14 Jun “The man in the middle” | the god who goes between

KEY VERSE: JOSHUA 5

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Online Giving** Regardless of where and when we will able to gather again, we continue to run our ministries and support our missions which bring the Gospel to a lost and frightened world. We are looking to our church family to continue faithfully giving. For those of you who give manually, please consider giving online at https://waterschurch.org/give/. Otherwise, you can mail checks to Waters Church, 57 John L Dietsch Square North Attleborough, MA 02760 and place your campus’ name in the notation field. We are very thankful for your support and understanding!

41411 – text waterschurch (all one word) to stay updated with info.

FACEBOOK GROUPS:To join the groups, just go to the Waters Church FB page and go to groups and join the ones you want. Make sure you join the Life Group (group) so we can get people interested in joining a Life group. The Heach Coaches and I will be moderating the group and adding topics for discussion.

CLASSES; Baptism class is every 4th Sunday of the Month. at 11:30 / Growth Track runs the first 3 Sundays every month at 11:30 – this is a one and done registrants only need to attend one session / Starting Point runs every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 11:30 – details and descriptions can be found on the registrations which are located under Events on the SGL Hub.

 

 

TELEPHONE LIVE STREAMING – this is now available.  The number to dial is 1-855-352-9749.

We can’t learn from other people’s experiences.  We learn through Real Life Experiences.  The wilderness is an experience intended to teach us.

 

WATERS KIDS ARE BACK: Ignite and Activate – register at waterschurch.org/events

ELEVATE: June 26 at NA – 7-8:30 – food

ENCOUNTER: June 27 – ice cream – 7:00p

ALL KIDS BACK JULY 5!

MEETINGS: ISRAEL: WED JUNE 17 @ 7:00 register at waterschurch.org.events

                     GUATEMALA : SUNDAY AFTER SERVICE JUNE 21 REGISTER at waterschurch.org/events

 

 

Countries rise and countries fall, but Jesus told us:

Matthew 24:7, 11

The problem with our world is that everyone is lying to us right now.    Can we trust our institutes of higher learning, politicians, tv, pastors, authorities? They all have an agenda and an angle and they want us to believe for their sake not ours.

The man in the middle is the God who goes between.

Until you MEET with the Lord, SURRENDER to HIM and HEAR HIM – you will never know how to RIGHTEOUSLY RELATE to those on the OTHER SIDE.

Q. As a Christian, how have you tried to relate to others on a ‘different side’ in self-righteousness rather than in God’s righteousness and how did that not accomplish what you were trying to do?

This is dividing times.  The sides are endless.  It is hard to navigate through these waters today.  Satan is a liar and wants to divide us from each other, from our families. His plan is to divide us.  There is not difference between black or white, we are not races, this is a lie, but we are of one race. 

Romans 1:22 ESV

We (all people) are made in the image of God.  We need to speak truth even when people don’t want to hear it.  This world is under the power of the evil one.  The devil disguises himself as an angel of light.  He is deceptive. A false gospel is when it divides your family.

Q. How is the current events dividing your family?

Everyone is a sinner, everyone is messed up and everyone needs Jesus

In times of great division:

1. God’s people must MEET with God as He REALLY is.

God is not subjected to our petty differences, whims, stories, ideas, and philosophies. He is over all. 

Joshua 5:13-14 (ESV)

Joshua is God’s instrument.  We are God’s instrument, we are His tool in His hand to do what He wants.  The gospel is not something people of this world will love.  The main thing of the gospel that is the most offensive thing is that it tells us every person is evil. Even when we act good it is by sinful motivations.  We want to be accepted  so instead of serving God we are really serving others. 

Q. How have you been motivated to do good only because you wanted to be accepted by others?

God shows up with a sword drawn because Joshua is warrior, a fighter.  Josh thinks God is like him, but God says he is not for him or them.  We cannot assume God is who we think He is.

REMEMBER: When the Lord SEEMS to be LIKE YOU, He’s NOT YOU.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” – A.W. Tozer

God is not interested in our corner, he wants us to be in his corner.

Q. In what ways have you assumed God is like you (what is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Him)?

There’s how YOU (WANT TO) SEE the world… and there’s how GOD SEES the world.

This is why God sometimes says: ‘no’ to our prayers. He sees the world differently than us.

Q. When has God said: ‘no’ to you and you realized it was because it was for your good?

He is the God who seeks justice.

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

Q. What is a time you tried to take justice into your own hand rather than allowing God to seek justice?

Matthew 23:23 (ESV)

Religion that does not care about justice is divorced from Jesus.  We need to seek God’s heart in matters, not the news.  We need to see things God’s way not man’s way.  We cannot ignore Jesus in favor of our preferred news source.

Q. How much more do you listen to outside sources rather than God and why?

Isaiah 42:4 (ESV); Isaiah 51:4 (ESV)

He is also the God of LAW and ORDER.

We should not say things that hurt people in response to being hurt by people.  God is a God of justice and a God of law and order.  Do not repay evil for evil (Romans 12:17).

Romans 13:1–4 (ESV)

These people are in place by God, He established the state.  It was his idea.

The right of peaceful protest is a gift to our country from America’s Constitution, but it is very rare int he world.  Most places in our world don’t give the people a constitutional legal right to speak against their government and its leaders. That is why people want to come to this country. While we wait for justice we have got to put our hope in Jesus.

Joshua 5:14 (ESV) And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.”

In times of great division:

2. God’s people must SURRENDER to God as He REALLY is.

God wants us to do this right now.

Joshua 5:14 (ESV)

(Have these come up ONE at a time)

THREE RESPONSES OF SURRENDER:

1. Joshua falls down before Him. 

2. Joshua worships Him.

3. Joshua listens FOR Him.

Q. How are you surrendering to God now in light of our current events?

3. God’s people must HEAR what God WILL SAY.

“What does MY LORD say to HIS SERVANT?”

Who is our MAN in the Middle?

Q. What is God saying to you in this moment to be the person God wants you to be now?

Romans 5:10 (ESV)

Jesus is our MAN in the MIDDLE who RECONCILES us to GOD so that we can be RECONCILED with EACH OTHER.