When I think of the word "masterpiece" and what it means, I think of the things that God's created.

Like:
http://www.all-freeware.com/images/full/48550-

beautiful_garden_waterfalls_screensaver_desktop_screen_savers_nature.jpeg

http://www.thankyougiftsbaskets.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Niagra-Falls-2.jpg

http://persia1.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/pear-orchard-shiraz.jpg

http://www.travelooce.com/pics/sunset-sailing.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VcKIg4-10II/R7Dut6Jw-VI/AAAAAAAAATU/fYvD0uYxjIg/s400/whale_jumping.jpg
You see all this stuff and it makes you just wanna pause...and appreciate what God's created. These sort of things just leave you awestruck, and mesmerized.  And other synonyms for amazed. But when God created everything, he created it in order.

FIrst there was light, the ocean, plants, birds...etc. But after he created all this, he took a step back and looked and thought "How can I top this all off?" He wanted to make the crown jewel of all his creations. The most beautiful masterpiece God has ever created was human beings. Man. He made us all in his image. 

The Bible calls us the masterpiece of all God's creations. And we look at the Niagra Falls and all those pictures above and they're beautiful and all...but WE are better. WE are the masterpiece. L

Like it says in Psalms 139:14:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful! I know that full well."

When you start thinking about masterpieces, we think about all the creative process. All the days and effort put into it. The deffiniton of Masterpiece is: A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.

There's so much thought and detail put into it... I am fearfully made. What does that mean?
Let's say I'm a master painter. I decide to make my masterpiece. I spend days thinking about it, wondering what I'm going to paint. I mean, this is going to be my masterpiece! It has to be perfect. I fearfully start making it, and I will labor over it for months. Every detail, stroke, color...has to be perfect. Absolutely perfect.

At Church, we come to hear the lies and the truth. But we come to believe the truth. What I say is the truth. You ARE God's masterpiece. And unfortunately, the truth of God's word will always be fought in your life. It's beyond comprehend how special we are. 

Why? Because the Devil will come in and call you the EXACT opposite of what God calls you. He calls you ugly, fat, disgusting. And tries to make you feel bad about yourself so that you will never understand how wonderful you are. 

But today you WILL understand how wonderful you are.

But there is one thing that stands in the way of us comprehending on how special we are. Comparison. Comparing yourself to someone else is the worst thing you could do. Comparing how God made you, to how God made someone else. 

1 Corinthians 15:10
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

The girls do this the most. We've seen it in the youth group, school, everywhere. As soon as a girl walks in, all the girls in their little groups just...stare. As soon as they see each other, they start comparing themselves to them. Trying to see if they are prettier than the other, if they have cute clothes...hair, etc.

There are two ways this is going to go down though. Because there are two types of Comparisons. You are either going to think you are better than them, or that they are better than you. And let me just tell you know, that either one of these comparisons, no matter what the circumstance, you will always lose. 

Because if you think that they are better than you...you feel like crap (pardon my lack for a better term). You feel like garbage, you feel ugly, or discouraged. And all these negative thoughts just come and attack you. I think everyone knows what that feels like, and trust me...it doesn't feel good.

But if you think that you are better than them...well that doesn't go down smoothly either. Pride sets in, and pride is ugly. And people retract from people who are cocky and prideful. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. You make God your absolute ENEMY. And trust me, you don't wanna box God. Your arms ain't long enough.

Prideful people don't do so good. And when you start competing with people, you start celebrating their defeat. 

Brent shared with us on Tuesday his story with his brother celebrating Brent's defeat. Since Brent's brother didn't finish college, and Brent did, I guess his brother felt like he never really sized up to Brent. Like Brent was better than him. But once Brent started doing poorly in his small group and finances, his brother called up their Mom and said "So since Brent is doing awful, that makes me the good kid now right?"

His mom was like "Whaaatt?? Are you hearing what you are saying? I have always loved you both EQUALLY."

Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Now. I'm going to finish the message off that verse, but if you really want to see a real masterpiece...you should look in the mirror. 

Because you are the greatest masterpiece this world has to offer.

Add Comment
 
 
What I think people are wrestling with around the world is their Identity. Everyone is going through an identity crisis, and are accepting false labels as their definitions of who they are. 

Well guess what?

What people call you, isn't who you are. God  is the only one who can truly define who you are. 
Our job? We want to change your identity "crisis" to identity "Christ-Is" Cause we want our identity to be in Christ.

So last week we were talking about Jimmy Smith. Just this guy who went to high school and was a huge party animal and drank a lot, and just didn't really care about anything. Except, Suzie Q, this girl he had the "hots" for. But one day a Coach saw he could run really good, convinced him to go into Track, and he became a REALLY good runner. But to become a really good runner, he had to quit all the things he did before.

