Wesley Chapel Podcast: Recent Episodes
Wesley Chapel
This podcast is dedicated to reaching a global audience with sermons preached at Wesley Chapel. Wesley Chapel is an Evangelical Church within the historic Wesleyan-Arminian tradition. We are devoted to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to advance the Kingdom of God upon the earth. Our desire is to see men and women justified by faith and transformed by the power of grace. Sermons from Wesley Chapel are exegetical, doctrinal, and practical. Our prayer is that you will be challenged, encouraged, and transformed as you listen to these sermons. To God alone be the glory.
Marriage is a controversial topic in our society today. The Christian life is a life of submission. Wives are to submit willingly to their husbands, but husbands are not to demand submission. Submission to husbands is obedience to the Lord. There are different roles in marriage, but the worth of the wife and the husband is equal in the Lord. We need the grace of God to live out these callings. Husbands are to have the love for their wives like Christ does for the church and died on the cross for her. He is to play a role in the sanctification of his wife. Seek the Lord for the strengthening and healing of your marriage and the marriages around you.
We are formed through imitating others, as well as God. We are impacted and influenced by those around us. Who or what we imitate can benefit us or hurt us. Look at God as the basis for your behavior. Walking in love is a clear example of imitating God. Three areas Paul addresses to the Ephesians is sexual immorality, crude talking, and covetousness. These will prevent you receiving your inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Paul encourages us to be willing to let the Word of God expose any darkness in our lives as well as expose darkness in others. Engage in the process of learning to discern God’s will. Be filled with the Spirit of God.
Paul describes how our renewed lives react to life in our communities. He describes an ideal life in Christ and what we aim for. We must speak truth and be honest in our relationships. If we are free in Christ, then we are free to be open with others and freely known. Guard your heart and beware of anger deep in your heart. Don’t harbor thoughts of anger and hate. We need the grace of God to do this. Invest your life in what will allow you to give to those around you. Do your words give grace to others and to yourself? Paul tells us to use our words to build up. Christian kindness comes from an internal change of heart, not just an external change of behaviors. We can forgive others and forget what they did to us because God has forgiven us and forgotten our sins against Him. Don’t lose heart or fall into despair with this ideal life Paul describes. Trust in the grace of God to make us righteous.
Paul compares those who are outside the church with those who are inside the church. Outside the church we are not being built up, and we are tossed to and fro. We have little ability against the wind and the waves when we are not being discipled or have people to pray with. When we open our lives up to others and join with the church, we become mature and the body is built up. Paul then contrasts those outside of Christ with those who are in Christ. It’s only through Christ that our hearts can be softened. Outside of Christ we are on a downward spiral; but in Christ we can be saved through His grace. Will you receive the grace of God, or will you continue on this downward spiral? If you want to live in Christ, we must daily put off the old self. We must be renewed in our minds through reading the Word of God and prayer. Christ does the work of renewing, but we must submit to this work and be willing to let Him do it. What areas of your life need to be put off? Once you do, the Holy Spirit will fill you with Himself—with love, joy and peace.
In prayer we confess our needs and burdens to God. We know that God, our Father, is loving and caring so we can come to Him with our prayers. Paul prays that the inner man would be full of Christ. The reality of our eternal souls causes us to prioritize Christ first so that He is not just something added onto your life. May we have possession and come to know the love of God. Do you know Christ in this way? Or do you only have a 2 dimensional knowledge of the love of God? Is God’s love changing you and the way you life and think? Put to death the sin and hindrances that keep us from knowing God’s love. Having received the power and knowledge of the love of God, Paul now prays that we would be full of God and His love, grace and presence. God will give above and beyond what we ask or think. Are you asking? What’s your desire? If you don’t have this passion for God and His fullness, ask Him. If your passion is for other things, ask God to redirect your heart. Only Christ will satisfy your heart. He will not leave you empty if you come to Him with desire and passion to be filled.
Our culture tells us that we can make it on our own. But we can’t fulfill God's call on our lives on our own. We’re not created to be independent from God. God uses our inefficiencies to make known the Gospel. God in His grace will exchange our weaknesses for strength. Obedience to God’s call will lead to suffering in some way. Reflect on where God has you. Acknowledge that all you have is a gift of God. Spiritual gifts are given for the common good—for the benefit of others. It’s only through God’s grace that we can be made into effective ministers. It’s the working of God’s power in you that God uses on the earth.
Paul shifts from the individual to the community in Christ. Don’t forget what Christ has saved you from—from how far you’ve come. We are brought near to God but the blood of Christ. God has welcomed us in Christ, so we are to welcome all brothers and sisters. Allow the grace of God to bring you near to one another. Christ is our peace with God, and with one another. In Christ we are all new creations and all fellow citizens of Heaven.
Paul contrasts this new life in Christ to what we were before Christ. This should influence how we live now. Paul explains what we can be through grace. By nature, we are dead in the trespasses and sins. But God makes us alive together with Christ. He reverses the consequences of sin and dead.
Paul wanted the Christians in Ephesus to know the benefits that are provided to those in Christ and how to effectively use those benefits. Paul prays that the believers would be filled with and walk in the Spirit. Do you know Christ? Are you growing in your knowledge of Christ? Paul prays that the believer’s eyes would be opened more to know the hope, riches, and power of Christ. This is only available to those who have placed their faith in Christ. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to believers. Do you have the hope that Christ will eventually put all things under His feet?
Who am I? What gives me worth? We're told to be who we are, but this can lead to identity confusion. It creates a crushing burden because God did not create us to find out our own identity. He has given us an identity, in Christ. We come to be in Christ through faith. We are chosen, forgiven, and given the Holy Spirit. Are you in Christ? Have you experienced the abundant love and grace that God lavishes on us through Christ? Our sin separates is from God, so it’s only in Christ that we can be forgiven and redeemed and be brought into a right relationship with God. Through a union with Christ, we become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Nothing outside of Christ will give any satisfying identity or give you worth.
The resurrection is a controversial topic because if Christ is not risen, then we are of all men most miserable. The resurrection demands a response. We can’t be indifferent. Do you believe the claims of Jesus to be true? The resurrection means we can be free from death and sin. Wrestle in your own heart with this truth. The resurrection is for your eternal joy. Don’t be so disappointed and jaded from expectations you place on God not being met that you miss the truth of the resurrection. It is an invitation to be freed from sin and forgiven! It reminds us of hope today! It is for you today!
How will you react when you know that Christ, the King, is coming? The disciples had to submit to the authority of Jesus in order for the triumphal entry of Christ to occur. If you are faithful in the small things, like the disciples were in getting the donkey for Jesus to sit upon, then God will give you larger things to be faithful with. No task is too small in the Kingdom of God. The most important question to ask yourself is, “Who do you say that Jesus is?” Christ came to save us. Do you see your own need to be saved? Once we repent and believe, Christ will forgive us our sins, enter into our lives, and cleanse us from sin. How will you respond to the grace of God? Will you humble yourself and receive the Christ?
In this passage, Paul reminds the church about the Gospel. We could use daily reminders of the Good News too. The Gospel saves us initially and then continues to save us. We must repent and believe in the Gospel that is preached. We are unworthy of the grace of God--but don't be led to despair because of your unworthiness. Where sin increases, grace abounds more. The Gospel is the deliverance from darkness into light--from bondage to freedom. Only in Christ can we be made new creations.
Lean into the truths about the power of the Gospel seen in the stories of Acts. The same power is for us too. Consider the claims of the Gospel. The Gospel reminds us that God is good, even in opposition. His way is the best way. I can trust Him in my opposition. Respond to the grace of God given to you. Come to Christ through repentance. Then come to the sheepfold of the community of Christ.
We can allow our prejudices, efforts or religion to stand in the way of God and His work. The Lord must break down our wrong beliefs before we can be used by God to lead others to Christ. Our prejudices will get in the way of us reaching out to others. We can’t clean ourselves up before we come to Christ. The Gospel is the only way to transform us and make us right before God. Every time we tell someone that they need to externally change themselves instead of pointing them to Christ, we stand in God’s way. We need to trust in the Holy Spirit and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Remain faithful to God and He will complete the work He has begun in you.
We live in a world that is divided and often these divisions lead to hostility, hatred, and even violence. The human race is divided according to ethnicity, culture, political views, religion, personality, etc. But in the midst of all of this God has provided the only way for humans to be reconciled to one another, and that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. In this sermon we will see how the gospel breaks down the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles and how the gospel offers us hope that all dividing walls of hostility in our time can be broken down as well. This is illustrated in the story of Cornelius and Peter found in Acts 10.
This is the story of Saul. Saul was the foremost persecutor of the church. His conversion is a reminder of the power of the Gospel and the grace of God to reach anyone. Saul tried to quiet the Gospel, just like many today try to silence the voice of God calling them to repentance. It is the grace of God that stirs us to repentance. God is merciful and longsuffering. He is willing to bear with our faults with the hope that we might come to Him. But we must respond to this grace. Saul was willing to stop being stubborn and his eyes were opened. Just like Saul, there is hope that no one is too far from the grace of the Gospel. If we will respond to this grace and give all of ourselves to God, He will give all of Himself to us.
This sermon looks at a biblical vision of evangelism. It is God-centered and led by the Holy Spirit based on the proclamation of Jesus Christ through the Scriptures. The sermon shares the story of when Philip went to the eunuch in the desert. He was in touch with the Holy Spirit and was led by Him. Trust the Lord to where He’s leading you in your ministries. Obey His leading and it will become more and more clear as to why He’s leading you in a certain why. Have a complete dependence upon the Spirit while evangelizing. The Lord will open doors, but we have to take steps of faith.
After Stephen is martyred, the disciples are scattered and Philip brings the gospel to Samaria, where amazing works are done through his ministry. At this point, Luke introduces us to Simon to bring our attention to the danger of self-importance. Simon and Philip illustrate a contrast between promoting our own influence or for the influence of the gospel. Who are you preaching through your life? In Simon, we have a warning to not use the gospel to advance our goals. God is not a way to have life; He is life. We can become like Simon when there are motives in our heart other than the gospel. If this is us, we can repent, make our lives about Christ and be filled with rest in Him!
We can learn two things from the murder of Stephen: an encouragement from Stephen’s boldness, and a warning from those who murdered him. Have you truly received the Gospel? Are you hiding behind external things, or religious things to protect you from the Gospel? What are you holding on to that is preventing you from obeying God’s call? Beware of being so focused on the externals that you miss Christ. This will cause you to harden your heart and to use external things as weapons against those who are trying to speak truth into your life. Have you begun to resist the Holy Spirit? If so, repent now! Look to Christ alone for forgiveness.
This passage describes opposition for the first church coming from within the church. Some started complaining stemming from bitterness and feeling left out. One individual’s disgruntled behavior can have an effect on a large number of people. Discontentment can lead to isolation and separation. It hinders joy in your life and prevents you from seeing what God is doing around you. When discontentment arises, ask for help. Don’t isolate yourself and try to do it on your own. We need each other. In the passage, the Hellenists and the Jews needed to come together to find a solution to their problem. God used the situation to create unity between the groups. Don’t let discontentment divide. The church needs each other to become better.
Spiritual deception will slow down the momentum of the growth of the church. Therefore, we must all take time for self-examination. The power of the Gospel unites all people and brings people together who may be very different. The evidence of the mind of Christ is love for others. An increase in selfishness is a cause for self-examination. The power of the Holy Spirit is revealed in giving and sacrificing for one another. We are no longer our own, and we give of our time, money and resources. What is your vision for the church community? Are you willing to give of your time, resources and money for the kingdom of God? Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Lord and to the church. They wanted to appear a certain way before others and wanted glory for themselves, not God. Do I practice spiritual deception? Do I want to appear a certain way before others? If so, repent of this now! Ask God to change any deceptive motives and ways. He is able to make you new and keep you from stumbling. See the possibilities of God’s grace to transform you.
This sermon describes how to respond when we are met with opposition. The apostles didn’t have all the answers to the opposition they faced, but they were confident in Christ. Opposition will try to have you question what you really believe. Do your words and actions identify with Christ? Who do you say that Jesus is? Who is Lord of your life? We all must face the opposition that is from within us. Work through these thoughts and confess them to Jesus. Come to a biblical understanding of the conflict. Opposition will also try to wear us down by telling us that our beliefs are impractical and unreasonable. Stand and confess what you know to be true. Opposition drives us to pray for help. Pray for boldness and healing. God cares for you. He will make Himself known to you when you cry out to Him.
This passage shows how the disciples were not isolated from the rest of the world and how they brought the Gospel to those who needed it. The sermon describes what God can do through a Spirit-filled church. Like Peter and John with the lame man, when we are walking in the Spirit we will be willing to give of our time, money and resources. Examine yourself--are you growing in selfishness or selflessness? We need to give people the Gospel, not just what they want. Only the Gospel can transform a heart and life. Are you willing to go out and impact others with the message of the Gospel? Or are you too focused on self? Our ministry is to draw attention to Christ and His power, not towards man.
The book of Acts describes the birth of the Church under the headship of Jesus Christ. Church needs to have orthodoxy of doctrine and the reality of community. Mutual love for each other must be lived out. Jesus says this is how others will know that we are Christians. The people of the church must all share the experience of conviction of one’s own sin and repentance of that sin. The Gospel reveals that we are sinners and that we cannot save ourselves. It is only the grace of God that offers forgiveness of sins. Without this experience first, we don’t have a church. Gospel people must then give themselves to Gospel doctrine. The disciples continually devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and were committed to learn and submit to this teaching. Doctrine will define fellowship. You must give of yourself for something greater--for this community. Gospel people who are following Gospel doctrine then create a Gospel culture. We can’t only have strong doctrine--we must also have strong relationships. Don’t hold up your own convictions as walls preventing you from opening up completely and entering in to this Gospel culture. When we unite together under the authority of God, revival happens. The Lord will add to our numbers. The same realities that happened in the first church can be seen in our lives too because it is the same God and Holy Spirit working. Creating a Gospel culture will take time, patience and commitment. Look to God for the grace to see this happen. God will not fail in your life. Trust Him as He calls you to fellowship and community.
