Understanding and Experiencing God’s Peace

 Monday, September 30, 2024

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2:11-16

Understanding and Experiencing God’s Peace

How does understanding and experiencing God’s peace in our lives help us look more like Jesus?
 
The world we live in is full of things that can steal our peace. Every day the news and social media feeds are full of things that are happening, are going to happen, or that may happen. Thinking about these things can cause us stress, anxiety, and a total lack of peace. Our own personal lives can be chaotic and even trouble filled in some seasons. Sickness, tragedy, broken relationships, financial hardships and more can shake our faith and destroy our peace if we are not vigilant against that happening. 

These things are a part of living in a broken world. But this world and all the things of this world are temporary, not eternal. Our Heavenly Father is eternal and never changing. He, His promises, and His character never change, no matter what is happening in our lives. He is more powerful than anything this world throws at us. He is sovereign over all things and circumstances. In John 16:33 Jesus said I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.                                                              

The world usually defines peace as the absence of conflict, but the peace that Jesus gives is a promised assurance, in any circumstance. With Christ's peace we have no need to fear the present or the future. What the world offers seems like peace but is quite the opposite.  Like a morsel of food to a starving animal, the worldly peace we chase only leaves us longing for something else.  The peace He gives satisfies, forever.  It drowns out the trouble of this world and overcomes all fear. Sin, fear, uncertainty; doubt, and numerous other forces can be at war within us. The peace of God offers comfort in place of conflict. Jesus says He will give us that peace if we are willing to accept it from Him.

Is it possible to have peace in those moments that shake us? Jesus said we could find peace in Him – a different peace than the world offers. The world has nothing to offer compared to what we have in Him. When we are struggling, what can we do to have peace? We experience God’s peace when we know Him. If we know Him, we will understand Him, and if we know Him and understand Him, we will experience this peace only He gives that is different than the world. When it is chaotic or difficult times, we must remember and focus on what God has done in our lives. We know He is a promise keeping God because we have seen the fulfillment of His word in our lives and in the lives of others. We have seen Him work. We have testimony of His faithfulness. We have felt His love and we have experienced His mercy, grace, and salvation. This is what we must remember.

When we look at our circumstances, our trials, or the news, we will be anxious and have no peace. It is only when we focus on Him and stay fixated on Him, no matter what is happening around us, that we can find peace in any situation. 

 

The 9: Learning to Live Authentically - “Peace”

 

The 9: Learning to Live Authentically
“Peace” 
Ephesians 2:11-22 (CSB)

Key Truth: “How we live will be determined by the transformation of our character.”

Main Question: How does understanding and experiencing God’s peace in our lives help us look more like Jesus? 

1.  Peace with God. (Ephesians 2:11-14a)

 

2. Peace of God. (Ephesians 2:14b-16)

3. Peace for God. (Ephesians 2:17-22)

 

 

After the Message:
Read Matthew 6:25-34. What do you worry about? List the top 3 points of anxiety in your life right now. How can having the fruit of peace help you to navigate the anxieties of this life?

Fake Fruit

Friday, September 27, 2024

A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Luke 6:43-45

Good Tree/Bad Tree

In the past year we have learned a lot about what it means to live as a follower of Christ. Now we are in a series about what will come from living our lives in a real, transformative relationship with Jesus. If we are walking with Him and have been radically changed by Him, it will show in our lives. We will have fruit – the fruit of the Spirit. 

In the passage above, Jesus explains that a good tree will not produce bad fruit, and a bad tree does not produce good fruit. The same is true for people. An evil person will only have evil stored up in their heart and they will produce evil. Their words and actions come from the evil they have stored in their hearts. They cannot pretend to be good or bear good fruit. …for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

The same is true for us as believers and followers of Christ. If we are walking with Him, learning to live and love like Him, and being transformed by Him every day, we will bear fruit. We are being transformed daily and we never arrive until we arrive – in heaven with Him. But the time we are here on earth, being transformed, we will also bear fruit. Whenever we are surrendered and open to Him, He will use us. 

Fake Fruit

When I was a child (the scary statement that dates us) my mother and grandmother had fake fruit. Sometimes it was plastic and sometimes I guess it was wax. Either way, its not the real deal and it is obvious. Sometimes it is obvious when you look at it, when you touch it, but especially if you ever put it in your mouth. 