Drinking, eating unnecessary amounts of food, and partying. So he became this incredible runner, and had his own article in the newspaper saying he was the "Next Upcoming Runner". He felt really good about himself. Then Susie Q called, after seeing that he was in the paper, and started tempting him with things he used to do before. 

But Jimmy said no, because he no longer desired those things. 

Basically. Who you think you are, determines everything you do. So once Jimmy stopped believing that he was a party animal, he was no longer tempted by the unhealthy desires he had taken accustom to before.
 
Like it says in:
Proverbs 73:7
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, said he to you; but his heart is not with you."


Sometimes the things we believe we are, look sort of like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q86Rn4jETVk


Whenever I watch that I always wonder where the bushes were. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is some things we do, look like that!

People will toss names around about you all they want, but what does the bible say about you? The bible says you are a new creation, a masterpiece, beautifully and wonderfully created by God. In the end, who would you rather listen to? People who throw around nasty lies and names about you? Or God who thinks you're a masterpiece? 

Jahai our assistant youth pastor so kindfully shared his struggle with identity. When he went to middle school, he was called a lot of things. And because he was called things like punk, stupid, and virgin (it's not "cool" to be a virgin, which is ridiculous), he started acting upon them.

He thought that since everyone called him that, that he might as well act like them. Since people called him a punk, his attempt to keep that name was to be a fighter...to fight back, and as a result he was kicked out of schools. Since people called him stupid, his attempt to keep that was to act stupid...be the class clown etc, and as a result he got into trouble a lot and no one ever took him seriously. Since people called him a virgin, his attempt to keep that was to lie about his virginity, and being a virgin is a blessing...but because he lied about it and came up with these elaborate stories they became a curse.

What is it for you? What do people call you that makes you do things like those?

Do they call you ugly? So you try and do things to get people's attention, which leads to sex, drugs and alcohol?
Do they call you a failure, and do you accept it and don't try? So in result you fail out of school?

Are you rejected? So you reject others, which leads to a lonely and depressing life?


People really don't know how much...power labels have over people. A lie believed as the truth will effect you as if it were true. 

Like in John 8:32:
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

We are not the first to have to overcome negative labels. A long time ago, there was a man named Jacob, and Jacob means "Deciever". And since Jacob was known as a "Deceiver" his actions matched his label. 

Gen 32:24-28
"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."

His old life lived up to labels like Jimmy Smith. But God doesn't consult your past to determine your future.
Some of you are wrestling now. 

There are 3 Re's to a secure Identity:

1.) Repent: turn from old habits, ways of thinking to the truth
2.) Recieve: requires action in us daily recite walk in confidence knowing you are.
3.) Remember - recall what Jesus says about you.

Reject the lies.
Tell yourself how you feel, Don't listen to what the Devil says about you.

Romans 12:2
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Just because you are a new creation doesn't mean bad memories are gone. We need to renew our minds with God's word. 

Don't let ANYONE tell you who you are. Only God can determine that. And trust me, once you start listening to God, the evil things you used to love will no longer tempt you.








Add Comment
 
 
The top ten grossing movies of all time are about Super Natural people. Examples: Twilight, Superman, Spiderman, etc etc. People who have abilities that we, everyday people, cannot do. Like fly, run at extreme speeds, or lift cars off the ground with out bare hands. These people would be all normal but then they put on their costumes and all the sudden their powerful and can fight crime.

Strangely, we’re attracted to Super Natural things.

Isn’t that just…crazy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh63nfmb3p0

That’s what came to mind when I thought of Super Natural ahaha.

Even now, today, we still have the desire to be Super Natural. Now you must be thinking, why? The Super Natural desire all started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

They were told to not eat from that one tree, and at first Adam and Eve obeyed God’s wishes. But then the devil creeped up, and said, “If you eat from this tree, you will be like God.”

And they thought, “I could be holy? Powerful? I could be like our all knowing God?” Bam. That’s what got them.

“When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed. Everyone tried to ouch him, because healing power went out from him and he healed everyone.” Luke 6:17-19

Here they are talking about healing. They saw the miraculous, Super Natural things Jesus had done. And it got them later on when Jesus said this:

“I tel you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the father.” John 14:12

God created us with a Super Natural desire, so that we may believe and follow Jesus. How many of you know, that when He’s talking about doing greater works, He’s talking about us.

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4

The desires you have, when we delight ourselves in God, he gives us every one of our desires. Why would he do this? Give u all the authority to the almighty heaven? Why?

The answer is in Acts 1:8

He wants to give you power so you could be his witness. Now what’s a witness? In the free dictionary I just googled, it says: One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced. God wants us to be his witness. To know of him, to have heard of him, and to have experienced him so that we could share with others.

God says these things so you can tell people so they might be saved. Because we all know, that there are things God has done in your life that you can’t quite explain.