The church of Christ, and individual Christians, must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples to not even go out until they had received the Holy Spirit. In our day, we see two extremes of the Holy Spirit. The first is a neglect of the Holy Spirit and a focus on self to do the power of God. The second is manifestations of the Spirit that overshadow the Gospel. Neither of these are seen in the book of Acts. The disciples knew their need for the power of God in order to accomplish what Jesus had told them. Only Christ is able to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Christ must be in you. After Pentecost, all regenerate Christians have the Holy Spirit in them--not only just dwelling with them. What had been external must become internal. Have you been truly born again? Or is your experience external only? The disciples were able to speak in other languages so that the unbelieving crowd would believe. They were supernaturally endued with this power to show that the Gospel was ready to be preached to every nation. There is not place for racism, therefore everyone heard the Gospel in their own language. This is to exalt the mighty works of God. The work of the Spirit is to exalt Jesus Christ, never to take away glory from Him. Any signs and wonders that don’t glorify Christ are not a work of the Holy Spirit. Once Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit he was able to preach with conviction and power. Have you received the gift of the Holy Spirit? If you repent and believe, you will receive this gift. Pray continually to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
In the book of Acts we see the power of God working through men. This was a transition period for the disciples where they had to examine themselves. Examine your own heart to see what your aim is and what you want out of life. God wants us to place Him in our decisions and plans for the new year. Jesus tells the disciples to take what they saw while He was on the earth and move forward knowing the purposes and cause of His will. He wants us to press further into a life of purpose in order to carry on the mission that Christ started on earth. He calls us out of nostalgia and idleness and into the will of God. The disciples thought that when the Holy Spirit comes, He would restore the Kingdom quickly. But like them, we must align our hearts with what the will of God is. Jesus tells the disciples that the kingdom that is going to be restored is against the power of sin. We are given the authority to be witnesses--to testify to the validity of Christ and His Kingdom because we have experienced Him ourselves. Our place in the church is to bear witness of Christ. God gives us this power and authority. He promises to furnish us with the power we need to be witnesses in this world. Submit yourself to serve wherever God has placed you. Go in the power that is given to you. Commit yourself to God’s call and purpose.
The Christmas story is the story of the Gospel--that Christ came born in a manger to die on the cross. When Christ came as a baby there was a lot of political and spiritual oppression. The people claimed to be free but were in bondage to the Roman government. Today also, many people claim to have freedom, but live in bondage to sin. Jesus says that everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The reason Christ came as a baby on Christmas was to set us free from sin. When people are confronted with sin, they will either deny it, or will try to fight it in their own strength. The message of the Gospel tells us that we are unable to save ourselves from sin, and that Christ is the only way to be free. Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph during a frustrating and inconvenient situation. Having to travel for the census and then having no room at any inn, it was a stressful time. But the whole story was in the hands of God just as our lives are in the hands of God for His purposes and plans. God reveals Himself and the redemption story to those who are poor and needy. The angels came to the shepherds because they were the ones who realized their need for a Savior. The good news that they told was that salvation has come for all people. Peace and reconciliation with God are offered through repentance and faith. How will you respond to the grace of God? Christ, who was born in Bethlehem, must be born in your heart. Will you go and see the Christ like the shepherds did that Christ might be made known to you? Will you make this good news known to others? Will you treasure up these truths in your heart? Will you glorify and praise God for all you’ve heard and seen?
What do you find contentment in? Do you look to be satisfied or fulfilled in relationships, success, or financial security? We can create pressure on others trying to achieve these things in our own lives. Advent is a time of expectation. Christ doesn’t always meet our expectations as we may desire though. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s desire to have children would be fulfilled in John, but it wouldn’t be as they desired because John would be set apart for the Lord’s purpose. He would belong to God and Zechariah and Elizabeth would have to surrender and trust God that He would provide contentment beyond what they could see. They were challenged to let go of ambition and to surrender their expectations in order to receive what God had for them. We can’t encounter God at an arm’s length, or be bystanders. We must submit to the life God is calling us to. This becomes our witness and testimony of Christ to this world. What expectations do you have that prevent you from submitting to God’s plan for you? God keeps His promises so we can trust Him. Learn to find contentment in Christ alone. God is able to save and He has raised Christ up for us to save us because we are unable to save ourselves. Do you realize how often you need Christ to satisfy your needs, and to save you from your enemies? We have received mercy from God so that we might show mercy to others. In Christ, the wait is over. The Light of the world, the Dayspring from on high, has come.
Mary believed what the angel had spoken to her and she surrendered her will to the Lord. The angel told her that Elizabeth was pregnant, so Mary went with haste to visit Elizabeth. When she visited, Elizabeth was temporarily filled with the Holy Spirit. This was a sign of what was to come after Pentecost where the Holy Spirit would reside in people continually. Mary believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises--what about you? We need consistent Christian fellowship for confirmation that God’s promises are true. We need to hold fast the confession of our faith throughout the week, and then when we see each other again, we need to stir up each other and encourage one another. Mary revealed her faith by her actions. Will you receive the gift of faith as Mary did? The focus of Mary was in God alone, not in herself. She acknowledges that she didn’t do the work and that she is humble and lowly. She knows that God is holy, and also merciful. The proud rely on their own strength but the message of the Gospel is complete dependence upon the power of God. Mary acknowledges the faithfulness of God. Christmas is proof that God is a covenant-keeping God. The coming of Christ was promised thousands of years earlier and finally is fulfilled here. Will you doubt the promises of God or will you humble yourself before the Lord and receive the good news?
This passage takes place during a season of expectation for the people of Israel. It was a dark and hopeless time but they were holding on to the promise of a coming King. Nazareth was a place of mixed people, and filled with corruption and poverty. Mary was a typical Jewish person of the time, living under the Roman Empire with the shame of her people. But God had chosen her as a recipient of His divine favor. Mary realized she was in need. This is what God looks for--people who know their need. God tells Mary that He will take away their shame by bringing salvation to her people. Christ’s coming is an end to our slavery and fears. Like Mary’s people preparing for the first coming of Christ, we are to prepare for the second coming of Christ. The purpose of Christ’s coming is to destroy the works of the devil and the hold of sin in our lives. He came to give a future hope of a coming Kingdom without end. God is mindful of us. If we will receive Christ and believe in the Gospel, we can have peace with God. In seasons of expectation, we can become indifferent and doubt. If this happens, turn to God in prayer. Ask Him to help you to trust Him. Advent reminds us that God answers His promises. Mary resigned herself to the will of God. She was submissive and obedient to His will and committed herself to it. Will you do the same? See the promise of God and what it means to you specifically, and then commit yourself to that.
The text for this sermon takes place during a time of oppression and darkness for the people of Israel. They were under the dominion of the Roman Empire, and it had been 400 years since God had spoken to them through the prophet Malachi. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both blameless before God but Elizabeth was barren. This was the result of God’s providence. Her trials revealed that when we are weak, God is shown strong. Seasons of trial refine our faith and draw us to God. During 400 years of silence from God, there were probably many Israelites who had lost hope. But the windows of revelation were opened when the angel appeared to Zechariah declaring the birth of John the Baptist. Zechariah had become accustomed to the silence and barrenness so when he saw the angel, he became agitated and doubted him. This is a lesson to us to not become weary. We do this by abiding in Christ and knowing that you can do nothing without Him. We are to persevere in prayer and trust in God. There is no point in your Christian life when you have arrived. We always have further to go. Zechariah wanted a sign and didn’t want to go by faith. But the work of God will go on whether you believe Him or not. Faith is a gift that must be received. The work of God will be fulfilled in its time. Endurance will produce character, and character brings hope. Elizabeth looked to God and what He could do. This Christmas season, celebrate the hope of the Gospel. Don’t become weary, and hope in the promises of God to be fulfilled in their time.
God means for His people to do good while we are here on earth. We will be tempted to grow weary in doing good. Doing good involves being intentional and looking for opportunities. We must know why and how to do good so that we don’t become bitter. Connect your reason with a greater purpose than just out of mere obligation to Jesus’ command. God is calling us above traditions and duties. We are called to love unconditionally and unnaturally. This love is not based on merit, but a choice against your comforts and what the culture says. We don’t have the ability to love like this in ourselves. If you only love those who love you, there is no proof of grace in you. In ourselves, we want to be congratulated for doing what we’re told. We want faith and love on our own terms where we are recognized and our Christianity is all about us. But Jesus wants to show us that there is a greater reality and purpose to loving our enemies and doing good. He wants us to long for Himself and His Kingdom, not selfish desires. So consider your reward for doing good. This isn’t winning the affection of others, but an eternal inheritance. Christ is our reward and our reason for loving others. Long for heaven and remind yourself that we are living for a glory yet to come. Consider your calling in the right perspective. God is to be your central affection. Know that you are a son or daughter of God, and live like one. When we were unworthy, Christ gave us worth. When we were unkind and evil, God had mercy on us. We too can have mercy on those who we deem to not deserve it. This power to love is not found in ourselves but God has given us His Spirit in order to fulfill our calling.
During impossible situations in your life, where do you turn to for confidence? The Lord’s command to Moses to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land was impossible. So Moses went face-to-face with the Lord in his time of impossibility. Do you look to yourself or to the Lord during impossible situations? You must realize that you can’t find the resources or strength within yourself, and then go to the Lord. Do impossibilities bring you to meekness or prideful self-sufficiency? Where I am not sufficient, God is sufficient. Go to the Lord as you speak to a friend. As a Christian, you have access to the throne of grace. Moses’s desperation led him to pray confidently. Do you pray with this assurance? Christ has opened the way for us to God, so we can pray boldly. Have confidence that the Lord will bring to completion the work He calls you to. Unite rest with faith. The Lord’s presence promises future victory. We must take the promise of God by faith. This is the assurance of things hoped for. The Lord is sovereign and all-powerful and we are utterly dependent upon Him. God provided Moses a cleft in the Rock so that he could stand before Him. He also provides us with the same type of covering when we stand before Him--Jesus Christ. He is our Rock and covers us when the wrath and punishment of God passes by. Are you in Christ? In the cleft of the Rock?
We need to embrace the reality that we can live in the promises of God. Dig into the end results of your beliefs. Don’t be fooled into looking to this life for joy and satisfaction. We are only jars of clay. We are of little worth, frail, and weak. These jars of clay do not become powerful, but instead grow in weakness. Don’t be ashamed or afraid of this. God calls us and welcomes us in our weaknesses. This is so that the surpassing power of God is known. It is only by the power of God that we are not crushed when we are afflicted. My personal theology must acknowledge that I am weak. This is the only way to see God’s love and sufficiency. Submit yourself to your frailty and weakness. See that there is an eternal weight of glory prepared for you. This will empower you to live how Christ calls you. You need a confidence and hope of the future in order to live how you’re called to in the present. Paul knew of the resurrection of Christ and in the end, our resurrection. This was his confidence so he was able to die daily. Does the resurrection only seem like a distant fuzzy event unrelated to your life? Let the doctrine of the resurrection shape your daily life. Our hope is in our transformation beyond this life. If your future hope is embedded in the truths of the resurrection, your life will look very different than if you only live for today. Paul saw grace to endure because he knew what God was preparing and purposing for him. We know our future end, so let this inform your present. The culture will try to define you, but be defined by God and His promises for you. Look forward to the coming glory. You can face today because Christ is preparing you for a future hope.
Martin Luther rediscovered the Gospel through these verses. Today, we too need to be reminded that the Gospel is the only hope for the world and the basis of our salvation. There are many things in this world that people look to for confidence, hope and strength. For Paul, the Gospel gave him freedom from being ashamed, but it also was the source of his being shamed. How do you react to the shame of the Gospel? Do you hate those who shame it? If so, you will be of no use for the message of the Gospel. No matter how others saw him, Paul still felt under obligation to preach the Gospel. We too must continue to preach even to those who shame the Gospel. We cannot love this world in our own strength though; it is only possible through the love of Christ being poured out to us by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel provides all the power we need our weakness. We do not have the strength for salvation; it is only the Gospel that can provide this power. The Gospel transforms from the inside out. Sin is so deep that it is only the Gospel that can deliver us. The Gospel reveals the righteousness of God through the cross and through faith. Because of sin, we deserve the wrath and punishment of God. But through the redemption that is in the cross of Christ, we are set free and delivered. Righteousness is given as a gift through faith. We don’t work for this gift, only receive it. Paul encourages us not to turn to works or religious efforts for righteousness but that our works will be the fruit of our righteousness. The righteous continuously walk by faith. So where do you place your confidence? Your hope? Be reminded that the message of the Gospel alone is the source of our salvation.
We are all weak. Are you weaknesses frustrations to you, or are they ways that God shows His goodness to you? A weakness isn’t something that you aren’t good at; they speak to a lack or deficiency. Paul in this passage wants us to embrace weakness so that we see we need God. We want to be strong and independent though so we try to hide from the realities of weaknesses. This creates pressures upon ourselves to appear a certain way. Paul instead submitted to the reality of who he was. When we see our weaknesses compared to what we want to be, it can cause bitterness in us if we don’t embrace those weaknesses. Wrestle with the fact of who you really are, not the image or persona others see. Do you see your weakness as an inconvenience or a mistake? Or do you see it as a grace from God to be benefited from? Our thorns are given as gifts. Do you accept those gifts? Thorns reveal our weaknesses so we may rely on God and not ourselves. God tells us that He is sufficient and that He will support us if we willingly accept our weaknesses. God’s strength will be seen and perfected in our weaknesses. We can rejoice in weakness because it leads us to experience the power of God. We do this for the sake of Christ. Self-sufficiency is not the message of the Gospel. Paul gladly boasted in whatever made Christ prominent. God shows us our weaknesses so that His strength can be seen. God wants us to rely upon Him and see that He is working all things for our good. Who will be seen in your life: you, or Christ? Examine your heart--will you embrace your weaknesses seeing that there is a purpose in them? We can be content in weaknesses. Don’t run from them; run to Christ and His strength.
