"You The Birthday" - Rev. Kea Westbrook

8:35 but we'll just continue in what God has been experiencing or what God has allowed us to experience this month. Pray that he would speak to us yet again. I don't know. Pastor Grigsby didn't leave much on the bone.

8:58 But no, we have been blessed. We've been through revival, Emerging Generations Month, all of the family events that we've had for our children and for our families. This has been a blessed month. And I am going to read the scripture. I'm not going to take long. It won't be long today. But I do just want to say thank you to everybody that has this orange on today that you support Chosen, you support Emerging Generations. Thank you for all of the volunteers. I can't think in details like Pastor Grigsby, but know you are appreciated, know that you are loved. And I thank God for you every day, for these young people that don't hold back their witness. to the praise dancers, the volunteers, the prayer warriors that cover the room for us on Sunday mornings before we step in to the parents, everyone, God bless you. Thank you. To my colleagues, love you so much. It's a privilege to walk beside you. All right. Let's look at the text.

9:58 Let's look at the scripture. I believe there's a word from the Lord today. God will have us look in Colossians. Colossians chapter 2. As you know, we've been talking this month about identity being rooted in Christ and culture. Identity being rooted in Christ and culture. So today we'll look at Colossians chapter 2, verse 6 and 7. Colossians chapter 2, verses 6 and 7. I'm reading from the ESV translation. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. That's it.

10:49 You may be seated. We would consider a thought for just a moment. You the birthday. You're the birthday. Teachers, don't be mad at me. It's the culture. It's the culture. You the birthday. Lord, oh Lord, help me make that plain. In Jesus' name, have your way and be glorified. In Jesus' name, amen.

11:18 I do love to drive when I'm going on trips. I like to drive because it helps me think. It helps me process. But I don't like being caught in traffic. I don't like the long drive home. That is not about peace and serenity and hearing from God. Being caught in traffic is testing your patience. And anybody trying to grow in their patience, just get in Dallas traffic. And you're going to find out whether or not you are growing, whether you can make it from one part of the city to the other. I don't like it. It sounds like many of you don't either. But one of the things that I do appreciate is in traffic is now we have these, I call them MapQuest, but it's now Google Maps. And you can look for a different direction. You can look for a shorter way to take you home.

12:14 You can look for another way, another route, another place to go. And so I love it. Sometimes it works. Sometimes my phone will just pop up us on its own and say, I found a way that'll save you three minutes. I'm like, three minutes, what is that? But yeah, I'll take it. I'll take it anyway. I'm trying to get home. I'm trying to get somewhere. Because I know how to go home and know how to come back. But when traffic happens, every now and then I have to look for another way home. And so I'm sure as many of you do. but when we're looking in Colossians today Paul is trying to encourage those the Colossians that there is no other way but through Christ Jesus that I understand that sometimes doing what God required us to do or waiting for the blessings of God that we believe are on the way gets a little difficult sometimes we get a little restless we get anxious maybe we don't love people like what how we should love but Paul says there's only one way to get to God there's only one way to get to home spiritually and that's through the body of Christ that is through Jesus Christ that's what he's trying to remind them of Colossus known for their beautiful red garments that they they make that's what they're known for but Paul is trying to build them up in this in the faith grow them up and mature them in their spirituality.

13:38 And they have been under attack. They have been bombarded with false teachings, that there's different ways that they can be in relationship with God. And so one of the things, there's several things that he's bombarding on the front, several things that he has to address. Excuse me. One of the things is that there's a rumor going around that Christ is not fully human and Christ is not fully man. At the same time, he has to deal with that. I don't understand how people can talk and claim that they love God, but they've never read the scriptures and don't understand that we know that Jesus came. He was the word that showed up here for us and we beheld him and all of his glory. The glory that that is the son, the only son of the father, full of grace and truth. That's what the word says. How can you even argue that? That he came in all of his deity. Has anybody ever beheld Christ and his deity and how he loves you when you called on his name?

