Dharius Daniels - Pull Up On Me

I want to talk about this subject during our time together. I don’t ask you to do this every week, but I want you to put this in the chat if you’re watching us live. Some of you watch us on the manage week and on YouTube, and that’s great. It’s not like the live experience, though; I’m telling you, it’s nothing like freshly baked biscuits out of the oven. I want you to drop this in the chat, as this is the title I want to attach to this text: put it in the chat and say, «Pull up on me.» For those who are watching and listening who may be perplexed by the phrase «pull up on me,» thank you. I want to spend some time unpacking and explaining what it means.

«Pull up on me» is an urban euphemism that has two distinct and different connotations. One connotation implies hostility. So when someone says, «I’m getting ready to pull up on you,» what they’re suggesting is, «I’m coming to settle some beef; I’m coming to lay hands on you,» or, in the words of Lil Scrappy, «to put the paws on somebody.» This is not our area of emphasis today, though, nor is it the connotation of this text in Luke. The other meaning of this term does not imply hostility; it actually infers hospitality. It suggests, «I’m about to come over; I’m about to hang out; we’re about to fellowship.» Listen to this: «I’m going to leave where I am and come where you are.»

This word, even though it has cultural connotations and has been culturally appropriated, also has theological implications because this is exactly what God did for you and me. The term we use in theological and academic circles to express «pull up on me» is the word «incarnation.» Through the incarnation, God pulled up on you. Incarnation is a term that’s used to describe the belief that Jesus was more than just a mere man; He was the fleshly embodiment of God Himself. Jesus, watch this, is God’s human representation to us of what godliness is like; He is God incarnate.

Here’s the lesson: the incarnation indicates God’s ability to show up in ways we don’t anticipate nor expect. As a matter of fact, during Jesus' time on earth, many in the religious community did not properly perceive who He was because they were entrenched in their own understanding and expectations about what the Messiah would actually look like. They did not realize that what they were praying for and hoping for, and what had been prophesied, was right in their midst. But because their answer showed up in a way that was inconsistent with what they expected, they missed their blessing, as their vision was blocked by their own blind expectations.

There are times, just like with them, that God deals this way with us. He shows up in ways that are inconsistent with our expectations. You see, some people think He only shows up in entrances. I’m telling you, He shows up in exits too. Some people think He only shows up with open doors. I’m telling you, He shows up in closed doors as well. Some people think He only shows up when people come into your life. I came to tell you, He shows up when some people walk out of your life. Some people feel like He only shows up when you’re being blessed. I’m telling you, He shows up when you’re being betrayed. Some people think He shows up—are you hearing what I’m saying? Some people think He shows up just in makeups. I’m here to tell you, He also shows up in breakups. Some people think He shows up when the answer to a prayer is yes. I’m telling you, He’s just as much God when the answer to a prayer is no, as He shows up in ways we don’t expect. It’s the incarnation; God will pull up on you in unexpected ways.

You’ve all experienced being pulled up on. Although this term «incarnation» primarily refers to God’s nature and essence, it can also be used to teach a larger pattern I want us to explore today. Here it is for my note-takers; here’s a sticky statement—not a point, but a sticky statement: you don’t remember sermons. I don’t remember sermons; I preached them, and I don’t remember all of them. There’s no way you can recall all of a sermon. You remember stories and statements. So here’s the sticky statement: the incarnation is an indication that God’s primary instrument of usage is people.

I’m going to say it again: yep, I’m going to say it again—the incarnation is an indication that God’s primary instrument of usage is broken, inconsistent, self-centered, narcissistic, ostentatious people. The God who possesses nothing—no modicum of imperfection—has decided that the main instrument I’m going to use to do my work on earth is the ultimate expression of imperfection. Did you hear what I just said? The One who is all things infinite, holy, pure, good, and consistent has made the decision: «I’m going to pull up on you by working through those who are inconsistent, selfish, self-centered, and struggling.»

The incarnation indicates that God’s primary instrument of usage is people. He’s the source of all creation, so He has used and can use all that is created. He used the wind to part the Red Sea; He used sound to knock down Jericho walls, and He used the whale to teach Jonah a lesson. However, He’s decided that what I’m going to use…