In this passage, the disciples meet Jesus after His resurrection at the place He had directed. They fell down and worshipped Jesus when they saw Him resurrected, but some doubted. We too can be in a place where we acknowledge Jesus intellectually and publically, but still doubt Him in our hearts. Our outward witness only becomes inward by the Holy Spirit witnessing to our hearts. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit once we are born again that we have been adopted into God’s family. All believers are filled with the power of the Spirit. This is necessary for us to be witnesses. Do you have the assurance of the witness of the Spirit? This isn’t only an intellectual assent, but a change of heart and a realization that what was done on the cross was done for me. If you doubt, surrender your fears to God and ask Him for help. He will provide. In the Great Commission, Jesus first declares His authority to the disciples, putting the emphasis on Him and not the disciples. The commission is only possible because of the authority of Christ. We must understand that Christ’s Kingdom is over all things. What God calls us to do is only possible because of the authority of Christ. If you become anxious or fearful, you are losing sight of this and looking at yourself. Don’t try to complete the work of Christ in your flesh. Christ has already done the work--we are only vessels. We are called to both make disciples and teach them. Disciples are made through preaching, but we need the supernatural work of God to do this, not our own resources. The presence and influence of Christ is still with us. Know that Christ is in us and working through us. He alone is our founder and perfecter.
Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus asks us, “Who do YOU say that I am?” Disciples can’t rely on the testimony of others—we must individually say that He is the Christ. Jesus is Himself the Good News. Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame. Christ is the revelation of God. He makes God known; He is God in the flesh. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Do you see all things being held together by Christ, even in the midst of trials? We don’t yet see all things in subjection to Christ but we must trust Him in His promises. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ. Our trials are being used to form us into the image of Christ. Christ is the head of the church. He is the perfect Savior and our only source of salvation. Through Christ’s work on the cross, all things can now be reconciled back to God. See Christ by faith. Be willing to let Christ reconcile your body, soul and spirit to God. Christ came to deliver us from our sin and depravity which alienated us from God. We were slaves to sin and our condition was hopeless. But Christ came to reconcile us back to God and our original state. We can now have peace with God. Through the complete work of Christ on the cross, we can be completely reconciled. After justification, the Holy Spirit continues to do a work in our lives in order to present us holy before God. He must transform us and will destroy the works of the devil in us. Christ is the One who keeps us. He will bring His work to completion. As you walk by faith, stable and steadfast, the work of God will continue in your life. Fix your eyes on Jesus and don’t shift your gaze from the hope of the Gospel of Christ.
There are two themes in this sermon: who the Gospel says you are, and who the Gospel says God is. There are many influences around us telling us who we are. It’s important to know if these voices are right. Consider the Gospel and its call on your life. Find your identity in the Gospel. Christianity is a converting religion--we can be changed and transformed through Christ. Do you take seriously the claims of the Gospel in your life? Continue to press into the truths of the Gospel among the voices and influences. The Gospel is the power of God to transform us. Paul writes his letter to Timothy exhausted from living in this world but he moves his attention away from the world and gives thanks for the Lord for giving him strength. Remind yourself of who you are in Christ when you’re exhausted. The world and our own minds will continue to remind us who we aren’t. This leads to unrest. Paul was able to experience present blessing because of past experiences and grace throughout his life. When we are faced with trials and mistakes, remember that we have received grace and mercy from God. Stand upon the truth that Christ came into the world to save sinners. Rest upon this truth. Our Good Shepherd guides and keeps us. Acknowledge your continual need for the Shepherd. Life will be unfulfilling and joyless if we take on a lesser view of who we are in Christ. See that your life is to be used to display the love of Christ to this world.
Peter followed Christ at a distance purposefully. He undoubtedly had a storm raging in his mind from the events of the night. Earlier, he told Jesus that even if he had to die with Jesus, he would not deny Him. God continually humbled Peter throughout the night in regards to his flesh, mind, and strength. This caused Peter to turn inwardly and be self-absorbed. When the Lord reveals weaknesses to us, it can cause us to be resentful--often towards those whom the Lord is using to show us our weakness. The Lord will use our trials, struggles, as well as brothers and sisters to reveal our weaknesses so that we see our need for Christ, and for repentance. Peter refused to let go of where and who he thought he was. Often we begin seeking a testimony against what the Lord is speaking to us when our pride has been hurt. A choice must be made: either to humble yourself and surrender to God’s grace, or to harden your heart. Don't mock Christ or your brothers in Christ when your weakness is revealed. Peter denied Jesus in order to preserve himself. He didn’t want to confess his weaknesses and failures, but once the rooster crowed the second time, he saw his weakness and desperate need for a Savior, so he broke down and wept. Jesus told the disciples that they would all leave Him, but He also told them that He is going before them to Galilee. Therefore, we don’t need to rely on our own strength. Admit that you can’t do this alone. Jesus will restore you. What is God revealing to you about yourself? What is He telling you to repent of? Don’t resent those God uses to reveal to you who you are. Humble yourself and repent. God is going before you and will restore you if you repent.
What is the ultimate purpose of life? You were created for something greater than yourself. God has been working in your life to bring you to this knowledge. If life is purposeless, it creates a fear of tomorrow and an unsatisfied today. What is your theology of life? Our life is more than fleeting moments without purpose. God is infinitely involved in each of our lives. He was present in Joseph’s life and working on his behalf. God is good—let this define your moments. He is with you and is making all things work together for good in your life. We have been called in God for a purpose and He will complete that purpose. God will never forget us and is providentially caring for you. Joseph had every reason to doubt God and His care, but he held to the promise of who God is--that He is good, sovereign and working all things for his good. Joseph believed God was trust-worthy and intended his good. What do I believe is true of God? Joseph struggled during his time of waiting. Remain humbly submitted to the will of God believing that God is sovereign and has a purpose for the time of waiting and struggle. Waiting brings anxiety and fear, and it challenges us to trust God. Our seasons of waiting are meant to bring us to maturity. These seasons are meant to perfect us and lead to fruitfulness and show God’s promise and concern for us. So rest your life in God’s hands. Let God be enough for you. Disappointment tries our trust in God, but God works in our waiting and is shaping us. God works all things together for good. We have been called in God for a purpose and He will complete that purpose. God will never forget us. Our lives are not without purpose.
What does love mean? There are four greek words for love. Eros is erotic love or a love of passion. It is a self-satisfying love. Phileo is brotherly love. It means an affection and involves a giving and receiving. Storge is the natural affection we have for our families. And then there is agape which has its origins in God. It is an unconditional love that has a consuming passion for others. John wants us to have agape love for others. He encourages us to give for others and lay down our lives for each other even if we don’t get anything in return. Agape love is not naturally within us. God gives it to us as a gift. It is poured into our spirits from the Holy Spirit. Are we being transformed by the grace of God? Or are we becoming more selfish? If you do not love, you do not know God. The ultimate illustration of the love of God is Christ on the cross. The love of God was made visible by Him giving us His Son as a propitiation for our sin that we might live through Him. Since God showed us love, we are to love one another. It’s through our love for one another that others will see God. The fruit of the Spirit is love. Our love is to testify or bear witness of God. In order for us to testify of this love, we must first experience the love of God transforming our own hearts and lives. By abiding in God and Him in us, our love is perfected. This leads us to have a confidence on the day of judgement because we know the transformation of love in us. God does not desire to leave any of us where we are. He desires to transform us. We can only love others because God first loved us. It’s only when we look to the cross of Christ by faith that we can know the love of God.
Two questions to consider in this sermon are: who was God to Abram and what results did this cause in Abram’s life? Remember that God is not only our companion in life, but He is also sovereign over all the world. He holds all of creation in His hands. When we live with this realization, it takes away our fears. God wants us to have a profound confidence in Him. We can entrust our uncertainties to God because He is in control over all things. When God called Abram, he was wealthy, had a wife and servants, and had a plan for himself. But God called him out of his comforts. Embrace the life God is calling you to. God wants to redefine your concepts and thoughts of Him. He calls us out of our limitations and conclusions of life. Let these things go so that God can show you who He is. There is a promise of something to come and God is faithful to bring that promise to pass. Press in deeper to this redefining process. God is trustworthy. God called Abram out of his conclusions and then promised him blessing. God speaks to the fears Abram might have had with his calling. Allow God to be your comfort, peace, and joy. God tells Abram that ultimately through your life others will be blessed. Learn how satisfying it is in finding worth in something greater than only living for your life. Relinquish control and let God redefine who you are. Abram decided to trust God and he stepped away from his comforts and conclusions. He willingly stepped out of his boundaries in order to press into God. He acknowledged that God is his God and built altars to testify who God is. Do you trust God to be who He says He is? Will you set aside your comforts and conclusions in order to press into God?
Both sons in this parable had similar tendencies. They both questioned their individual identity and these questions cause us to ask our own questions. What is your end vision? What are your longings and desires? What do you think happiness looks like? How does this relate to what the Gospel says? The younger son was unsatisfied and unfulfilled with the comforts of his father’s house. He loved independence and grumbled at what he did not have. He was motivated by finding his own self-worth. He couldn’t rejoice with what he had so he became a slave to what his expectations of his life should be. He soon realized he was the hindrance of enjoying God. His father has compassion on him and runs to him as he returns. The love of our Father is infinite. Our sonship is based only on God’s love for us, not on what we do or how we do it. We can’t add to it or do anything to make it more complete. The younger son realized he was a son when he saw that he didn’t deserve to be a son. It is only a gift of love. The older son was the dutiful and faithful son. He was deeply conflicted in his heart though. He didn’t understand his sonship either and felt like a servant. He couldn’t realize that sonship is a free gift. He wanted to earn something for himself. He loved his work and what he could earn from his father and peers. The father reminds him that what he’s been struggling to earn is actually already his as his son. None come to the table of the Father because of their own righteous deeds. When we were sinners, Christ made a way that we might be able to be sons. The Father pleads with us all to come. God in is His grace wants us to each know Him and to be known by Him.
The rich, young ruler was convinced in what he was seeking to do, so he ran up to Jesus and kneels before Him to give him honor. He thought he could do something to inherit eternal life because he thought he had something good in himself. But we are all dead in our trespasses, our hearts are desperately wicked, we have all sinned and gone astray. There is nothing we can do to earn or merit salvation. It is only by grace through faith you are saved. Jesus loved the man enough to tell him that he is a sinner and in need of a Savior. Jesus leads us to the end of our resources and strength so that we can we can see that we can’t do what needs to be done to inherit eternal life. You will not make it any further until you let go of thinking that you can do it. This story relates to one who is not born-again, but it can also relate to one who is already a Christian. We can go back to this type of mentality thinking that we can fix our problems, marriages, and families ourselves as our own personal savior. If you think this, you lack one thing. Fix your eyes on Christ. He alone is our founder and perfecter of our salvation. Riches can come in various forms such as religious knowledge, experiences or intellect. It is anything we trust in. It is impossible to enter the Kingdom of God if you trust in anything other than God. You must trust in Christ alone for salvation. All things are possible with God. There is a blessing when you follow Christ. There may be times when Christ calls us to leave family, land or house, but you will inherit eternal life. Is God calling you to leave a place of comfort? Be willing to leave behind whatever Christ calls you to.
As a pastor, Paul desires that the church would draw deeper into Christ. He wants them to ask probing questions about who they are in light of who Christ is. How does Christ’s humility reflect in your life? Who are you becoming in relation to Christ? Is Christ transforming every part of your life? Paul tells the church to work out their own salvation--first on their own, but also as a body. Bring your struggles to the church. God has given us each other so that we can hold others up and to hold one another accountable. We do not work for our salvation--we respond to the grace that God has given us. Knowing that Christ is working through you, how is this affecting you? Be willing to ask hard questions about your life and about the will of God for your life. Grumbling is denying God’s providence. Dissatisfaction causes bitterness and joylessness. We become dissatisfied when our expectations and wants conflict with reality. What are you becoming as a result of your complaining? Think of the joy that would be created in you if you didn’t complain when things didn’t go your way. Do all things without secret displeasure or arguing. God has providentially brought all things to pass. See how your desires affect the light you are giving off. We are possessors of the light that comes from God. Be willing to lose your life. There is no other way to press into Christ unless you are willing to lose your longings and desires. Hold on to the Word of Life as you let go of your life. All that is promised in Christ will be yours. Value what is advancing the Kingdom of God more than your life. Continually offer up your life and plans to God. Choose to value Christ above all else.
John the Baptist had been sent to bear witness of Jesus Christ. God had personally revealed to John who Christ is. Jesus is the propitiation of the sins of the whole world, to take away your sin through faith. Have you beheld the lamb of God? Have you followed Him yourself? It is a work of grace by the power of the Holy Spirit to awaken your conscience. We must individually know that we have found the Messiah. You may begin to follow Christ based on the testimony of others, but have you had the truth of the Gospel revealed to your own heart? Why do you come to church every week? What are you seeking? You cannot follow Christ purely based on the testimony of someone else. Jesus is ever ready to meet with you and will not cast you out. You must be convinced yourself that Jesus is the Messiah. The disciple Philip didn’t need any convincing to follow Christ himself. Like Philip, some people will follow Christ quickly without needing any other information. Others need to search and have their questions answered before believing. Nathanael was only focused on his preconceived ideas of who the Christ would be and where He would come from. Beware of these prejudices because they can be barriers to believing the Gospel. Lay down your prejudices and examine the evidence of Christ for yourself. If you have any preconceived ideas of Christ and Christianity, come to Christ and see for yourself. The Lord personally revealed Himself to Nathanael, and he believed. We all need this type of revelation. We must know in the depths of our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel. Allow Christ to speak to the secret place of your heart.