I sure know. In fact, I went to Donnie Moore Camp and there was this girl there who was deaf. We all knew she was deaf, she even had her own interpreter. We were having a worship time, and she was there, I know this because I had saw her on her way in. We were all worshiping God and it was truly powerful. During the worship, the interpreter goes up and talks to the leader on stage and says, “The deaf girl can hear now.”

The leader did some experiments. He called the girl upstage, and she walked up there. He asked her what happened. The girl replied with, “I don’t know, just all the sudden I can hear.”

The interpreter confirmed the fact that she was deaf and he was working for her family for many years. The leader did some experiments, he stood behind her and called her name. She could hear him. And he kept doing this.

And she could hear him. Everyone gaped in amazement. How could you sit through something like that, and not be changed?

Jesus has power on Earth to forgive your sins. God wants to satisfy the desires of your hearts. Do not turn to your sinning life because you don’t want to give it up. Turn to God instead and he will satisfy the desires of your heart.

God even says, “In 1000 years all things you know and hold dear will be gone. My words by no means will be there forever.”



Add Comment
 
 
Just a quick recap of tonight’s message.

What is love? A feeling? An emotion? A thing? I got love. Is it something you make? Fall into?Love God, Love you, Love Justin Bieber, love pizza. How do we define it? What is it?

John 13:34 says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

And Galatians 5:14 says, “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The Greek word for love originally came from Eros. Eros is the love between a man and his wife. It is also short for erotic, that lust feeling. Which should be reserved for marriage. Eros love is like fire. It’s passionate, hot. But fire is only good in some places, right? Like on winter, fire is good in a fire place. Or to make burgers, it’s good in the barbecue. But fire in any place where it’s not supposed to be is bad. You don’t want fire on your curtains, floor, or hair. Because that’s terrible!

Having sex before marriage could be that bad fire. It’s horrible. It’s destructive, hurtful, and I have seen it permanately alter the course of people’s lives.

On a brighter note…

Another Greek word for love is Philia. Philia, I found out from a couple of my youths who are very clever thought it said “I feel ya.” Haha :) Anyway Philia is the friendship love. You love someone as a friend. I mean you wouldn’t go around telling your wife that you “Philia” her.

Storge is another Greek word for love. It’s the family love. If any of you have seen the movie Taken, then you know what Storge love is. If you love your family, you Storge them.

Then…there is the greatest love of them all. The greek word for Agape, is unconditional love. Love that seeks the good of others. Self-sacrificial, not based on the worthyness, but expects nothing in return. It’s self less love. Jesus says to Agape one another. Jesus’s Death, was Agape love towards us.

Naturally we don’t have a self less love. To Eros one another, to philia one another, to storge one another…it’s all automatic for us. But we have to learn how to Agape one another.

An imature love, I’ve noticed, is a teenager love. Not all, but a majority of it is. Guys love girls because they “so fine.” And girls want compaionship to feel “complete.” Selfish love.

The most common thing happens though, I see it happen everyday. The girl will give her body, and do things she doesn’t want to do with the boy, because she enjoys the companionship. And the guy will reluctantly buy her gifts, take her to the movies, and tell her he loves her when he doesn’t really mean it. Just for the sex. No doubt, it won’t work out. I’ll give it a week, four weeks, 6 months if your lucky.

Like I said before, eros, philia, and storge are automatic and natural. Agape is something we have to be trained to do, super natural. If somebody asks you to go 1 mile, go 2 miles.

Luke 10: 30-35 is the Good Sameritan Story. If you enjoy the message, you should read that chapter of the bible. And then Jesus says, “yes, now go and do the same.”

Honestly, it’s not hard to just walk up to someone and talk to them. Whether you know them or not. People can sense when you care about them. And yknow, some people may think your a weirdo! And as human beings, we are scared of rejection. But crossing that road takes some risks. And even doing that, is Agape love.

Love is spelt T-I-M-E. Haha. Take some time out of your life to spend time with others. Agape is always GIVING. Love everyone, even if they don’t love you back. To Agape someone is impossible it you have not felt the love of God. It’s true. You can’t give, what you haven’t recieved.

You have to have an experience where God pours out his love into your heart through the Holy Spirit. Only then, can you Agape someone. To experience this you must WORSHIP. The bible says when you recieve the love of God, that rivers will come flowing out of your heart, and you’ll love others like God loves you!

Eros, Philia, and Storge are self-seeking at the center of it…You know, a long time ago. When I recieved the love of God, people started coming up to me. Girls would say, “Brent I have been raped…Brent I am anorexic…Brent I cut myself.” And all the sudden I was Jesus! And I would help those girls like God helps me. And I believe that when I stand before God…he’s pleased with that.

Romans 5:5 says, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

This may be difficult…But you can do it!

Add Comment
 
First Post! 08/04/2011
 
Start blogging by creating a new post. You can edit or delete me by clicking under the comments. You can also customize your sidebar by dragging in elements from the top bar.
Add Comment