This is the second part of the 3-part series sermon, “Rediscover, Reconnect, Rebuild” during our cell group retreat in Langkawi, Malaysia on 29-31 October 2016.
# Testimony by Mhai and Dean
Our theme goes: REdiscover, REconnect and REbuild
The prefix “re” means ‘back’ or ‘again’
Last night, we learned about rediscovering…
- Love
- Goodness
- Purpose
RECONNECT
- may suggest connecting back together #wifi
- re-establish a bond of communication or emotion, awaken meaning
- to improve a relationship that has become less good or less close
Before we continue learning about reconnection, let’s understand what is disconnection.
# Get three guys to illustrate (K. Edwin, Victor and Sir Dean)
DISCONNECTION: breaking of connection or what used to connect two things or individuals; to sever or interrupt
Synonyms: detach, disengage, unhook, unfasten
Applies in electricity, communication line, water supply… even in relationships
Connection suggests a mutual relationship.
Something is connected and flowing back and forth. Moving both ways.
Along the way, it gets cut or interrupted. Something’s blocking and hindering the connection. AND IT HAS TO BE RESTORED.
As a cell group, more so in this season, we need to be reconnected.
Who do we need to reconnect to?
- Reconnect to GOD
- He is our primary source for living. Not just living in Him (salvation), for Him (ministry) but actually living with Him (doing all these together with God).
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So if nothing can separate us from the love of God, what or who is causing the separation?
- Unconfessed Sin
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
# clog, accumulation of neglected dirt in the pipeline (barado)
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. Undealt Discouragements
Just a recap of the things we discussed before that can cause us to become discouraged:
- Physical cause (worn out, tired, fatigue, overworked, bodily illness)
- Emotional attacks (criticism, slander, gossip intrigues)
- Unmet expectations: disappointment with God and people
It’s not a question of whether we get discouraged or not. Humanly as we are, we do get discouraged. The better question is, “What are you doing about it?”
Ask your neighbor, “What are you doing about it?”
(-)
- Eat comfort food?
- Sleep more?
- Isolate yourself from the crowd? “Gusto kong mapag-isa”
- Wouldn’t want to talk about it?
(+)
- Spend extra time praising and worshipping?
# Share about me jumping in praise, bending on my knees in worship
- Meditate on God’s word
- Extend a helping hand; “When you’re depressed, find someone to bless. When you’re down, find someone to lift up.”
# Workplace, colleagues coming to me for counseling
3. Spiritual Dryness
Discouragements, if prolonged and not dealt with, can cause our spirit to run dry. No zest, no life.
Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)
The Dry Bones Live
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
– dry, dull, seemingly dead situations
2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
– We sometimes feel this way. Oh God, I feel so dry. I feel like I’m just going through the motions. Is there a way out of this? O Lord God, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
– When we begin to hear the Word of the Lord, it brings forth life. Rom 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
– When dryness comes to us, all the more we need to be exposed to God’s Word
5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
– What’s so special about this breath? The Hebrew ruach means “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” Often, when the Old Testament talks about the “Spirit of the Lord” or the “Spirit of God,” the word for “Spirit” is Ruach. When God breathes His spirit, it becomes a source of life.
A religion without the Holy Spirit is godliness without power. –AR Bernard
#creation of Adam from dust, God breathed His spirit into it and it lived
– Notice that God says I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live. But unless Ezekiel acts on the Word, nothing’s gonna happen.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
– Unless we speak the Word and apply it over our lives, nothing’s gonna happen. When we start to activate and operate in the power of the HS, things start to move. There’s a manifestation of the presence and what was once disconnected start to come together.
8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
– Notice that when we start doing something about our situation, it doesn’t change instantly. Sometimes it’s a process and we need to persevere. We got to pray through until we break through!
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
– It’s one thing to invite the Holy Spirit to breathe on us. It’s another thing to speak the Word over our lives through that ‘breath’ – Thus says the Lord.
– The HS is our Helper. He wants to enable us to get things done according to God’s will.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’
– This sounds like some of us. “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we are cut off! So how ah?”
12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
– You see, when God moves, He wants more people to move with Him. When one is reconnected back to God, it makes a difference in the lives of so many, getting everyone to move towards the same direction.
# In CG, experiencing personal encounters and breakthroughs
– more people are bought into it, moving together, stepping up together
– not just one set of bones, other bones are reconnected to God… contagious!
13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”
– Not only is God talking about it, He actually performs it!
– God wants us to get up from our graves, out of our dryness so we can experience the abundant life He promised and walk in it.
– God intends to make us a living proof of His Word and His power. And so that more people would witness it and glorify God.
ACTIVITY: “Come, Holy Spirit”
Find a partner. Prophesy to one another and pray for one another.
“I feel the Lord wants to tell you that…”
Pray for the person. Then the other person takes his turn.
- Reconnect to PEOPLE
I believe that out of that genuine reconnection to God follows a natural reconnection to people.
– When our encounters with God are real, it translates into people.
However, sometimes even if we are well connected to God, there are things in life that can cause disconnection with people:
- Personality type (natural)
- Miscommunication or misinterpretation of motives
- Emotional detachment: the person may be going through something that he/she just doesn’t feel like connecting with people (situational)
- Offences: hurts, unresolved conflicts, unforgiveness
- Disappointment with people, broken trust
Dealing with personality types and different backgrounds / perspectives:
– Let’s be like Paul who was a “servant of all”
– Adjusting himself to the people he is with. Finding common ground.
– Because he really wants to genuinely connect with people
Get to know one another. Spend time with one another.
– Jesus was very balanced. He spent a lot of time connecting with God AND people.
– When you spend time with one another, you’re having an opportunity to see things from their world.
– Not as strangers. Not indifferent.
# Someone in the CG who’s not that approachable:
“Ah, kaya pala niya nasabi yun.”
– When you spend time with one another, you’re having an opportunity to know what they’re really going through. You may find a need that you can meet, a hurt that God can heal through you.
So what do we do?
Do not isolate yourself. Walk with people in the light.
Fellowship with Him and One Another
1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
– God is light. We are people of light. So if we want to walk in the light, we got to fellowship with people of light.
–People become prey to Satan when they’re left in the dark by themselves
Paul exhorts us to love our neighbors.
Romans 12:9 NLT Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.
20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Turn your neighbor and say, “Don’t let evil conquer you. Conquer evil by doing good.”
Let our CG be known for doing good.
ACTIVITY:
Thank you for…
I’d like you to know that…
