Church guide

A NEW YOU…, Ephesians (part 5) Last week Paul painted a very dark, bleak backdrop of our lives before meeting Jesus Christ. He said: Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) 2 And you WERE (we WERE…, all of us WERE) dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we “ALL” once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. What WERE we according to these verses? Dead, separated from God…, subjects of God’s holy wrath. Alienated from God the Father. Isolated from His plan of redemption. What WAS the problem? - SIN. We WERE (past tense) Dead to God because of our “trespasses and sins”. We WERE walking the course of this world, a course directed by (SATAN) “the prince of the power of the air”. We WERE once “children of disobedience”, as we lived just to fulfill “the passions of our flesh”. We (What’s the word?) - WERE unforgiven sinners, destined for wrath, no “children of wrath” headed for hell. We WERE the Walking Dead…, zombies without a thought, zombies who were unaware. Living breathing corpses, hopelessly separation and alienation from God…, that’s what we WERE. This week we get to see a glimmer of hope…, the light at the end of the tunnel: Ephesians 2:4 (ESV) 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, “BUT God”, so many times things hinge on the word, “BUT”. "But God, being rich in mercy”. The phrase “rich in mercy” is an equalizer…, a counterbalance to humanity’s condition, rich in sin. Only a God “rich in mercy” would or could conceive a plan to save and redeem a fallen mankind. Mercy is compassion or a forgiveness that is extended to someone who DESERVES punishment or harm…, and we ALL DESERVE punishment. So get this, mercy is an undeserved pardon. Mercy is the only explanation for Christ’s greatest sacrifice…, a sacrifice on our behalf according to 2 Corinthians 5:21. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 21 For our sake he (the Father) made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him (“IN” Christ, through His Spirit) we might become the righteousness of God. Please understand, People can show mercy to one another on a limited, human basis. But our offenses against God were so terrible, so unforgivable, that His forgiveness shows Him to be more than merciful—He is “RICH in mercy (over abundantly merciful)”. God is “RICH in mercy” as “demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” - Romans 5:8. Before we cared…, before we knew Him…, before God was anything to us, He extended mercy toward us or anyone who was will to accept it. Some tend to believe that salvation is due to some good merit, some good deed within ourselves. BUT, the only thing good I want you to see is God, our Lord Jesus Christ: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, - 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) What has God done? – He has caused something to happen…, something GOOD. Starting in the Old Testament and flowing through the New: In the Old, God caused His goodness to pass before Moses: 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, - Exodus 34:6 (ESV) God caused His goodness to touch David and in Psalm 86 David was inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote these words: 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. - Psalm 86:5 (ESV) Then David was also inspired again by the Holy Spirit to write these words found in Psalm 103: 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 He will not always chide (rebuke), nor will he keep his anger forever. 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (That’s mercy) 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; - Psalm 103:8-11 (ESV) Do you see it? Do you see the reoccurring theme of God’s mercy? Jonah was reluctant to go to Nineveh because he knew that God was gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. Micah tells us that God delights in mercy. He’s not only overflowing in mercy..., but God’s mercy endures forever. Paul declares that He is “RICH in mercy”..., on going, limitless, eternal. In chapter one Paul speaks of the riches of His grace: 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, - Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) Then again we find Paul speaking of the unsearchable riches of Christ: Ephesians 3:16 (ESV) 16 that according to the “riches of his glory” he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, What has God done? – He has caused something to happen…, something GOOD, in the Old Testament and flowing through the new..., and forever including today. But the verse continues: Ephesians 2:4 (ESV) 4 But God, being rich in mercy…, because of the great love with which he loved us, The first indicator of God’s mercy toward us…, is in His great love, “with which he loved us." In chapter 3 verses 18 and 19 Paul is praying for us all that we, “may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” If we only knew, if we could understand, if we could comprehend how much God loves us…, it would alter us and that would change how we love, who we love and the extent of our love. But too often it’s a concept too hard for us to grasp…, why? - Because we know ourselves well…, we know the extent of OUR love and assume God’s love is much like ours…, limited. Get this, His love for us is not prompted by some lovable characteristics in us, but by His nature of love. Let me say that again, God’s love for us is not prompted by some lovable characteristics in us, but by His nature of love. His love for me and you is not the result of something in me or because of our performance. He loves us for His own reasons…, and that’s His nature: John 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. God manifested His love toward us in the sending His Son to take my sin, and die in my place. Jesus became my substationary-atonement. I was guilty, you were guilty and we had no way to redeem ourselves. Jesus stood in my place and took on my punishment. Did I deserve it? No, but that’s God’s nature..., to love, even when it’s undeserved. 4 But God, being rich in mercy…, because of the great love with which he loved us, (stepped in to save the day) - Ephesians 2:4 (ESV) 9 ... the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that “HE - LOVED – US” and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. - 1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) Please get this point, this love was existed to us, "Even when we were dead in our trespasses and sins." Romans 5:6-8 (ESV) 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. D. The next manifestation of the riches of His mercy toward us is in His making us alive with Christ. We WERE dead in our trespasses and sins. Now though His mercy toward us, He was made us alive through Jesus…, through the on going work of the Holy Spirit. We WERE dead, spiritually without life, eternally separated from God…, alienated from God’s “great love”…, “But God, being rich in mercy…, because of the great love with which he loved us, (stepped in to save the day). Can I get an AMEN? Let me say that again, “But God, being rich in mercy…, because of the great love with which he loved us, (stepped in to save the day). Can I get an AMEN? Today remember, mercy is not getting what we deserve: death, punishment, and the brunt of God’s holy wrath. Why? Because of our trespasses and sins, we deserve Hell. I have to say it one last time, “But God, being rich in mercy…, because of the great love with which he loved us, (stepped in to save the day). Can I get an AMEN?

