Reaching Out

Harvest Church

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Reaching Out

Part 3 - the power of an invitation

March 17, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian

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An INVITATION SHOWS YOU ARE IMPORTANT AND YOU'RE INVITED

• Jesus invites the people others reject.

JESUS HAD A WAY OF INVITING PEOPLE!

LUKE 19:5-7 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner."

MATTEW 4:18-19 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

LUKE 5:27-28 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

JOHN 1:43 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

WE ARE NOT CALLED JUST TO FOLLOW

WE ARE CALLED TO FISH

ANYONE CAN DO IT

FISHERMEN KNOW THEIR FISH

FISHING REQUIRES PATIENCE

MATTHEW 4:19 , Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

IT'S FULL OF PROMISE AND PURPOSE

ROMANS 10:9-10 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

ROMANS 10:14 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

WHY DON’T WE SHARE JESUS

1. WE THINK WE CAN’T BECAUSE OF OUR IMPERFECT LIFE

2. WE ARE AFRAID WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS

JOHN 1:45-46 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

Luke 7:37 “A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.”

Luke 7:38 “As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”

Luke 7:39 “When the Pharisee who had invited him [Jesus] saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.’”

Luke 7:44-48 44 Then he [Jesus] turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

MATT 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

• Pointing out women’s sins didn’t lead her away from her sins.

• Judging her for her lifestyle didn’t change her lifestyle!

• Shaming her didn’t set her free!

• (WHAT CHANGED HER? SHE’D BEEN INVITED)

"Holes by Scott Lewis

I had been in that hole for a very long time,

In the dark and the damp, in the cold and the slime.

The shaft was above me; I could see it quite clear,

But there's no way I ever could reach it from here.

Nor could I remember the world way up there,

So I lost all my hope and gave into despair.

I knew nothing but darkness, the floors and the walls,

Then off in the distance I heard someone call

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter

Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder."

This had never occurred to me, had never crossed my mind,

But I started to stack all the stones I could find.

When I ran out of stones, then old sticks were my goal,

For one way or another I'd get out of that hole.

So I soon had a ladder that was sturdy and tall

And I thought “I'll soon leave this place once and for all.”

I climbed up my ladder. It was no easy chore,

For from lifting those boulders my shoulders were sore.

I climbed on up the ladder, but soon had to stop

For my ladder stopped short--some ten feet from the top.

I climbed back down my ladder and started to cry

I'd done all I could do. I gave my best try,

And in spite of my work, in this hole I must die.

And all I could do is sit and think "Why?"

Was my ladder too short? Or my hole much too deep?

Then from way upon high came a voice, "Do not weep."

And then faith, hope, and love entered my chest

As the voice said to me that I'd done my best.

He said, "You've worked very hard, and your labors been rough,

But the ladder you’ve built is at last tall enough.

Do not despair. You have reason to hope,

Just climb up your ladder, I'll throw down my rope.

I climbed up the ladder, then climbed the cord.

When I got to the top, there stood the Lord.

I couldn't be happier, my struggle was done.

I blinked at the brightness that came from the Son.

I fell to the ground, His feet did I kiss

I cried, "What can I do to repay thee for this?"

Then He looked all about Him. There were holes in the ground

They had people inside them and were seen all around.

There were thousands of holes that were damp, dark, and deep

The Lord turned to me and said, "Feed my sheep."

Then He went on His way to help other lost souls,

And I got right to work, calling down to the holes:

"Get up! Get ready! There's nothing the matter

Take rocks and old sticks and build up a fine ladder."

It now was my turn to spread the good word.

The most glorious message that man ever heard.

That there's one who is willing to save one and all

And we've got to be ready when he gives us the call.

He'll pull us all out of the hole that we're in

And save our souls from death and from sin.

So do not lose faith; there is reason to hope

Just build up your ladder; He'll throw down his rope.

Psalm 23

May 26, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian • Psalm 23

PSALM 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. THE ANSWER TO WANTING ISN’T HAVING STUFF. THE ANSWER TO WANTING IS HAVING THE SHEPHERD SHADOW OF DEATH – HEBREW WORD – SALMAWET – DEEP DARKNESS PSALM 139 – OH, HE EVEN SEES ME IN THE DARK! AT NIGHT I'M IMMERSED IN THE LIGHT! IT’S A FACT: DARKNESS ISN'T DARK TO YOU 3 THINGS TO DO TO GET THROUGH THE VALLEY 1. STAY ACTIVE – if you keep giving you will keep moving forward PROVERBS 11:25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 2. STAY CONNECTED – your relationships will make or break you in a valley season - LEARN FROM - LAUGH WITH - LEAN ON ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12 It’s better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there’s no one to help, tough! 11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night. 12 By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped. 3. STAY FOCUSED - refuse to take your eyes off the promises of God HEBREWS 12:1-3msg 1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Accessing Grace

May 22, 2024 • Pastor Bracken Christian

Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. TPT 32 “And so now, I entrust you into God’s hands and the message of his grace, which is all that you need to become strong. All of God’s blessings are imparted through the message of his grace, which he provides as the spiritual inheritance given to all of his holy ones. ACCESSING WHAT IS OURS IS GOING TO REQUIRE FAITH! WE CANNOT BOLDLY CLAIM A PROMISE OR BLESSING WE ARE NOT SURE GOD IS NOT OFFERING. FF BOSWORTH 2 Pet 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 2 Cor 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Rom 8:32 He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him over for us all, how will He not also with him freely give us all things? Rom 5:17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CALLED THE SPIRIT OF GRACE Heb 10:26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near (come) with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. THE REASON WE CANNOT PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH IS BECAUSE WITHOUT FAITH WE CANNOT ACCESS THE GRACE. Rom 4:16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Rom 5:1 Therefore... having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction (Access) by faith into this grace in which we stand Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; THE GRACE WE ARE REFERING TO IS ALL GOD HAS SUPPLIED FOR US. 2 Cor 8:6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Cor 9:6-8 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; Phil 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. SUPPLY; TO CRAM THE NET, TO LOAD DOWN, FILL THE STOMACH, FILLTHE VOID, PAY OFF DEBT...

A place at the table

May 19, 2024

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd. A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.