As a Christian, there is no fake fruit. God knows our heart, and you may think you are fooling the world, trying to look like you have fruit, but fruit (or no fruit) is the inevitable result of who we are. It may take time for the harvest to come, but the good or bad fruit is evident, revealing what sort of tree we are. We will be known for our fruit - it will be evident in our words and actions, but also in other ways. Who are you influencing? Who are you pouring into? Who are you praying for? Who are you praying with? Are you being discipled so you can make disciples? What are you filling your heart with? Remember that whatever you fill your heart with will overflow and also determine the fruit you bear. Be careful and intentional about what you let in. Walking in the Spriit – stepping where He steps, surrendered and being transformed (filling your heart with Him!) will bear the fruit of a Christ follower. 

Clean your Closet

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Clean your Closet – Colossians 3:5-15 Submitted by Kay Crumley

As I studied Colossians 3 over the last two weeks it occurred to me that these verses are a bit like cleaning out our closet, getting rid of those things we no longer need and replacing them with what is needed. Paul told his readers, in verses 1-4, that those who are in Christ have died to the old, sinful, nature and are now a new person in Christ. So, then, if the old person/nature has died we must ‘put to death’ the old behaviors. Sometimes when we clean out the closet, we put the discards in a pile but maybe let it set there for a time. That allows us to go back and pull out discarded garments. It was the most comfortable item we own even if it no longer ‘fits’ our new life we hate to give it away. 

Paul tells us to not just move it to another place in the house but put those old lifestyles to death. Put those ‘garments’ in the burn pile and burn them immediately. Some are sexual sins that need to be removed. Others center around greed. Our world is full of enticements for having the newest, the best, and the most popular. I must pause and ask myself if that is a need or a want. Greed leads to idolatry. We may argue that we aren’t guilty of idolatry since we don’t have physical figures that we worship sitting in our homes. But we must ask if there is something so important to us that I put it first, before God, if so, that is our idol. 

⁵ Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient ⁷ and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. ⁸ But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. ¹¹ In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

Secondly, in verse 8, Paul lists our attitude and speech as sinful characteristics of which must rid ourselves. We are to be truthful with one another as well as having a good attitude. Why? We have put on a new self, one that is like Christ. He doesn’t play favorites, so this applies to ALL those what are Christ followers.

Now that we have emptied our closets of those sinful ways, we may feel there is nothing that identifies us. However, we are not left without a closet full NEW characteristics we are to put on, a whole new wardrobe. 

We are chosen by Him, His dearly loved children! We clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, long suffering, forgiving spirit (don’t hold grudges). The reason is simple, we have been forgiven by our Lord and we must forgive others just as He did. Finally, we are to put on the most beautiful cape or overcoat over all that. Put on love. His kind of love produces unity and peace.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 

We read in 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. It’s easier to forgive the one we love. As a body of believers, we are called to love deeply those who follow Christ. We are one family, adopted as sons and daughters. Only with love that creates unity will we live in the peace of Christ with all who are the body of Christ. Then we can genuinely be thankful for all His many blessings, His great mercy, and His unending love.

Let’s give the closets of our character a good cleaning and completely destroy the sinful behaviors and attitudes so they can be replaced with His character as we grow in the image of Christ. 

Do You Know Joy?

 Wednesday, September 25, 2024

 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Romans 12:12

Do You Know Joy?

Do you know true joy? Chances are you equate joy with happiness, which is based on circumstances. Most of us are “happy” when things are going well, but what about when times are tough? We have a hard time being happy when things aren’t going well. True joy is not grounded in circumstances. True joy is grounded in Jesus, who never changes. When we find true joy in Him, our circumstances will not change it or take it away. 

 

Joy is a state of being more than an emotion.

 

We so often confuse joy and happiness. Joy is more than happiness, which is temporal and conditional. Happiness is an emotion dependent on personal feelings. Joy is the unconditional state of mind that accompanies fellowship with God. It is a contentment that cannot be shaken no matter what the present circumstances are in our lives. 

 

The Greek word for 'joy' is chara, derived from the Greek word for 'grace.' This is important to note because it tells us categorically that joy comes from the grace of God. This means 'joy' isn't a human-based happiness that comes and goes.  Rather, true 'joy' is divine in origin – It comes only from God.  It is a Spirit-given expression that flourishes best in hard times. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23 CSB

 

Joy is not dependent on circumstances.