A NEW YOU…, Ephesians (part 4) A man went to visit his “WELL - TO - DO - FRIEND” who had been taken ill. When he showed up at the door, the butler at first refused to let him in stating that the man was ill and couldn’t be disturbed. “Nonsense,” said the friend. “It’s all in his mind. He just thinks he’s ill.” And with that he barged through to see his friend. The next day he returned, but again met with resistance by the butler who said, “He’s worse today and shouldn’t be disturbed.” “Nonsense,” said the friend. “It’s all in his mind. He just thinks he’s worse.” And he barged right on through again to visit with his friend. A few days later, he came back again, but this time the butler preempted him by saying, “I am sorry sir, but today he thinks he’s dead!” Unfortunately, we live in a world where the exact opposite is true. We have an epidemic of people who think they’re alive, but in fact, God says they’re as dead as a doornail. Oh, they walk around, they talk, they laugh, they live, but though they have physical life, and though many of them are quite nice people, but the horrible truth is that they’re hopelessly separated from God…, and thus, as spiritually dead as they could possibly be. Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) 2 And you were (we were…, all of us we’re) dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. What were we according to these verses? Dead, separated from God…, subjects of God’s holy wrath. If we studied this a bit deeper we’d find that there’s a universal problem of alienation. Nations and people are alienated from each other. Humans are alienated from nature; from each other and from God. Everywhere there’s apartness and isolation. Why is this? Well, we see that the cause is sin. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities (your sins) have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. But God rich in mercy and grace, ultimate wants to remove the alienation and bring about unity. He will restore paradise. “IN” Christ, God has started this great process and will continue this process of saving lost people till the last person is saved. But before we get to the wonder of God’s grace, He must expose the horror of man’s condition: And you were (we were…, all of us we’re) dead in the trespasses and sins Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV) Praise God in the weeks to come we’ll cover Ephesians 2:4-10 where we find hope, love and grace…, but we’re not there yet. If we could entitle these verses it would be, “Dead Men Walking” – describing mankind without God. All in all, these verses serve as reminder of where we’ve “ALL” been, where we’re going and how we got there…, but in order to see the glory of the solution, we must see the depths of the problem. Here’s why, to fully appreciate the view from the mountaintop, the wonder of salvation and the glory of God, we must first see the depths and hopelessness of life apart from Him and that is our unenviable task today. What is mankind like without God from God’s perspective – and therefore, in reality? Again the verse says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79io403T1EM This video clip almost perfectly captures the grim, but almost totally unseen and unrecognized reality of every single person who is outside of Jesus Christ. We were all on the outside of that fence…, walking dead, but the moment we came through was the moment we were safe, “IN” Christ. We were literally dead men and dead women walking, zombies without a thought, zombies who were unaware. The woman is a picture of God who realized and seen our condition…, but God opened the fence to let a few us, the “saved”, the “born again”, the “redeemed” into a safe place. In order to understand and appreciate God’s grace; we have to realize and remember man’s condition apart from God, we have to deal with this fact. However, good or bad they may look; however good or bad they may act; however good or bad life may have treated them – all people outside of Christ live are those Zombies…, are those “Walking Dead” and that is the just verdict of Almighty God. Say this with me, “We WERE Walking Dead.” Again, “We WERE Walking Dead.” One more time, “We WERE Walking Dead.” Also please note the words “WERE dead”. They are in the present tense, not meaning that they are still in this state, but emphasizing the ongoing, inherent, persistent quality of their existence. They WERE the walking dead. Now, the big question is, what does it mean that they were dead? If they were physically quite alive, in what sense were they dead? We actually need look no further than verse 12 for our answer. Paul says, “12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” That is a concise and accurate statement of spiritual death. It’s a state of hopeless separation and alienation from God. Over and over again in scripture, death is always recognized as a separation. Physical death is separation of body and soul as we clearly see whenever it happens. Spiritual death is the eternal separation of the individual from the Father…, God. Let me say that again, spiritual death is the eternal separation of the individual from the Father…, God. Now, what’s the cause of this separation from God? Paul answers this concisely, ”And you WERE dead in the…, TRESPASSES AND SINS”. The word “trespass” means to slip or to fall, to be on the wrong way. “Sin” means to miss the mark, a word that conjures up the image of an archer missing his target. Two words are used to indicate the brunt of the problem and not to emphasize any particular difference between them. Man is dead because he simply cannot meet the standards of God. He fails utterly to live up to the perfection demanded by a Holy God. Okay, now, let’s take this sin issue one step further. I want you to listen closely now. You need to get this. It will help you immensely in this passage and with all of Scripture for that matter. What is the absolute essence of sin? What is it that makes sin, sin in the first place? If sin is missing the mark, what is the mark? Now – here it is. Sin at its very core is making a god out of myself. Sin in its essence is setting anyone or anything up in place of God…, and the vast majority of the time that someone or something is me, it’s you. Let me give it to you as straight as I can. Sin is me thinking I can run my own life. After all, it’s mine to do with as I want. No one can tell me what to do with it. It’s mine! That’s right, but that is also sin in its most blatant, irredeemable, ghastly expression. Sin insists on me being my own boss. Now – I don’t want you to take my word for this. Let me show you from the Word of God. To understand the essence of sin we have to begin where sin began, and the Bible speaks to that. Ezekiel 28:14-16 (ESV) 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. 16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Here’ s God saying telling Satan what sin has done to this beautiful angelic being. We see a clear picture of the greatness of Satan in his original creation, and how he was perfect in his ways, among the highest and perhaps the highest of God’s creation. But then unrighteousness was found in him. What was it? What was the unrighteousness? I’m glad you asked. Isaiah 14:12-14 says: 12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ What happened is very clear here. What happened to Satan is the very same thing that happens to every one of us when sin takes over. Satan, the highest of God’s creation, was suddenly not happy to be the Day Star, son of the Dawn. He was no longer happy to be Lucifer. He was no longer happy with a subordinate. Somewhere, somehow, in some way he decided that he must ascend the very throne of God. Not satisfied to be Satan, he aspired to be God. The very essence of sin is verse 14: I will make myself like the Most High.’ Stated in 21st century English – I will be my own boss. The awful truth is that the worst sin is not murder or rape or betrayal or any of the other really hideous things that we can think of. The worst sin of all is to think I can be my own God, to think that I don’t need God, to think that life can be had without Him. That’s why some of the nicest people you’ll ever know are some of the worst sinners. They may live exemplary lives and give to the poor and establish hospital wings and drive Porsches and appear happy and content. They may even talk about God, but God is at their disposal…, not them at His. I believe these folks among the least likely to be saved…, but we witness, witness, witness and offer our testimony. We live in a spiritual graveyard among the living, or should I say the “Walking Dead”…, but we must do our best to remember who we “WERE” and point the lost to the one and only God who’s BOSS, Jesus. For just as God’s wrath is consistently, constantly and unceasingly being revealed against sin…, we need to focus on the other side of the coin and persistently, faithfully, consistently, and intently show who we are “IN Christ”. What’s our Job…? - Not being the BOSS, but showing the world what it means to be “IN” His grace and love. Closing Prayer

