Chairman Steve: The Importance Of Sustaining Connection With God
Do your gadgets help sustain your connection with God? Pastor Steve brings up the fact that we have been connected around the world, by way of technology. But he proposes that the technology is keeping us away from the Lord – His point is that if we’re in a serious meeting, devices keep us from staying engaged – devices interrupt us. Chairman was part of a special branch in the police, where they diffuse and disarm bombs – He emphasizes that if he loses focus, he loses control of the explosive device… and he and others would inevitably lose their lives.
Being a law man, Chairman says that everything – every law has an exemption. Mothers who are in important meetings are excused for taking their calls if the call concerns their children. But that’s the thing – they’re exemptions, but oftentimes we are ‘imprisoned’ by these Androids and iPhones – that’s why they’re called ‘cell’ phones.
He proceeds by giving us 3 Essentials of Sustaining Connection with God (sic):
- Our connection to God makes us clean, grow and bear good and much spiritual fruits
- He proceeds with a misquote of Albert Einstein: “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots”
- Follows up with John 15:1-10 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
- Our connection to God’s words leads to life (sic)
- But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
- It’s important for us to have a deep desire for His Word, just as a deer pants for the water.
- Our connection to God’s plans lead us to clear vision of eternal inheritance
- More quotes bashing smartphones
- More slides, more reading from slides.
What’s nice is that he seems to conclude with a slide that says we are connected to God, 24/7. But then he gives a ‘process’, and a couple of pictures here and there. The gall of this man to use memes.
Pastor Noel: Testified about how sick he was. 100% blockage in his heart, around 6-7 months after his wife died. This was around the time that Pastor Oscar passed away as well. He was about to give up, when his kids told him to give treatment a try… and he lasted for another year – before he caught covid. He was eventually cleared of covid but he had issues that required dialysis – graven issues that were literally drowning his heart. It came to a point that any sort of pain would end his life. He didn’t elaborate but he stands today before the summit, saying that he is ‘back’. He stands strong, and he also shares that his Gospel reaches even to insurgents.
For purposes of his message, though, he mentioned that he wanted to go to the days when he needed to go through dialysis – back in the days when he was full of fluids. It came to a point that the medical personnel had difficulty inserting an appropriate fistula to facilitate removal of fluid from his body. He was in such tremendous pain during these times – and it was during these times that he made the conscious choice, not to blame or accuse God, but to worship Him.
One time, as he was worshipping, one song that came up wasn’t even a religious song – Rod Stewart – I Don’t Wanna Talk About It. He went out and sang it, too:
I can tell by your eyes you’ve probably been cryin’ forever
And the stars in the sky don’t mean nothin’ to you, they’re a mirror
I don’t wanna talk about it, how you broke my heart
If I stay here just a little bit longer
If I stay here, won’t you listen to my heart
Oh, my heart
Pastor Noel talks about black, and the darkness… but the stars that still shine in the sky, testifying of the goodness and greatness of God. He’s reminded of the greatness of God being seen, and how a great revival was to follow – and how he needs to share this message to us here today. And this is the first time he’ll be sharing this message.
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
What a simple verse, but it talks about ministers. And when you think about it, we are all ministers in the body of Christ. If not, we have all been called to be ministers… but the next verse does share that there is a requirement – we are all to be found faithful. David was speaking in the Spirit in Psalm 101:6 –
I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
God’s eyes are on the faithful… but Pastor Noel gives us a picture of our Pastors today, and it’s a pretty ugly picture. He didn’t elaborate on that, but he jumped right into the 3 things that the Lord looks at:
- Integrity
- The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.Proverbs 11:3
- We’re so good preaching the Word of God, but there lies the struggle of staying consistent to the Word away from the pulpit. Many stories have been told of Pastors that have wayward children. Why? Pastor Noel says it himself – because of hurt, arising from a lack of integrity.
- We’re reminded of how we need to grow and mature in the Word.
- Pastor Noel spoke of scams and how Pastors got involved in them, only to be let down and swindled themselves. Greed fractures integrity.
- But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.1 Timothy 6:9-11
- Take note of that second verse, and take in: The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. – Proverbs 10:22
- Stand in integrity, and be made rich. Seek His righteousness, and all things shall be added unto us.
- Purity
- Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”1 Peter 1:13-16
- We’re already holy! What does this mean? Pastor Noel acknowledges that we have been made justified through Christ and His finished work. Sanctification has 2 sides as a coin has – First, we’ve already been sanctified by Christ and His finished work, set apart for His use. We are already saints! This is instantaneous sanctification.
- To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:1 Corinthians 1:2
- But Pastor Noel explains that the second sanctification we have is progressive.
- For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
- // The idea of timeless purity transcends definition of instantaneous and progressive sanctification? //
- Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”Hebrews 13:4-6
- Humility
- Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:5-11
- Pastor Noel points out: There is no humility without obedience.
- I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.Galatians 2:20-21
- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.Jeremiah 29:11-14
- // There is no response without humility, and there is no humility that is without obedience. //
- Another case for how we should take time and intentionally seek the Lord. But that’s the thing – there’s no seeking without intention.
It’s simple. We seek God, we are brought into Integrity, Purity and Humility. We are brought to appreciating our unbreakable Connection with Him. As ministers in the body of Christ, this is what we’re called to do.
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