Soul Shift: Me to We / Message #8

September 30, 2012

Soul Shift: ME to WE / Message #8

Acts 1:1—8; Acts 2

Scott Howard

 

This shift is from individualism to community.   Heaven will not just be a reunion of God and me, it will be a reunion of God and His Bride.  The Bride is the entire church community.  We are a Family.

Ø  Christianity is not just about me; it’s about we.

Ø  Me to We means that we intentionally show up to be a provider.  Not just a consumer, but a contributor.

This shift happened to the disciples after the Holy Spirit was given to them.  They were worried only about themselves and Isreal being restored, not about the rest of the people.

“On one occasion, while he [Jesus] was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’  He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”    ---Acts 1:4-8

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ….Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off---for all whom the Lord our God will call.”   ---Acts 2:36-39

Ø  This was Peter speaking in the passage above.   It is no longer just about Israel or the Jews, but about All who are far off.  He had made the shift from me to we.

Mini Shifts to go from ME to WE:

·         We must protect the unity of our church

o   We act in love toward others

o   We refuse to gossip

o   We support the leaders

·         We share in the responsibility of the church

o   We can pray

o   We can invite the unchurched (not just unbelievers)

o   We can serve in the ministry of the church—may not be easy, may not be what we want to do

o   We can allow ourselves to be equipped to serve—get involved and be willing

·         We develop a servant’s heart---be humble and take an interest in others

·         We support the mission of our church

o   Attend faithfully

o   Support the mission by living a Godly life

o   Give regularly to further the mission of the church (invest time, resources, finances)

 

Review of all Soul Shifts:

1.       Me to You –a shift in orientation from focusing on ourselves to focusing on others.

2.       Slave to Child—a shift in identity from serving God to loving God.

3.       Seen to Unseen—a shift in values from embracing things that are temporary to embracing things that are eternal.

4.       Consumer to Steward—a shift in ownership from acquiring things for ourselves to offering what we have to God and others.

5.       Ask to Listen—a shift in posture from asking others to listening to God.

6.       Sheep to Shepherd—a shift in influence from following the crowd to leading like Christ.

7.       Me to We—a shift in priority from individualism to community.

These shifts cannot be attained on our own.  We must be humble before God, receive help from Him and the Holy Spirit in order to make these shifts.  Even if it’s one at a time.  Ask God to help you become a better You, to become the You He made you to be.