The Christmas Table

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

The Christmas Table

2 Samuel 9:1-13

The table speaks of family.

Christmas is all about God going to extreme lengths to bring us into His family.

Mephibosheth - ate regularly at the king's table.

Sin makes you stupid.

David made a promise to Jonathan that he would be kind to Jonathan's children.

We're seeing a promise fulfilled.

5 reasons why we have a lot in common with Mephibosheth.

1. Life hadn't gone according to plan.

One minute he was the grandson of the king.

Mephibosheth got the news that his dad and grandpa died on the same day in battle.

2. People we trust have let us down.

2 Samuel 4:4 tells us how Mephibosheth became crippled.

Romans 3:23 we all fall

3. He was in danger and there was no way to run

Mephibosheth lived in hiding in badlands.

Mephibosheth thought David was going to have him killed.

Luke 2:10 "Do not be afraid!"

We're all in danger : we're all going to die.

4. There was a good king who wanted to show him kindness.

Everything is going great in David's life at this time and he thinks, how can I bless someone else right now?

That's how we should live when God's blessing us...how can we in-turn bless others.

A good King sought us out.

Look to Jesus! If He isn't stressed then you don't need to be stressed.

If He's okay, I'm okay.

Ephesians 4:1, 2:5-6

Seated us with Him!

5. He was given a seat at the royal table.

When David wanted to show kindness he went above and beyond.

David only promised Jonathan he wouldn't kill his sons.

Mephibosheth doesn't feel worthy, because he's not worthy.

When you're seated at the table...the position covers up your condition.

There's a seat for you at the table but only if you do these two things :

1. Be humble to receive it all

2. You have to sit down

Luke 22:29-30

Wild Blue Yonder : week 5

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

The Waypoints of Wonder

Navigating through the waypoints of wonder will provide us a path to make sure we're on the right trajectory as we give.

We're not here for the end of something, we're here for the beginning of something.

This is the launchpad and the launchpad is the culmination of all that came before it, but it's not the end of something..it's to infinity and beyond!

We look back and honor those who have paved the way, and we look forward and have faith God will use our gifts and our stories to bring more glory to Him.

You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving.

Word God gave to the Lusko's while they're preparing to give : WONDER

Wonder : epic, admiration, astonishment, something awesomely mysterious

Luke 10:17-24

He's connected Genesis 3 - the gospel overturns death itself.

Do not rejoice in your good works.

Rejoice that your name is written in Heaven!

1. RISK

There needs to be risk in order to use our faith.

2. DUTY

We all have a part to play in this.

Luke 17 - servant working all day in the field, comes in the house and wants to relax. Jesus says he needs to change and then prepare his masters meal. 

What's the most important gift? That everyone is working together and doing their duty.

3. NAIVITE 

Childlike whimsical faith

God uses the simple.

God uses the foolish things of the world.

"Stay hungry, stay foolish." Steve Jobs

4. OPTIMISM

God is for me!

He's overflowing our cups!

David "I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living.

Benefit finders and fault forgetters.

5. WEIGHT

Our gift should be weighty.

This is attached to the saving of souls.

Heavy in a good way.

God's glory is weighty...it's expensive, it's powerful.

Ecclesiastes 11:4

Give with your eyes on the skies.

Awestruck majesty!

Wild Blue Yonder : week 4

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

Rethinking Runways

Malachi 3:1

Mark 1:1-8

Looking at John the Baptist

You can't look up at the night sky and think : I'm awesome.

Who am I, yet You love me!

***

Shane Kimbrough : astronaut

Sometimes we're supporting behind the scenes...not hands on.

Go-getter, hard-working

Positive role model for society

Not so soft landing...get back up, you are not alone!

***

John the Baptist : worked on the runway to make Jesus' path straight.

He was a forerunner.

Forerunner's job : 

1. Prepare the people

2. Repair roads

That's our role : we are trying to prepare runway for God!

John the Baptist lived a life as a model.

He was a runway model.

The bigger the runway, the bigger the plane that can land.

2 Chronicles 16:9

Who has that straight runway?

Who's rising up in obedience?

Endeavor was supposed to land in Florida...had to land in California...

How many runways did it pass over?