A NEW YOU…, Ephesians (part 3) When Kathy and I were first married, we weren’t well off financially. We lived in a large bedroom in my second mother’s house. Cathy, my second mom, was a person who always looked out for me, and mothered me when mine wouldn’t. She was such an encouragement in my life. When the chips were down, and they were down a lot for me, she was an ear to talk to, an open door and a place to stay. She feed me more times than I could count. She was so good to me and passed her good heart on to me even after I was married. Talk about meager beginnings. After a summer of hard work we moved north to finish school. After paying our security deposit and first months rent and setting aside money for our books, Kathy and I were just about broke. Dave and Joanne Smith, folks we hardly know, sympathized with our plight and helped us with the move. They joined our pilgrimage. We loaded their truck and our cars…, but get this, they paid for their own gas and food, and never gave it a second thought. We moved into married housing at college…, holy we were over our heads. The only income we had was from: excess aid from our grants, student work program (5 hours a week), and the bottles I collected after the frat parties. We had a revolving loan from my father-in-law for the rent that always got paid…, but it was tough. If we could rent a new release movie, we were setting the world on fire. For goodness sakes, I tried to cut my own hair so we could pay for my wife’s cut at the local beauty school. Thank the Lord my in-law’s were visiting had pity on me a took me to the barber…, and paid for Kathy’s cut too. We were poor and I was too proud to ask for help. We always had food, a place to stay…, but phone, cable TV, weren’t high on my list. I'll never forget those days of poverty, when family and friends helped meet our needs. Times where receiving a random letter in the mail with a ten-dollar check meant the world. Loved ones just wanted to help us. To this day, I can recall the immense feeling of gratitude that I felt because these blessings. We find a similar situation here in the letter to the Ephesians. The Apostle Paul had started the church at Ephesus and he had been away from it for a few years. Evidently many other people came to faith “IN Christ”, and in turn, joined the church. Now the church was filled with people that he didn't know. Paul tells us this in the opening paragraphs…, and that he had “HEARD” about their faith, but he had never met them yet. Nevertheless he was praying for them and was hoping to help them in their spiritual growth. The apostle says, in Verse 15: For this reason, ever since I “HEARD” about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15-16 NIV What an encouragement to the Ephesian church…, that Paul “HEARD”. What did he hear about? – Their “faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints”. It wasn’t like someone shot him an email or sent him a text message. No one called him…, He “HEARD” reports or someone sent him a letter. What’s wonderful about that? – Because we find it noted here…, even God took notice and inspire these words. I’d love to get a letter from someone who noticed our, “faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints”. And to know…, really know they’re praying for our ministry, that would truly be encouraging. So here’s the question, what have we done as a church that others have heard about? Have others seen our acts of faith? Can our community see our love for all the saints? Let me say, we’ve got some room to grow…, and Lord willing He’ll help us. What did Paul pray? Here’s the content of his prayers: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:15-23 NIV What did Paul pray for? - “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation”. In other words, Paul prayed for the church to know God better. Isn’t that the objective of a Christian life - to know God better? We need to ask ourselves, "Is this happening with us? Are we really getting to know God better?" On our journey to “A NEW YOU”, we need to grasp this very important principle, we were made to conform in the image of God: Romans 8:29 (ESV) 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. We’re made to conform, imitate, match the image of God, which means in some way that the church needs to reflect God. Here’s the thing, we cannot learn who we are until we begin to know and learn who God is. Did you get that? - We cannot learn who we are until we begin to know and learn who God is. It’s the “revelation” and understanding of the nature of God that will tell us what we are like. I believe that this is one of the major reasons why many people today never seem to discover who they are. They look and look, but they’re looking in the wrong direction. They look to their jobs for identity, they look to their friends for distinction…, they look to their appears for pride. They never learn what they can do, what possibilities lie within, and what potential is theirs because they have never discovered WHO God is. We reflect him, and therefore it is extremely important that we get to know God better and who we are “IN Christ”, and that’s “wisdom”. Remember our goal according to our main passage, “so that you may know him (God) better. And our prayers need to reflect this truth. Remember that Jesus said this in his great prayer to the Father in John 17: "This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent," John 17:3 NIV. This is the reason we’re called to seek Him with our whole heart…, that we may know God better. I hope and pray this is happening to you. “Wisdom” tells us we never stop getting to knowing God more, but “revelation” is the fire that kindles this ongoing growing process. Paul doesn't know all their circumstances…, he’s not praying for their daily problems and pressures…, but he prays that the believers get to know God better, the “Spirit of wisdom”. Believe me, the Spirit will take care of everything. Understand, all of this is addressing their minds…, their thinking. Remember, there’s nothing different till we start thinking differently…, then in turn acting differently. They need to understand God at a more personal level. Then in Verse 18, Paul adds these thoughts: I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19a NIV Paul moved on to new idea…, a different idea: “Eyes of your heart may be enlightened”. He’s talking about seeing with something other than your natural eyes…, the eyes of the mind, eyes that can grasp doctrine and the teaching of our Lord. We see this with our minds…, in our thoughts. Maybe somebody has said something to you and you have replied, "Oh, yes, I see what you mean." You didn't see it with your eyes; you see with your mind, “the eyes of your heart”. And Paul prays that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. Why? – Because the prayer is meant to change you and I beyond the surface…, but to change what’s seated in our emotions. Paul’s prayer is that we’re: enlightened, moved, and motivated in our hearts…, not just intellectually but also deep in your emotions. There are three specific things, he says, that we need to know about God: First, “the hope to which he has called us”, second, “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”, and third, “his incomparably great power”. The first one is that we may remember “the hope to which we have been called.” Paul speaks of this “Hope” in many places. He says, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison," (2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV). And he also says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 ESV). In other words, we must not look at just our current situation as being all that we'll ever get, or the here and now as the only chance we’re going to have to find fulfillment. The world says, "if you don't take it now, you are never going to get another chance." “The hope to which we have been called”, “eternal weight of glory”…, “the glory that is to be revealed”, we have something more to look forward to, heaven and the hope that it’s suppose to bring us. It’s important not to forget that heaven is