A Vision for Seeking God A Vision for Seeking God as Our Exceeding Joy as Our Exceeding Joy

A Special Anniversary & Vision MessageA Special Anniversary & Vision Message

Psalm 16:1-11Psalm 16:1-11

January 27, 2013 January 27, 2013

Pastor Paul K. KimPastor Paul K. Kim

Pastoral Charges Pastoral Charges from Three Pastorsfrom Three Pastors

Frank RileyFrank RileyTim KimTim Kim

Alan FadlingAlan Fadling

Pastoral Charge: Pastor Frank Riley Greetings! As you celebrate this momentous anniversary, I am excited for your pioneering spirit to seek out a form of community that is so needed in the body of Christ today!

Authentic community and the way of the Cross! What a challenge! What a pain! What a wonderful, incredible, adventurous mess! I cannot help but think how transforming and potentially full of grace and the wonder of a life in Christ your vision at CrossWay is. The Gospel writer tells us that Jesus chose his disciples and once chosen that he was with them. And so throughout his earthly ministry, the earliest followers of Jesus saw and experienced him authentically as he was. There were times when they were frustrated or did not understand him. Likewise there were times when he literally cried out his frustration with them saying, “How long will I have to put up with you!” But put up with each other they did, and as a result lives were transformed and a faith passed down.

See, for the earliest disciples of Jesus, it was not the programming or lack of rough edges that changed and solidified their lives in Christ and with each other. No, rather it was the day-to-day drudgery of being together, sharing in strengths, weaknesses and confusion that cemented that dream of authentic community which has been passed from generation to generation to this day. And so, as you look to the future together, continue to be together. Authentically! Understand that all of it, the good and ordered as well as the chaotic and messy, all lend themselves to the transparency and grace that comes when our whole life in Christ is truly shared.

Frank RileyLCDR CHC USN/DMINCHAPLAIN/MOBILE SUPPORT TEAM LEAD – Pastor of River47 & Pastor Paul’s Swimming Buddy!!!NAVY CENTRAL COMMAND HEADQUARTERS FORWARDKANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN  

Pastoral Charge: Pastor Tim KimCongratulations to you all on your 5th anniversary! I wanted to be there to join in the celebration but since I can’t this time around, my hope is that God would use my brief words to encourage you to stay the course.

A church community is a “family of faith” in Christ. Both words have important meanings. First, in order to be a community of “faith”, it is essential that you devote yourselves together to Scripture; let the Word lead and strengthen your faith, being rooted in Christ (Col. 2:6-8). Second, to order to be a community of “loving family”, be sure to meet frequently as brothers and sisters, sharing life together, encouraging one another, and loving one another (Heb. 10:23-24)—there’s no short cut to that.

May all of you at CrossWay Church experience deeper faith and love together as a family of faith in the coming years... May Christ’s truth and love guide you the way!

Psalm 16 [ESV]1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;    I have no good apart from you.”3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,    in whom is all my delight.4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out    or take their names on my lips.5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;    you hold my lot.6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Psalm 16 [ESV]7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;    in the night also my heart instructs me.8 I have set the Lord always before me;    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;    my flesh also dwells secure.10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,    or let your holy one see corruption.11 You make known to me the path of life;    in your presence there is fullness of joy;    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

JOY: THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF HEAVEN

• The source of true joy is God (Rom. 15:13).

• The distortion of true joy is sin (Jeremiah 2:13).

• The restoration of true joy is a mark of Christ’s transforming community (John 15:11).

• The object of ultimate joy is God—hence, seeking God as one’s exceeding joy ought to be the serious business of all Christ-followers (Psalm 43:4).

Then I will go to the altar of God,to God my exceeding joy,

and I will praise you with the lyre,O God, my God.

Psalm 43:4 

Do You Feel the Passion of Their Exceeding Joy in God?

How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had

once feared to lose! You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You

drove them from me and took their place, you who are

sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and blood,

you who outshine all light, yet are hidden deeper than

any secret in our hearts, you who surpass all honor,

though not in the eyes of men who see all honor in themselves. . . . O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.

Augustine of Hippo

Do You Feel the Passion of Their Exceeding Joy in God?

God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of him is our proper;

and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is

infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations

here. Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or

children, or the company of any, or all earthly friends.

These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams;

but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the fountain. These are

but drops, but God is the ocean.Jonathan Edwards

Do You Feel the Passion of Their Exceeding Joy in God?

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty

for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to

be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty

still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know

Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within

me. Say to my soul, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and

come away.” Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland

where I have wandered so long. A. W. Tozer

CrossWay’s spiritual direction [vision] for 2013 is:

“To seek GOD as our exceeding joy—corporately as well as individually.”

WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO SEEKING GOD AS OUR EXCEEDING JOY?

1) Seek God as your exceeding joy by realizing the INFINITE WORTH OF GOD in your life.

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from you.”3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,

in whom is all my delight.4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;

their drink offerings of blood I will not pour outor take their names on my lips. (vs. 1-4)

The infinite worth of God is only fully realized in our admission of poverty and depravity.The joy is to have the LORD, turning from gods.This realization must be personal and perpetual.

WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO SEEKING GOD AS OUR EXCEEDING JOY?

2) Seek God as your exceeding joy by DELIBERATELY PURSUING GOD always as your ultimate joy.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;you hold my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;in the night also my heart instructs me.8 I have set the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. (vs. 5-8) 

To deliberately pursuing God requires faith and training.This pursuit must be (1) active and (2) always.This disciplined pursuit is a gateway of faith into experiencing guidance, stability, and joy.

WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO SEEKING GOD AS OUR EXCEEDING JOY?

3) Seek God as your exceeding joy by learning THE PATH OF LIFE FROM GOD in all circumstances.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;my flesh also dwells secure.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (vs. 9-11)

Learning the path of life means to see and experience fullness of Joy and pleasures in the presence of the LORD.The learning is not just in good times but also in trials.Ultimately, GOD is our exceeding joy—not His blessings.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?And there is nothing on earth

that I desire besides you.26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26

Blessingsby Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peaceComfort for family, protection while we sleepWe pray for healing, for prosperityWe pray for Your mighty hand to ease our sufferingAnd all the while, You hear each spoken needYet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain dropsWhat if Your healing comes through tearsWhat if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're nearWhat if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR MATURING TOGETHER

1. What would be my first step toward realizing the infinite worth of God?

2. In what ways can I deliberately pursue God always as my exceeding joy?

3. What must be changed in me to experience God’s full joy and pleasures in my current circumstances?