i am not, but I know I AM pt.2

Message Clutch Student Ministries Pastor Jordan Biel Rock of Grace A/G 04.18.2007

This message series is based of the book, i am not, but I know I AM by Louie Giglio.

Our lives should play a small supportive role of the big story of GOD!

KEY VERSE for Tonight: Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

ILL> Anybody ever just feel humiliated? Like totally embarrassed?

A Student’s Story>

When we understand that our lives are very small and temporary, we’ll be content in joining His story instead of trying to include Him in our own. (repeat)

Pastor Tommy Reid recently said, “We’ve got to stop asking God to “anoint” what we’re doing, and start simply asking God, “Lord, what are YOU doing that I may join You?”

What Louie Giglio is trying to communicate in this book is that “The story of time already has a star and that star is not you or me.”

We learned last we how small we really are – how temporary our lives on earth are. We learned that we are “not good.” We’re not great and we’re definitely not God.

Now that last one sounds like a no-brainer. You may be thinking, “well, yeah, I know I’m not God!” But don’t we act like it sometimes? Trying to control everything and trying coerse our future - making our plans - often without even praying about our decisions.

How many of you have ever had a hard time making a decision? Yeah, all of us.

What would happen if we simply took a few minutes to pray about it and ask God?

You know I believe God wants included in our daily decisions. I believe God wants to help us make decisions. After all if He’s prepared the “good works for us to do” long before we were ever even alive, I think He’s ready to let us know if we should do something or not.

Even in our purchases – what we spend our money on – ask God about it – He’ll let you know. God has great things for us – things prepared in Heaven! Let’s not miss out on them!

Remember our KEY VERSE for Tonight: Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Think about that! Let’s break that verse down slowly.

“We are God’s workmanship” Did you hear that? You are the very craft – the art – the masterpiece of God!

You know, I don’t know about you, but I enjoy the best of things. If I want a great coffee, I want it from Starbucks! Can I get a witness=)?

If I want good burger, I want to get from Wendy’s. If I want great fries, I get them from McDonals…! If I want a great steak, I go to Lonestar. WHY?

The quality of something is determined by who made it and where it was made. Lonestar has great chefs who make great steaks so I go there to get ‘em.

Do you realize that you were made by GOD!? GOD! The same God who spread out the stars created your heart! The same God who spoke earth into existence spoke you into existence and prepared you for life. You were created by God in Heaven!

No we established that “the quality of something is determined by who made it and where it was made.” You were made in Heaven! In Heaven! What better place could you have possibly been made?! Nowhere! God Himself conceived and designed you in Heaven, then formed and crafted you in your momma’s womb!

Do you know what that means!? You’re incredible! You’re one of a kind! You were “created in Christ Jesus” therefore you have the very fingerprint of God on you!

You’re like “AWESOME!” “WHY?!?!”

Why were you created? You were created “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do!” “COOL!”

That did not say that you were created to be a “goodie-tussues” and do everything perfect and never mess up!” In our efforts to “do good works,” we will mess up at times. But God knows that and He does not want us to let those “mess-ups” to stop us from trying again!

We were created to live our lives doing the things God’s called us to do all for His glory!

Whether your gifts are media ministry, encouragement, maybe you’re good with your hands in mechanics or engineering, whatever it is that you’re gifted with it’s because God gave you those gifts – why? To be used for Him! To be use to draw people to Christ!

Remember the title of this message series? “i am not, but I know I AM!” GOD is great! (repeat) God created me! (repeat) God don’t make junk! (repeat) God makes beautiful art! (repeat) To give Glory to Himself! (repeat) God is great! (repeat)

God is in me! (repeat) Therefore Greatness is in me! (repeat) Greatness is in me! (repeat) Gods’ Greatness is in me!!! (repeat!)

He’s in me and He’s in you and because of that you have the potential for greatness!

If you’ve accepted Christ, He’s in you.

Is He in You?

Like the Apostle Paul said, “it is no longer I who lives but Christ Who lives in me.”

You see, on your own, you are not that great, in fact you ain’t even good! But because you’ve accepted Christ you are not great, but you know GREAT! You are not amazing on your own, but because of God, with God, you are amazing! I am not, but I know I AM!

I am not successful, but I know God is successful and with Him in me, I can be successful. God and me, we’re a majority and if God calls me to do than I can do it!

ILL> Tommy Reid’s Story

Tommy Reid grew up in Springfield, Missouri, when the Assemblies of God – our church fellowship - was really starting to grow. His parents played a vital part in establishing the A/G and would often have the Leading officials over for dinner. Tommy was afflicted with a bad speech impediment, he stammered and would lose track of what he was saying and one time when he was about 12, his parents had all the big shots from the AG over for dinner and Tommy was sent to bed. A few moments later, one of the minister’s wives came up to Tommy’s mother and asked “What are you going to do with Tommy being he has that aweful impediment?” Tommy could hear their conversation and was listening. Tommy’s mom said, “we’ll we’re getting him some speech therapy but in the future Tommy’s going to be a preacher.” Tommy had previously told his mom that he wanted to preach when he grew up. The sinister minister’s wife said, “oh no, you really shouldn’t encourage him to do that… with that speech problem, he’ll never be able to preach.”