but a breath away. Don't succumb to the philosophy that you have got to have it “ALL NOW” or you’ll never have a chance. Be content, be satisfied knowing that heaven is going to be far better then our current situation. Amen! So don't lose hope. You’re headed for “hope”, headed for life, headed for glory. You don't need to be depressed or feel anxious…, God is working everything for the good for those who love Him…, that’s a promise and God keeps His promises. We’re all getting older, you may have lost a few abilities, and things aren’t functioning as well as they once did. But get this, we have “hope”…, we have “hope”. The second aspect is the "riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." Now this is an important truth. When people hear the word inheritance, everyone thinks in terms of resources from which we can draw strength, comfort, encouragement, correction, and whatever else we need as we face problems in our lives. We can draw on God and God’s Spirit is that source strength, He does bring us comfort in times of despair. As far as encouragement, we all need that daily and the Spirit delivers. But this passage is about talking about an inheritance…, that’s a bit different. He is talking about an inheritance “in the saints", in us, and the positive outcome that will occur in our lives when we discover what it means to in a family of believers. What is that? It’s knowing we’re all in this together, share our difficulties, sharing our struggles…, sharing our blessings too. But the idea is we’re all in the boat…, together. Our new identify “IN Christ”, teaches us that we can rely on our fellow saints and we should rely on each other, but too often we don’t see this as part of our inheritance. We see ourselves as the cast away on the island, and Wilson is our only friend. Get this, we have each other…, the “riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints." And that’s far better than ball colored with a goofy face. We have real people in our lives that can help…, if we let them in; and if we’re will to help. Do you know that the greatest thrill that any human being can have is the sense that God has just used you to help somebody else? What a blessing it is to know God wants to use us in a way that blesses others. That’s the most wonderful feeling that you can ever have. And God has given each of us for each other…, a gift, our “inheritance in the saints." Some have the gift of helps, some teaching, some administration, some wisdom, and some knowledge. All of these things are gifts that the Spirit has given to us. When we begin to exercise them, we lose the dullness and routine of our lives because we are caught up in an exciting ministry. You may say, "Well, that all sounds good, but I don't have the strength to do that." That’s why Paul goes on to pray this third thing. That you may know "his incomparably great power who believe." Power…, everyone talks about it. We hear about the power, but are we experiencing this power? Everybody is looking for power…, power to make it through another day, power to speak words of direction, correction or encouragement. Some want power, as in control. They want to be an influence…, the power here is God’s ability to do, God’s ability to change hearts, God’s “incomparably great power”. Did you know that when we became Christians we were immediately equipped with power? Get this, this isn’t something of ourselves, but it came from the Spirit…. This is a power non-believes do not posses. When we receive the Jesus into our hearts, He gives us power…, His Spirit. A greater ability to love, I higher capacity to show grace and the to power forgive like no other people on the planet…, and all of that comes when we believe in Him. Look a verses 19-21: That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:19b-21 NIV) The resurrection of Jesus is the model of the power we possess…, limitless power to the impossible, power to do supernatural works, the power to move hearts and change thinking. But get this, it’s also the power to change bad attitudes, and stop obnoxious behavior. I know some Christians that I can't stand to be around because they’re so over the top “CHRISTIAN”…, quoting scripture but their lives don’t reflect a bit of grace. They’re obnoxious and constantly acting in such a way that hurts others and damages relationships. This can’t be, if the power of the resurrection lives in us we need to exercise that power in love, in caring, in compassion. This power needs to reach out to others to help them in their need. How’s that going in your life? Are we reaching out to the hurting? Are we showing compassion? I know I could do better in this area. The power to respond to people's hurts and depravity, is power that Jesus exercised at the cross. It was the power to redeem for sure, but was a power given by God: And God placed all things under his feet (Jesus' feet) and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV Jesus is the head, the power of the church. And the church is the body in which Jesus chose to funnel the power through. Today let’s pray for His fullness to be seen us, the church. Who’s the church? (Wait for the response) – We’re the church! Who’s the church? (Wait for the response) – We’re the church! Who’s the church?– We’re the church! Closing prayer (to know Him better, reflect him better thankfulness, gratitude)

A NEW YOU…, Ephesians (part 2) Two Saturday was a good day, I truly felt blessed. Not that I don’t have the feeling of being blessed often. Here’s the thing, with my schedule I don’t sleep more than 5-6 hours regularly…, my gosh I was blessed with 10 solid hours that Saturday. Let me say that rarely ever happens. So what was I? – I was blessed. After getting my wife a coffee and seeing her beautiful face, again I felt blessed. As the morning progressed, my wife ran a few errands for my brother-in-law and blessed me again. Why was that a blessing for me? – Because I didn’t have to. I got up and made Breakfast Pizza, an egg white omelet with a poo load of cheese, bacon, and a handful of spices…, yum. What was I? – I was blessed. My wife’s chaps came in the mail early…, what were we? – You guessed it, we were blessed. The rest of the day was filled with two motorcycle rides, a blast through the woods in our RZR, and an evening with friends at the movies. What am I? – BLESSED - bringing pleasured, contentment, or finding good fortune. That’s what God blessed my day with: friends, family, pleasure…, and good fortune. But let me say blessings go far beyond the here and now…, they go further then the good things…, God’s Blessings are deeper, much deeper. Blessing is something God wants to do in our spirit. In moments of despair, God brings comfort…, comfort that is beyond understanding…, Holy Spirit comfort. What is it? – Blessing. When you don’t know how things are going to ever get better and your life is flipped upside-down…, and God steps in. What is it? – Blessing. When a loved one is taken from you and pain fills your heart…, and you find peace in knowing they’re with the Lord dancing in heaven, free from pain, free from hurt, free from suffering. What is it? – Grief for a moment ……, but it’s a blessing to know this to be true: 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV) 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. From the best of times, to the worst situations…, God is present…, watchful, comforting. Closer than a brother…, If we allow Him to touch us deeper within. Let me say, God wants to do more than scratch the surface of your life with external blessings. It’s the deep down work, soul work…, the supernatural work that He truly wants complete. Let’s reread our passage from last week, but go a bit deeper into the content: Ephesians 1:1-14 (ESV) 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing…, I want to stop there for a moment and ask…, are we supposed to be blessed according to this passage? Yes, but not with pleasures, not with stuff, not with health or wealth…, “Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every SPIRITUAL BLESSING.” What are SPIRITUAL BLESSINGs? What are these spiritual blessings, and what do they do for us? Contrary to some beliefs, they’re not some mysterious power or cosmic connection reserved for a select few. They’re the key benefits of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Did you get that? SPIRITUAL BLESSINGs are the product of having and on going growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The word blessing here in our passage is a translation of the Greek word eulogy, and it means “to speak well of.” Since God is the