 

 And you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit 1 Thessalonians1:6                                                                                                                                                         The Thessalonians were under great stress due to persecution; yet in the midst of it all, they continued to experience great joy. In fact, the text strongly implies that their supernatural joy was due to the Holy Spirit working in them. 

Real joy is something much deeper and much more lasting than being happy.  Unlike happiness, we are not responsible for it.  It exists within us and comes into our lives as the gift of God. Joy breaks into our lives often in the most unexpected ways. It can be in a moment when love is expressed, when we are suddenly caught up in the unbelievable beauty of our world, or when that which is lost is found.  There is the joy that comes in being forgiven when we have been wrong, the joy of being together when we have been separated, and the joy that lingers in the heart, even when tears run down our cheeks. 

 

Joy is found in a relationship with God. 

 

While most seek for happiness in temporary things, real joy is found in only in a relationship with Him.

 

Listen to the Psalmist: 

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult (be joyful) in You.  Psalms 5:11 

 

And again in Psalm 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

 

What brings you joy? Having a relationship with Jesus, abiding in Him and walking in obedience is the only place to find true joy. 

The Life-Giving Vine

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. John 15:1-8

Who is the vine, branch, and vinedresser in this passage? What happens to branches that don’t bear fruit? What happens to those that do? What is Jesus’ promise for those who abide in Him?

The Life-Giving Vine

In Israel, at the time Jesus said these words, there were grapevines everywhere. People were very familiar with vines and the process of the branches on vines producing fruit. He often used analogies in His teachings that would help them to understand what He was saying. 
Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers.  – Jesus is the vine and God is the vinedresser/gardener. A vinedresser takes great care of the vines and prunes when needed. The vine provides the branches with the nutrients it needs for surviving. The survival of the plant depends on the vine, and Jesus is that vine for us. Jesus is the only vine that could ever provide everything when need. We are the branches, depending on Him for everything we need. And we will get everything we need as long as we remain in Him. If you tear the branch away from the vine, on its own it cannot survive. It withers and dies. The only way a branch can ever produce fruit is from the vine. 

The branches of a grapevine that don’t bear fruit get cut away, or pruned. They are separated from the vine forever, thrown into a bush pile and burned. Our connection to Jesus – the vine – is the only way we will bear fruit and have everlasting life. We are in a series right now learning about the fruit that comes from remaining in Him.  Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This fruit should be evident in the lives of Christ-followers. 

Other fruit we might have in our lives as followers could be sharing the gospel, feeding the hungry, serving wherever God leads and laying down our selfish desires for the good of others. The fruit we have from remaining in Him is not something we could produce on our own. Remember that the branch that separates from the vine withers and dies. Real fruit comes only from the vine – Jesus – as we remain in Him. 

Finding True Joy

 Monday, September 23, 2024

As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. John 15:9-11

Finding True Joy

We are all searching for something, and until we find what we are looking for we will grasp one wrong thing after the other. What is it? Some may say happiness, purpose, or fulfillment. But what we are really seeking is joy – not to be mistaken for happiness. True joy from the Lord is deep rooted in our heart. That joy, like the Lord, is unchanging because He is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever so when we find true joy in Him, that joy is the same yesterday, today, and forever, no matter what. It cannot be shaken or taken by anyone or anything. 

What makes us happy in this moment will be gone the next. Our circumstances can be like shifting sand where we constantly have to adjust what to hold onto and what makes us happy. When we hold onto anything but Him, we will continually have to shift because that one thing will not make us happy or secure always. So we grab the next wrong thing. We are searching for deep seated joy but instead settle for momentary pleasure or happiness in something or someone that will ultimately end up disappointing us, leaving us emptier than before, and even more desperate for that hole to be filled. 

How do we experience the fruit of joy in our lives as the Holy Spirit forms it in us? We are all for having the fruit of joy in our lives, but often we do not want to do any work on our end. But to find true joy, there a couple of steps we must take. 

Remaining in Him – To remain in something is to abide, dwell, or make your home in. As Christians following Jesus, we live our lives in Him, stepping where the Spirit steps, learning to live and love like Him. If we are not abiding in Him, we will abide somewhere. When we abide in Him, He gives us life and we bear the fruit of the Spirit as we are transformed. If we are not abiding in Him, our fruit will look very different. 