Faith is not blind. Faith defines how we experience the present, deal with the past, and help with the future. Will trials cause disillusionment in your life? Disillusionment is a feeling of emptiness after something not going as expected, or failed to meet your expectations. Will trials make you withdraw from God, or invite you closer to God? Do you, like Thomas, struggle with fear or understanding what’s happening around you? Thomas’s hope was in what he thought Jesus would do for him. He likely was disappointed and isolated himself. We have a choice when faced with trials--will we turn from God or will we press in to God? Be willing to work through the feelings of disillusionment so that Christ can bring healing. God wants us to find true joy and satisfaction in Him alone. Be willing to allow Jesus to be who He wants to be in your life, not just who you want Him to be. Like Thomas, we can lack confidence and live within safe boundaries that we’ve set up in our lives to prevent us from pain and disappointment. God is drawing us out of these places and drawing us to Himself. He often uses community for us to receive a new way to believe when we have these feeling. Have faith that there is fullness, abundance and plenty for you in God, but if we refuse to come to God, we will find scarcity. Jesus is gracious and will do everything to help us believe. He doesn’t want to leave us in our fear and doubts and He doesn’t ask us to work out our fears before coming to Him. Jesus is kind and opens our eyes to greater revelations of who He is, and His love for us. Wherever you are bound in our mind, Jesus wants to rescue you! The safety and refuge you desire is only found in Jesus.
This song was sung right after the Israelites walked through dry land across the Red Sea. Our testimonies declare that God has delivered us, and that He alone is our salvation. We have nothing to boast in ourselves. The grace of God is the only source of our salvation. It’s only by the cross of Christ that we are saved. This deliverance was a gift a God. Do you look to God as your salvation, song and strength? Or do you think you are able to deliver yourself? Apart from the grace of God we are dead in our trespasses. We cannot earn the forgiveness of our sins. Be convinced of what God can do through Christ. There is no limit to what God can deliver you from. God is for you! Put your faith in Christ, not in yourself. What is your source of salvation? Join in the song of Moses. The work of God doesn’t end with our deliverance though. Once God delivers us, we don’t take over from there. Through many tribulations you will enter the Kingdom. God is able to make a way before you. Do you believe this, regardless of what stands before you or behind you? Do you trust that the One who redeemed you will also bring you to the end? Christ is the founder, as well as the perfecter of our faith. He is the only One who can bring you all the way. May we never tire of hearing the saving work of God. Repeat and sing of the cross of Christ over and over again. What is your song? To whom do you praise? Reflect upon God’s deliverance to you and sing a song of praise to God who has brought you through. May this increase your faith!
With Moses, the Israelites had lost sight of their vision of God and became focused on the giants before them. Their sin was a result of their small view of God. They saw Him as unable. The Lord now tells Joshua that He’s already given them the promise of the land before them, although it was not yet in their possession. We too must accept God’s promises by faith. Unbelief leads to focusing on our circumstances instead of God. The promise of entering God’s rest still stands, but you will fail to enter in if it’s not accepted by faith or we don’t persevere by faith. The work of Christ has been finished on the cross--will you persevere by faith to enter into this rest? What is the extent of your vision of what God will do in and through you? Your church? Your family? Will you stretch your vision? Or will you lose sight of the vision by looking at your circumstances and the giants? Take your eyes off of yourself and your giants. See the possibilities of grace available. The fear of man led the Israelites to unbelief, but no man can stand in opposition to God. With God, we are fully equipped to stand against anyone. God gave us the promise of His presence with us. There is no greater assurance than the presence of God. Our confidence must be in God’s power and presence, not in our own ability. What power do you base your confidence in? The same faith in God that leads to confidence, leads to obedience to God’s commands. We are told to meditate on the law of God. This is a means of grace through which God transforms us. Allow God’s resources to be applied to your needs. Look to God for the fulfillment of the vision--this is the only way fruit will be produced in your life.
Paul encourages us to give our lives intentionally to others for their benefit. What are you sowing into the lives of others? This defines what we will reap. When you willingly give of yourself you will grow richly. The one that withholds for himself finds himself wanting. Instead of being frustrated with what you reap, see what you're sewing. If you sow sparingly you will reap sparingly. What you put into a ministry or relationship or opportunity is what you will get out of it. Actively work for good in others’ lives. The amount of ourselves that we give to another cannot be determined by their worthiness but about the condition of your heart. We can give of ourselves because that is what Christ did for us first. God will empower us to do this if we will agree with Him. God will give to you what you need to give to others. He will increase in us so that we’ll have enough to give to others generously. Do you believe God will do this? God is able and waiting to give to us. But He doesn't give grace abounding for us to keep to ourselves. There is fresh grace every day to give abundantly. We are forfeiting our joy if we climb to what we’ve been given. You will experience joy and abundance as you generously give to others and don't live for only what you can get. God is a good Father. He wants you to experience this abundance. Invest in something greater than yourself. Be willing to sacrifice your life, wants, and desires in order to invest in the kingdom of God. Christ gave up all of Himself so that we may have all things. Ask God for this grace that abounds.
Is faith the animating principle of your life? Trust God to bring you to the end. Ask God to show you how to use your trial for your good and His glory. We struggle to have joy in our trials because we fail to accept the joy God has already offered us. Come to terms with where you are so that you can see where God is looking to bring you. Rest in what you know to be true of God above all else. Count all daily experiences and trials as a richer and fuller life in Christ. God uses our trials to create steadfastness and stability in us. Don’t count your trials as worthless or unfulfilling. Do you experience joy where God has you? And how He’s made you? If you think joy is in fulfillment, you’ll never find true lasting joy. Joy is not something to look for--we already have it now. God is working in you during trials. Don’t focus on what is bring produced in you through trials, but focus on the One who is working in you through the trial. Remember God and His infinite care and love for you. Joy is not in having, but in being--being who you are in Christ. Root your joy in who God is. Looking for our situation to change, or trying to escape from our trials will not bring us joy. See who God wants to be to you. He wants to be your joy. Know that God is present in your current trial. Your discontentment, jealousy, and frustration is only robbing you of true joy. Nothing you go through or experience is in vain. See that you lack, and then see that God is willing to work in you. Let your lack draw you closer to God. See that God is the One who longs to fill our needs. Do you see God as generous? Step into the promise that God desires to give joy in the face of disappointment.
In this passage, Paul addresses what a Christian’s mind and heart is fixed on and how this impacts the way you live and how you treat others. He describes that those who have been raised with Christ first have been baptized into Christ. Through repentance the believer is dead to sin and raised to life by the Spirit. We are to die to our old self, but God doesn’t leave us dead. He raises us up to newness of life and transforms us. Paul calls our attention to what we desire and think about. We are to seek the things that are above, not earthly things. Fix your eyes on Christ. The act of seeking depends on what you set your mind, heart and affections on. We will seek whatever we set our heart on. What is your highest love? What do you desire above all else? Put to dead what is earthly in you--sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness. Present yourself to God in order to put sin to death. Have no other gods before God. What you set your mind on is going to be reflected in what you speak. This shows the condition of your heart. A relationship with Christ will change all human relationships. Reconciliation is only possible through the power of Christ. Be compassionate, kind, humble, meek and patient with other Christians. We have all been saved by the same grace. Have a tender, kind heart. This is a fruit of the Spirit. Let God fill you with the fruits--you can’t create them on your own. See what Christ has done for you so you can bear with one another. The Lord has forgiven you so you can forgive others. Put on love then above all else. Whatever you love above God, lay it down before Him.
This sermon describes the possibilities of grace and the saving power of God. In the passage, Jesus goes across the sea for rest after of period of exhaustion, but a storm arises on the sea and the disciples begin to fear. They start to fear that Jesus has abandoned them in the storm. But without trials and struggles we will never grow into the spiritual maturity that God desires. What do you look to in the midst of storms? We can feel alone in our trials as if Christ has left us. But Christ will preserve us in the storm. He is in the boat with us during the storm. You have not been abandoned in the storm. Fix your eyes on the Creator of the storm. As the passage continues, Jesus came from a storm in nature to a storm in human nature. He calms both storms by faith. Like the demon-possessed man Jesus and the disciples encountered, we cannot suppress temptations in ourselves or in others. We need something more! The only power strong enough is Christ. When we are bound by temptations, wrong thinking or wrong attitudes, we must run to Christ to be free! There is no power that can stand against the power of Christ. Sin, the flesh and the devil will all fall down before Christ. Do you see temptations like this? Once Jesus healed this man, the other people in town began to fear Him, and what He can do. Christ’s miracles are going to cost you. No matter what you are facing, Christ is able! There is no storm too great and no bondage too deep that Christ can’t calm or set you free from. Does this power cause you to fear Christ and what He might expose or challenge in you? Would you rather hold on to your yourself and your bondage, or will you come to Christ to be free?
This sermon focuses on two important questions: Is God producing life or death in you? And Are you bringing life or death to those around you? Paul tells the Christians in this passage that he’s experiencing suffering so that God can bring comfort to him, so that he can then bring comfort to the church. We all need our own deep sense of the blessedness of God and His comfort. The Gospel is mercy and comfort to us so that we may be mercy and comfort to others. Paul experienced suffering for other people’s benefit. We cannot have an understanding of blessedness without expressing this comfort with others. The grace that God gives you is not for you alone. You live in the beauty of it, but then it opens us up to the needs of others to point them to the Father of mercies. The answer to the question of why we experience suffering is to see Christ flourish in the lives of others. You need a vision of what the Gospel can do in your life and in the lives of those around you. Don’t allow bitterness, resentment or unforgiveness to prevent you from bringing life to others. As you share abundantly in Christ’s suffering, so too you will share abundantly in His comfort. When you are afflicted, see that this is the means for God to work in your life, so that you can work in other people’s lives. In our culture, we’ve been trained to protect ourselves, and not give out of ourselves, but let God take you out of this fear. There is enough mercy for you. You don’t have to fear not having enough. God calls us in our weakness so we might show others the strength and power of God. All that we experience is not only for us, but for others also.
In this passage, Paul reminds Christians of their identity in Christ by faith. He encourages the believers to work out trivial cases among themselves by remind them that they are saints in Christ. If you see who you are in Christ, you will not need to work out trivial cases by unbelieving lawyers. Who we are in Christ must determine how we relate to others and how we work out situations. Paul then reminds them that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. No one is good but God alone and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We cannot make ourselves righteous. Our actions can become our identities. Paul makes a list of the unrighteous, and says that such were some of them, but in Christ, they are not that way anymore. Your sin no longer defines you. Our sins have been washed away and we are new creations in Christ. In Christ, we are free from the power and guilt of sin, and sin no longer has dominion over us. The sins of your past no longer define who you are. You are washed by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. You are sanctified and purified, separated from profane things and dedicated to God. You are justified so the righteousness of Christ is credited to you who believe. It doesn’t matter who you were; through faith and repentance, you are justified and have a new identity. Paul continues and brings together our identity and sanctification. He explains how it matters how we use our bodies. They are for the Lord, and the Lord for your bodies. You are set apart for the Lord. You body is now joined in union with Christ. You were bought with the precious blood of Christ and you now belong to God. Remember who you are in Christ!
We need a deeper understanding of our dependence on God. The less we feel our need for Christ, the less we will abide in Him. We need a vision for transformation in our hearts and minds. Be willing to recognize your need as well as the fulfillment found in Christ. Recognizing your need gives you a vision for change. Be intentional about your heart. See what the Gospel can do in your life as well as in our culture. Sin does not have the greatest grasp on your life or our society’s. As a believer, you are free from sin and death--does this truth transform your heart? God, in Christ, has taken away our condemnation and He condemned sin instead. Don’t press in to sin, death, stress, anxieties, doubts. Instead, press into what God has done in Christ. Don’t be ignorant of your need. God, in Christ, came for the purpose of fulfilling your need! Are you cultivating your flesh or the Spirit? What you set your mind to will lead you either to death, or life and peace. A mind not being renewed by God will create a hostile environment toward God. It will cause complaining and a lack of vision. Be willing to engage with God and see what the Gospel is intended to do in you and our society. Do you lack optimism? Be open to see your need for optimism and ask God for it. See the goodness of the Lord in your circumstances and in other people. May the God of hope fill you so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Spirit. The Gospel calls us to optimism through the Spirit to newness of life. We do not lose heart because we see with hope our end--eternity with God. The Gospel gives us a reason for optimism and hope. What is holding you back from seeing this freedom and life and peace?
Pentecost is the birth of the church, and a reminder of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what God calls us to. In this passage, Christ tells His disciples that they are to preach the Gospel of Christ’s suffering and His resurrection. We, like the disciples, are also told to preach repentance and remission of sins which is only possible through the cross of Christ. You will be a witness once you’ve first witnessed it yourself. By the Spirit, Christ now dwells in you. The Holy Spirit teaches us the Word of God and reminds us of the Word. The Spirit draws everyone to Christ. John’s baptism was one of repentance, but it was limited to repentance only, not regeneration. Christ’s baptism is that of the Holy Spirit regenerating the believer, destroying sin, illuminating the mind, and empowering the heart. In regeneration, these two baptisms are joined into one. This doesn’t mean though that there won’t be additional effusions of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. We are filled with the Holy Spirit by getting out of the way so that the Spirit can do what He wants in and through us. Do you have an external and earthly vision of the Kingdom of God? Don’t get caught up in the external that you lose sight of the Great Commission. Seek first the kingdom of God. Restoration of the kingdom is only through preaching the Gospel. The Church is to be witnesses of Christ in the world. Live everyday in the light of the Gospel. To fulfill the mission, we have received the Holy Spirit. He gives us power in order to show others the power of the Gospel. We receive so that it may profit others. We work from being a witness, not in order to become a witness.