They weren't capable of receiving it!

Your life will yield in God's hand only to the extent that you're willing to clear the field!

AS YOU CREATE THE RUNWAY :

1. Significance

Live for something bigger in your life.

When you live for Jesus' story and not just for your own glory...you get to be apart of all God's done.

I decrease, Jesus increase!

Equal sacrifice, not equal giving.

I've been blessed to be a blessing.

2. Endurance

The reward for doing all John the Baptist got was difficulty.

When you step out in faith the reward is difficulty.

When you blaze a trail = trial

The enemy sees what you're doing and wants to attack you.

With growth there is more opportunity + opposition

The difficulty causes you to lean into Jesus more + He'll give you the endurance

3. Abundance

Your heart and mind are connected.

Rob God of the chance to protect you, bless you, and to do so abundantly!

It doesn't always look financial blessing.

Keep your heart on the mission!

The great commission!

The mission to go fishin!

Shane's first mission was to build the space station. Not knowing that he would go back and live in it.

At the right place at the right time.

It's not just about you.

It's about them.

It's about Him.

Wild Blue Yonder : week 3

Guest Speaker Robert Madu - Fresh Life Church

Faith For The Middle

Going to the unknown and generosity.

The world of the generous gets larger + larger.

Numbers 11:1-6

John 6:30-35

When we're in the unknown we tend to go right back to the thing Jesus brought us out of.

The FRUIT of the Spirit

If you are a believer the fruit of the spirit should exude from you.

The children of Israel are "stuck in the middle."

Exodus 14 putting your faith in Jesus.

Walking out of Egypt, through the Red Sea...400 years they were in slavery. In one moment, they went from being enslaved to being saved!

Never negate the power of a single moment of God!

1. It was not their morality

Quit with the notion that you have to get yourself together before you come to God.

How you gonna help yourself when your self was the problem that got you there in the first place?

God didn't respond to their deeds, but to their needs!

Shadow proves I am real and there is a light in the room.

The Old Testament is a shadow of Jesus.

Question you ask any time you've had an encounter with God...

Who am I now?

How do I walk in that?

I know I'm out of Egypt, but ho do I get Egypt out of me?

If I...then why...

If I have the peace of God, then why am I stressed out?

Initially Christianity change of status rather than a change of behavior.

How do I get my behavior to come into alignment with my new status?

It is a process.

It is a journey.

Don't give up just cause you're in process!

Just keep walking!

God is a lot more oven than He is microwave.

God is 3-in-1 and you are 3-in-1

You are a spirit, housed in a body, with a soul.

Trust God will change me to be all He created me to be.

The enemy likes to come into your life and speak into your weaknesses and try to convince you you're not a citizen of the kingdom of God.

He'll remove your resources to let you know He is the Source!

The frustration of freedom.

It is so much easier to go back to what you've always known, than to trust God to take you to where He wants you to go.

Flailing its front legs in front, dragging its hind legs behind.

You've been walking out the distinction that was modeled for you.

Your destiny is greater than your history!

Don't give up just because you're in process!

When they rejected the mana, God got angry because they were essentially saying Jesus you're not enough for me in the wilderness. 

Impact Team Conference : Part 3

On Their Mark - Robert Madu

Hebrews 12:1-2

1 Samuel 18:5-9

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Playful frolic.

Comparison is so strong it caused Saul to focus on David instead of Jesus.

You can't run the race because you're so focused on the others in the lanes next to you.

Who are you racing?

Chase after the assignment God has placed on your life.

Comparing yourself to other people is like running on the treadmill. You are in the same position.

Whenever you preach, preach from your weakness and you'll never lack material.

Comparison is the number one weapon the devil uses for mass distraction and mass destruction.

You cannot be content when you're comparing.

2 Corinthians 10:12

Comparison will consistently cloud the clarity of God's call on your life.

There is a call on your life.

A call so unique to you.

I am called!

There is a difference between a career and a calling.

Paid to do vs made to do.

God has given you everything you need to accomplish your calling.

Stop complaining to the master about the pieces you feel you don't have and be praising Him for making you a masterpiece!

I am a masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:10

God is a strategic God.

Stay in your lane.