Overhearing that conversation, Tommy was greatly discouraged and could barely sleep all night long. The next day, Tommy went up to his mother and asked why that lady would say that. Tommy’s mom looked at him with intent in her eyes and said, “Tommy you can always do what God’s called you to do!”

Today, Tommy Reid is over 80 years old, he helped plant Dr. Cho’s church in Sol Korea, the largest church in the world. He’s pastored and preached for years and has since planted about 20 churches in Buffalo, New York and is totally transforming the City of Buffalo for the Kingdom of GOD!

Remember what Tommy’s mom said to him! “You can always do what God calls you to do. Always!” God is great and God has created you and is now in you! What more could you ask for? God has designed us to know Him and out of that intimate relationship we will do great things for God. And some of the greatest things you can do for eternity will be small in the eyes of man. (repeat that)

ILL> Was it you

“Was it you… who spoke to that student tonight in the game room? I heard you greet them cheerfully with a sincere “What’s up, how have you been?”

Was it you… with the happy smile and hearty handshake who greeted students in the Café and made them feel welcome in God’s House last week?

Was it you who made them want to come back to hear God’s Word tonight?

Was it you who noticed that visitor sitting all alone and you chose to sit by them and introduce yourself to them and you even introduced them to some of your friends and invited him to sit with you guys.

Was it you who then invited that person out to eat after youth?
Was it you who invited that girl… that shy girl that’s been coming to youth… was it you that invited her to your party at your house?

Was it you that saw a student at school who looked kinda sad and then took the time to talk with them about God’s love and concern? It really showed them God’s love when you helped carry their burden that day.

Was it you who saw the young mother with 3 small children come into church Sunday? You told her about the church nursery and even walked to the Kids area and introduced her to the Teachers. Your self-less attitude and thoughtfulness went a long way! She’s given her life to Christ now and loves church and has found a home in the Body of Christ.

Was it you? If it was… thank you. For whatever you’ve done to the least of these, you’ve done unto me, Jesus! And I’m forever grateful and eternity will never be the same.

When we do small things with great love, we’re being an expression of Christ to people and that expression of love gives Glory to God and makes an impact on eternity! (Gal. 6:2)

You were “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared” for you to do!

All things, great and small, done with the right attitude and the right motive give Glory to God and impact eternity.

How do we know what “to do”? How do we know what we’re called to do? How do we become selfless and generous and all the things that God wants us to become? (We do) by spending time with Jesus, reading His Word and seeking His face in worship. By knowing Him and considering your relationship with Him more important than anything else. By considering your relationship with God more important that your relationship with a girlfriend or boyfriend. We do these “good works” by considering God more valueable than even our reputation at school. We do these “good works” by considering everything else a loss- a waiste of time – compared to knowing GOD!

Paul said it like this: “I have considered everything else a loss compared to knowing Christ, my Lord.”

I don’t know about you guys, but when I read about Noah, knowing God, being able to hear His voice enough to obey it by building this huge boat, that inspires me and I want to know God like that. I want that greatness in me!

When I read about David and the way He knew God…personally! The way He spoke to God so candidly and frankly. I want that! I want to know God better than David knew God, I want to be closer to God than Moses. I don’t want God’s glory to just “pass by,” I want God to stay – to be close to me – I want to hear His heart and know how he feels! Do you?

ALTAR CALL (Don’t just cast the net, but bring them in! Invite them to make a decision)

Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes and think about this.

Let me ask you tonight:

Do you want to know Him? Intimately… personally…

Do you want to know God the way David knew GOD?

Do you want to know how He feels, how He thinks, what’s on His mind?

Do you want God to come up more in your daily conversation?

Do you want to play your supportive role in the great cast – in the story of GOD?

Tonight, do you need to come to Him again for a fresh encounter – a fresh touch of His hand?

Do you need to hear His voice again – because you simply haven’t heard it in a while?

Tonight’s the night to do that – tonight is your opportunity to get to know God a little better – not through sermon or a small group or another illustration – but through one-on-one time with Him.

We’re going to simply worship God and seek His face together.

I want to invite you to find a place where you can be alone with God – it can be here at the altar, it can be kneeling at your seat, it can be lying on the carpet… whatever you want to do – but just find a place for you and God to talk. (Go ahead – move out of your seats and find a place – unless you want to just kneel at your seats…)

Tonight, don’t get distracted by your friends. Although we’re going to be worshipping together – I want you to imagine you’re all alone with Him. I want so desperately for God to touch you guys and impact you the way He’s impacted me.

I pray tonight that God just breaks us – breaks us of our pride – of our independence – and of our complete disregard for Him. May God open our hearts tonight, reach in with His divine hands and form us like a potter forms the clay – may God just open up our hearts to receive from Him and may our spirits have a divine collision with HIM!

Ask God to altar you tonight – to change your heart – to become more humble and broken – to feel what He feels – to hurt when He hurts – to rejoice when He rejoices.

God, we want to know You! (As we sing this song again, and you hear the words, allow the words to be your words, the emotion to be your emotion. Allow your spirit to really engage God’s spirit by being sincere and broken and let’s just allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us tonight! WORSHIP – Song: To Know You & Fire Fall Down