Illuminate Community Church

1/31/2021 - Look To Jesus - Hebrews 2

"Look to Jesus," "fix your eyes on Jesus," "see Jesus." The author of Hebrews is attempting to emphasize something. The only way to thrive in this life is to focus on Jesus. The second chapter of his sermon contains a vision that will change the way you live - See Jesus as your "merciful and sympathetic high priest."

Back in the day, a Jewish priest was someone you went to for help. So let me explain this to you by virtue of what Jesus experienced as the Son of God - He faced temptation directly from Satan. Therefore no one can say to him, “Jesus you just don’t understand what it’s like to live in a fallen world and to be tempted by sin.” Jesus' response: “No, actually I do know what it’s like to be tempted by Satan himself.” Jesus got hungry, tired, fatigued and wearied. This is why the gospel writers tell us that Jesus would often go to a solitary place and pray. He knows what it’s like to lose a loved one. He wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. When most Jewish men his age were married with a family a home and a career; Jesus knew what it was to be single, a virgin and homeless. He experienced betrayal and rejection by his closest friends. He knows what it’s like to be stabbed in the back by someone he loved. He had close personal relationships disrupted and left unresolved. He knew discouragement in ministry when the disciples just wouldn’t get it. When you go through pain and you want to talk to someone who went through it all, talk to Jesus. He understands.

1/24/2021 - Jesus Explains God - Hebrews 1:1-4

The book of Hebrews is a Christological masterpiece. There might be no higher view of Jesus found in the Bible. And that's exactly what early Christians needed. You see, like us at times, they were asking the question – If God loves us why is our life so hard? The answer – the Christian life is a journey from weariness to rest, it’s a journey that started with being alienated from God to being in the presence of God. And here’s how you make it; you’ve got to fix your eyes on Jesus. Through Jesus’ words and actions we hear and see what matters most to every human being—that God the Father loves us unconditionally. 

"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
 
Even at our worst, God loves us...

John continues, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (verse 17). The Father sent Jesus out of his love and his commitment to save us. And when Jesus completed this act of love, he sat down in a place of prominence, at the right hand of God.

There's another big question in the world today. What is God like? The author of Hebrews tells us the answer: Jesus reveals who God is because he is the exact imprint and reflection of the character of God. The reason why Jesus is the exact reflection of God is because they share the exact same nature. I hope you see how personal God has become. By taking on flesh and blood he's telling you this, "I really want to be in your life."

1/17/2021 - Some Things Never Change - God's Word!

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8

The Bible is unique. No other book has been attacked like it, scrutinized like it or criticized like it. Neither has there ever been another book that has stood its ground like the Bible. The critics have passed on through the centuries, but the Bible stands as strong today as ever. It is an amazing book.

When we say the Bible is authoritative what we're really saying is that God is authoritative because it contains His words. So why is there so much hatred against the Bible? Perhaps we can see part of the reason in a statement Jesus made: "And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Jesus was referring to Himself as the light coming into the world. The Bible represents the words of Christ. If people hated Him, they also hate His words. This is because His word exposes evil and shines light upon the sinful activities of mankind. People who love their sin will despise the Bible.

The Bible still stands. 

Regardless of all the hatred manifested toward it through the ages, it is still here to be reckoned with. This fact alone ought to make us think about the importance of the Bible. Have you ever thought about the Bible in this way: If a book were to be given to us by God, then we should expect that it endures. And this is exactly what God promises. 700 years later Peter preached the same words...for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you!

1/10/2021 - Some Things Never Change - God Himself!

Last Sunday we talked about the massive changes that have occurred as a result of 2020. One thing is for sure, things will continue to change and that change is going to come faster and faster and some of these changes are going to shock us and some will encourage us but if you know the unchanging God you are ready for whatever happens.
 
The story is told of Lloyd Douglas, author of, "The Robe". When he was a university student, he lived in a boarding house. Downstairs on the first floor of that boarding house was an elderly retired music teacher. He was very infirm and could not leave his apartment. Douglas took a liking to this man and every morning they had a ritual they would go through together. Lloyd Douglas would come downstairs and he would open the man's door and ask him, "Well, sir, what's the good news today"?
 
And the old man would pick up his tuning fork and tap it on the side of his wheelchair and hold it up and say, "That's middle C. It was middle C yesterday, it will be middle C tomorrow, and it will be middle C 1000 years from now. The tenor upstairs sings flat, the piano across the hall is out of tune but, my friend, this is middle C and that's the good news for today". Christian, Jesus Christ is your middle C. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The world in which we live is out of tune. The prognosticators got it all wrong. Everything we look at seems messed up but we take our tuning fork and we thrust it against a hard surface and we remind ourselves, "God is our middle C". We serve and love an unchanging God.