And keep your eyes on Jesus!

Don't wreck your life trying to get in someone else's lane, just stay in your lane.

Duality to your destiny :

Universal : to become more and more like Jesus every single day.

Unique to you : become unlike anyone else God has ever created.

Challenge of life is to stay in your lane and your keep your eyes on Him.

The day you run your race looking around, there is a crash in your future.

If the brightness of the blessing blinds you to the Blesser it becomes a curse.

Comparison is the beginning of the end.

"But ME"

He connects what's going on with them back to him.

"But ME" attitude takes joy out of a celebratory situation.

Who started the comparison?

Saul didn't start it.

Wasn't even David that started it.

This was an external voice that placed the comparative on him.

The ladies weren't even comparing Saul's number to David's number.

Simply for literary impact.

They were just saying Saul killed a bunch. David killed a bunch. We're just glad they're all dead.

You need to be able to celebrate the successes of other people. 

Don't be stingy with your compliments.

social Media

Awareness accelerates discontentment 

Would you like to know the real reason you got in the fetal position?

You were comparing how they run their race instead of focusing on how I've called you to run yours.

I have given you a grace to run your race!!

Impact Team Conference : Part 2

Stir Up The Sweetness - Jennie Lusko

Making This House Home

Kindness

Pleasant Perspective

Fragrance of Christ Diffused

1. Stir Up What Is In You

2 Timothy 1:5-7

We are responsible for our soul.

No one can stir this up but you.

We're not mustering up the faith, God already started it.

The sweet spot in sports is where it's most effectively hit.

Where is your sweet spot?

Keep your gift and talent hot.

We have the world at our fingertips.

We need to be learners, stirring up the gift within us.

2. Stir Up Love and Good Works In Each Other

Hebrews 10:24

Encouragement and love

A key to stirring up love and good works in others is warmth.

Warmth = cozy

Sweetness in your soul

3. Stir Up The Relationships Around You

We need each other.

Healthy relationships nourish us like nothing else...Lysa TerKeurst

Children : honest, silly, fun

Childlike faith, sweetness, fun with each other.

Ephesians 5:1 imitators of God

Fight for these relationships.

Give much, much love, keep short accounts.

Proverbs 27:9

Be the encouragers, but also have those people in your life.

Speak life.

Do what you do with excellence.

Be aware of each other.

Speak thankfulness, honor, encouragement.

Some Assembly Required : 5 positives

Not having an ear for criticism.

Speak kindly and sweetly.

Ephesians 5:15

Have you lost that loving feeling?

A white lily flower represents sweetness.

Give God the first.

4. Fight For A Sweet Spirit

Sometimes you have to work at stirring in the sweetness.

Fight for it.

Work at it.

Deep breath, say God I need your spirit.

Be the sweetness you want to see in others.

Matthew 5:43

Be soft, do not let the world make you hard.

Do no let the pain make you hate.

5. Stir Up A Sweet Aroma

Romans 12:1

When you're serving you are pleasing God.

Do this for the Lord.

What is your social media smell?

Angers stirs up strife.

Love covers a multitude of sins.

Our platform should be encouragement.

Challenging and exaltation.

2 Corinthians 2:15

We are the fragrance of Christ to a lost and hurting world.

God can use us to reach someone where we are.

Philippians 2:15

Stars shining bright.

Our churches are the Savior's candelabra ...

burn bright for the whole world to see.

Impact Team Conference : Part 1

Because I Am A Leader - Levi Lusko

We are leaders of
1. ourselves
2. those around you
3. anyone you have an impact on

Are we leading selflessly or selfishly?
Are we leading well or poorly?

Even the most introverted will have a direct impact on 10,000 people in their lifetime.

Influence is the ability to give an example to those around you that is worth following.
You could have authority and power but you're not giving an example worth following.

Move towards it as you mirror it.

1. Change the Atmosphere

We are not thermometers, we are thermostats.
I altar the atmosphere.
Always instantly hot!
A leader understands that those far removed from their influence are a copy of a copy of a copy.
Something is in the air : sense of expectation.

