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Living in the Presence of God is one of the great mysteries of our faith, however it is how we are intended to live our lives. However this at times feels impossible. Let's talk about one of the biggest hindrances that often times holds us back from living the abundant life that Jesus promises.
In Matthew 4: 8-11 we come to the third temptation and final temptation that Jesus faces in the wilderness. In the previous verses we see how the devil tempts Jesus at his weakest point, but also in the second he tries the strength of Jesus' faith. In this third temptation the devil has nothing left but to try and entice Jesus to measure God’s favor in His life by focusing on the success of his work.
Jesus’ second temptation attacks his faith. The devil believes that Jesus’ strength comes from his ability to recite scripture, he fails to see that Jesus’ faith is rooted in his heart.
Being still and silent is difficult for most of us, but it is essential for us as followers of Jesus. In the silence and solitude is where God's deep work is done in our hearts.
In Matthew chapter 4 the first few words we see the Holy Spirit leading Jesus to the wilderness. The Spirit doesn’t lead Jesus into temptation, but it does lead him to the wilderness where he will be tested and tried.
Which raises the question: If Jesus is the Son of God, what is the need for him to be tested?
Is there another way?
Doubting is not a bad thing, it becomes harmful and dangerous when we hold on to that doubt and we begin to rationalize it ourselves. Doubt is meant to be taken to God. It is a vehicle that is meant to draw us closer to God. Keeping the doubt to ourselves, ultimately sets us on a path where we debate and question if God's Love for us is true.
God speaking into our lives is not a mystical event that is reserved for a chosen few. It is something that is to be expected because he is close and personal to every single one of us. The closeness and interactions we see between Jesus and his Father, we can also experience if we desire it.
With 11 words God spoke into he heart of Jesus and gave him what his human heart needed. Gods words carried more than a message, it was a loving embrace that allowed Jesus to experienced God's unconditional love. In a fraction of time, God gave Jesus what man will spend his entire lifetime searching for, the love of the Father. In God we find an unconditional love which gives us a firm understaffing to who we are, and his love makes us valuable.
Today Sheila a family member of our church shares with us what it looks like for the Holy Spirit to be our Helper.
What is the meaning and purpose behind our suffering? today we take a look on how following Jesus and experiencing suffering is an integral part of the journey. Most importaly in our suffering we can experience the love of the Father in a way that is personal, comforting and consoling.
The Holy Spirit is one of the aspects of our faith that is oftentimes misunderstood. Mostly because of its mystery, but if we allow ourselves to embrace this gift in our lives we will be able to discover the wonder of God through the mystery of the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever wondered what exactly is it that allows Jesus to relate to us? Today we uncover that because Jesus choses humility over power, influence and wealth, he is obedient to the will of the Father and he is led to be baptized. Jesus' humility leads him to be in the same place as the sinners whom he is here to save. Jesus doesn't come to get baptized because he is repenting of sin that is in his life, he comes into the water to be baptized not because he shares our need for forgiveness, but he comes to get baptized in order to share it. It is in baptism that Jesus is able to fully identify with us.
God's love for humanity is a passionate foe
that is fueled by his desire for everyone that is in relationship with Him to embody his Character. for us to be able to look at this world with eyes of compassion, and act with justice and righteousness in this world.
What comes to mind when you hear the word repentance? How does this word make you feel? For most people repentance can make us feel uneasy and uncomfortable but repentance is so a good thing for the human soul. Today we learn how repentance is the key to being able to live in the Kingdom of God and an essential part of a follower of Jesus.
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In the conclusion of chapter 2 in the book of Matthew Jesus is a child, and when chapter 3 picks up with Jesus as an adult. There are 18 years unaccounted for in the life of Jesus. This time frame is known as the hidden years of Jesus, but what exactly took place there?
As we close out this chapter in the book of Matthew, our beloved family member Matthew shares with us his heart and the Hope that Jesus brings to all of us.
All sin is destructive, but what exactly does it destroy? Sin destroys all of our relationships. When we focus on fixing our sinful behavior it comes at the expense of our relationship with God. We must focus on our relationship with Jesus our behavior will overflow from our hearts.
the Bible doesn't have a comparison between what sin is considered better or worse, the truth is that all sin is destructive. But there is a pattern in which temptation becomes sin. And in every stage, if we are willing we have the opportunity to meet Jesus.
The second character that we come across in the second chapter in the Gospel of Matthew is King Herod. King Herod isn't just added to the story for historical context but for what he symbolizes: the human condition. King Herod illustrates the sinfulness that exists in the human heart. The main point of King Herod is not that he is the villain (although he did some horrific things) but what he shows is our deep need for Jesus.
