Wide Awake - Awake & Alive - Sermons - Matt Chandler - 1/29/23

Ephesians 5:13-14
The gospel had radically transformed the city of Ephesus 15 years prior, but Paul is concerned that the believers’ are again being lulled into sleep by its wickedness. By deceit, rootlessness, the anxieties of the world, and the deception of worldly riches, we too begin to distance ourselves from God, gradually embracing the way of the world. The call is the same for us today-wake up, rise from the dead, and look to the light of Christ.
We exist to love God, love people, and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
WEBSITE: www.thevillage...
INSTAGRAM: / tvcfm
FACEBOOK: / thevillagechurch

[@emmalinehawkins2036]

I love this Church and their Pastor. This message helped me so much. Thank you🙏

[@raymond_tora]

So true! Our enemies tactics are very subtle. They start with a whisper. He'll even convince you that just one sin isn't going to hurt you. But scripture says, "we become slaves to whoever we choose to obey." (Romans 6) Just look at the far-reaching effects of just the one sin of our first spiritual parents.

[@SarahLester-xd2yu]

Anyway, to continue, I had wanted that verse as a tattoo for 2 years before the fire and when I went to get it as ink therapy after the fire, I realized that it actually went with what had happened that day. But in your sermon you started with THAT verse, so my ears were up immediately. Then you spoke of waking up, the house is on fire. I met my husband in AA as the Bible study teacher in a half way house, the fire was in the middle of our relapse, and today I have 102 days sober and he has 4 months. I don't want to be lulled back to sleep. I am chasing God with everything I can. I wonder what He's saying to me today with such a personal message. I'm going to listen to it again. Thank you for all you do. You're our favorite pastor. God bless you and keep you.

[@mscc8434]

Every morning, as I get ready for work, I watch one of your sermons. I live on a small farm in Indiana, so mornings are so quiet and TVC helps me to launch each day in worship and Word. I, like Pastor Chandler, start at my kitchen table…and I really have noticed that just that one practice of opening the Word and consuming it in practical portions has expanded my capacity to understand and to hold it in my heart. Thank you for sharing your ministry on here for those of us who can not attend in person. (I do have a small home church of about 60-75 that I attend as well). Thank you for posting the nine questions. I was going to try to google them and saw that someone else had already asked :) I thank God for you all.

[@LittleGirlLost]

Thank you, Pastor, for this.

[@vincestagbaugh703]

I always thought that believers are taught to pray "in Jesus' name." Why don't they do that at the Village Church? I always hear "Dear father" followed at the end by "It's in your beautiful name I pray" or "It's for your beautiful name I pray." If you open with "Dear Father" and then close with "in your name" that sounds like you are not praying in Jesus' name. Am I off base here?

[@kristyong4386]

Thankyou for asking this. I have wondered this for some time.

[@melodykeogh]

Search the bible for prayers and you will see that maybe all prayers begin/open with forms of 'Dear Father' and few, if any at all, end with 'in Jesus name'. The disciples asked Jesus how they should pray and He told them: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. When praying to 'Our Father in Heaven' - is assurance that we are praying in Jesus name for we are boldly coming into His (The Father's) presence through Christ (in His covering, under His banner) as there is no other way into 'Our Father's presence. I think, sometimes we might get caught up with manmade 'formulas' to attempt to enter God's presence and we might think that adding 'in Jesus name' assures us of answered prayer, but all that is needed is to be in Christ, to enter into His presence, assured He hears us as Christ told us. I don't think you are off base at all as I am sure many also wonder about this. I'm not sure if my reply is of any help, but I'm sure when you read your bible, HolySpirit will open His Word and show you all you need to know. God Bless. xxx

[@ryanjamietaylor1134]

Trinity

[@PennyJackson123]

Prayers is between you and God. Do you think our Loving, Gracious, and Merciful God cares about that? Our God hears us even when we pray in our thoughts alone, too afraid to speak up, to shy to open our mouths. He hears and sees everything. As long as it’s coming from our hearts, that’s what the scriptures say. As long as the words spoken to God isn’t a performance in front of the crowd, as long as our words come from the heart we are doing it right.

[@beccapotamus4538]

Repetition in prayer is never recommended and discouraged, per the Bible There's no mandate on how to pray anything verbatim. Only the Lord's Prayer per Jesus... when you break it down and use it as a guideline, you've praised God, given him glory and acknowledged His power, given thanks, asked for blessing and forgiveness, and asked Him to continue guiding and protecting you.

[@heatherh5268]

I have listened twice to this, about to listen again. I needed this message, and appreciate it.

[@SarahLester-xd2yu]

I woke up this morning after seeing the sky last night full of smoke from the Amarillo fires. I live in Lubbock. My house burned down 2 years ago and the smell of smoke still puts me in complete panic and fear of whoever might be in the fire. It's my day off so I like to listen to your sermons as a good start to my day. I don't know exactly what God is saying this morning but the verse you read Awake oh sleeper, is the tattoo I got after our house fire because most people don't wake up. They breath in the smoke and die. But God woke us up and we got out. My husband was burned from running through the house twice to make sure our babies weren't there. It was the first day after Christmas break and we didn't know in the chaos whether they were in their rooms or not. They were at school though. As my husband escaped out the front door, the back draft burned his head, arms and back. I was hanging out the bathroom window and he ran over to me and saved me

[@InHisImage999]

I love and respect this church immensely. This is needed. Thank you.

[@mrs.comeans6407]

His way of teaching is so interesting. I could sit & learn from him all day. Thank you , Matt

[@BrandonBustillos-dp9lo]

Absolutely blessed ✨ by this sermon Keep rockin over there Pastor Matt ✊ In Christ alone!!!! ✝

[@chalky_white]

Hi family! 👋🏼

[@anisaskcirmoht57]

👋🏾

[@emmalinehawkins2036]

Please post the 9 questions on Google. I'm old and can't write that fast

[@InHisImage999]

1. How real has God been in your heart this week? 2. How clear and vivid is your assurance and certainty of God's forgiveness and fatherly love? 3. Are you having any particular seasons of sweet delight in God? 4. Do you really sense His presence in your life? 5. Have you been finding scripture to be alive and active? 6. Are you finding certain biblical promises extremely precious and encouraging? Which ones? 7. Are you finding God challenging you and calling you to something through the word? How? 8. Are you finding God's grace more glorious and moving now than you have in the past? 9. Are you conscious of a growing sense of evil in your heart and in response, a growing dependence on the grasp of the preciousness of the mercy of God? God bless sister 💚

[@grammym8262]

Thank you! ❤️

[@zmeradelscavemanmoore4488]

@@InHisImage999 thank you

[@randihall578]

@@InHisImage999 thank you

[@dcschwanner]

Wait, when did his fake paid leave “church discipline” end? Not even a slap on the wrist.

[@AndrewKendall71]

✋

[@mynonameyt]

Check out Julie Roys podcast on Matt Chandler in the elephant room. Or the KZbin video where Joshua Chavez aka servus christi examines Matt Chandler. Then let's see what your thoughts are.