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A week to remember…
Why the change? There are many possible reasons, but one simple reason is that their words did not match their hearts. They possessed a casual faith…not a fully surrendered faith.
They had religion…they missed the person Jesus So how can we have a fully surrendered faith? How can we be real and sincere? How can we be consistent in all that we do?
Are you living in a fully surrendered faith? Bro. Joe Questions for Reflection:
Suggested Readings - Sunday - Luke 19:28-40 Monday - Matthew 27:11-26 Tuesday - John 15:1-8 Wednesday - John 16:5-15 Thursday - John 19 Friday - Luke 23:26-56 Saturday - Luke 24 Prayer - Father, I want to live a fully surrendered life to your will…your ways…your desires. Lord, I can only do this through the power of the Holy Spirit living in me. Fill me…use me…guide me. Thank you Jesus for making this possible. Amen
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What does it mean to fear God?
It’s taking the mindset of a child who has tremendous respect and love for his father or mother and who dearly wants to please them. THE BELIEVER’S PERSPECTIVE 'We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.” Job 37:23-24 As children of God, we understand this sentiment from the perspective of living under grace and mercy…not receiving what we deserve. THE WORLD’S PERSPECTIVE There is no fear…no reverence. As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don’t know where to find peace.” “They have no fear of God at all.” Rom. 3:10-18 SO, HOW IS ONE’S PERSPECTIVE CHANGED? Whenever someone enters the presence of God, their perspective has the opportunity to change…yet it is still a choice they have to make. In order for our perspective to change we must: Recognize who God is…Realize who we are…Repent, which then results in: Reverence (fear)…Restoration…Revival “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” Isaiah 57:15 Bro. Joe Questions for Reflection:
Suggested Readings - Sunday - Proverbs 9:10 Monday - Job 37-38 Tuesday - Job 39-40 Wednesday - Job 41-42 Thursday - Romans 3:10-18 Friday - Isaiah 57:15 Saturday - Isaiah 8:13 Prayer - Lord, I love you. I fear you. I desire to please you. Father, I need your help in order to live all this out in a world that does not share these sentiments. Father, guide my heart…my thoughts…my actions…my spirit to please you in all I think, do and say. Amen “For you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. “ Philippians 1:5
We are all partners in grace. The word partner is defined as a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; a sharer. Grace is defined as favor, goodwill, mercy, clemency, pardon, and forgiveness. As born again believers we are born in a family of sharers of God’s goodwill…God’s Good News: Jesus. There are two passages of scripture that best answer the questions: who shares?…who do we share with?…where do we share?…how do we share? “Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”’ Matthew 28:18-20 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts of the Apostles 1:8 Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are partners in grace. Bro. Joe Questions for Reflection:
This Week’s Suggested Readings - Sunday - Philippians 1:1-6 Monday - Matthew 28:18-20 Tuesday - Mark 5:1-20 Wednesday - Acts 1:1-9 Thursday - Mark 13:1-11 Friday - Acts 8:4 Saturday - Romans 10:13-17 Prayer - Lord, as a partner in grace I want to do my part in sharing the Good News with others. Through your power, show me with whom…when…and how to share Jesus in your world this week. Amen 'For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.’ 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Our passage reminds us that God is in the changing business. God doesn’t expect us to change based on our own power or will, but has given us His Holy Spirit as His “Change Agent” in our lives. There are specific workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Change is a process that comes about when:
Each of these requires that we surrender to the conviction, instruction and encouragement of the Spirit of the Lord in our lives. Walk in the freedom of the Spirit and reflect the glory of the Lord as you are changed into His glorious image. Bro. Joe Questions for Reflection:
This Week’s Suggested Readings - Sunday - 2 Corinthians 3 Monday - Psalm 78:41 Tuesday - Romans 3:10-23 Wednesday - Ephesians 2:1-3 Thursday - 1 John 2:15-17 Friday - 2 Timothy 3:16 Saturday - Hebrews 4:12 Prayer - Lord, I want my life to reflect your glory. Father, use your Spirit within me to make me more and more like Jesus. Amen |
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January 2019
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