We need to look at our whole life through the lens of faith in God. Fix your eyes upon God, not on your situations. God doesn’t encourage us to trust in ourselves or find resources within ourselves, but to trust in Him alone as our shield and reward. Rest your faith firmly on God alone because of Who His is. Do not be afraid of your problems. Our trust in God does not end once He gives us a great victory. We must apply faith to every situation whether great or small. Continue to trust in the Lord through the whole process, even if we are tempted to doubt. It was not the works of Abraham that made him righteous, but his faith in God. We must persevere by faith and trust in God in His promises, even when we are challenged. We must work out our own salvation. We can be led astray if we place our own expectations on how God will fulfill His promises. We are commanded to believe in His promises, but not in our own timing. This leads to doubt and to take our lives into our own hands. We don’t need to help God fulfill His promises. Continue to look to God as your shield and exceedingly great reward and don’t take your life back into your own hands. We have a danger of catastrophizing, from having a negative outlook when our specific expectations aren’t being met. When we take our eyes off of God as our shield and reward, we can catastrophize from a lack of faith. What do you have in view when trials come? Do you lose faith and discourage others? Or do you trust in God in every situation? Don’t trust in your own time frames and expectations. Walk by faith in confidence of God. God will keep you from errors when you look to Him as your shield and exceeding great reward.
God wants to shape us through His Word. We must let go of the barriers that hinder us from receiving from God. God’s Wod shows us that there’s more than just the physical life that we go through. Our hope is not just in situations being fulfilled, but in God. You must see your identity, fulfillment and purpose in Christ. Remember who you are in Christ. Learn to deeply identify yourself through the Gospel. Don’t forget your place in God, and at His table. Lay hold of the strength of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within you. Do you see God as generous and able to fulfill your needs? Paul prays for a lifestyle of love in the church. You need to know and receive the love of God for you before you can rightly love others. Do you see how God’s love gives you your value? Have you contemplated His love for you in the cross, and in the resurrection? Do you see how God’s love is the foundation for your whole life, including your marriage, family, community and work? Are you leading others to freedom though this love? Make it your aim to be deeply satisfied in the love of God. We are only fully satisfied when we are satisfied in Him. Is this the aim of your life? We must approach God with expectation, and not on our own terms. Come to God with your need, knowing that He will meet it. God can do beyond even what you can think of. Because Christ dwells in you, there is no limit set on what He can do in you. Do you have anticipation for what God can do? What areas in your life are you not allowing God to bring you His riches and abundance? Trust God to do exceedingly abundantly above what you can think. Let God do what He can in you and in your circumstances.
In this text, Jesus addresses Jews who believed Him, but the truth of the Gospel had not yet transformed and freed them. Jesus puts before them whether they would abide in His words or not. It is not enough to just receive the words of Christ--we must abide in them. This does not happen by self-effort or our works, but by faith. Those who abide in Christ shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free. The power of the Gospel is the only power to set us free. Our sentence of death was nailed to the cross so we no longer need to carry the burden of guilt over sin. Christ saves us from past sin and future punishment. We can now have peace with God through Jesus. The truth actually sets us free when we experience deliverance from sin. Freedom is not just theoretical, but a reality. In Christ, we are set free from the body of sin and death. Freedom does not come through the law. We must see the power of Christ and the possibilities of grace. Christ wants to set you free! Let Him! Resistance may come against accepting the Gospel because of a pretend freedom or a denial of bondage. We must know that we can do nothing of ourselves, but also that through Christ, we can do all things. Stir up the spark of grace in you and see the power of Christ to free you. Don’t rely on your own power, but on the power of Christ. You can never free yourself from sin--only Christ can actually set you free! Believe that God is able to keep you from stumbling. Your whole self must be transformed to wholly trusting in God. This will reshape your thinking to what God can do, and not what you can’t do. Take your eyes off of yourself and look to Christ by faith!
The culture of church needs to be shaped by a desire for God. We must let God challenge our thoughts, and suffering is one way God does this. The purpose of our suffering is to force us to see our need for God. It may hurt and be hard, but God shows compassion on us, so we can have compassion on others too. Since Christ suffered, we have power to live the life He calls us to. Give up your personal comforts so that you may be a source of life to others. Suffering creates humility and breaks down our self-dependence so that we can engage with others’ suffering. Embrace what God is doing in you, and then turn to others around you. Be diligent and pray for this because God knows it will be hard. We need to make room for God to work in others’ lives without rushing to conclusions. We can do this by having fervent love for one another. We have hope for what God can do in their lives. God forgave and forgot your sins, so you can be encouraged to do the same for others. Encourage what God is doing in another’s life. Make room in your life to make time for others. Minister to others with the gifts God has supplied you with. Offer who you are, unafraid of feeling like you don’t have enough to give. Your role in the church has purpose and value. Work to create every person in your life perfect in Christ. Do not think it strange when you face trials. Remember to patiently endure. Jesus went before us and endured suffering knowing His purpose and the joy before Him. See what God can do in your situations and in the trials of those around you. God is not done in you or others. Lift up your heart in expectation of what God can do. Hope in the promises of God!
We must build upon a solid foundation--the truth of the Gospel. What is truth to you? What you find to be dependable is the thing you’ll rest upon as a source of life. This can be success, friendships, marriage, children, etc. Peter writes to Christians in this passage so that he might leave them with truth. He stirs us up so that we don’t grow cold to the truth. If we lose sight of truth we’ll lose sight of who God says we are and what our value is. Peter tells us to take refuge in what is true. Engage your mind in truth. Truth will set you free from bondages of trying to live by some other value or worth. If the precious promises of God are yours you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus. We are all prone to get discouraged and be forgetful, but we can’t let past failures hinder us from moving forward. Don’t condemn yourself for past sins, but we also can’t forget who we were before the saving power of Jesus transformed us. Be diligent to root out wrong thinking. Reflect on God’s promises and you will find fulfillment. We must humbly admit that we don’t know everything so that we can come to truth. We need to be reminded of what Christ has done for us so that we can see what Christ can do in this world. Remember that in Christ, you are enough, and have value. Nothing in this world will ever be enough. Everything we go to will leave us empty and unfulfilled. We must set all these things aside. We must use truth to counteract the scoffing in our own minds. Trust in what God has already told you. Truth is to be a refuge. Simply take God at His word. Remember the foundation and let this truth shape your life. Be intentional about what is the truth.
The truth of the resurrection is the most important truth in the Christian life. Denying the resurrection is the greatest problem Paul had to address with the Corinthian church because the Christian life hinges on the truth of the resurrection. If Christ is not risen, everything falls apart: ministry is empty and vain; all Christians are liars; faith is futile; we are still in our sins; great cloud of witnesses before us have perished and aren’t saved; hope in Christ doesn’t extend beyond this life and we of all men are the most pitiable. The message of the Gospel is beyond only being morally good--it’s about sinners being forgiven and given new life now and eternally. What does the resurrection mean to you now? The resurrection is not only a future hope of heaven, but has everything to do with our lives now. We share in Jesus’ life--we must participate in Christ’s risen life. We can’t imitate Christ without participating in Christ. In Christ all shall be made alive. The resurrection affirms the redemption of all things. All of creation groans for this redemption. In Christ’s resurrection, the redemption of all things has started. This is a foretaste of what’s to come, so we must walk by faith, not sight. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must work now to reconcile others to God and to each other. Actively participate in this ministry of reconciliation. The resurrection is more than a historical event--it is a participation. If you’re trying in the flesh, you are not participating in the resurrection. If you participate in Christ’s resurrection through faith, you will be raised from the death of sin to newness of life.
This passage takes place during Holy Week. Questions to ask during this week of reflection are: Are you living in the fullness of the Gospel? Is the Gospel redefining you and freeing you? Who are you now and who are you becoming because of the Gospel? Looking at the example of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, we see that even in His most tension-filled time, He was free. His love flowed freely even to the men who would soon betray and deny Him because His inner life was filled with God. We can’t discipline ourselves to love others, but we can give and serve them when we are free. When you see your own shortcomings, don’t be gripped with despair. See instead what God can do and the means in which we can continually be changed by the Gospel. Peter’s response to Jesus washing his feet shows his humanity. He may have felt shame, unworthiness, condemnation, or pride during this time. Can you relate to any of these feelings? In order to be free, you must first surrender all to Jesus. The areas that you hesitate to have Jesus clean you are the very areas Jesus wants to free you. Jesus responds to Peter’s objections by telling Peter that he only needs to receive Jesus’ love for him. We may want to attain or earn God’s love, but Jesus only asks us to submit to Him. Jesus doesn’t ask to do anything, but only to be His. Our freedom is only in Christ and in being His. Do you know the depths of Christ’s love for you? Our freedom in Christ frees us to live for Christ. He calls for our participation. We will gain in the end if we give up the very things we fear losing. Once you are free, you can serve others. You will not lose out if you give because Christ will satisfy you.
This portion of Scripture opens up with optimism. After Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden, God gave hope sharing that the Seed of Eve would crush the serpent’s head, speaking of Christ. This promise of God begins to unfold with the birth of Cain and then Abel. Although Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd, there was no difference between honorability of their professions chosen. Similarly, our physical and occupational differences don’t matter. We all have differences, and these differences are for the profit of all. Because our occupations, gifts, and conditions are all different, our sacrifices will also be different. This does not mean that one is better than the other. It is the heart of the offering that God cares about. Don’t compare your calling the that of others. There is nothing wrong with differences--we need each other and our differences! Cain was indifferent about his offering, but Abel brought his best to the Lord. Cain felt resentment and disgrace after God didn’t accept his offering, but instead of examining himself and repenting, he became angry with God. He allowed a root of bitterness to form in his heart. He refused to humble himself before the Lord. God told him there is no justification for his current state of heart. We can’t put the emphasis on outward things--we must self-examine ourselves and see the sin that is lying at the door. Direct your heart towards God and your faith towards the promised Messiah. Your worth is found in Christ, not in your calling, sacrifice, occupation, condition of your life, or spiritual gift, so don’t compare these things with other people’s. Offer your life as a sacrifice to the Lord and you will be accepted!
This sermon is a call to return to the power of the Gospel. Carry the power of the Gospel in your Christian walk. You may not be where you want to be in life, but don’t be discouraged. Ground your confidence in the promise of God. God is not unjust to forget you. He will not overlook you. Don’t respond to feelings of discouragement with trying harder to get God’s attention. A promise is not earned, it is given. What are you confident in? Promise must be met with faith. A promise doesn’t only mean a change in a present. Set your hope on eternity. Cultivate your focus on Christ. What do you set your purpose in? You can’t go on in the life of faith with someone else’s confidence. The concern is that if your confidence is in some earthly thing, you will give up and quit. We are all prone to this temptation so the writer of the Hebrews encourages us to not give up! Realign your heart to the promise. Assume the future promise as your own. The promise is greater than you. Everything has its greatest fulfillment in Christ. Do you have fears or doubts about the promise? The promise is that Christ died for us, and that we are heirs with Christ. We can have objective hope, not sentimental optimism. It is impossible that God should lie so we can have confidence and strong consolation in what God has promised us. God has promised us life in Christ now, and eternal life. Believe and rest in the promise. Go to the cross for refuge. Let the provision of Christ fill your heart and redefine you. This hope of the promise is greater than our fears and failures. We do not walk alone. Christ is walking with us, and we have fellowship with our brothers and sisters to walk with us.
The theme of this sermon is fear. What will we do with fear? Where will we turn to when we are afraid? The conclusion is that deliverance only comes through Jesus Christ. In this passage, an army was coming against Judah and intimidated the city. The enemy will bring worst-case scenarios to cause us to fear. When we face fear, the temptation is to lose confidence in God. But when Hezekiah heard the intimidation, he instead acknowledged his own helplessness and went to the Lord. He didn’t trust in himself, but sought God. He also sought direction and guidance from the community of faith. We are called as a body, and we are not meant to go through trials alone. It takes humility to go to the community with our trials, but we need the prayers of each other. Isaiah spoke words of encouragement to Hezekiah in his trial. Do not be afraid. We have no need to fear because the Lord is about to do a work of deliverance. When the enemy hears that we are not afraid, he will step up his fear tactics. He will cause us to question God and His ability to deliver us. Turn again to the house of the Lord. Remember God’s promises and how He has delivered you in the past. Spread your fears before the Lord and leave your situation with Him. Acknowledge that it is too much for you, and declare God’s omnipotence and sovereignty. When you come to the Lord in trials, acknowledge who He is. You can trust Him! Hold on to the fact that God will not allow any temporary evil that does not clear the way for greater good. Acknowledge that He is a God of mercy and therefore we can come to Him through Christ. God is greater than anything we are facing. The deliverance we need will only come through Christ.