one acting in this verse, we can say that God has spoken good things about us, or pronounced good things for our benefit…, blessing. In other words, God has decreed for us to have, be, and to bless others. Listen, we’re not dead and our story isn’t over…, so let’s make the best the time we have so when God speaks well of us…, your eulogy is still being written. The first blessing listed here is who we are “IN Christ”…, “saints”, forgiven sinners…, the redeemed. Ephesians 1:4 says that God has “chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” God has chosen to make us holy and blameless, and all because of His love, His good pleasure, and His grace (verses 5–6). What a blessing, that “even when we were dead in sins” (Ephesians 2:5), GOD CHOSE US…, God chose to extend His grace to us and offer us salvation. This is even more amazing when we realize that He made that decision before sin even entered into the world. The second blessing listed is found in verse 5: Ephesians 1:5 In love 5 he (God) predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will Do you see it? - Our adoption as His children. Not only has God chosen us to be made holy, but He grants us full status as His children…, with all the benefits therein. John 1:12 says, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” God has given us a new Identity…, a new name: saved, born-again, the righteousness of Christ. When we believe the gospel and the Holy Spirit fills our hearts we also receive full access to the Father…, His children. Get this, before time was a thing God look at eternity and seen us and said, “this is my child…, not perfect, but I’m going to redeem him, I’m going to redeem her.” That’s a blessing in my book. Then this, a third spiritual blessing is in verse 6: 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6 We are accepted “IN the Beloved.” These words are joined to “his glorious grace” …, grace. So get this, grace gives the idea of making us graceful or favorable through Christ …, the Beloved of God. When we are “IN Christ”, the Father sees His loveliness when He looks at us. The blood of Christ has taken away the guilt of our sins, and we stand before the Father as perfectly accepted. Not that we’ve done something great, but God has done something great in us. He’s more than scratched the surface…, grace runs deep, Amen. This leads us right into the fourth blessing Ephesians 1:7: 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace Ephesians 1:7 “Redemption through His blood”…, Redemption speaks of buying one's freedom, paying a ransom. The price for our sins, the payment to buy us out of eternal condemnation, was fully paid by the blood of Christ. “IN Christ”, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we become slaves to God. Since we are bought and paid for by His blood, we have an obligation to glorify God in our body and spirit. 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20 (ESV) Verse 7 also describes the fifth blessing, the forgiveness of sins and how it’s closely related to redemption…, but look at the other side of the coin. In paying the ransom for our sins, the debt of sin was canceled, and we were forgiven. We no longer have the burden of guilt for violating God's holy laws. The sixth spiritual blessing listed is knowing the mystery of His will Ephesians 1:8–10: 8 … he (god) lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth “IN Christ” 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Remember this, God’s Will is every written word in the bible. It’s not a repair manual for a car…, it won’t tell how to operate your smart phone, but it is our instruction for a BLESSED life. Here in the text is says God has given us “wisdom”, something God is still working in me. Please understand this, wisdom doesn’t happen instantly or in a moment. We can make wise decisions in a moment, with “wisdom” and insight through His Word. Listen, God’s desire is for us to lead sanctified holy lives through Christ…, through His leading Spirit. By aligning ourselves with Him and allow the Spirit to guide us by faith, we become part of His perfect plan and purpose. Let me say that again, By aligning ourselves with Him and allow the Spirit to guide us by faith, we become part of His perfect plan and purpose. Verse 11 says that another blessing is the inheritance that is given to us through Christ. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will Ephesians 1:11 What is included in that inheritance? 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 1 Corinthians 2:9 The riches of glory, the presence of God, the eternal home – these don't even scratch the surface of all the blessings that belong to our inheritance. What it comes down to is seeing the Blessing as it unfolds in the minute-by-minute and day-by-day. We can imagine…, but ever our imagination isn’t enough to fathom the depths of God’s Blessing. The last Spiritual Blessing I want to hit on this morning is in verse 13 and 14: 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were SEALED with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. The sealing of the Holy Spirit…, “the guarantee of our inheritance”. When we become God's children, He places His mark of ownership on us, guaranteeing our security “IN Christ”. Guarantee - a formal promise or assurance (typically in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be repaired or replaced if not of a specified quality and durability. "We offer a 10-year guarantee against rusting." Christ, was, is, and will always be the down-payment of our full redemption, to hold us until the day Christ brings us to Him. When we do our part, God guarantees He’ll do His. How do we access all of these blessings? THEY’RE READILY OURS…, we have full access. Everyone who is “IN Christ” can access every spiritual blessing here in Ephesians…, if we pray and seek Jesus. The way to be “IN Christ” is to repent, or turn away from our sins (Acts 17:30), confessing to God that we are sinners (Romans 10:9). When we believe that Christ died to take our punishment and now lives to give us new life (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), He grants us forgiveness of sins and all the blessings that accompany that salvation. Again, how do we access all of these blessings? THEY’RE READILY OURS…, we have full access. We need only believe and ask for the Holy Spirit’s help…, and act. This morning let’s start there…, repent. Let’s take a moment to turn from our sin and embrace God’s Blessing. Prayer of repentance

A NEW YOU…, Ephesians (part 1) When we came into church today a few of you might be wondering what the message will be about. Some maybe wondering how it will apply to my life. Some are hope it will be short because you have a busy day ahead. While others are hoping to hear a word of hope or encouragement. So what do I have? – I have the word of God, and the Holy Spirit and I know without both the Christian life is impossible. Did you get that? - I have the word of God, and the Holy Spirit and I know without both the Christian life is impossible. Today we’re going to tackle a series, I’ve entitled, “A New You”. This series is going to be a study on the book of Ephesians. How are we going to take on this task? - A few verses at a time. Let me be clear, the majority of problems we have in living the Christian life is rooted in how we see God and how we see ourselves…, our identity and God’s sovereign rule. A lot of believers have problems in their walk because they are, “NEW” …, they don’t know who they really are because Christ is in them. This happens to baby Christian as well as mature ones…, from pastors to the newly saved we are ALL affected. Who’s affected by the “NEW”? – We ALL are. Living out the “NEW”, living as a Christians at times feels so unnatural and difficult. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians which is all about, “A New You”…, who we are in Christ. Please turn to Ephesians 1 Look at Ephesians 1:1-2 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints (that’s us, the saved) who are in Ephesus, and are faithful “IN Christ Jesus”: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me give you a little history, Ephesus was the capital of the Roman Province of Asia - modern day Turkey. Paul had spent three years there preaching the gospel and as a result, the entire province was reached with churches being started in all of the major cities by the disciples Paul made in Ephesus. Years have passed and now Paul is in a Roman prison, waiting to be tried before Caesar. We don’t see that here in the US, but many Christians abroad are suffering the same kind of persecution for their faith. One of Paul’s disciples visits Paul in prison and tells him about some of the problems the church is experiencing. False teachers were encouraging the Christians to move from their relationship with Jesus to being religious. Some were teaching Jewish legalism, “The Law” and a return to the Law of Moses. Others were teaching a false mysticism…, and other flawed false philosophies. Let me say, “that’s a problem”…, especially for the newly saved. Please get this point, what they all have in common is that Jesus, His message, His Spirit isn’t enough. To be really spiritual, it takes Jesus…, PLUS something else. Paul writes the letter to the Ephesians where he develops the idea of “IN Christ Jesus” and all the riches we have because of our relationship with Him. All this to say, the church has problem, we have problem because of being “A NEW YOU”. Paul’s whole point is to show the Ephesians (and us) who we are “IN Christ Jesus” and then how to live. The centeral verse of Ephesians is Ephesians 4:1: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (A NEW YOU) The first three chapters are about our calling; what God has done for us through Christ…, not because we deserve it or have earned it but solely though His kindness and grace, AMEN. The final three chapters are about how to live consistently with that calling, how to walk with consistency. Chapters 1-3 teach us our true identity…, and Chapters 4-6 describe our behavior. God doesn’t say "Do this and you’ll become this." He says, "I have made you this - now live allow the Spirit to help." The longer I live; the more I realize my true identity “IN Christ Jesus” is being a victor, and experiencing victory only comes by allowing God to change me through His Spirit. Are you ok with God doing the work, in HIS way at HIS pace and in the way HE wants? – It would be easy to say yes because of the setting were in, “church”…, but most of us really would say the want it all on our terms: MY way…, at MY pace …, and in the way I wants…, and there lays the problem, we want things done on our terms. When things are done on our terms it’s a blessing…, and not so much when it’s not. Wrong, wrong, wrong, the Big Idea of the entire letter is that God has done “IN” us through Christ. Verses 4-6 describe the first example of the blessings we have in Jesus. Paul begins this letter by praising God for His glorious plan of redemption. The whole Blessed be the God who blesses us. Look at verse 3: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us “IN” Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places - Ephesians 1:3 That verse is the entire letter of Ephesians in a nutshell. God gave us everything when He gave us Jesus. We just need to learn how to live like people who have been blessed…, instead of people who think they need to be blessed. Get this…, YOU - ARE – BLESSED. I’m not going to say you feel blessed every day…, but YOU - ARE – BLESSED, even when we don’t feel it, even when we don’t see it. During the Great Depression, there was a man named Yates who owned a sheep ranch in West Texas. Mr. Yates wasn’t able to make enough on his ranching operation to pay the principal and interest on the mortgage and was in danger of losing his ranch. His family was living on subsidies from the government. One day a seismographic crew from an oil company visited Yates and asked permission to drill. What did they find: oil, a huge oil reserve. This huge oil reserve is known today as Yates Pool. The day he bought the land he owned the oil and mineral rights. Yates became a multi-millionaire overnight. Yet, he’d been living on government relief. Get this, he didn’t know what he had, he didn’t see the blessing. That’s why most Christians are living in spiritual poverty. We simply don’t know what God has already given us. Is that you? It was me for a very long time…, I was blind but now I see. What do I see? I see how God in HIS way at HIS pace and in the way HE wants and produce a newer better me. If he can do things in me I know He can do so pretty great things in you. I want you to notice three things about what God has done for us and then we’ll talk about how what He has already done should change the way we live. First, notice Paul doesn’t say God will bless us, or that God can bless us, or that God may bless us. Paul says that God “has” blessed us…, that His blessing are continuous and constant…, on going. In the past, for today, tomorrow…, and will continue. We don’t need God to bless us, He already “has”. Paul isn’t saying that someday when we get to heaven, we’re going to experience the blessing of God. Paul is talking about the here and now. God “has” blessed you. If you’re a Christian, you have been blessed. Second notice, that not only have we been blessed, “with every spiritual blessing” Not some blessings now and other blessings later, but every spiritual blessing. God has already given us everything He has to give. I know what some of you are thinking…, "Yeah pastor Mark, but they’re spiritual blessings. I could use some stuff, something real." Spiritual blessings are always better than material blessings. Are the people who have the most materially the happiest people on earth? No – many times they’re the most cynical, the most negative people…, or depressed. Look at Robin Williams, materially speaking he had it all…, but he ended his own life. Material blessings are only blessings if we can enjoy them. They cannot satisfy, long term…, only God can. They can’t give peace of mind, release from guilt and fear, contentment, joy, and a reason to live…, only God can. Those things belong to the realm of the spirit. Paul writes in Romans 8:32, " 2 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" God delights in providing materially for His children. He provides for us materially because He has made us His children and pledged Himself to our care. We enjoy material blessings from God because of the spiritual blessings God gave to us the moment Christ came into our lives. So from vs. 3, we see that God “has” already and will continue to bless us and that He has given us everything we need - every spiritual blessing. Third, notice where those blessings are found; “in the heavenly places”…, “IN Christ Jesus”. Where’s that? According to Ephesians, the heavenly places are where the Father and the Son now dwell, where we are seated with Christ. So the heavenly places are not a physical place, orbiting the earth somewhere between Saturn and Jupiter. The heavenly places is the spiritual realm, the has baring on the physical…, a dimension apart, yet in connection to the material world. The spiritual realm is where all of God’s blessings for us are found. Because Paul says, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit is where we find all of the blessings of God: Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law When God gave us Jesus, He gave us everything…, When I say everything I mean He gave us His Spirit. Jesus is our righteousness before a holy God, He is our strength, our wisdom, our peace, our joy, our courage, our love, our purpose, our direction…, and the Holy Spirit is the driving power to be “A NEW YOU”. He helps us in ways we can’t understand or comprehend. We don’t start with Jesus and then graduate to deeper things. Everything God does for us, every way in which God blesses us, everything which God has for us are all found through our relationship with Jesus, and the Spirit confirms this reality. In the weeks and months to come, we’re going to move forward with the rest of Ephesians. What’s my prayer? The we can live in victory…, not a poverty in spirit. That we’ll be encourage and challenged to move closer to God. Then this, that we can be honest about our neglect when it comes to our relationship with God…, and we’re all neglectful. So please be in prayer as I seek God’s heart for us…, for me, for you. So today, know we are blessed…, AMEN. Closing prayer