Since the beginning Gods heart and mission has always been to save and redeem his most prized creation, humanity. The magi represent the extent to which Gods love is able to reach. God's love is expressed through his grace. Grace is missional, and as a church that's why we exist.
How is it that the Magi, people who are considered to be the lowest of the low because their worship to false gods and idols end up being one of the first people to stand in front of Jesus?
Today Ian a friend of our community shared with us what intimacy looks like by being vulnerable with God and Others.
The Will of God is one of the hardest things to explain, mainly because we do not know what it is. We all want to do it, but have a hard time understanding what it is. How was Mary able to step in to allow the Will of God to be fulfilled through her? How did she have the confidence to accept God's plan for her life that was anything of what she could have dreamed of for herself? Today we talk about the eternal truth that was revealed to Mary that gave her the confidence to trust in the Fathers plans when she surrendered her dreams and plans to God.
Doing the will of God is something that we all desire to do, but it is so hard to do it let alone explain what it is. Oftentimes the challenge of being able to know and do the Will of God. We can not be obedient without surrender, we cannot accept the New life that Jesus promises without putting to death our old life.
God with us is more than just words, the power of Gods spirt in our lives is a gift, prayer is how we move from being aware of the presence of God to living in the Presence of God.
God's ways, are not our ways. The story of the birth of Jesus is a story that we have heard thousands of times. But his birth could only be possible "by the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit is the unexpected way in which God brings in New life.
In this last section of 14 generations Matthew reminds us of Gods Faithfulness, and how Jesus is not the end of the Genealogy but the beginning of a New life.
Matthew 1: 7-11 In this second section, we come across another set of names. These 14 generations is usually known as the exile into Babylon, Matthew shows us another forgotten truth about God, God's love is Holy. Today we celebrate our one year anniversary!
Matthew 1 Strats with the genealogy Jesus, but why would Matthew start his gospel in this way? What's in this list of names? Today we talk about the character of God that is found within this list of names.
learning to grow in the same way that Jesus did, by using Spiritual Disciplines to cultivate the Holy Spirit
A life of following Jesus is a life that begins by learning how to be with Him. In a world that constantly demands our attention, we lived with a hurried spirit that make us unable to be still and present. Jesus invitation to live in the Kingdom of God starts by learning to be with Him.
We need to be able to put the old ways of our old lives to death, so that we can receive the gift of New Life that comes from the resurrection. The anointing at Bethany is a preparation for the resurrection.
We cannot love God, without loving others. Hesed is the Hebrew word that tries to explain the unexplainable. Hesed is the core of God's being, when we are shaped by hesed it naturally compels us to share it with those around us.
Drawing Closer to God Series: the sin in our lives doesn't just affect us as individuals, it has relational implications as well. Sin is the great disruption to our most important relationships.
The False self is a self defense mechanism that prevents us from experiencing Depth and Intimacy with Jesus.
Our emotions are apart of who we are, and can be used as guides to help us draw closer to God. Learning the language of emotions is about learning to process, understand and express our emotions.
Drawing Closer to God series: God's draws us near as our intimacy with Him deepens and we discover the Fathers Love.
What comes to mind when you think about God? Our view of God shapes how we relate to God
Pastor Jason Jesudasen a dear friend of One City Church shares with us through his story the power of Healing.
Resting in God's Presence is where the true transformation of our hearts takes place. Allowing ourselves to Rest, allows us to live in the Mystery and Wonder of God.
Not knowing if we can trust what is promised on the other side is often a challenge that we all face. But Vulnerability is what helps us bridge the gap to be able to step into the gift that God has for us.
The Sabbath is a gift that allows us to live in a different pace, and a more natural rhythm of life.
Love is the culmination of what Advent is all about. Jesus fulfills the longing in our human hearts to be loved. But the love that we receive is meant to be shared with the world!
Friend of our church family Brian Ong shares his heart and gives us a taste of what Joy looks like in the life of a follower of Jesus.
When we share a meal together, we are being what Jesus calls us to be. People who reflect God‘s grace by eating together.
Jesus invites to cultivate a life of prayer because prayer is more than just an act, prayer is a place where we encounter God.
Prayer is not formulaic, its unique and mysterious but in its mystery we discover God's wonder.
Following Jesus leads us to be disruptive where we live, because of the way that we live.
The soul is where all parts of our being come together. The soul is the temple in where God resides in us.
Lack of awareness of the false self can prevent us from living a life of true devotion.
Becoming a person of Love by learning how to be vulnerable with the depth of our hearts.
A series on Luke 10:27. Learning to Love God with our minds, body, hearts, and soul.
This is an introduction to the series