Infectious enthusiasm - excitement
Contagious faith - Matthew 8:10 marveled at his great faith
We want Jesus to marvel at our great faith!
Mark 6:6 Jesus marveled at unbelief, only healed a few sick people.

Expectation takes preparation.

What does your preparation look like :
*Devotionally
*Countenance - Proverbs 15 a merry heart has a cheerful countenance
*Others - make your attitudes about others
*Be a servant
*Be like Jesus, be zealous for the house of God!
*The Bible tells you so...Romans 12:11

Objection!
What would the objection be?
I don't want to show zeal if that's not how I feel, because that wouldn't be real.
That thinking is why so many marriages suck!
God's GOOD whether you feel like it or not!
Worship is not a feeling expressed as an action.
Isaiah 6 : every pass they say holy, holy, holy...worthy, worthy, worthy

2. My spirit is under my control, even and especially when things are out of my control

No one is going to make you eat or drink or get enough sleep.
How you take care of your body and spirit is up to you.

Take responsibility for your spirit.
Stay motivated.
Keep yourself aligned.
Nail down your cultural values.
Think through these values.
If you can do good in the good times...that's easy.
Have perspective.
Make decisions out of faith rather than fear.
It is critical how you choose to respond, especially in times of opposition.
Jesus said : woe to you if you have no flack.
Deuteronomy talks about promising vineyards you didn't plant.

3. I do not need to be recognized but I will seek to constantly recognize others

Everything we do we're thinking about that moment of people meeting Jesus!
Find what others are doing and encourage that.
Promotion isn't my priority, progress is.
I don't want to impress you, I want to bless you.
Proverbs 11:25
You can't be used to bring water to others and not be touched on the way.
You'll be watered as you water.
Proverbs 29:25
We are noticed by God.

4. I am not afraid of the success of others, I am better for it

We're afraid God gave our blessing to someone else.
That shrinks our ability to be in the moment.
God doesn't run out of blessings.
Our mentality should not be lack thinking.

A rising tide lifts all ships!

5. Because I am a leader I welcome input and leadership in my life

Tell me the blind spots I'm blind on.

6. Selectively sweat the small stuff, my sweat glands are sophisticated.

It's the small stuff that separates 'the men from the boys."
5 minutes with Southwest Airlines would cost a billion dollars.
Sweat the small stuff in the details of our ministry.
Tapestry of grace and God moving on our behalf.

7. I am married to the vision, I am just friends with my ideas, and my seat on the bus

8. I will protect this house

God has a heart for His house.
His house is always on His mind.

1 Chronicles 22:5
2 Chronicles 2:5
1 Peter 2:5

This house needs to be great because it needs to reach a lot of people.
What do we need to fight to protect this house against?
1. Running out of bread
tithes
2. Losing it's proper shade of green
1 Thessalonians 5:17
3. Division
Ephesians 4:3 keep the vision
Not having ears for criticism.
I don't have ears for criticism.
6 Things God Hates
One is sowing discord in our family.
Lack of harmony.
4. Watch for attack
The devil is on the attack
5. From being declawed
We need claws, ready to pivot, with our cleats on, occupying our space, slips through the cracks, fire blazing in our eyes.

Goliath Must Fall notes

Goliath Must Fall

by Louie Giglio

Understanding anxiety is not a thing, but a symptom of something(s), has been a game changer in dealing with enemies of God's glory in my life.

In time, controllers crack under the reality that none of us are in control.

I don't know what's keeping you up at night or making you want to stay under the covers all day. But I do know that Jesus is on your side. He is fighting for you and He has won.

Fear grips us whenever we believe that apart from, or in spite of, our best efforts, something undesirable is going to happen and we can't stop it. Sometimes fear is irrational, and sometimes it's rational. But no matter what kind of fear it is, it always affects us.

Faith is the antidote to fear.

We need to dig down and get to the root of the matter. Actually, there are three roots. Three causes. Three down-deep reasons fear evidences in our lives : 

1. Fear comes from our conditioning.

2. Fear comes from our concealing.

3. Fear comes from our controlling.

What do we need to hear and see and feel and understand about Jesus that replaces what the giants are saying to us? 

Four things : 

1. We remind ourselves that God is able.

2. We set the Lord always before us.

3. We name what's keeping us up at night.

4. We fill our mouths with praise.

The God of the universe is mindful of us!

