Making Room! (Partnership With The Holy Spirit)

Today we are finishing up a series that we began a few weeks ago called Following Jesus. We’ve talked about spending time with the one that wants to spend time with us, Jesus. We’ve talked about getting into God’s Word and studying it, knowing what He says to us. Last week I talked about how community was important for all of us. We need each other. Today we want to conclude this series by looking at something that is very important. Each of us need to make room for Jesus to be in our life. We need to partner up with the Holy Spirit and fulfill the work that God has called each of us to.

Before we begin, go to Luke 1:26. Let me begin by reading you Mary’s encounter with the angel that told her that she was going to be with child.

Luke 1:26–38 NIV

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

You have heard many Christmas messages based off this passage. I could do a whole other series just off this passage alone but I want to bring out one point from this passage.

Gabriel approaches Mary and asks her to Make Room for Jesus in her life. And what did she do, She Made Room.

Look at verse 38 again.

Luke 1:38 NIV

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Made Room

She was willing to be inconvenienced and create room in her life. And did you notice that the angel told her that the work in her would be from the Holy Spirit. If we make room for Jesus in our life the Holy Spirit will fill the space we create and will empower us for the work.

Following Jesus isn’t just about creating space in our schedule by going to church, it’s about creating space in your life for the Holy Spirit to work. The work that Jesus does in our lives begins with the internal and personal transformation. We move from just taking in the milk, to where we want steak. We don’t just crave the milk but we want the meat of what God is wanting to do in our lives. We move from being just a consumer to being a contributor.

As a church we want to give a service that will entertain you in a way that you desire more of God but it can’t stay there. If you are growing then you will only be a consumer. At some point you need to have grown to a point that you become a contributor. We don’t want to stay a stage that all we think about is “What’s in it for me?” Mary, became a contributor. She gave her life to give Jesus life. God’s not asking us to birth a Savior of the world. But He is calling on us to make room in our lives to bring Jesus to our world.

Here’s a question for you today.

What Could God Do If We Created Space for Him in Our Lives?

God isn’t asking us to be like Mary. He isn’t asking us to birth a Savior of the World. But He is asking us to take Jesus to the World.

Over 3 Billion People in the World are Currently Unreached by the Gospel

This is the world population. Now look at the US.

2011 - 75% Claimed to be Christian

Today

2021 - 63% Claim to be Christian

Do you see a problem?

Romans 10:14–15 NIV

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Some people think that the word preach is for the preacher or teacher. But if you look at the word preach in the Greek it is kerusso. It means to announce or proclaim something. All believers are sent to announce this Good News. The process of salvation begins with the one who tells another the good news.

The ending of verse 15 talks about beautiful feet. None of us think of feet as being beautiful. Usually you hear of feet being described as funky. Or we use words like toe jam to describe the stuff in between your toes but the Bible talks about beautiful feet. This statement is not about the feet themselves but the availability of those feet.

This is a quote from Isaiah 52:7, the herald is bearing good news to Judah about the end of their exile in Babylon and their return to their own land. His feet were beautiful to them, for his good news was so welcome. the message was what he brought, but it was those worn and dusty feet that brought him. Those feet were beautiful because they represented the messenger’s willingness to be sent with good news. Only now the message was not just for Israel, but for the whole world. You and I must take God’s great message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News.

Think about it this way...

What does your child do when they are thirsty? When they are young they ask you for a drink. So, you go to the cupboard to get a glass, to be able to get a drink for your kid, but as you reach for a cup, the cup starts talking to you. It says, “Oh, so sorry, you don’t want to use me. Now’s not really a good time.” You say, “I just need you to bring some fresh water to my kid who is desperately in need of a drink.” But then the cup begins to make excuses one right after the other.

I’m too dirty.

I’m too busy to get water at this time.

I’m too broken. I have a chip in the rim.

I’m just too average. There are better cups that you can use.

Of course, that would be crazy if that happened, but sadly, that’s kind of what happens to God when he’s trying to get a fresh cup of the living water of his grace to the world around us, but we’re so self-focused on our life or on the condition of “our cup” that we aren’t willing or available.

You Have Stinky Feet!

Because you aren’t making them available to take the Good News to the World.

Don’t Have Stinky Feet!

All of us have been given so much. So, I know that as a church you don’t want to stay a consumer.

Romans 12:1 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

The true richness in life is revealed as we take what we’ve been given and give it away. It’s what we are supposed to do and it’s what God commands us to do.

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Here are some ways that you can give Jesus room in your life...

1. Tell Your Story

Everyone of us has a story to tell about how God changed our life. If you are a Christian, then you have a story. If you haven’t asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life yet, then when you do you will have a story to tell.

Mark 5:19 NIV

19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

This man had just encountered Jesus and Jesus didn’t tell him to go to bible college or get some training or learn the ten commandments. No, Jesus told him to go and tell his story. Tell the people how much the Lord has done for him. Tell the people about the mercy God has shown you.

You encounter people everyday and if you will look for an opportunity God will give you one to tell your story.

2. Invite People to Church

A simple but powerful way to create space in your world is to bring people into your world and invite them to join you at church. And in order to give them another reason to come, invite them to lunch after as well.

There are statistics that say 85% of people will consider going if they were just invited. And the stats go up on Christmas and Easter. But you have to invite them. How many people came to church that you never invited? None of them because you never invited them. The worst thing that someone will tell you is no.

3. Lead People to Jesus Inside and Outside the Church

It is great for you to bring someone to church with you, but one of the most rewarding things is when you lead someone to Jesus outside the church.

You don’t need me to help you lead someone to the Lord. You can do that as well.

Romans 10:9–10 NIV

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

These two verses gives you the formula for leading someone to the Lord.

We need to spend time with God asking Him for opportunities to lead someone to the Lord. Ask Him for opportunities to invite someone to church. Ask Him for opportunities to tell your story.

Who Could God Bring a Cool, Refreshing Glass of Living Water to This Week?

Let me close with this.

God wants to partner with you and empower you to fulfill the great commission. Look at this great verse in Acts where Jesus tells them to go and wait for the gift and power of the Holy Spirit to come. And then verse 8 describes the impact of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 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.”

You’ll receive power to be a Witness! How are you going to spread the gospel and reach the world with the good news about Jesus? Through the fellowship and partnership with the Holy Spirit! He will empower you to TELL YOUR STORY!