Obedience – John 14:23 says If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Jesus said if we truly love Him, we will want to obey. Obedience to Jesus is a direct result of a transformative relationship with Him and the Agape love He pours into us. His love for us and our love for Him is part of our Spiritual Formation – the process of being formed into the likeness of Christ for the sake of others. - Robert Mulholland, Invitation to a Journey, 16. Part of walking in obedience in Him is pouring out that obedience into the lives of others. When we pour His agape love out to others, we will find true joy. The secret to an abundant and joyful life is to give it away to others 

God wants us to find true joy. He desires to give us abundant life in Him, where true joy is found. We settle less and fill the void with something – anything. This deep seated, unshakable joy is far more desirable and fulfilling than anything we try to substitute for it. It is a gift given and the result of abiding in Christ in a loving and transformative, relationship with Him and obedience to Him. 

he 9: Learning to Live Authentically “Joy”

The 9: Learning to Live Authentically
“Joy” 
John 15:9-11 (CSB)

Key Truth: “How we live will be determined by the transformation of our character.”

Spiritual Formation- “The process of being formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others.”-Robert Mulholland, Invitation to a Journey, 16.

Main Question: How do we experience the fruit of joy in our lives as the Holy Spirit forms it in us?

1.    Joy is found in remaining. (vs. 9)

 

Whatever we “abide” in will determine the “fruit” of our lives. 

 

2.    Joy is found in obedience. (vs. 10)

 

- Kingdom obedience is kingdom abundance. - Dallas Willard The Divine Conspiracy

 

3.    Joy is completed in Jesus. (vs. 11) 

 

- As we abide and obey, the Holy Spirit grows the fruit of joy in the believer that supersedes any false imitation.

 

 

After the Message: Read John 15:1-8. Who is the vine, branch, and vinedresser in this passage? What happens to branches that don’t bear fruit? What happens to those that do? What is Jesus’ promise for those who abide in Him?

High Places

Friday, September 20, 2024

Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter. Solomon brought her to the city of David until he finished building his palace, the Lord’s temple, and the wall surrounding Jerusalem. However, the people were sacrificing on the high places, because until that time a temple for the Lord’s name had not been built. Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the statutes of his father David, but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. 1Kings 3:1-3

High Places

Solomon is known for his wisdom, but Solomon also had some trouble with misplaced affections. In the Old Testament, there were certain areas called high places that were like platforms or an area that was built up higher with altars where they worshiped false gods.  Some were used to worship the one true God, but more of them were for false gods. They were called high places because it was a contest of sorts. The god that was “highest” or on the highest mountain, was considered better than the others below it.  They were elevated places where sacrifices to idols were made. 

Solomon made some mistakes that resulted in misplaced affections.  He married foreign wives, which he was not supposed to do.  And when he did that, they brought their pagan gods and idols and Solomon built high places for them to worship their gods, and he worshiped with them as the verse above tells us.  He allowed his heart to be led astray. He had the opportunity to tear down the high places and lead the people back to God, but he chose not to.  Instead, he idolized the affections of his wives and the people more than the affections of God. His wives convinced him that he needed to build more high places and not tear any of them down. This became a big problem for Solomon, that eventually caused his downfall. 

Like Solomon, we make high places in our lives where we elevate people or things above God, resulting in misplaced affections. It could be anything - even family or teaching a bible study.  If it becomes more important than God, it is an idol, and God is knocked off the place only He deserves – on the throne of our hearts and lives. There are no holes in our lives that are meant to be filled by idols.  We have to move something out of the way to make room for these idols in our lives meaning that we have to displace something that is supposed to be there - God.  Our misplaced affections knock God out of the way and draw us further and further away from Him.

Idols take our focus and affection away from God. What high places have you constructed in your life?  What are you giving your affections to besides God? God deserves our highest affections and only He belongs in the first place in our lives. Tear down the high places and give God back the place He deserves.

One in Christ

Thursday, September 19, 2024

One in Christ – Ephesians 2:18-22 Submitted by Kay Crumley

We are one. That has meaning in several ways. We are one with groups of people in organizations. That type of oneness may give strength to the influence of a particular group who have a common interest or goal. Wedding vows often refer to the two becoming one in marriage. The couple is no longer two individuals, but their lives are joined in sharing the experience of life together. In the Bible we find references in some of Paul’s letters about being ‘one with Christ’ and ‘one in Christ’. Are those phrases different in meaning? 