14:36 Has he answered for you? But in this time, they were doubting that Jesus was 100% human and 100% God at the same time. So Paul had to deal with that. He also had to deal with the foolishness of people believing and trying to prove that they were smarter than a fifth grader. And I imagine anybody just wants to take time to try to prove that. You already let us know what the real truth is. but it's the ones that are always trying to prove something. They don't want somebody that always have that special knowledge that you don't know as much as they know. People want to affirm themselves by trying to find out some other special truth and these people were trying to teach that if you don't have a certain truth that only belongs to certain people then you don't know God and you not gonna see heaven. Are you kidding me? Like I it's it baffles me because and I'm stepping on somebody's toes oh well but I mean have you ever heard people say I don't understand but I overstand because if I say I understand it means I don't get it everybody just trying to have some type of special knowledge they want to tell you and invite you to something new lately somebody sent me something on social media where the man was saying that we wrong that it's not once saved always saved and he begins to he starts using all of these scriptures about how we not once saved and always say, sir, did you read your scripture that Jesus said he did not lose, not won everybody that God gave him to save, that the devil cannot snatch them out of his hands?

16:01 So how are you going to debate that? Sir, did you not read the scriptures that God is God and nobody? He's more than all of the world against us. How can you say that you are not once saved, always saved? Then he begins to explain about how we have to do all the things that we have to do in order to continue to Christ. You didn't read the scripture that says we are saved by grace and not we of ourselves. And so Paul is battling some foolishness. But it's not just that. Just like we have a through line in life, our through line is Christ. Our through line is our faith. It's through line of foolishness. And so this is Paul still dealing with it. He's even dealing with people that are saying, whatever your religion is, if you like it, I love it. And so they start operating in Gnosticism, which just means they're mixing up all of the different faiths. And so what it may look like is they might have a Bible sitting next to their horoscope. They might have a cross sitting next to some crystals.

16:58 But what Paul is trying to say, that don't even go together. And you're about as mixed up as your practices are. If you think you can have all of that and still walk in authority that God has given you, that's enough. God is God. And God has to be enough for what we are desiring and trusting him for. you can't be chasing the latest thing that somebody whispers in your ear you got the biggest crystal on your neck and on your ring because you just all of the energy that's coming down god died one time and his death was enough and the scriptures let us know um have mercy on you if you think you can be crucified god is not going to be crucified again he died once for all either you accept it or you do not because if you try to put him back on the cross because you think it's something you need to do to save yourself again then you have crucified him anew god forbid it is not so why are you trying to work your way into heaven read your word it's available so this is what paul is dealing with all of the things that come up and we have to be careful because how many of our young people went off to school and came back and challenged everything that they've been taught and Paul says in this Paul says that the foundation can't be laid again it was one foundation and that was Jesus Christ so miss me we're trying to stand in the line and telling me I missed something we're not having that conversation All right.

18:37 so that's what he's dealing with and so we get to verse six and seven he says the way that you receive christ that's how you should live the way that you received him go back and think about the moment that you received him how he saved you how you loved him what it meant to you how in that moment you'd probably do anything for him how did you receive him with such graciousness or such excitement. He says that's how you should live. And then in verse 7, that's the last verse, he says that we should be built up in Christ. So we should be rooted and built up in Christ. So the first thing when it's talking about being rooted in Christ, it is about our understanding of who God is. This particularly is about our knowledge. It's about what we know. It's about what we study. It's about our theology. It's about our belief that how are you rooted in Christ, that we need to be rooted with the idea of who Christ is. And so God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. If you believe that, that's rooted. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Rooted. God will wipe every tear from your eyes. Rooted. That we are a new creation.

20:05 Everybody that's made in Christ is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things are made new rooted genesis one and one rooted that god made the world and so we have to be rooted in christ rooted in our scriptures rooted in our word and about what we know and what we believe about christ that we are ahead and not the tail rooted above and not beneath rooted what scriptures do you have on your wall or have in your wallet or have in your purse that you know for sure that God has done for you? You have to be rooted in what you know and understand and believe about who God is. That you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus that God sent his son to die on the cross for our sins. Rooted and we shall be saved. Rooted. Some baseline understanding of things that do not change and we won't get tossed to and fro with every wind. It says be rooted in it. Be rooted in Christ. That's the part that you know. And Pastor Grigsby taught us a little bit about that last week. It's and. It says be rooted and built up in Christ. And that and it is a copulative or it is a comprehensive or collective force or strength. And so what Paul is trying to say it's not enough to know the scriptures.

