Category: Community (Page 3 of 90)

I often think we don’t fully appreciate our status as Christians. As children of God. The fact that we are heirs of God. We occupy a special, selected, privileged position not enjoyed by those who do not have faith in Jesus. We can talk to God our father in a way that those without faith can’t – won’t. As children of God through faith we are free from all that binds and holds us back.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring according to promise.

Galatians 3:29

Unfortunately I think that some Christians view this status as license to treat our Father like a genie; their to just grant whatever we want whenever we want. They see accumulation in this life as the goal instead of our adoption and eternal life as the goal; as the gift.

It’s a focus on self and this world instead of on God and the next.

And when we truly understand our place, our privileged place as God’s heirs – and that the new creation is already ours, that should change our motivation and heart. Not to gain this world, but to serve it. To serve others. To share the faith so that others may also receive that same gift commit that same inheritance of eternal life. So that others may become our eternal brothers and sisters and all of us together can cry, “Abba! Father!”

Being full heirs through faith in Jesus means recognizing the fact that God’s full inheritance is already ours. We have nothing to strive for. Nothing to fear. Nothing to worry about. We have it all. Now.

What an awesome blessing! What an awesome privilege! What an awesome status!

“Thank you, Abba, Father, for freeing us from the slavery of sin and making us Your full heirs and inheritors of freedom and everlasting life through faith in Jesus. Grant us wisdom and joy to share this Gift in word and deed. In Jesus’ name, amen!”

Scriptures

• Galatians 3:23-4:7

Last Sunday was Pentecost. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the people in Jerusalem and the start of the Church united in Jesus.

God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.

Acts 2:24

The first thing the Holy Spirit led Peter to say in our text was last week, explaining what was happening in God fulfilling His prophecy through Joel.

Today Peter continues, sharing words of prophecy from King David and how David foresaw and foretold how his Descendant would die but rise again, not even letting His body see decay!

The words are not just important for those within earshot of Peter. We, also, need to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say. Too often we listen to ourselves and others, and ignore or drown out His Words of life for us.

In our Scripture today, the Holy Spirit shares through Peter that “God has made [Jesus] both Lord and Christ” – the master over all and God’s Anointed One for all time!

The Holy Spirit is sharing that Jesus is the One prophesied about; the One God chose to execute His plan of salvation; the One who is elevated over all things for all time!

That’s what the Holy Spirit does: He points people to the Lord and Savior; He points them to Jesus! Because in Jesus, there is forgiveness! In Jesus there is mercy! In Jesus there is Life! In Jesus there is salvation!

Faith in Jesus is your very life – now and forevermore!

Look to Him! Believe in Him! Serve Him! For God has made Him both Lord and Christ!

“Gracious God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to point us to Jesus! Thank You for You plan of salvation which Jesus fulfilled and now and forever, Lord and Christ! Move us from areas in our lives where we do not see or treat Him as such. Forgive us and renew us with Him always and only before and above us. In His precious name; amen!”

Scriptures

• Acts 2:22-36
• Psalm 8

There are so many good things in today’s Scripture.

Here we have the “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus, which John records right before His time in the Garden before His betrayal and arrest.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 17:3 (ESV)

Jesus gives us so much in His prayer to the Father for His disciples – whom He knew would desert Him and struggle to regain their footing following His death.

But we can see a few key points:

1. They aren’t of the world (as He isn’t of the world)
2. Jesus has shared the Truth with them; the Truth of eternal life by knowing God as the only true God and in Jesus whom the Father sent, made known through the very Word of God
3. Unity is important and is found in Jesus for the sake of the saving Gospel of Jesus

The challenge for us is that we don’t see unity in the Body of Christ. Quite the opposite.

Many reasons abound for this, but the two primary ones are a lack of love in the Body and a lack of pursuance and steadfastness in the Truth in the Body.

The reality is, the Body of Christ’s Church is fractured because our sinful world is fractured. It is challenged because many in the Body love the world more than God, others, and the Truth.

But the reality is different from the perception of it.

The fact is, there is unity in Christ. Unity in His grace and mercy. In His Truth. Unity in His forgiveness. Unity of salvation.

Through Faith in Jesus (and Him only!), there is the one unifying Truth: Jesus saves!

That is a Truth to unify in! He is the Truth to unify in!

“Thank You, Jesus, for praying for Your Body, the Church. Thank You for unifying us in You; in Your Word, in Your Truth, in Your grace, in Your forgiveness, in Your life, in Your salvation. Grant us Your Holy Spirit so that we put aside this things which break us in our unity – our lack of love and our failure to hold to the Truth of You and Your Word. Help us live the unity we have in You through faith. In Your precious, holy, unifying Name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

• John 17:3-8, John 17:14, John 17:17-23
• Psalm 133

Life is tough. It has challenges and heartaches that we could never foresee. (That’s probably a good thing.)

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33b (ESV)

Some believe that being a believer means we won’t (or shouldn’t) have these difficulties anymore. Some even go so far as to say that if a believer is undergoing hardships, persecutions, and challenges, it is evidence that they either do not believe or their faith is not strong (enough.)

Not only is this un-Scriptural, it is anti-Scriptural.

Today’s scripture plainly says that “in the world you will have tribulation.” Not “if you have little faith,” not “may,” not “might;””will!”

We don’t get to know the times the tribulations will come. We don’t get to know what types of tribulations they will be. We don’t get to know the severity or extent or length. We know that being in this sinful, fallen, messed-up world, tribulation will be there with it. A part of it. Because of it.

But that’s the end of the reading or verse, “But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The tribulations aren’t the focus. Our sufferings and pains and heartaches aren’t the focus.

Jesus is the focus. Always.

And His victory over the world and all it’s tribulations and heartaches is now our victory, too. Heartaches are transformed by Jesus’ “take heart.”

He doesn’t promise tribulations will cease in this fallen world. He points us to the reality that this fallen world – and all it’s tribulations has been overcome and a New Creation is in store, where heartaches are never more.

Take heart! Jesus has overcome; for you; for all, forever.

“Lord Jesus, we praise and thank You that You have overcome the world, overcome death, sin, the devil, and all tribulations and heartaches. Remind us in challenges that they are temporary and defeated and that we can take heart and look forward to the new world You will create, free from all tribulations and heartaches. In Your holy and precious name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

• John 16:27-28
• John 16:32-33