I Am Antioch: Recent Episodes
Antioch Church Riverside
We started Antioch in 2010 with the belief that God had called us to be a new expression of His Church. Not better than other churches, just different. We firmly believe that there is only one Body of Christ, the Church, but that body has many parts each with different purposes. We believe our purpose to be as follows:
“To bring Glory to God through the advancing of His Kingdom.”
“Deep worship, dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to live life together.”
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FfHzvXL62GtNDE5ZTFTC7y_r_QXqGmylLvCrYoBZNaM/edit?usp=sharing
There seems to be a lack of conviction in believers. Conviction = An unchangeable belief Preference = A changeable conviction When we grasp and understand the lordship of Jesus Christ, our preferences move to our convictions.
1 Corinthians 15 After Christ’s resurrection, He was seen by over 500 people. Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about ahundred and twenty) So, the question is, if over 500 people witnessed Jesus after the resurrection, but only 120 werein the upper room, where were the others? Their knowledge and belief of Jesus was a preference not a conviction.
Daniel 3 This chapter tells us about the fiery furnace where Shadrach, Meshach andAbednego are thrown into the fiery furnace for worshipping God. Because of their conviction,they were saved from the fire and God even sent an angel to walk in the furnace with them.
We must be convicted of the fact that He is God, will always be God and we must choose to be on His side. We can check ourselves with this: Even if ______ (fill in the blank) He is still my God. Is this your truth?
A conviction turns into a preference when we add a ‘but’ statement. (ex. I believe God loves me, but...) Solomon was a beautiful follower of God and even got the privilege of seeing Him twice. Unfortunately, Solomon allowed his convictions about who God was to turn into preferences when he chose women over God. This was Solomon’s ‘but’ statement. (1 Kings 10:23, 11:8)
1 Kings 11:9-12 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
There is a price to pay when our convictions become our preferences. This is not about rules and regulations, its about the condition of your heart. What will you hold onto without wavering?
Who do you believe God to be in your life? Do you operate under conviction or preference?
Corinthians 12:1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
All supernatural living is a gift of grace, we can only operate in it when God is empowering us to do it. Grace = Divine Empowerment
Spiritual gifts can be broken down into three categories: Leadership: Teacher, Pastor, Wisdom, Apostle... Edification: Healing, Edification, Helper, Guidance, Faith... Growth: Words of knowledge, Prophecy, Speaking in tongues...
1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
Acts 2:22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
We are the representation of the Kingdom.
We need to get the body together again. Our differences and arguments help us to grow and be centered. We need to be able to disagree and still love one another. 1 Corinthians 12 The Spirit gives gifts as He sees fit.
Living a Spirit Led Life: Born of the Spirit: Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:9 There is no such thing as a non-spirit-filled christian. God can’t fill a full vessel. Give your life to God, give Him everything... choose to die to self to be born anew. Filled with the Spirit: Ephesians 5:18 Be ‘being’ filled with the Spirit. Acts 4:8; 4:31; 6:3; 7:55, Acts 13:9; 52 Being filled with the Spirit is continually done. It’s a lifestyle not a moment. Being Led by the Spirit: Romans 8:14 Trust and Obey; Listen and Hear; Hear and Move; Move and See God looks for those who are listening.
Don’t chase after the Spirit...catch Him! We must believe and receive. Both of which are active not passive.
Some ways to invite the Spirit in: Breath Prayers. An example: “Holy Spirit I receive you.” Soaking: The process of getting alone with God, to get quiet and receive.
When we are having trouble hearing God, we must first listen. Make time to listen and trust that He will speak.
Sometimes God is silent because we are in a test. Other times we might be asking the wrong question, ask Him another.
Do you know what your Spiritual Gift is? If so, how has God used these gifts in your life?
Where are you in the process of having a Spirit led life? (Born of the Spirit, Filled with the Spirit, Being led by the Spirit)
What are some examples of ways you connect with the Spirit? (ie breath prayers, soaking, etc)
Acts 1:4-9 “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Why do we have the Spirit?
To Be A Witness!
Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
We should be praying for the promises in scripture.
Acts 2: 1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
Pentecost is a Jewish holiday with a great feast. It is 50 days after the feast of firstfruits which is barley.
Leviticus 23: 16-17 & 22 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. 17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. 22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’”
Christ is our firstfruits.
1 Corinthians 15: 20-23 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
When we give our firstfruits to Jesus it symbolizes our complete trust in Him.
Death is defeated, the resurrection life is ours to receive.
Pentecost is the first fruits of wheat where two loaves are baked symbolizing Jews and gentiles.
Read the book of Ruth.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
We are the second firstfruits: the promise of something good to come. A whole new creation.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits[b] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.
James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!
We who are in Christ are a whole new creation. This is truth, we have the choice whether we will live it out.
It’s like the caterpillar who turns into a butterfly but chooses to act as a caterpillar instead of living it its true self and soaring.
The Jewish people love the law; they meditate on it day and night. They are obsessed with it. We possess the Spirit. We should be crazy for the Spirit. Our craziness for the Spirit should outshine the obsession of the Jews to the law.
Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
When God created Adam, He breathed life in him. To create the church He used a great wind and a fire.
Grab ahold of this….live the with God life.
Do you pray for the promises shown in scripture, for them to manifest in your life?
If you have received the Spirit, how has your life changed?
What would your life look like if you really believed you were the firstfruits?