21:38 You have to live them. You have to walk by them. That's where the power comes from. You can quote scriptures all day about how good God is and ain't nobody been, and God ain't been nothing but good. And we love Mary, John, and all of the people. We love all of the prophets. You can do all of that. You can do your Bible verses. You can say all of the books of the Bible. None of that matters and there's no authority if you are not built up in him. the and says in order to walk in the power and authority the two have to go together you have to know who God is and you have to live like you know who God is those two go together so it is you have to be rooted and built up what does it look like to be built up in Christ how do you live in Christ and so it's the love it's the forgiveness it's how we care for one another how are we treating one another okay so um an example would be I was talking with a family member um recently that was having some frustrations on the job and she said I'm so tired of them they want me to forgive I ain't gonna forgive I'm gonna take it straight to hell yeah I know and we love that it sounds really good it sounds like I'm gonna get down with you don't come for me right I'm gonna take it straight to hell. We don't mind saying that even as Christians because we're trying to let somebody know I'm not the one to mess with.

23:04 But what kind of sense does that make as believers to say I'm going to take it straight to hell and still going to then profess that you believe in God and God is good and God can change and God can make a way. What are you building on? That we have to understand the power and the authority of God. That's what the built up part is. Where are you serving? How are you loving? How are you helping? Are you the one sitting around and waiting for somebody to fail so then you can watch him or you can step into their place? When a Christian would say, you don't have to walk this walk alone. Let me walk with you. Let me hold your hand. Let us walk together. Let me get it right. Let me show you the mistakes that I made so you don't have to make the same mistakes. We ain't looked at, even the scriptures tell us that people didn't even realize who Jesus was. They talked about him until he started, um, um, working miracles and resurrecting the dead and laying hands on the sick and allowing them to recover. It says we thought he was just a little old somebody. We treated him like he was Stanley down in the lobby until we saw what he did and we realized that that's who he was and that's what Paul is already encouraging us to do.

24:13 That if we would build up in our faith, we need to treat everybody like they are in Christ. We need to treat them like they are good. We need to treat them like they are saved. We need to see them the way that God sees them rooted and built up rooted we believe that we're supposed to forgive built up means you gonna have to forgive you gonna have to love and show it and so you're rooted rooted in in Christ but built up in Christ almost done rooted and built up you have to walk up you have to walk in what you say, you believe in who you are. And you don't get a choice about it, about what day, um, that that's going to happen. But then it says, or when you feel like it, let me say it that way. But then it says established in faith, that we are established in faith. I thought being rooted in Christ was about that. Rooted in Christ is just meaning you need to learn your craft, Study what you believe.

25:14 Know what you know. So that you can have conversation about it and people can't come and turn you around. But being established in your faith is what you know for sure. That's all. It's a confirmation of what you are sure about. That what you believe who God is that you don't get shaken about it. And so then if your faith is established, then what you're saying is I know for sure. What is that? Let me do. let me ask this way what is the thing that shifted for you that then nobody could tell you anything different about who Christ is what is the thing that you know for sure that God is real that's what being established in your faith is I know for sure that God saved me and came and got me I know for sure that God can heal troubled mind that's being established in faith I know for sure that God can heal sick bodies. He can resurrect sick bodies. That's been my experience. So I know that for sure. You can't tell me that. I know God can provide. I know that for sure. That's the faith.

26:22 I know God can cover and protect our kids. I'm not worried about policies that come in and out every day from the White House because I know that God is greater. When God is for you, he's more than all the world against you. That's what I know for sure. Being established in your faith means that you can't get shaken with every wind because you know who God is. You know that God is able. You know that God is a keeper. You know that God is a way maker. You know that God is a provider. You know God is a lifter up of your heads. He's a coverer. He's a rear God. God is good. We know it for sure. Established in our faith and that's what Paul is saying to the Colossians but it means something for us is that we have to be established in our faith because that's what it means to be rooted and built up in Christ. That's what it means to be, um, uh, to be identified, to be a Christian, to be a lever. And then the last thing he says is after you're rooted in faith is that you ought to do it. You are bound in Thanksgiving. So when you think about everything that you know, and you think about everything that God has done and you think about what he's called you to do, That's the building up on the foundation that's already been laid.