“Is Love…, Love is” (PART 7) What is Easter? Why do we celebrate it? Who’s Easter for? This morning I hope to answer these few questions, yet I’m also hoping to encourage and inspire. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after He was crucified. Easter is also the fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah who would be persecuted, die for our sins, and rise on the third day. Isaiah 53 spelled out this prophecy and the significance of this “Journey” to the cross: Isaiah 53 1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot (He came as a Man), and like a root out of dry ground. (In other words, He came to a hard place) He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him…. (Ordinary, “He” Jesus was no Chris Hemsworth or Brad Pitt…, ordinary) 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind (us, all of us), a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. (Was Jesus punished by God? – No, but this was the only way to atone for mankind’s sin) 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Not healing us physically…, but spiritually. Jesus healed us eternally…, a spirit healing) 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Are you getting it? – “We all have gone astray”…, there’s something wrong with us, something we can’t fix…, something bad, something evil that ONLY God can fix) 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Jesus could have commanded a legion of angels to recue Him, but He did nothing……, said nothing. Get this…, get this, He allowed this to happen to Himself. Jesus made a choice to sacrificially LOVE…, and knew it my not be reciprocated) 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? (No one protested, His own disciples did nothing as they lead Him away. Ok Peter tried and cut the ear off of a Roman Soldier…, but that same man denied His three times in the days that would follow) For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. (My gosh, it’s as if Isaiah was there watching the events of Jesus end…, but the prophet Isaiah lived in the 8th Century BC, about 700 years before Jesus. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. (Jesus was innocent, He wasn’t violent, He wasn’t wicked Pilate confirmed this truth: Luke 23:13-14 (NIV) 13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man (Jesus) as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. (Jesus was innocent) 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. (Again, this was the only way for mankind to escape the clutches of hell. Jesus was, and is, and will always be my atoning sacrifice, your atoning sacrifice…, in two word, LOVING REDEEMER…, in one word, SAVIOR) 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities…. (he will see the light of life meaning HE - HAS - RISEN……, HE HAS RISEN……, HE HAS RISEN and proved to the world “he will bear OUR iniquities”. So say it with me, HE HAS RISEN……, HE HAS RISEN……, HE HAS RISEN) 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Can I get an Amen? For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Can I get another Amen? Easter is about remembering the resurrection of Jesus…, it’s a way to renew our daily hope and a celebration of Jesus’ victory over my sin and yours. According to the New Testament, Easter is three days after the death of Jesus on the cross. Again, another prophecy: Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day’ - Matthew 17:22–23 Hosea 6:1-2 (NIV) 1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to piece but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Easter is a very significant date within Christianity and is the foundation of our faith. No resurrection means, no power to conquer sin…, no atonement…, and Jesus was nothing more then a lunatic that died a senseless meaningless death. Jesus, the Son of God, fulfilled prophecy and through his death, has given the gift of eternal life in heaven to those who believe in his death and resurrection. You can read the entire Biblical account of Resurrection Day in Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 24. I labored all this to get to these verses: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV) 4 “LOVE IS” patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. (NIV)8 Love never fails. If I were to write my perspective: Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. He does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud. He does not dishonor others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs. Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. JESUS – NEVER - FAILS. Easter is the proof that JESUS – NEVER – FAILS. Show video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VctgxM-XVw In the video Sarah asked a very important question: Where do we go from there? – We all go through things, tough things. Heck you might be in the midst of a tough thing. If not, somewhere down the road tough things are coming. Over the past few years I’ve had a few tough things come into play in my life: financial things, spiritual things, emotional things. Times where I told God I was ready to give up. If the Christian life was going to be this hard…, “I WAS DONE.” Though it all, this is what I learned, “JESUS – NEVER – FAILS …, JESUS – NEVER – FAILS”. Just like the folks in this video, they know and I know, “JESUS – NEVER – FAILS” “LOVE IS” patient…, Jesus was so patient with me. Not willing to throw in the towel because of my unfaithfulness, unwilling to throw in the towel because of my anger toward Him for allowing such a tough situation. I felt betrayed by God, but He was so faithful and patient as He walked me through the troubles of life. He did the same at the Cross, patient with the mocker, patient with His doubting disciples. Why? - Because “LOVE IS” what? - “LOVE IS” patient, able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. Yep that was Jesus on Good Friday, man that’s Jesus 24/7/365…, even on leap year. “LOVE IS” kind…, generous, helpful, and caring about other people. There are many Biblical stories the show the acts of kindness that overflowed from Jesus. These acts of love show us the blanket of kindness we find in Jesus…, speaking love, joy and healing. It’s where we find Jesus touching lives and making differences. Jesus touched the untouchable in Matthew 8. Matthew 8:1-4 tells this story. One day, as Jesus makes his way down a mountainside, a leprous man emerges from the shadows and kneels before Jesus. He asks to be made clean and Jesus touches him. And just like that; he is clean! In one touch, Jesus breaks all laws and boundaries set by society and touches the untouchable. In one touch, Jesus not only heals him but gives him the gift of being clean. Back in those days, lepers were outcasts and could not be touched. There was a stigma attached to being unclean in Jewish society. After all, lepers were on the “unclean” list with pigs! Jesus not only restored his skin and probably his limbs, he gave him a new status in life. Through the kindness of Jesus, he could live “clean.” He could give and feel the touch of family and friends. Let me say it again, “JESUS – NEVER – FAILS” Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. In other words love isn’t self-absorbed. Love isn’t about wanting what others have or declaring our superiority. It’s not about, “LOOK AT ME”…, it doesn’t intentionally say mean hearted words. If any one had a justification to be rude, arrogant, or boastful…, that would have been Jesus as they lead His through the streets to a Calvary’s Hill, or at His mock trial. But not word in His own defense, not a word to those hurling insults as He carried His cross. Let me ask, could you have been as gracious as Jesus? Could you have stayed silent? – Probably not, but or Savior was. “LOVE IS” many things, but it does not insist on its own way. We live in a society that is selfish, where we insist on our own way ALL - THE - TIME. What happen when we don’t get our way? – We get irritated, where this passage say, “it (LOVE) is not irritable or resentful.” Then this, “it does not rejoice at wrongdoing”, but what they did to Jesus on Good Friday was soooo wrong: the mock trial, the scourging, the crown of thorns, the beating before and afterward, the insults…, but (LOVE) rejoices with the truth. What truth? - Love (Jesus) bears all things, (Jesus) believes all things, (Jesus) hopes all things, (Jesus) endures all things…, (Jesus) ENDURES - ALL – THINGS. Philippians 2:5-8 says (NIV) 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! But get this…, Love never ends. (NIV)8 LOVE NEVER FAILS. Today we celebrate the greatest day in history, Easter, Resurrection Sunday. Why? - He is not here; HE - HAS - RISEN… Matthew 28:6 The moment Jesus took another breath was the moment we could breath easy. Not because we’re so wonderful, not because we’re so good…, but because of the redeeming nature of the Cross and the redemptive nature of our God, Amen. Close (Jesus Paid it All)

Here it is “Good Friday”..., and soon to be Easter Sunday. What’s your thoughts on how it relates to these verses: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a | NIV I’d love to here from you. Please comment or just talk them over with a friend of loved one. PLEASE read these verse a few times either way. Love you Your Brother in Christ Mark