Romans 6:5 If we have become one with Christ in His death, we will be one with Him in being raised from the dead to new life. We have our new life with Christ when we become followers/believers in Him. The Holy Spirit then lives in us to guide us in our daily lives.  

In the passage from Ephesians 2, Paul is talking to a group composed of believers, those who are one with Christ, but from different cultures, Jews and Gentiles. He taught that the barrier between the two groups of believers has been destroyed by Christ. All believers have the same Spirit living in them. Verse 18 draws the conclusion that as those who have new life in Christ, we are now one. As children of God, we have one Father. 

¹⁸For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 

Therefore, as members of the same family, we have one inheritance from one ancestor. We have a common source of our new life with Him.  

The basis or foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. He is the stabilizing element of the structure of His church, the chief cornerstone. The rest of the building is held firmly in place and unified by Him and Him alone. This building is the church of believers in which God lives. The church, all the followers of Christ, is in Him.  

¹⁹Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²²And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 

How does that look in our daily lives. As believers are one with Christ. That makes me think of that marriage as described in scripture, we are no longer two but have become one flesh, Matthew 19:6.  We are to act like and look like Christ in our words and actions.  That applies to each believer. Each is adopted into the family of God by our faith in Jesus as God’s one and only Son. Since we share the same Father, we are siblings. We are one family, one church. Just as we join an organization for support and strength, we are members of the Church for the same reasons. So that, verse 21, in Him we are joined together. We may not look the same or speak the same language, but as believers we are one in Him. He is the head who, like tendons and ligaments, holds the whole body together, Colossians 2:19. Those who loss sight of that truth have put their attention on the wrong thing, following something other than the Word.  

Believers are one with Christ, joined together with one mind, 1 Corinthians 2:16. Then we are to join with fellow believers in His Church to encourage, strength, and support one another. None of the earthly measures of worthiness should separate us such as nationality, culture, language, wealth, or status. We are united as one with and in Him. 

A Radically Transformed Life

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. Mark 5:1-5

A Radically Transformed Life

This is the story of a man that was possessed by demons – many demons. When Jesus asked the demon its name, it replied “My name is Legion,  for we are many.” A Roman legion usually consisted of 6,000 men. We don’t know for sure that there were 6,000 demons, but there were many.  No one could help him and every time they chained him he broke the chains with supernatural strength. He lived among the tombs and surrounding hills, day and night screaming in agony and cutting  himself with stones. It must have been the most horrible sound. 

After preaching to a crowd one day, Jesus told the disciples He wanted to go over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to the region of the Gerasenses – where the demon possessed man lived. As they came to the shore, he ran to meet them, falling down and begging Jesus not to torment him (demon). The demon recognized Jesus as the Son of God and knew that He had the power to destroy even a legion of demons.  Jesus sent the demons into a herd of about 2000 pigs that then ran off the cliff into the sea and drowned. The man was finally healed and redeemed by Jesus. The men who were tending the pigs and witnessed what happened ran to the town to tell everyone. People came and saw the man acting normal, dressed, and sitting with Jesus. They were afraid and wanted Jesus to leave their region. 

As Jesus and the disciples are getting into the boat to leave, the man who had been transformed wanted to go with Jesus. But Jesus told him to go to his family and friends and tell them what He had done for him. So he went and proclaimed his testimony of the Gospel of how much Jesus had done for him And all the people were amazed. v20

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. Mark 5:18-20

Can you imagine? I would want to get as far away as possible from there. There might be fear of staying and how hard would it be to deal with all those emotions being stirred every day from living in the same place you had experienced so much evil? But Jesus didn’t let him go because he had an important job for him to do. He needed him to take the light into the darkness. He needed him to stay in the darkness to give them the light that he now had. 

The man was transformed radically. Everyone could see without a doubt the miracle of this transformation right before their eyes. So his witness was no doubt great, and they probably listened to everything he said about a man named Jesus who changed his life. And all the people were amazed. Although our story may not be so radical – or maybe it is – we still have a transformation story and our lives are different. We are being spiritually formed day by day, step by step. We are walking where the Holy Spirit walks and learning to live and love like Jesus every day. This is the light – God glorified through our lives and our transformation – that we need to take to the world. Just like Jesus told that man to stay and tell his friends and family, sometimes He tells us to do the same. 