The purpose of this message is to have a clear perspective in the midst of tragedy in our nation. Our only hope to find justice in this world is in God. The only message for true change is in the Gospel. God sees that there is no light in our world, and it displeases Him. He is grieved and saddened by the darkness. He is grieved that there is no man who can redeem. No man calls for justice. They each have their own cause in mind and try to promote their own agenda instead of pleading for truth. Are we falling prey to these agendas? Are we trusting in men instead of trusting God? We cannot hide or cover our works of iniquity. God sees right through our attempted coverings. He sees our hearts. You will never know peace with God and men if you follow the depravity of your own heart, or other men’s hearts. Turn away from empty words! No man qualifies to redeem man from their sinful ways, but God brought forth salvation by His own strength! Power and righteousness of salvation are from God, not man. Man cannot change our hearts, but God can! He is ready and willing to save, but our iniquities have separated us from God. Our hope is not found in any man; our hope is in the Lord. Our ultimate hope is that Christ will eventually make all things new. Don’t be deceived by lies. Only the message of the Gospel will hold back the flood of the enemy. There is good news--the Redeemer will come to those who turn away from their transgressions! We must declare this good news! We must not allow these words to depart from our mouths. Be faithful to the message of the Gospel, to your calling, to your ministries, to your children. The church is to be a standard against the enemy!
Our most joyful times are not while doing self-satisfying activities, but when we are self-forgetful. What would the world look like if we always lived in this self-forgetfulness? The Gospel challenges us to take what we’ve been given and give it all away, instead of hoarding it for ourselves. God will give us all of who He is if we will give all of ourselves to Him. Lay down your fear of what you think you should be. Give of yourself sacrificially to your community. Don’t live in fear of what you are losing by giving all of yourself. Reflect on the immense love and grace of God and this will cause you to give of yourself. Give grace to others as you’ve been given grace. All of your resources are not from yourself anyway. Prayerfully, don’t live so self-focused. Don’t let thoughts of self have a stronghold in your life. Learn instead to look to the interests of others. The fear of losing by giving too much of yourself will prevent you from looking to the interests of others. Live out a humble attitude as seen in Christ. Jesus took the lowest form so that we may have life; likewise, give of yourself, through the power of God. We can’t do this on our own, so yield yourself to the work of God in you. Don’t oppose Him! Do you recognize what Christ has done for you? Are you willing to join Christ in His humiliation? Live for the glory of God. Sacrifice your life now and you will inherit so much more in eternity. If you sacrifice for Christ’s sake, you may lose everything else, but you will have Christ. In the end, we will lose everything else anyway. Seek the glory that is to come.
Paul addresses issues in the Corinthian church, such as division. Members of the body are not to be competing against each other. Each part of the body is essential to each other. Without love, we are nothing. Nothing else doesn’t matter if we don’t have love. We can do even the most noble acts, but if it’s without love, but it means nothing. We must do the will of God, and that is to love. Love is always about others, not ourselves. Even our religious works can be done selfishly. Love is pouring our lives out for others, as exemplified in Christ. We are called to suffer long with the weaknesses of others and to bear one another’s burdens. Be gentle and kind, not contentious and combative. Love does not envy others; it rejoices in others’ blessings. Love does not boast in itself or think it greater than it is. Being grateful of all we have is the greatest enemy of pride. Love is not rude; it respects others. Love does not seek its own welfare only. Love leads us to govern our emotions and feelings with others. Love thinks no evil of others, and is not critical and fault-finding. When we love others we desire to think well of them. Love does not find pleasure in others’ sins. Love covers all things. Love is ready to believe the best of others, and hopes for this. Love endures all things even if persecuted or maltreated. Don’t lose sight of love with other cares. Divisions are caused by focusing on other things. Go on to perfection--perfection of love. Leave behind childish, carnal ways. You need to go to God in order to do this. Do not resist the Holy Spirit. Repent and receive God’s perfecting grace. The Holy Spirit will pour out God’s love into your heart.
The heart of the Gospel is not in doing, but in being. We are children of God, not because of what we do, but by faith. By doing, we become burdened and don’t experience the beauty of our adoption. This will prevent us from sharing this experience with others. What is the root of your desire for doing, earning, or controlling? Continually check yourself. Do you feel that you have to do something because you’re a Christian? This is bondage! Duty causes us to find the quickest solution, even if it’s built on a shotty foundation. Love should be our motivation. Fully accept this love of Christ. You cannot go and bring the love of Christ to others if you have not fully received it. This love is not responsive based on our successes or failures. Our lives should be an overflow of Christ’s sacrificial love, not motivated by guilt. Grace defines you now, not the standards or pressures you have put on yourself. During times of failures, do you still feel the love of God? Or do you feel that God’s love has lessened? His love will not lessen based on our actions. Knowing this will turn your thoughts away from yourself. Acceptance of this love frees us to be motivated by love. You have worth because you are loved by Christ, not because of anything you’ve done. The pressures and standards which used to define and crush you have passed away. When we embrace this, we are then able to share this with others. If our sharing is done out of duty, when we fail, we will become discouraged. We must be patient with ourselves and with others. Do you feel pressure? Or do you feel the love of God? Does crushing obligation drive you? Or does the sufficiency of Christ allow you to be who you are?
This passage speaks of the process of seeking reconciliation for a brother or sister who sins against you. We are accountable to each other for the good of each other and for the glory of God. The Bible tells us to go to the one who offended us, with the goal of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. You shall forgive the offender as if they have never offended you if they hear what you say to them. We are not to limit our forgiveness. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the servant owed the king an unimaginable amount of money--about eight lifetime’s worth of pay. The servant cries out for grace and mercy as his only hope. The king moved with compassion, had pity on the servant, and forgave the servant his whole debt. God in the same way, has mercy on us because of His great love, and forgives us of our debt. We are never able to repay the debt we owe, so we must cry out to God for mercy. It is only by faith that we can receive God’s mercy as a gift. The servant then found a fellow servant, and held against him a debt so much less than what he was just forgiven. We have been forgiven so much from God, but do we then hold on to small debts against our brothers and sisters? We often struggle with forgiving others for things that we too have offended others with. We need God to reveal the Gospel to us and to show us how much we have been forgiven of so that we may then in turn forgive others. We must be humbled in order to forgive. Show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to you. Forgive from your heart, not just with words. If you forgive men their trespasses against you, your Father in Heaven will forgive you.
This passage is a transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament. John the Baptist had to step aside in order for Christ to come to the forefront. His natural impulse may have been to assert himself, and stepping aside would disappoint others because their expectations weren’t being met, but these types of struggles only proved how strong John’s faith was. Our satisfaction isn’t through receiving our expectations but by following Christ by faith. When my kingdom is falling apart, I can choose to be discontent, or I can choose to see by faith what God is doing. God gives grace through the struggle. What we possess is not our own. All position and authority come from God. We didn’t earn what we have--God has given it all. If you become possessive, you will worry. But you don’t need to identify yourself in your eyes, or anyone else's. Know who you are in Christ--this will be freedom from insecurity and worry. When I know who I am in Christ, I won’t feel competitive if my identity is attacked. Our view of Christianity has to be greater than just us and what’s in front of us. To decrease is to see that I am not the central piece of the story. This is a freeing realization because it takes the pressure off of yourself. If you are walking in the will of God, you are where you are and who you are right now because this is where God has brought you. Our place in the Kingdom of God is not based on how well we perform or our success, but by our faith. Let your plans go. Listen to the Word of God. We can’t see the whole picture, but we can see by faith. We truly learn to live when we learn what we live for. Will you decrease so that Christ can increase?
The call to discipleship is extremely personal and individualized. God calls each of us individually, though He calls us to live in a community. We are not to idolize anyone in the community. Instead, fix your eyes only on Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter is seen denying Christ three times. Here in John's Gospel, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him three times. When Peter saw his Savior being beaten, his eyes were on himself, and he started doubting everything he had learned in the past three years, and denies Christ. Do you start to look to self and doubt when things are going differently than you planned? Christ commands Peter to teach all he had learned from Him before he denied Him. This life isn’t about us--it’s about others. It’s about feeding the sheep and lambs. We are to serve Christ by serving others. All people suffer in this world, but Christians are going to suffer differently because of self-denial and letting go of desires and selfish ambitions. You must lose your life, take up your cross, and die to self in order to follow Christ. Christ’s command to follow Him is simple, but it is humiliating. You can no longer do what you wish in your flesh. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing your life to others, and their trials. This creates a root of bitterness which can cause destruction within the church. Christ corrects our thinking and reminds us of the humiliating command to only follow Him. Don’t focus on others, or be jealous of their calling. Christ has called you by His own plan. Take your eyes off of others and yourself and put them on Christ. Do you love Christ?
Hope is believing that what is to come will be better than what we have now. Our hope is eternal, and is in Christ. God is renewing all things in Christ. We have a hope of something not yet come. Everything we experience now is imperfect and fallen but by faith we expect a renewal. The purpose of our lives is eternal. We are only here temporarily, so our faith rests in what is coming. In this passage, John sees the renewal of God. We need God to change our hearts in regards to the resurrection. This will create a longing in us for what is to come. Our goals can get in the way of God’s plan. John saw God saving the masses of fallen man. What God is doing may seem mysterious and slow to us, but it is good. We endure and persevere in this life for a reason. We don’t need to understand why everything is happening, only to believe. God will fulfill everything He has said. Look to Jesus in trials and difficulties and have the faith to hope in what is to come. God will comfort His people. There will be an end of tears and sorrow. Our hope is that God will bring an end to this world of death. See beyond the current pain and trials to God’s coming fulfillment. Everything affected by sin will be made right again. God will complete His work. Live now in the promise of what is coming. Be certain of God’s promises. The only ones who will receive these promises are those who are thirsty--those who long for God. God will comfort those who thirst. Knowing the truth of what happens when we die frees us to live now. We have a gift of seeing the end so that we may change our ways here and now. God has destined us for glory so we anticipate a coming end. He is making all things new.
The days of King Herod were a time of darkness—a political and spiritual oppression. Any rebellion against the oppression was met with violence. Men only found hope in the promise of the coming Messiah. Zacharias and Elizabeth lived with this hope. They lived in reproach of the people because they could not bear any children. But the real meaning of Christmas is that in any darkness in your life, the Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings. When Zacharias was given the proclamation of his answered prayer a child, he doubted, instead of receiving glad tidings. The meaning of Christmas is that God has visited and redeemed His people. He looked upon us to benefit us. We have no strength so we needed Christ to be born, and to die for us in order to receive His strength. God is true to His promises and covenants with His people to save us from our enemies—the devil, sin, and our own carnal tendencies. He sent His messenger, John the Baptist, to declare the message of repentance, of the high places being made low, crooked places made straight, rough places made smooth. Repentance prepares the way for the Lord to enter in. Forgiveness of sin is the reason for the Gospel. It is entirely because of the mercy and grace of God. Christ has come to bring the light of the Gospel to those who sit in darkness from sin. Only Christ can guide our feet to the way of peace. We are all in darkness before the light of the Gospel shines upon us. Only in Christ are we delivered from the darkness. So what will you do with this message? Will you doubt it? Or will you receive it by faith, and be guided into the way of peace?
We often struggle between faith and resting in God, and our need for validation and satisfaction with our own works. There is a difference between moments of rest, and living a life of rest. Guard jealously what God has given through rest. Unbelief can lead to coldness and deadness. Trust brings rest. The more you trust in God, the more rest you will have. Don’t fall short of the promised rest. God is our example, and He rested on the seventh day. Do you feel the freedom of the Gospel in this area? Or do you feel the pressure of the culture and obligation telling you instead to work? Cease from seeking to find rest in any of your efforts. Rest is offered so that it may be experienced. Enter in by faith to what has already been accomplished. Let go of bonds and enter this rest. It is greater than anything else you currently have. Entrance to this rest is belief and trust in God. This rest requires nothing of you. Don’t turn away thinking it is unnecessary. Set aside every thought against this truth. Stop looking for rest in other things such as money, power, relationships, goals and obligations. Trust in Christ and find rest for your soul. You will be tempted in this life to take your life back into your own hands, thinking that you can make this life better by what you accomplish, but continue to yield to God and cease from your works. Does your desire for rest lead you to Christ? Or does it lead you to more of your own works? Know what is in your heart so that you can come to Christ for healing. Even if we fail in this life, our sufficiency is in Christ. Come boldly to Christ, admitting your need, and receive His healing. Will you enter His rest?
In this passage, Jesus had just crossed back over the Sea of Galilee from the Gadarenes. They had been afraid of what Christ could do and pleaded with Him to leave them. Now He was with the Jews where a man named Jairus had a faith born out of desperation because his daughter was dying. He knew that he could not heal or bring life, but that Christ could do these things! This takes humility to realize that there is One greater than you. Christ is willing to work in those who don’t resist Him and His grace. If you refuse to believe, like the Gadarenes, Christ will depart. The power and work of Christ will occur in those that are willing. The woman with the flow of blood knew Christ was coming so she came to him and touched His garment out to desperation to be made clean to be set free. She confesses what happened once she was made well, and this confession was part of her complete healing. Now she was to continue in the faith that made her well. We too are to continue in faith, not in condemnation or anxiety. But if you cease walking faith, your peace will leave you. Don’t put a limit on the power of Christ to heal. See the possibilities of grace by faith. Are you putting a limit on Christ in your own life? Acknowledge the full power of His might to save. Who are you to put a limit on the power of Christ? Don’t be afraid! Only believe! Stop listening to the doubts! Instead, speak words of faith. Rely upon and speak the promises of God even in the face of hopelessness. Christ had complete confidence in God. So who do you identify with in this story? Jairus? The woman with the flow of blood? The Gadarenes? Don’t be afraid--only believe! Reach out to Christ by faith!
