One Sermon Hillsong Ocean View Dinner April 4, 2013 Before this passage in Ephesians, Paul, the author

r is talking to a church who is use to being with people that are just like them. They are Jewish believers who have now become Christians and they are very uncomfortable with all the new kinds of people and change And Paul takes a very clear stand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for EVERYONE and that the church is for EVERYONE. Gods plan isnt just for you or me but for all of us. And not just us in here but those out THERE. Every single person must come to know this love of God And so because God wants to pack this place out, and because God loves all those out there just as much as He loves us, he needs our help. God needs us to come together for this vision. This is HIS VISION: Ephesians 4:3-6 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

What Paul is doing here is making a recognition of the two realities of the Christian family. We are united in Christ. Its something that has been done by the blood of Christ and cant be undone. But we are also fractured, we are also broken, we are also fighting, we are also working against each other. So even though ONE DAY in heaven, things will be perfect and we will all sit together happily and worship Jesus, today we are a HOT MESS and we need to do some work in bringing us together. But WHY? Why do we have to be united? Lets take South Africa as a country and ask this question? WHY do we need to be one as South Africans?

 Well being officially divided was a bad idea. Apartheid across the world legally being segregated and separated, all people, at least outwardly, agree that it was bad. So now the government officially claims that we are all equal. We all have the right to vote, to speak, to work, to live and flourish anywhere we want to. This is our legal rite as South Africans, no matter the color of our skin. Well now that the government has made this official change, everything is better, right? Things are just as they should be in our world, right? Of course not? And why? QUESTION: WHY havent things changed? Because even though the rules of the government changed, it didnt affect the people down here. So it is with us and God. God has made us one in the heavenly realms. It is our heavenly state and one day we will truly be one in heaven, but now its something that has to be done by Gods people on earth. God has a vision for what He wants to do on this earth, and His greatest testimony, even greater than Rhodas, is that we be united as one. In Jesus final prayer on this earth that is what he prays for us. Because when people look at us from the outside, if we are fighting and hollering, and skinnering, and tearing one another down then why would they want to be a part of it? We have to show GODS LOVE AMONG EACH OTHER But I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, Sarah. That might be easy for Hillsong. They all wear tight pants, and have great mucisians, and everyone is cool, and they all just get along, right? Right Jon? Oh really? Its not like that? Well if its hard for you then I cant begin to tell you how difficult it is for us over here in Ocean View. We worship together, we live together, we share, we KNOW all the stories. I mean we KNOW what really goes on with each other. We know the best of each other and we know the worst of each other and its really hard to love each other because some of us honestly arent that loveable. So what if we just pretend to love each other so other people think we do, but surely we dont REALLY have to love each other. To illustrate why I think we might actually have to love one another I think of Casey and I.

 I had big dreams for the perfect guy that I was going to marry. Most girls do. They have their ultimate guy. They have the perfect guy. He does this, wears that, says this, is that. I dated these guys. Jason the musician. Alan the pastor. I was sure it was going to be a surfer guy and we would live at the beach. And then I met Casey. His shirt was tucked in, he was super preppy, I mean he was cute, but he was so good. Too good. I mean, I knew myself. And then all of a sudden I fell in love with Casey. It just happened. And get this, can you believe that I wasnt HIS TYPE EITHER?? Can you imagine? A gypsy, restless, pastor woman who says EVERYTHING on her mind? What man wouldnt LOVE THAT? I was shocked. And here we are 11 years later, and we are more in love than ever and have a blast together. How did we do it? Magic. Magic from Jesus. He waves a magic wand and we are just linked. No way. We have had to work and fight to make this marriage work. You see, I thought I had the perfect man picked out in my mind, but I had no idea what I really needed. But God knew who I needed. God knew I needed a strong man who would lead me and correct me and make me laugh and had a cute face who would make babies with his cute face. God knew EXACTLY what I needed. And He knew that I NEEDED to love Casey. Loving Casey would change me because it wouldnt be easy. I would have to humble, submit, and forgive. And I needed that. How many times can you look back at your life and think that you were praying so hard for something so specific and God didnt answer it. There is an old country music song that says, Some of Gods greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers So it is with the church. We THINK we know what we need, but we have no idea. We think we want to build the perfect church, but we dont KNOW WHAT WE NEED. God knows what we need. My life testifies this over and over and over. YOUR life testifies this over and over again. And the story of GOD testifies this over and over again. During the time of Jesus, the religious leaders thought they knew what THEY needed and so they rejected and killed Jesus. We have the chance now to let Jesus bring us what we need and what we need is each other. We need each other to sharpen one another, to

challenge one another, to teach one another, to forgive one another, to love one another. We need each other. Its not just something trite or to show others we can do it. Its for us. I need you and you need me. We NEED to be one. Ephesians 4 in the Message Translation: 1 In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk better yet, run! - on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. 2 And mark that you do this with humility and discipline - not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, 3 alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. 4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. 5 You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. 7 But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. And how do we do this? We have dinner together , we fight it out, we pray together, we take care of each other. We do life together. We need it.