphemed (Ephesians 4:30; Acts 5:3; Matthew 12:31,32).
4) He possesses the divine attributes of the Godhead. He is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent (Hebrews 9:14; Psalm 139:7-10; Luke 1:35; 1 Corinthians 2:10,11).
5) He is referred to such names as, “The Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit of promise, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of grace, the Spirit of life, the Spirit of adoption, and the Spirit of holiness.
6) He is illustrated with symbols as fire, wind, water, a seal, oil, and a dove (Acts 2:1,2; 10:38; John 1:32; 7:37-39; Ephesians 1:13).
This much power and interest in your life should cause you to say, “I’m All In!”
🗣📢 Last words: Before we close for this morning’s message, let’s recap a few biblical important facts about God’s abiding presence. We can know without doubt that God is ruler over all.
A) God is above all: He is supreme; who presides over all things.
B) God is through all: He pervades universal nature, and his agency is seen everywhere.
C) God is in you all: Those who have repented of sin and turned to Jesus as Lord, his Holy Spirit is in you all. You are his temple, and he abides in you. (Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 6:19).
D) God’s son Jesus desires to be one with you: If Jesus is not Lord of all, then he’s not Lord at all. Today he’s knocking on the door of your heart (John14:23; 17:20-25; Romans 8:8-10).
E) God is “Father” to his creation both by generation (as Creator) and regeneration (being born-again). Jesus said not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into his Kingdom (Matthew7:31-23; Ephesians 2:10; James 1:17,18; 1John 5:1).
Getting religious and getting into religion is empty and futile without allowing Jesus to be Lord of your life. A lot of people get into the word but is the word getting into them?
The devil is still using religion today to ensnare people in his religious web of deceit until they are consumed in destruction. He has all the worlds resources to keep people “in all” his vices.
He will continue to use the pleasures of this world involving money, security, and material possessions to corrupt and ensnare minds and hearts. This temporary satisfaction can make people indifferent to God’s offer of lasting satisfaction and fulfillment.
Satan will also continue to bombard our lives with news headlines coming into our lives from every media source. How do you sift through the acceptable and unacceptable?
With talk shows and social media platforms raging continuously in our eyes and ears, how do you filter through it? The opposition keeps coming with attacks and inflammatory words, threats, and cancellations.
With so much invasion of privacy, chaos, turmoil, and hostility, where do you find room for God to fit in? Only the power of God can dismiss Satan and his stronghold in people’s lives (John 1:12,13; 1 John 3:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Remember my friends, believers are one in unity. They experience it in:
The Body: The fellowship of believers, the church.
The Spirit: The Holy Spirit, who activates our fellowship.
The Hope: The glorious future to which we are all called.
The Lord: To whom (born-again believers) belong.
The Faith: Our singular commitment to Christ.
The Baptism: Baptism is the outward symbol of an inward life already saved by Jesus. Remember, water alone is not salvation. Just ask the thief on the cross if anyone offered him water. The God of all creation is the God who keeps us for eternity.
[Christ’s death makes the church holy and clean. He cleanses us from the old ways of sin and sets us apart for his special, sacred service (1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 13:12). Christ cleansed the church by the washing of baptism. It is God’s Word that cleanses us (John 17:17; Titus 3:5).]
These are the words from a high school senior at her graduation, “I just don’t think that anyone would regret having a relationship with Jesus, and I hope people can really understand that.”
☆ If you find yourself feeling indifferent to church, to God, or to the Bible, you have begun to shut God out of your life. Leave the door of your heart constantly open to God, and you won’t need to worry about hearing his knock. Letting him in will bring you lasting fulfillment.
🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to be “All In” with God. “Heavenly Father, thank you for today’s message on being closer with you. Thank you, Lord, for being one who sticks closer than any brother.
Lord, please Lord, encourage my heart to open and give an invitation for you to take up residence. In you Lord, resides unending wisdom and knowledge. Please give me access to everything you offer through Jesus.
Open my eyes to everything he has planned for me. Fix my eyes on Jesus so I’ll not be deceived or distracted. Settle my faith on him only. Make my faith unshakable and un-severable from Jesus. My strength only flows from him.
Lord, your strength upholds my weaknesses. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to pursue Christ and to know him deeply. Right now, I commit to this lifelong journey. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, my strength and redeemer, amen.”
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Pastor Todd Boxley
tjforlife.com
Worship Center Ministry