Dharius Daniels - You've Been Ghosted

I want to talk about this subject in our time together, family, very simply: «You’ve been ghosted.» Clap your hands at every location if you’re ready for God’s word. You’ve been ghosted! I want to LEAP into this lesson today by informing some and reminding others that out of all the words the Bible uses to describe the believer, listen to me, «normal» is not one of them. I have engaged in exploratory research, looking at the books of the law, books of history, wisdom literature, major prophets, minor prophets, the gospels, the book of Acts, the congregational epistles, the pastoral epistles, general epistles, and the eschatological book of Revelation. I have come to the conclusion that out of all those books, none of the words used to describe you and me are synonymous with «average.» The Bible uses words like chosen, royal, holy, salt, light, ambassador, beloved, protected, selected, elected, anointed, apple of God’s eye, more than a conqueror, head not tail, above only not beneath, lenders not borrowers. It uses these types of words to paint a picture of possibility for you and me. These descriptions are not intended to imply that we are not human; we are human. These descriptions are intended to imply that God has called, created, and commissioned us to be a different type of human. I’m a human, but I’ve been called, created, and commissioned to be a different type of human. As a matter of fact, this was the Apostle Paul’s critique to believers in Corinth in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse number 3, when he says to them, «You are still worldly, for since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?» I don’t have time to elaborate on that. He says, «Are you not acting as mere humans?» So he’s not saying that they shouldn’t be human; he’s saying they’ve been called, created, and commissioned to be a different type of human. And I want to know, am I talking to anybody in the room today who is in a season where you’re ready to embrace your difference? Come on here! Yes! This revelation should cause a revolution in the way you see yourself. You are not better than others, but you are called to be different from them. Come on here! You and I are not above others, but we should be distinct from them because all of the words that Scripture uses to describe you and me are words that indicate distinction. Our distinction is not always in our experience; sometimes, our distinction is in our outcome. It means that we might go through what everybody else goes through. We might wrestle with what everybody else wrestles with, but we won’t come out the way everybody else comes out. I may go in the fiery furnace like you, but I’m going to come out different. I may go in the lion’s den like you, but I’m going to come out different. I may go in the grave like you, but three days later, I’m going to come out different. I’m not called to be better than others; I’m called to be different from them. And I want to know, am I talking to anybody in this room who has an appetite for the extraordinary? In the Kingdom, we are unapologetic about being extra. When we say «extra» in the Kingdom, we don’t mean «extreme.» When we say «extra» in the Kingdom, we don’t mean «greedy.» «Extra» doesn’t mean «extreme»; it means more than what is typical. So I want to ask you again: am I talking to anybody who has an appetite for «extra,» for more than what is typical? Am I talking to anybody dreaming extraordinary dreams, carrying an extraordinary vision, praying extraordinary prayers? I don’t have an ordinary God, so I don’t have an ordinary expectation. If I’m talking to anybody who has an appetite for «extra,» then there’s something I saw in this Scripture in John 16 that I need to share with you. Do I have your permission to share it with you? Do you want me to share it with you? Are you ready for me to share it with you? Now, here it is for my note-takers: your ability to experience «extra» is tied to your willingness to be ghosted. Come on ATL, New Jersey Global! Someone talk back. I said your ability to experience «extra» is tied to your willingness to be ghosted. For those who are unclear, the word «ghosted» is a cultural colloquialism that describes the act of going absent without an explanation. You just stop returning texts; you just stop returning calls; you just stop showing up. Some of us can teach a master class, a webinar, and a seminar on how to ghost. You’re good at ghosting! But when many of us experience ghosting or facilitate ghosting, it’s done with people. I was reading John 16, and I see something else. I see people who are struggling with the idea of being ghosted by God. Before you judge them for what you see in the text, I want you to see yourself in them. Because truth be told, if many of us were honest, we would have to admit there are some seasons, some situations, and some circumstances where we think, «God, I know you’re here, but it doesn’t look like it.» God, I know you’re here, but it doesn’t feel like it. God, I know you’re here, but I’m waiting for you to show up. Is there anybody bold enough to admit that you felt like Christ on the cross?