What is God asking you to do today that maybe you do not want to do? Is He asking you to take the light into the darkness? Is He asking you to take the light into the darkness of your family? Your neighborhood? Your job? The good thing is that He never leaves us alone. Wherever and to whomever He asks us to take the light to, He always goes with us. Let me be clear, He never wants us to stay in an abusive situation. That is not what this is about. But sometimes He does ask us to do things we don’t want to do, to stay when we want to go, and to go where we don’t want to go. It is our job to be willing and obedient and follow His lead anywhere He wants us to go no matter how bad we want to get in the boat and go far away from where we are.   

Proof of Life

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 1 John 4:7-11

Proof of Life

If a tree is alive, it has buds, leaves, and bears fruit. These are signs of life.  If it is dead it will not have any of these things. Fruit is a sign of life for a tree and for a believer it is the same. If are a Christian, and in a growing relationship with the Lord, there will be fruit. There will be proof of life flowing from our lives. 

One of the fruits of the Spirit is love. If we are a Christian and have Jesus in our heart and if we are walking with Him – learning to live and love like Him – it will be evident to all those around us. When we are alive in Him, there will be love. What does the fruit of love demonstrate in the life of the believer as the Spirit forms it in us?

Love demonstrates knowledge of God. 

If we are in a relationship with God we will know love. If we do not love we do not know God, because God is love. Love is the direct result of a relationship with Him. This love demonstrates knowledge of God in our lives because when you have a deep relationship with someone, you really know them. God is love in the purest form and we get to share that knowledge and love with everyone around us. 

Just knowledge is not enough. There must be a relationship that changes us, because Agape love (love that sacrifices for others and is for the good of others) is not natural to us. We are selfish by nature but when we are born again we are born into a new life. We love because of his love for us. This purest love overflows to those around us.

Love demonstrates evidence of God. 

As believers, our lives overflow with His love and will be evidence that God has actually done what He said He will do. He sent His Son who died on the cross to pay our debt so we could be forgiven, and He defeated death, hell, and the grave with His resurrection. He did all this because of His love for us.  His love flows through us to the rest of the world – this is evidence that the Bible is true.

Love demonstrates the presence of God. 

His love for us and in us will guide how we live. We ought to love one another because love comes from Him. We ought to love the unlovely too. There are people who continuously push others away on purpose. They do not like themselves enough to allow themselves to feel love from others, and they especially will not readily accept that the God of the universe could possibly love them. The presence of God in our lives loves everyone, which in turn demonstrates His presence. We cannot purely love others on our own without His presence in our lives. 

Our actions demonstrate the proof of His life in our lives every day. We are called to love others not in words or speech only, but in truth and action. It is of greatest importance that we as Christians demonstrate with our lives – our words, actions, and the way we treat others – the love of God to those around us. 

Living Authentically in Love

Monday, September 16, 2024

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.mIf anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts before him1 John 3:16-19

After the message: Read 1John 3:11-18. What is the message that John’s readers had heard from the beginning? What is the state of those who do not love? How do we know love? How should we live a life of love?

Living Authentically in Love

John was one of the twelve disciples that Jesus called to follow Him. He spent time with Jesus, learning how to be a disciple. He got to watch Jesus and learn to live and love like Him first hand. John wrote these letters (1,2, and 3 John) to the church to encourage the believers after a group of false teachers came and caused confusion and dissention in the congregation. The old testament was not complete at this time so many churches and believers were caught up in the false teaching.

 

John had been speaking about the command to love and reminding them of where they heard about it in the first place. The old command is the word you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.  1 John 2:7-11

They already knew about the command to love so they should be getting the picture that love is a central theme in living for Jesus. Those who do not love, but instead hate, cannot know God because God is love. As believers, when we love others, we love them with a pure love that comes from God. Those who do not love, walk in darkness. When we love, we walk in light. If we have hate in our hearts we cannot walk in the light.

For believers, love for others is proof of the love of God in us. Non believers can love of course, but it is not with the pure love that comes from God. If we say we are a Christian and this love is not evident in our lives, people will notice because Jesus said that loving others would be the way the world would know that we are His disciples - if we love one another.  “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

We know love because Jesus loves us with His boundless, never ending, love, grace, and mercy. We are filled with this love and so should pour it out into the lives of those around us.