Isaiah speaks to the people to correct what they hear and how they interpret what they hear. What are you listening to? We are not to listen to ourselves. Are your ears open to listen to God? Where do you seek rescue and comfort from? Look at the feeble beginnings of your people and see how far God has brought you, through His grace. Stop listening to your thoughts and listen to God. Even in ruin, God can bring renewal and joy and comfort. Only changing your situation is not the answer--God is desiring to do a work in you through His comforting. Meditate on God’s Word and His future grace. Hearing the right thing leads to life, while listening to the wrong thing leads to bondage. Stop retreating to old thoughts and behaviors to feel fulfillment or to be comforted. Receive and accept the promises of God and be changed by them. Solutions to trials will not provide fulfillment--it is only in Christ you have received all you need. Change your perspective--lift up your eyes! God will direct your thoughts to His righteousness. Trust that God holds the details of where you are in life right now. Face life with a confidence in God. See with a forward mentality that God can make a way in any obstacle. Gospel freedom shall be yours when you trust God. Everlasting joy will be yours. Is your life filled with the joy of knowing your salvation? The Gospel proclaims peace and good tidings. It is God who comforts you. Who is oppressing you? Your mind? Sins? Fears of failures? Not meeting requirements of the culture or your own idea of where you should be? God has put everything into place, so do not fear the oppression of your mind! Listen to God instead!
Christ alone is sufficient for our salvation. Nothing needs to be added to His perfect work in order to be saved. He was made in every way like us in order to be a perfect propitiation. This new covenant is able to change our heart instead of religious laws and rules that only change us externally. If you go back to looking to laws and rules for salvation, you make no need for Christ to die for us. It is willful sin to turn away to something else as our salvation. This is looking to our works to save us, and no works of the flesh shall be justified. There will always be this temptation to look to something in addition to Christ for salvation. It will come as a way to find security in an external ordinance instead of trusting Christ by faith. External acts do not account for anything in salvation--they are however, necessary expressions of our saving relationship with God. If you think you need something else for salvation, you are saything that Christ is not enough, and you are trampling the Son of God underfoot, insulting the Spirit of grace. It is faith alone that will transform the believer from the inside out. For encouragement during trials, remember and reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of God in the past. Show others sympathy as they go through trials too. Have compassion, and suffer with them. In trespasses, don’t run away from God. Come boldly to the throne of grace in repentance. Don’t throw away your confidence in Christ. Allow the grace of God to work in and through you--don’t resist this grace. Grace comes from God, but the use of it is up to you. Persevere by faith, and don’t draw back! Exhort one another and hold fast your confidence until the end!
God is calling us to a fuller perspective of our lives. We are to be people of vision and expectation. We are to define our lives by eternal things. How would your life look if you defined your life like this? Hopelessness comes when we do not see the earthly ideals we’ve created played out; however, our life is far more fulfilling than the day-to-day actions. We can live in future expectation and present confidence, free from the ideals we’ve created. This does not mean we hide from the world, but we have freedom from the world because we have an eternal mindset. When we see the eternal realities of God, we can be subservient to all, as Paul was in his time. The transforming work of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s life was his guarantee of the transforming work in life after death. We have confidence, not by asserting ourselves, but by learning to trust in, and how, God is leading us. Lack of faith and limited confidence will lead to trying to save ourselves, but doing this only leads to losing ourselves. This life is not about what we see but about knowing what will come. The coming promises are our motivation in trials. Having this expectation of God’s promises, we can then persuade others to the Gospel. We must be willing to lose now in order to gain in Heaven. The secret of contentment is anchoring our joy in Christ, not in success or building up life on this earth. Be assured of the path you are currently on, even if you don’t see the fulfillment of your life. Consider how great the love of Christ is to die in our place. This will compel you to pursue the life God has called you to. Trusting in God will free us to live for others, and not for ourselves only.
What hope can be found in the world we live in today? This world is on a downward spiral of hatred and cruelty. In ourselves, we don’t have the answer. Our only hope is that Christ will make all things new. We, as Christians, are not to focus on the present-day suffering, but on the glory which shall come. Refuse to allow suffering to cloud the glory of the hope of the Gospel. Don’t look at what we can see--this is only temporary. Look with the eyes of faith to the eternal things. Don’t focus on the suffering of this world--it’s not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed to us. When we consider the world and begin to feel hopelessness, we are not weighing things correctly. Our only redemption is the redeeming work of Christ. All of creation is awaiting this redemption. The hope of final salvation is nothing short of redemption of the whole creation. All of creation is united in groaning and suffering under the curse of sin and this will continue until the promised time of redemption and restoration. Look with hope to this coming redemption! The hope of the Gospel is the victory through our Lord. Redemption is coming so be the hands and feet of God in this world now! The hope of future deliverance will uphold us in trials. We do not now have this full salvation, but we have the first fruits of the Spirit as a guarantee that this full salvation will come! If we saw this hope now, we would not need faith. You have need of perseverance and endurance though, so live by faith now! Do not cast away your confidence! Continue to seek to do the will of God. Stop focusing on the sufferings now and see the more weighty glory which shall be revealed to us.
The Gospel speaks to us where we are, and it speaks against cultural barriers and expectations. Paul wrote to Christians in Corinth where worldly wisdom and rhetoric was valued --for the purpose of gaining influence and power. The wisdom of the Gospel though challenges what gives us worth and what our worth is. Our worth is not derived by the culture’s standards or our accomplishments. Find satisfaction and fulfillment in Christ! The Gospel clashes with our perspectives. The message of the cross is foolishness and weakness to show us that we are weak and frail, but we live in the power of God. We may fear that giving up our worldly wisdom will leave us helpless and powerless, but the Gospel calls us to embrace our weaknesses because it is when we are weak that God will lead us. The cross is true power, and gives us grace. The grace of the cross encourages our weaknesses. Realize the depth of your need and see that the Savior of the world came to change you! Your weaknesses and limitations will show others the power of Christ, and glorify God more than you trying to be freed from your limitations on your own. Therefore, there is no mistake in where you are right now, or what you are, or what your worth is now in the culture. Your strength is made perfect in your weaknesses. Do you see yourself in this context? Your deepest need in weaknesses and infirmities is not a quick fix or way out, but realizing how Christ can be glorified through your weaknesses. God doesn’t use us when we are self-sufficient because no flesh will glory in His presence. Learn to delight in God, even when you don’t fit into the social norms and expectations. You are complete in Christ!
The only hope for this world is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Salvation is by Christ alone. God chose Christ before the foundation of the world to be the Savior. We are accepted in Christ by faith alone. Nothing in this world will save except Jesus Christ. Everything else is futile, powerless, and foolishness. Our idols, false gospels, politics, education, medicine, and technology can do nothing in our hearts to save us from sin. There is no hope to be found in any man, or any work we do. The Reformation was the recovering of the Gospel from the teaching that salvation was found in anything else besides Jesus Christ. God is now calling us to exclaim the Gospel to this generation that is believing in other things to save. False gospels cause internal strife and confusion, but only Jesus can bring rest for our souls. Christ came for those who are humble, poor in spirit, and who realize their need for a Savior. When you are broken, discouraged, disheartened, don’t run from Christ--run to Christ! He will supply all the grace needed to rekindle the fire in your heart. Realize and grow in your dependence upon Christ for every moment. Go to Christ by faith and you will receive victory. Hope in this--Christ will never fail! He who has began a good work in you will complete it. Christ came as a new covenant to the people--one of regeneration of the heart and transformation of the life. Salvation relies entirely on the work of Christ because we can’t do anything in ourselves. We are born in bondage to sin. Even faith in God is a gift from God. No false gospel or idol could possibly save, and God will not share His glory of salvation with anything else. To God alone be all the glory!
We all have a desire for a sense of fulfillment in our lives. We may seek fulfillment through work or different causes but these things are unfulfilling. The key to fulfillment is to seek our happiness in God alone. Isaiah, in this passage, cries to the people to come and be satisfied in the Messiah. He tells them to stop looking for fulfillment in things that won’t satisfy because this only brings discontentment. When you feel unsatisfied, what do you turn to? Satisfaction will only come from Christ. We have no reason to continue to cling to our idolatry. Refuse your habitual patterns to find satisfaction and come to Christ. Be intentional in seeking the Lord and set the highest value on Him. Continue to realize your deepest need because when we see that we are insufficient in ourselves, this draws us to God. Forsake your own ways and return to the Lord, and He will abundantly pardon. Seeking the Lord is a whole life realignment. Forsake your thoughts that are against the Gospel and that lead to fear and bondage. Come to God’s grace and find rest for your soul! Reject yourself and allow a total reformation of your life--especially your thoughts. If you continue to hold on to your thoughts and ways, it shows that your expectations of God are small. God desires to show you how great He is and what He is able to do. Be willing to submit your plans to God. Don’t be fearful to go beyond what you don’t understand. God uses our regrets, insecurities, pain, and sufferings, to bring us to a sense of helplessness and impotency to draw us to Himself. There is a satisfaction that only comes from God. See your fulfillment in God’s work, plans, and ways.
Jesus, at the height of His ministry, rebukes the people for not repenting. Christ had not met the people’s personal needs and expectations, so they were unwilling to come to Him. They were looking for a different Gospel that was all about them and the here and now of this life. We all can be tempted to fall prey to this temptation to reduce the Gospel to something that just meets our needs. Christ knew that sin could only be removed by the true Gospel--not by a gospel driven by politics and the culture. The tragedy of our generation is that we refuse Christ because He is not doing what we want Him to accomplish. Does Christ and the Gospel meet your expectations? God will hide the Gospel to the wise, and reveal it to the children--those who are simple-hearted and have faith. Wise men seek to be righteous by themselves instead of submitting to the righteousness of Christ. Our generation has been deceived into thinking that we can save ourselves, as well as the world. But all of these things will fail because this earth is still under the curse and every sinner is dead without Christ. The only hope for this generation is a renewed heart. If we get wrapped up in trying to save ourselves and this world, we will lose sight of the true Gospel. We will think that we can save ourselves by what we’ve done, but it’s only by faith that we are saved. Every other gospel to establish your own righteousness by yourself will be a burden. Lay down your load and receive the rest of Christ instead. We were not meant to labor and be heavy-laden, but to rest in Christ, and in His work on the cross. Only in Christ will we find rest for our souls. Come to Christ by faith and learn from Him.
In this passage, Paul questions the Christians if they have believed in vain, because there is a danger that our faith can become empty, and less fervent. Have you built your life on the Gospel? The Gospel changes everything. Does it change how you view everything in life? We are to remember the simplicity of the Gospel, and to be aware that we can fall away from this. Examine your heart--how firmly do you believe that Christ died for your sins, that He was buried, rose again, and was seen by others? The doctrines revolving around the Gospel should challenge our natural views. Wrestle with these questions. What are your true inner beliefs of the resurrection? Without the resurrection, our faith is useless and there is no salvation for man. I would only live for myself in the here and now, and we would have no hope. The resurrection is the power of God, so we can have a present confidence and assurance in what God has done. How does the truth of the resurrection affect how you live and think? The resurrection assures us that this life is not all that there is. This present security leads us to a greater responsibility--to love others, to do what is right, to call out what is wrong, and to call others to repentance. Because of the Gospel, we also know that our future is certain. This leads us to live now in freedom, investing our lives around the Gospel. As Christians, we understand our life in the context of the Gospel. All enemies in this life will be put under God’s feet. Have a vision of God’s future--He will destroy all things of sin, death and decay. We are going to inherit a different world. This should lead us to live in hope now!
This vision of Isaiah occurs at the time of the fall of the Northern Kingdom. The Israelites had refused the Lord, so a strong and mighty nation would take them over. The darkness would not remain forever though--this was a message of hope to the people. Isaiah describes the region of the people as dark and very unlikely to have any light or hope, but it was to this group of oppressed people that the Lord would first shine a great Light. This is true of all of salvation--God pours His grace and mercy on those who are oppressed and to those most desperate. The light shines on those who, in humility, see their need for this light. The Gospel is most magnified when we see on whom He has shown a great light. It doesn’t matter who you were before Christ. Christ becomes for you your righteousness and sanctification. The only hope for us is the light of Christ. Never underestimate the power of God to make a life new--even if you are the most unlikely. There is a transformation after regeneration. God will undo everything that sin has done by His grace and mercy. Christ brings joy to His people through His Gospel. Before Christ, we are slaves to sin and under the yoke of bondage, but through the Gospel, we are set free. Deliverance is a remarkable act of God and of His power. To those who are oppressed, God promised that a Child would be born--Christ. Before salvation, the pressure and burden is on our shoulders, but when we come to Christ, He takes the burden and places it on His shoulders. He will reign forever and His Kingdom will never be destroyed. Christ brings peace to the believer. In any area that you’re in darkness, allow the light of Christ in.
There is always a constant danger in the life of the Christian to become entangled again and forget the simplicity of the Gospel. As humans, we are all prone to trying to work for our salvation. We place standards on ourselves and others and it perverts the simplicity and freedom of the Gospel. The Gospel to be a means of freedom. Do you walk in this freedom? Do you share this freedom with others? Legalism is not necessary for salvation. Don’t attach anything to the Gospel or to your salvation. Your understanding of the Gospel should fill you with joy, not dread. When you war within yourself between accepting the freedom of the Gospel, and wanting to work for your salvation, you create strife within yourself. But the Gospel is to bring you to peace! Don’t burden yourself or others with standards of self-righteousness. These standards and pressures will affect our relationships, our ministries, and our jobs. Our freedom has already been earned by Someone else; we only need to accept this freedom. We can’t earn our freedom with our own works. We are free only in Christ. Don’t expect something greater than necessary in yourself. The only thing that ultimately matters is faith working through love. Is it difficult for you to accept the freedom of the Gospel? Rest in grace and in the sufficiency of Christ. Address influences, unconfessed sins, and principles that go against the Gospel. You must be free in Christ in order to serve and love one another. Freedom individually leads to freedom corporately. We have been called to liberty! Stand fast in this liberty!