27:38 How are we advancing the faith? How many people are coming in and trying to break the doors down because they heard that God is still a healing God? That God can still turn things around. That God can still allow blind eyes to see. How are we building up on the foundation of Jesus Christ? How are we teaching that? And then how are we walking for sure in the establishment of faith? When you think about all of those things, Paul says there's only one thing left for you to do. and that is to give to abound in thanksgiving abound in thanksgiving that means all things unto christ all things to him all things through him all things for him all things unto him we have to be grateful for what god has done okay so i'm i'm gonna explain you the birthday and and that gets us to the thanksgiving and then we're done and so right now in the culture what people tell you what you hear the young people say is they'll use the phrase you the birthday and you the birthday can mean one of two ways. It can be a positive thing or it can be a negative thing.

28:38 Negatively, they're just trying to gaslight you and probably let you know that you're doing too much. You think it's all about you and you're acting like it's all about you. So go ahead, you the birthday. We're going to celebrate you. I said, trying to gaslight you and let you know you really ain't all about that. But you the birthday can also mean just that, that is all about you that you look good today you so wonderful today we're celebrating you today all of the gifts and how amazing that you are it is you you the birthday and I got excited and I thought about that when I was looking at Colossians because really that's what God did for us when he died on the cross for us when he saved us he really let us know that was really all about you baby you the birthday she told us last week that he chose you and so God came and let us know but You're the birthday. It's you. I died for you. I came so that you could be reconciled to God. I came so that you can have life and have it more abundantly.

29:34 Christ believes that you were worth saving. He came for you. It's your birthday. You're the birthday. It's about you. Get excited that a holy and righteous God who has a cattle on a thousand years thought about little old you in your private space that he knows all of the hairs on your head. For him, you're the birthday. but when we look at Colossians and it tells us to think about the times and consider what God has done to be rooted and built up to be established in our faith all Paul is saying is God considered us and thought that we were the birthday but the way that we live ought to be like he is that Christ you're the birthday that is all about you and we ought to abound in thanksgiving we ought to wake up. You're the birthday. Happy birthday, God. You ought to wake up in Thanksgiving. I'm looking all around. Thank you, God. You're the birthday. Oh, you done saved me. You're the birthday. Walk in and look at your refrigerator. Everything that's in the room. You're the birthday, God. You did that.

30:34 You're the birthday. I'm worshiping you. I'm praising you. I don't care about my job. You're the one that provided for me. Don't care about my spouse. You're the one that provided for us. you don't want to put us together God's you the birthday and so that's all I wanted to stop by to say is that God is the birthday he thinks you're the birthday he died for you but we ought to treat him like you're the birthday God you are everything our all in all our way maker our get us through the night thank you God for being the birthday for saving us and keeping us you the birthday can anybody say happy birthday to you can anybody live like it's his birthday can you serve like it's his birthday because the wonderful thing about the birthday when i'm done but the wonderful thing when it's about the birthday is you don't do anything to hurt the birthday person unless you're a little you know but normally when it's the birthday and it's all about them you cater to what can I do for you how can I help you how can I serve you what do you want what is your desire because you're the birthday and all Paul is saying is that's how we ought to live like God like Christ is the birthday which means we love one another which means we cover one another which means we lift one another which means we show up for one another we pray for one another We, God is the birthday and we live for him.

32:09 We tell our testimonies, we praise, we worship. And the culture of all of it is the power that we're granted. The peace that we're granted. The prayer that we have, that God hears our prayers. That that's the culture rooted in Christ and all of who he is. And the culture is our praise. The culture is our worship. The culture is our prayer. and how we serve God is how you live. And so I know this text is not one that comes and says, oh, guess what? You were down and God handled your enemies. But if you understand what it means to be rooted and built up in Christ, you know that he will anyway. And so this text about being rooted in Christ and in culture means that you're going to have to be about his business. And so when we leave here today, what does that look like in your house?