1/3/2021 - Some Things Never Change - God's Love For You!

2020 has taken a lot from us. Suddenly, we realized how quickly things can change. Some have lost freedoms, jobs, family interaction and even personal relationships. You need to be reminded that some things never change. For example, God's love for you never comes to an end. And yet, many don't live in this love. Instead they continue loving that which can so easily be taken away and are therefore discouraged. 

So why would we anyone ignore God's love? I’ll tell you why. Because we are very adept and misplacing our affections in this world. The pursuit of “hook ups” has become normative. For many, social media is little more than a love affair with attention. What’s fueling this? People trying desperately to have these questions answered: Am I lovable? Will someone find me attractive? What will cure my loneliness? "If I can just find the answer to that then I’ll be ok."

There’s a story in the Old Testament that illustrates this well. It has as much drama as any "reality show" today. A man named Jacob falls in love with a beautiful woman named Rachel. The Bible describes her as being beautiful in both form and face. In other words, she was very attractive. Jacob falls hard for her. He asks her father Laban for her hand in marriage. He agrees but only after working for him for seven years. But Jacob is so smitten he says, "No problem, she’s worth every minute of the wait." Finally, the day comes and Jacob ends up getting a taste of his own medicine. This plot twist is one for the ages. You see Rachel's father duped Jacob' in the exact same way Jacob cheated his own father Isaac. Jacob loved the place of prominence. He loved a woman for her attractiveness. Misplaced love caused Jacob a lot of heartache in life. It also disrupted the lives of those around him. His life is a testimony to the difference between misplaced love lost and true love found.

12/27/2020 - The DNA of Your Destiny - Pastor Steve Johnson

12/24/2020 - Let Your Heart Be Light - Christmas at Illuminate

12/20/2020 - Advent Hope

As human beings, we need things in our future that give us excitement and optimism. I actually believe God implanted within each one of us this innate need. Of course the ultimate fulfillment of this is the hope of heaven. The Christmas story reminds us that heaven is attainable through faith in Jesus. Therefore hope and faith are inseparable. The author of Hebrews explains.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Additionally, we have hope in this life here and now. The Scriptures invite us to come to Jesus and confidently ask for help in our time of need. 

Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Things that leave us feeling powerless and hopeless come in many forms. With Christ’s strength you can overcome life's biggest obstacles, and faith in Jesus gives hope and help to overcome: 

“and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).

Have you ever faced a giant in life only to think it's too big and you can't handle it?  We do not need some kind of "God supplement" to our own strength, rather, we need His strength in us to do what we need to do. And he always gives it. 

2 Corithians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Seeing our weakness as the entry point of God’s strength gives access to His power!

When we put our faith and hope in Jesus, it not only gives us help, strength, and power for today, but it also gives us hope for life after death. It is a confident expectation of the ultimate “tomorrow.” Have you been feeling hopeless? All you need to do is ask God for what he has already made possible.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

12/13/2020 - Advent Love

What's the most important thing? This question was put to Jesus. His answer seems rather simple - Love God and love people. 

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

Loving God and loving others are intertwined. In other words, you can't love God without loving those around you - especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus explains the importance of this...

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Christmas gives you the motivation because the birth of Jesus reveals God's love for you. 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Illuminate, you have a done an amazing job of loving others. As your pastor, I am so very proud of you. This Sunday we celebrate all the love you've shown through your generosity and faithfulness in 2020!

12/6/2020 - Advent Rest - Matthew 11:28-30

Do you sometimes find it hard to fall asleep at night because of the things racing through your mind? Thoughts that are angry, fearful and anxious often accompany our last and first moments when our heads are on the pillow. Perhaps personal resentment is the biggest taker of mind space. What do you do with all this? Jesus reminds believers to make an exchange.

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 
Matthew 11:28-30 

A yoke is an instrument used to attach two working animals together. Where one goes, so goes the other. Notice Jesus doesn't simply say, "Take off all your yokes." As if to say, "Be free!" Instead, he says, "Take off whatever it is that is currently leading you and exchange it for my leadership." In other words, we are all led by something that isn't giving us what we truly desire. Is this true for you Christian? Are you still wearing the yoke of social media's opinion of you? What about the yoke of the culture's demands? How about the yoke of salvation by works?

Give up your desire to live life on your terms and let Jesus lead you and you’ll find the rest you’ve been looking for. I know this sounds crazy in this modern world. Because we’re constantly being told, “Don’t give away your authority! Let no one control you!” Jesus says, if you want inner freedom then give up your freedom. If you want to find your life, lose it. Take my yoke, I will lead you. You don’t have to prove yourself, you don’t have to carry the burden of guilt, or pain alone.