The Lord brings Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones to reveal to him a vision. The dry bones showed the state of Israel at the time. In this valley, after God showed Ezekiel the full extent of the situation--there were very many bones, and they were very dry--He asks him, “Can these bones live?” The obvious answer is, “No.” But it is the Lord who makes alive, who heals, and who makes whole. We must know and remember the Word of the Lord. Dry bones made alive can only be done by the Lord. It will be done by God’s power alone. What does the valley of dry bones before you look like? How impossible is your situation right now? God will give us more than we can handle to show us that we can’t do it on our own. We don’t have what it takes to help our situation, so our situation points us Godward. We are to trust in God, not in ourselves. When the Lord calls upon a servant to do an impossible task, it is to show His power. He asks us to work according to His power, not according to our power. Ezekiel had to be obedient to the call of the Lord and in faith do what God was commanding him. Even if the call seems absurd, trust God and obey by acting upon the command. We are to live every day in dependence upon the Lord. God called Ezekiel, and now calls us, to prophesy (or preach) to those around us, and to pray that the Holy Spirit would do the work. The source of new life is the Holy Spirit. An active faith in the power, promises, and providence of God will help us in trouble and despair. God displays to us who He is by His incredible acts. Don’t forget the testimonies of the Lord! Acknowledge His daily providence! Take your eyes off yourself and fix them on the Lord!
We, as Christians, must ask ourselves some questions--what is my purpose in this church? Why am I here? As a church, we are not to just be conservative and moralists. We are to be a refuge and shelter for others. Each of us interact with ourselves, with other believers, and with the world around us. As we are bound together with Christ, we are now to bind ourselves to the church body as well to protect each other. We are each partly responsible for the spiritual welfare of the others in our church body. An isolated faith is like dead faith. God is our Father, so we are all of the same family. This should thrust us toward oneness and union with the body. Joy is the result of oneness--this is Christ’s purpose in what He prays in John 17. Am I a means of joy to those around me? Openness and vulnerability are keys to joy. Jesus also prays that we are kept from the evil one, not that we are taken out of the world. We are not to disengage ourselves from the world, but to meet the world with our imperfections. We are to go out and be the salt and light of the world. But we are also not to be conformed to this world. Jesus prays that we be set apart, just like He set Himself apart. The purpose of our unity as a church and with God is so that the world may believe in Jesus. Our lives and love for each other are to be a representative of the love of God. We are to do away with biases and be brought into oneness in heart and desire. Unity is promoted by humble service. Commitment to each other and having preference for others first is not easy, which is why Jesus prays for us. Unity with Christ, with each other, and with the world will show the world the love of Christ.
Hebrews 11 describes stories of faithful men and women in the Bible. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We must understand faith correctly because eternal life is hinged upon faith. In order for anyone to come to God, he must first believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. Noah believed God, so he moved with godly fear. The act of building the ark didn’t save Noah, but his faith in God that moved him to build the ark saved him. Abraham was called out of his country to a place that God would show him in the future. He went out motivated by only a promise of God. He obedience was proof of his faith in God. Have you ever gone out with only faith in God’s promises? Are you willing to go out to the place of your eternal inheritance, believing in God’s promises? Our faith grows through trials, challenges, and failures. When Sarah was told she would bear a son, she laughed in doubt and unbelief. God needed to break these down in her through reproof. God asks her, and us, this question: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” May this question cause inner reflection and examination. Are you in the midst of an impossible situation? Has God given you a promise in the midst of this situation? God will give you strength and grace. Pray through this challenge until you receive strength. The patriarchs died not seeing the promise, but seeing it afar off, and were assured of God’s promises. There will be temptation to go back, just like the patriarchs, but they did not return because they desired a better country. Pray for greater desire for the Lord and for the heavenly country to which you were called!
This Scripture is on the subject of contentment. Paul tells his readers to rejoice always, not in avoiding the gravity of situations in life, but in showing how one lives out a Gospel-defined life. We can’t let the culture define us, but need to let the Gospel define us. Consider your identity in Christ. Contentment and joy are linked. Discontentment comes from misplaced joy. We are instead to rejoice, entirely confident in Christ. We are not to detach ourselves from reality during trials, but to not be anxious for anything. We can be comforted in knowing that we have a Father who knows all things. We are to make our requests known to God, confessing in an honest prayer how we’re feeling, and to do so with thanksgiving of what God has done for us through the Gospel. Peace doesn’t come from the remedy of the situation, but from fellowship with God. What we think about affects our peace and rest. Preach the Gospel to your mind. You are not defined by the way you think of yourself, or by how others think of you. What defines you is how you are in Christ. Contentment is rooted in God, not in self. We are to be God-dependent, not self-sufficient. Nothing is going to be remedied by my discontentment and impatience. We must learn to be content. This is a process, if you are willing. You will have to change your perspective of life. There is more work that needs to be done in your heart and life than you even realize. Measure your life by the Gospel, not by worldly standards, and you will find contentment. We cannot control much in life, but we can ground ourselves in our identity in Christ. In Christ, I can do all things that God has called me to. In Christ, we can be content.
God had just used Elijah to destroy the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. King Ahab had been there and saw what the Lord had done, and went and told his wife, Jezebel. She became outraged and sent a messenger to threaten Elijah that she is going to kill him. Elijah was led to despondency because of Jezebel’s response. Depressed, discouraged, weak, and alone, he humbles himself before the Lord. The Lord knew he would need more strength for the journey ahead though, so He provided Elijah with food and drink from an Angel. We too must realize that our journey ahead is going to be too great for us, and we need to set aside time to rest, eat, drink, and spend time with family and friends. God knows what He’s designed for us, and He will supply what we need accordingly. Elijah then went in the strength that the Lord provided to Horeb, so that he might spend time alone with God. When the Lord leads you to spend more time in communion with Him, do not refuse this time. Elijah had become frustrated because he felt he was pouring his life out for the ministry of the Lord, but the Lord wasn’t acting accordingly. The Lord then displayed His power through wind, an earthquake, and fire to Elijah, but the Lord was not in any of those things. The Lord came in a still small voice that might have spoken what was spoken to Moses, declaring the Name of God. He is the Lord, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Elijah was overwhelmed by the mercy and grace of the Lord. Has the Lord revealed His Name to you? The Lord also tells Elijah that he will not do the work of the Lord alone because God had reserved 7,000 men for His work.
A witness is a public affirmation by word or example. As a church, we are to immerse ourselves in our cities and with our neighbors and not to be elitists. We are to go to those who are marginalized like Jesus did. We should not hide what we are going through. Admit who you are and then share how you’ve found the answer in Jesus Christ to your distresses. This does not show Christianity in a bad light--it glorifies Christ and what He can do in you. In this passage, Paul declares that the Gospel has freed him to do his ministry. He recognized that he’d been given a stewardship of the Gospel and he was confident that God was going to use his ministry for His purposes. Paul was not under obligation to any man but he made himself a servant to all that he might win more souls. He voluntarily made the decision to deny his rights and serve others instead. We are to exist in peace with others, as long as we do not offend God, so that we may obtain their affection and then share with them the hope of the Gospel. Jesus has comforted us so that we can bring comfort to those we’re reaching out to. Paul saw opportunities to help others and intentionally engaged them in their lives. In order to do this, Paul had to discipline himself. This is essential in ministering to others. Giving of ourselves for others will take time. Take for example athletes training for a race to win a perishable crown. We are going for an in imperishable crown, to please our Father, so be willing to serve, be willing to be disciplined in thought and time. Paul knew what Christ had given him, and therefore he disciplined his body so that he could give it to the world. Be faithful to carry out your ministry!
This message defines what community looks like and how it is played out today from a biblical sense. A community has a common identity and purpose, where each person sells their own individuality and sets aside their own personal desires. They are knit and joined together in affections, their mind, desires, and thoughts. Human nature may desire to be alone, but we are meant to be in a community. Community is to be a means of growth for each person. We all must individually give our lives unto God as a free offering first. Then we give ourselves to the body, and to the work. God has given each of us a gift to help others. We are not to be proud with our gifts, but to maintain humility. Just like the human body, each person has a different role but the body exists as one. We aren’t to think less of others though because they don’t perform our function, and we’re also not to think less of ourselves because we don’t perform another’s function. Who has God called you to be in the body? Be faithful in using your gifts. Live as a sacrifice unto God first, then to others. Paul describes how we are to exist together in the world. We are to love regardless of circumstances, without hypocrisy. We are called to abhor unkindness, and to outdo one another in giving honor to each other. We are to throw away all thoughts of pursuing self, and dispense love to others with a burning effort. Have your heart and mind renewed to this given life, unselfishly. We are to pray and bless those who persecute us. This high calling is radical thinking, which is why Paul exhorts us to be renewed in our minds. We are to be of the same mind, and associate with the humble. Remain engaged in this work!
Paul in this passage is finishing his third missionary trip and is heading to Jerusalem where he knows that chains and suffering await him. He sends for the leaders in Ephesus to meet him in Miletus to show them the gravity of the time, and the burden he has for the Gospel to be proclaimed. He had seen great works of God when he was in Ephesus, preaching the Gospel to a people who worshipped mythical gods in their large temple of Diana. He did not underestimate the power of the Gospel though and plainly taught the Gospel of repentance towards God and faith towards Jesus Christ. This is what our generation needs too--the simple Gospel, not watered down or new strange teachings. Paul was urged and compelled by the Holy Spirit to fulfill his calling. Does the love of Christ compel you forward in your vision? This is the only way to go forward, dying to self, going through tribulations. We will utterly fail if the love of Christ doesn’t compel us. We are not called to the American Dream--we are called to a race, a ministry, to reach this generation with the Word of God. God will provide all we have need of if we seek first Him and His Kingdom. In the face of chains, we cannot be moved. We must go on fighting the good fight with joy. We must be on guard against the dangers of being drawn away, taking heed of ourselves first, and then our brothers and sisters. False teachers can arise from outside the church, but as well as within the church. They will proclaim doctrines to divide and distract the flock. Therefore, watch against evil and keep in mind the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. Forgetfulness and not watching will lead to apostasy. Faithfully proclaim and defend the Gospel!
At times, God will awaken us to the brevity of life, and to the reality that we can never take back time that has passed. Moses prays to God that He would teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. As Christians, we have a profound calling on our lives, and this prayer for us is to lead us away from idleness and towards the simplicity of the Gospel. We are called to be ministers of reconciliation. We are to be missional--to be sent out. We are to first have an internal love for God, which then turns external towards loving others. In this passage, Isaiah describes the Messiah, but he is also describing the way we are suppose to be because we are to follow in the ministry of the Messiah. God has set us apart for this ministry, and qualified us for this work. There is nothing random about this calling--God is intentional about this. He has placed us where we live, where we work, in our families, for a reason. If we recognize this, we see how great our responsibility is. God has consecrated you to bring good news to those around you who are in need. We must be intentional in reaching out to them, and in investing in their lives. Have the expectation that God will do a work in their life. It may require a lot of time, so continue to be intentional. Do you see the ministry of the church in this time, rebuilding and repairing the ruined cities? Do you see yourself in this vision, laboring with the others? Isaiah describes a time when the church is influencing society again--where the church is doctrinally strong and culturally relevant. God promises to give joy to those who have given themselves to this calling. Therefore, do not grow weary in doing good.
Paul reflects on his past with a purpose to motivate the church to move forward. Paul had many reasons to boast in his own flesh, but in all of those, there was no hope of salvation. Only faith in Christ could profit him, so he was willing to let go of everything else. He had to count all else as loss so that he could move forward in the work that God called him. As Paul kept walking by faith, he continued to count all things as loss. His desire, above all else, was to be identified with Christ. He desired an intimate, personal relationship with Christ. The knowledge of Christ is ever-increasing, so Paul had to continue to leave behind the past. Paul had decided that he was willing to go on by faith no matter what happened. What about you? Do you share in this desire to know God? Are you willing to share in the fellowship of Christ’s suffering and be conformed to Christ’s death? Paul then acknowledges that he has not already attained, or is already perfect, but he presses on. He had not yet finished the race, so he had to continue to press on by faith so that he could finish the race. Paul was convinced that there were more possibilities of grace beyond his own understanding. Let go of the way you used to understand, and be resolved to lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of you. Don’t become stuck in the past. God calls us continually forward. Reach forward to the promises of God ahead of you. There’s a goal ahead--eternity in the presence of God. There is still more for God to do in your life. Humble yourself and see by faith the further possibilities of grace and promises of God. Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!
The word of the Lord comes through Haggai during the feast of tabernacles, where the people held feasts remembering how the Lord had delivered them from Egypt. It was about one month since the people had started building a new temple for the Lord, but now they were getting discouraged. They started comparing this new temple with the old temple of Solomon, and were discouraged by the vast difference of the outward decoration and glory of the former temple compared to what they were building now. They had forgotten that the old temple was the very place of apostasy and idolatry for the Israelites. The Lord had departed from that temple because of the wickedness inside of it. God was looking at the inside, while the people were focused on the outside. Zechariah tells the people not to despise the day of small things but to rejoice because the Lord is going to show His power through the small beginnings. For it’s when we are weak that God shows forth His strength, grace and power. Therefore, don’t compare the small beginnings of where you are now with the past, or with the things around you. See by faith, and move forward to the fulfillment of God’s vision. God encourages the people to be strong and work because He is with them, and His Spirit remains among them. We are not to be confident in our own strength but instead trust in God, knowing that the presence of the Lord is enough to help us. The Lord of hosts is fighting on our behalf and He will complete His work, by His grace, not by our resources or understanding. God promises that the glory of this latter temple will be greater than the glory of the former temple, so we can be faithful to do what God’s called us to do.