33:03 What does that look like for you in terms of your service? How do you give God back? You didn't give him back all that he's given to you, but how do you tell him thank you? How do you let him know that he's the birthday? Let's pray. God, you are amazing and you are good. We thank you, Lord, for another day's journey. We thank you that you thought that we were the birthday. So you came for us. You died for us. You gave us newness of life. You transformed us. Gave us a new way, a new chance, a new hope. And so we thank you. And so Lord, give us the strength and the power and the tenacity to walk in who you called us to be. To celebrate you as the birthday. That every day is all about you.

33:55 That our speech reflects that you are the birthday. that how we live reflects that you are the birthday, that how we share in the things that we do, that you, God, are the birthday. Thank you for young minds that would teach us another way to celebrate you, to love you. But God, if somebody's in the room and they don't understand how you could have loved them in the midst of their sins, how they can't get past their brokenness God let them know that you are here and you celebrate them that you sent your son for them and then Lord for those that are in the house that have been living in your blessings then Lord we pray that we would celebrate you in that way so now have your way God move in this place as you so desire.

35:01 And we thank you. In the name of your son, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Amen. So. so that's it so we are as we're here there may be somebody that's listening and you just you don't know how you got to the church maybe you just made a wrong turn maybe somebody invited you maybe you thought well i haven't been in a while let me go this sunday or maybe you just needed to get here because maybe you were going through today was about recognizing what it means to be connected to jesus christ that there's newness of life being connected to Jesus Christ that there's roots that will stabilize us somebody may be in the room and you're always going back and forth one day you believe in another day you don't one day you're happy and overjoyed and the other day you're sorrowful and almost depressed back and forth and back and forth and Paul is saying settle yourself ground yourself in who Christ is and so this part first part of this invitation is for somebody that doesn't know Christ hasn't accepted Christ as their grounder as their root they don't have cry you don't have Christ in your life so that you can be built up in Christ and so the invitation is for you that you're tired of the the back in the forth you're tired of the uncertainty and you want to stand sure in somewhere in your life you want to be sure about who God is so if you're in the house and you want to be sure about where you're gonna that you're gonna see God for yourself one day face to face this is for you to come to join with Christ and we want you to be a part of friendship West and that's amazing and wonderful so if you come we invite you to come here but if you come and join with Christ first we can help you get home if home is some other place.

37:07 And so as we stand to our feet, let's praise for if there's anybody in the house that needs to be connected with Christ, that needs to be rooted and built up in Christ. We're praying, and this is our opportunity to come now, that their life doesn't have to be the same, that they can be forever changed. That's right. Thank you, God, for those that are making the decision to be rooted in you. That they don't have to live the same way. That their lives don't have to be what it was like when they got here. That they now have an answer. They now have a God that moves on their behalf. And then the call might be that you love God. You're rooted in God. You're built up in God. You just want to continue the work. And you feel God drawing you and asking you to continue it here at Friendship West. well we want to say welcome home come on down and introduce yourselves that we can love on you pray with you care for you walk with you do life together that is for you and then you might say I'm here at Friendship West I'm saved I love the Lord but I sure need somebody to touch and agree with me in my prayers I'm really struggling and I need some support and some help so let's come down and let us pray with you let us love on you and let you know that it's all right let you remind you that you can be rooted and built up in Christ.

38:32 That's for you. And then it may be hard to come down in a large space like this. So there may be somebody sitting next to you. And we don't want to leave out and take it for granted that because the person next to you didn't move, then they must be good. So let's take the time to do what the scriptures ask us to do. And let's build ourselves up in Christ and do the work of Christ. Look to your neighbor to the left and to the right. And ask them if they're saved. And ask them if they have a church home. Ask them if they need prayer. If they say yes to the first two, that they're saved and they have a church home, then give them a fist bump. but if they say no to any of those or know that yes they need prayer then bring them down walk with them don't let them come by themselves let's do the work of being built up in crisis