IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, IT’S WHO YOU KNOW
Ryan Isfeld
ACTS 19:11-17
The sons of Sceva failed because they DIDN’T KNOW JESUS
The sons of Sceva failed because they HAD THEIR OWN AGENDA
The sons of Sceva failed because they COULDN’T GIVE WHAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE
If the church is going to be effective, we need to learn from their mistakes.
There are 3 steps we can take:
1. GET TO KNOW OUR SAVIOR
Before we GO AND DO anything for God,
He first calls us to COME AND BE with Him.
The universal call of God to all people.
Who Is Jesus? What was he all about?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV
Jesus was either a LIAR, a LUNATIC, or LORD. - C.S. Lewis
Did you know that YOU can know him?
Religion is a LIST OF CHORES trying to get God’s attention,
Relationship with God is a LIFE-GIVING CONVERSATION
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
The seemingly powerful people that God works through are really just ORDINARY people that have BEEN WITH JESUS
How to get to know him more:
Spend time in his WORD
Invite him to SPEAK
Walk with His SPIRIT
2. FORGET OUR OWN AGENDAS
After the call to come and be, is the call to DIE TO SELF.
The church does more HARM than GOOD when it does things in Jesus name without knowing Him personally.
Church hurt is REAL.
We have no choice but to DEAL with it.
People often do terrible things IN JESUS’ NAME, but not according TO HIS WILL.
Good intentions are not GOOD EXCUSES
Thankfully, our PERFECT GOD is not defined by the mistakes of BROKEN PEOPLE.
God will deal with those who cause church hurt.
Matthew 7:15-:23
If the church’s motivation is anything less than LOVE FOR GOD and LOVE FOR HUMANITY, we have the wrong motivation.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
3. GO AND GIVE WHAT WE’VE BEEN GIVEN
Only after steps 1 and 2 can we Go and give.
HURT people HURT people.
HEALED people HEAL people.
FORGIVEN people FORGIVE people
DELIVERED people DELIVER people
RESCUED people RESCUE people
Freely you have received; freely give.
Matthew 10:8 NIV
The mark of true disciples is love.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 ESV
The same way that He LOVES us, we ought to LOVE people:
Freely, wholly, sacrificially.
Matthew 5:44-46
Love must also extend to our enemies.
Reflection:
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
Do you know Him?
How can you get to know Him more?
Have you surrendered your own agenda? Have you been hurt by someone else’s agenda?
Have you encountered His love?