Northland Church

Welcome to Northland!
Northland Church exists to glorify God as we participate in His mission of redeeming a people from all peoples by engaging neighbors and nations to be fully alive in King Jesus through the power of the Spirit.

NorthlandChurch.net

GOD'S MISSION:

God is on mission to REDEEM a PEOPLE from ALL peoples to REFLECT His GLORY in ALL Realms of life—thereby bringing Heaven to Earth.

MAIN POINT:

Joining God on Mission = Journeying with Him in Redemption

FIFTH LEG:

Learn how to LIVE in the WORLD without BEING like the WORLD

GENESIS 33:17-20

Jacob builds a house and makes shelters for his livestock in Succoth.

But then he moves on and buys a plot of land from Hamor—where he builds an altar and names the place, El Elohe Israel.

LIVING IN THE WORLD

• Violated
• Victimized
• “Jacobed”—
▫ Lied To
▫ Cheated
▫ Robbed
▫ Manipulated
▫ Exploited
• Confused
• Tempted
• Compromised
• Felt Pressured
• Experienced Hostility
• Faced Betrayal

LIVING SENT IN THE WORLD

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.” (Matthew 10:16-17)

• Prudent
• Discerning
• Aware
• Cautious
• Pure
• Gentle
• Peaceful
• Innocent

Syncretism is when the people of God keep the symbols of the covenant while adopting the cultural framework of the world.

COVENANT SYMBOLS

• Attend Church (when avail)
• Pray
• Use Bible Verses
• Sprinkled/Baptism—Communion
• Moral/Holiness/Purity
• Community
• Give

CULTURAL CO-OP

• Faithful to work, sports, leisure
• Mainly for “my” will to be done
• As a weapon to make my case....
• To pacify God—make ourselves “feel” religiously safe
• We stay away from the “Big” Sins
• Without accountability
• Leftovers; to Get....

Retaliate...
Revenge...
Attack...

Are any of these the Right Way to Live in the World? To Engage the World?

#3 - What is the Right Way to Live in the World?

Mediate To bring.... To reflect Heaven on Earth

Abraham intercedes on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah by asking God to spare not only the righteous, but the cities as well.

GENESIS 18:22-23

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

EXODUS 19:5-6

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

JEREMIAH 29:7

NEW TESTAMENT....

Be salt in the world Matthew 5:13
Be light in/for the world Matthew 5:14–16
Love your enemy Matthew 5:44
Pray for those who persecute Matthew 5:44
Make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19–20
Be “My” witnesses in the world Acts 1:8
Pray for the Lost 1 Timothy 2:1–4
Do good to all Galatians 6:10
Live transformed (Don’t Conform) Romans 12:2
Overcome evil with good Romans 12:21
Be ambassadors of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:18–20
Live honorably among Gentiles 1 Peter 2:12

RETURN/EMBRACE/ENCOUNTER THE HOUSE OF GOD—H.O.G...

✓ Teaches/reminds us of WHY we’re here

RETURN/EMBRACE/ENCOUNTER THE HOUSE OF GOD—H.O.G...

✓ Teaches/reminds us of WHY we’re here
✓ Teaches/reminds us WHO we are
• Reminds us of our Transformation (Jacob to Israel)
• Reminds us we’re God’s New Humanity (Fruitful/Multiply)
• Reminds us we’re God’s Distinct People (Nation/Community)

God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel. ” And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community (ekklesia) of nations will come from you....(vs. 10, 11)

✓ Teaches/reminds us of WHY we’re here
✓ Teaches/reminds us WHO we are
✓ Teaches/reminds us WHAT we are to do here
• Reminds us to Worship (Build Altar/Offer Sacrifice) vs. 1, 14
• Reminds us to Put Away Idols
• Reminds us to Purify/CleanseOurselves (Repent)
• Reminds us to Put Off Old/Put On New (Righteousness)

God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel . . . and build an altar there. ”So Jacob said to his household . . . , “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. (vs. 1–2)

✓ Teaches/reminds us WHAT we are to do here
✓ Teaches/reminds us of WHY we’re here
✓ Teaches/reminds us WHO we are
✓ Teaches/reminds us HOW we’re going to endure
• Reminds us God’s got us
• Reminds us God’s going to give us a KING (17:16)

Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them . . . and kings will be among your descendants [of Jacob]. (vs. 5, 11)