I know I'm loved, God, but what's really amazing, God, is how majestic you are!

If our only motivation for taking down a giant is our freedom, then we won't have all the motivation that's needed. God's glory is also the motivation for us to walk in victory over the giants in our lives.

If the enemy can keep us good and comfortable, then he can prompt us to waste our days.

Life is short, yes. But God is big. God is able to redeem every situation. He is able to breathe new life into every heart. He is able to do "far more than we dare ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:21 CEV).

Life is short. God is big.

Anger is not wrong. But if anger is uncontrolled, stuffed, misplaced, or given full vent, then anger can do us a lot of harm. 

Scripture is clear that anger is a giant that cam shut down God's possibility for our lives.

In the midst of your fight, the enemy will most likely add this dagger - If God is so good, then why has all this hardship and pain come into your life?

Don't give the enemy a seat at your table.

So when God prepares a table for you, that means He puts out the deluxe spread (everything you need to survive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally) and invites you to dine with Him. 

Wild Blue Yonder : week 2

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

Living On Leftovers

Genesis 13:2-17

Mindful of the things of God.

Peter told Jesus to not go to the cross, because it didn't make sense to him.

Refuse to play it safe. 

Not be mindful of things of men.

The riskiest thing you can do is play it safe.

Do what God's called you to do.

Don't get over the fact that you're saved.

Abraham and Sarah said yes to God.

Lot is Abraham's nephew.

Strife starts happening between their flock keepers.

Abraham gives Lot the choice to decide what land he wants.

Lot chooses the green land he sees.

Wherever you put the sole of your foot I will bless you. (God's promise to Joshua and to you.)

Abram put God first and then others before himself. 

He lived on leftovers.

Don't feel bad for him.

The leftovers he lived on were awesome!

When your touch is light, your hand can be full.

Philippians 2:3-4 MSG

Let us give others a helping hand.

Let us be a hospital for sinners.

You'll never come second by putting God first.

Five words that are descriptive of Abram's leftovers : 

1. Opportunity

Relaxed confidence that God is in charge.

Competitive spirit can be in a positive way.

"Blue ocean marketing"

2. Bandwidth

He's got bandwidth to help Lot out.

Lot always needs rescuing.

Abraham is always there to help God in the rescuing.

Financially helps out. Prayers.

3. Encounter

Building an altar - worshipping the Lord.

Hebrews looks back and talks about Abraham being a tithing.

4. Protection

Lot put his family at risk by making his carnal choices.

5. Increase

Abraham doesn't take.

He gives.

The more he gives away, the more God gives him.

Psalm 37:25

Nothing you give God leaves your life, it may just leave your hands.

Wild Blue Yonder : week 1

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

The City In The Sky

Hebrews 11:8-16

Revelation 21:1-5

We risk the ocean - Ecclesiastes 11:1

Solomon built a shipping enterprise. 

Sending out boats full of grain.

There are risks involved. 

"many days" in-between.

When you open yourself up to risk, you open yourself up to reward.

When we risk the ocean, we'll see the wild blue yonder.

In the ancient world the ocean always spoke of separation.

Jesus is that bridge.

How did Abraham have the faith to venture out into the wild blue yonder? 

He did it by focusing on the city in the sky.

Common misconceptions : 

Your body you die in will be the body you live in forever

You die and go to heaven and live there forever

Heaven comes down and is eventually on this planet again.

Fight to keep our eye on the city in the sky.

What are the barriers?

1. Comfort

Comfort zones don't keep your life safe, they keep your life small.

Remedy - compassion

The more you care, the more you risk.

Think of the things you're willing to endure if you love someone.

The church doesn't exist for us.

We are the church and we are here to reach the world.

2. Clarity

We need to be able to be redirected.

Here I am, send me.

Remedy - connection

God : you walk with Me!

3. Control

Needing to control the timeline.

Let go + let God. 

Remedy - courage

Go for it anyway!

4. Clinging to the past

Don't cling to the past.

Be full present, right here, right now.

Remedy - confession

More about where you're headed to.

Focus on the city in the sky.

Revelation 21:27