“Is Love…, Love is” (PART 6) Last week I said, love is always something…, something that moves us, something that directs us, something that speaks to us. Love comforts us and brings us hope in dark times. Love strengthens our spirit when the oceans of despair flood our thinking. Love is always something……. Love is a Journey. VIDEO HERE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h9LtZLuupHs 2000 years ago love was a journey that brought Jesus in to Israel..., a journey that would bring great joy and pain..., a journey the was prophesied......., a journey that would show us and the rest of the world what real “LOVE IS”. Palm Sunday marks a time where this journey of love was ushered in by many, but in a weeks time we’ll see love at its apex..., the cross, the empty tomb. Today I want to continue in our series, “Is Love..., Love is”, and talk more about the Love Jesus exemplified. In my study I found this article describing what love is. In that article the author said these 23 things top the list of what “LOVE IS”: LOVE IS... being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of others without impatience or anger. LOVE IS... actively fighting the temptation to be critical and judgmental toward another while looking for ways to encourage and praise. LOVE IS... making a daily commitment to resist the needless moments of conflict that come from pointing out and responding to minor offenses. LOVE IS... being lovingly honest and humbly approachable in times of misunderstanding. LOVE IS... being more committed to unity and understanding than you are to winning, accusing, or being right. LOVE IS... a making a daily commitment to admit your sin, weakness, and failure and to resist the temptation to offer an excuse or shift the blame...., but how many times do we offer excuses and blame shift? If we’re being honest I bet it’s at lest once a week. LOVE IS... being willing, when confronted by another, to examine your heart rather than rising to your defense or shifting the focus. LOVE IS... making a daily commitment to grow in love so that the love you offer to another is increasingly selfless, mature, and patient. LOVE IS... being UN-willing to do what is wrong when you have been wronged, but looking for concrete and specific ways to overcome evil with good. But the wrong feels soooo right. What’s the result? - Our tenancy is to return mistreat with mistreat, not to overcome evil with good. LOVE IS... being a good student of another, looking for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs so that in some way you can remove the burden, support them as they carry it, or encourage them along the way. LOVE IS... being willing to invest the time necessary to discuss, examine, and understand the relational problems you face, staying on task until the problem is removed or you have agreed upon a strategy of response. LOVE IS... being willing to always ask for forgiveness and always being committed to grant forgiveness when it is requested. How’s this going at your house? Are you growing in this area of forgiveness? Are you receiving it as a gift? Are you giving it with grace? Are you applying it to the person staring at you in the mirror? LOVE IS... recognizing the high value of trust in a relationship and being faithful to your promises and true to your word. LOVE IS... speaking kindly and gently, even in moments of disagreement, refusing to attack the other person’s character or assault their intelligence. LOVE IS... being UN-willing to flatter, lie, manipulate, or deceive in any way in order to co-opt the other person into giving you what you want or doing something your way. LOVE IS... being UN-willing to ask another person to be the source of your identity, meaning, and purpose, or inner sense of well-being, while refusing to be the source of theirs. LOVE IS... the willingness to have less free time, less sleep, and a less busier schedule in order to be faithful to what God has called you to be and to do as a spouse, parent, neighbor, etc. LOVE IS... a commitment to say no to selfish instincts and to do everything that is within your ability to promote real unity, functional understanding, and active love in your relationships. LOVE IS... staying faithful to your commitment to treat another with appreciation, respect, and grace, even in moments when the other person doesn’t seem deserving or is unwilling to reciprocate. LOVE IS... the willingness to make regular and costly sacrifices for the sake of a relationship without asking for anything in return or using your sacrifices to place the other person in your debt. LOVE IS... being UN-willing to make any personal decision or choice that would harm a relationship, hurt the other person, or weaken the bond of trust between you. LOVE IS... refusing to be self-focused or demanding, but instead looking for specific ways to serve, support, and encourage, even when you are busy or tired. LOVE IS... daily admitting to yourself, the other person, and God that you are unable to be driven by a love without God’s protecting, providing, forgiving, rescuing, and delivering grace. Love is always something……. Love is something to be given…, and something that is received. Without a receiver or giver, without love being something real, short of it being only words and nothing more…, this type of love is but a loud bothersome noise according to 1 Corinthians 13:1 - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if the power of love were missing from our hopeful future and faith, it would count as nothing according to the next verse: 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. Then this one, verse 3 - If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Without a receiver or giver, without love being something real, short of it being only words and nothing more…, love is nothing. What should it do, what should love do? – Help us to gain…, not more wealth, not more stuff……, but gain a greater understanding of God and our place in His kingdom. Love helps us gain a greater understanding of the value of relationships, community and family and how to prosper and foster those relationships. Love is always something for sure, but at the end of the day we should be growing in its attributes……. As we approach Easter I want to challenge you and I want to take some time and explore these next four verses: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV) 4 “LOVE IS” patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. (NIV)8 Love never fails. Here’s the challenge. Over the next week I want you to truly sit down and draw on what these verses mean in your life. I want you to think about the words that Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write and how they apply to your situation. Listen and please get this, these aren’t just words at a wedding…, these are words to live by every day..., God’s words. Matthew 4:4 ESV But he (Jesus) answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God and PROFITABLE, PROFITABLE for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man (and women) of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. Hebrews 4:12 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. “Living and active, God breathed”, and Jesus commanded us to live out “every word”. Why? – Because it, “comes from the mouth of God. (and He knows best)’” Again, why is that important? – So we make right choices, God honoring choices. Remember, the Word is “PROFITABLE”…, profitable for what? - “Profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man (and women) of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. Let me just say every good work includes love…, how we love, who we love, and the extent of our love. So today I want to close by allowing God’s Word, to be “living and active”. I want it to “pierce”…, I want it to produce a “division of soul and of spirit”…, so that we think, truly think about these verses: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV) 4 “LOVE IS” patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. (NIV)8 Love never fails. Love is always something…, so draw down on these verses and let God speak to you and allow Him to make you acutely aware of where you’re deficient and encourage you where you’re strong. If you’re married, read them as a couple and talk about it together. For the singles, call a friend and just talk or let these words be the topic of an afternoon lunch. What’s my point? – Let’s read and talk…, share life and love God and others the way scripture inspires us. Closing prayer…

“Is Love…, Love is” (PART 5) Love is always something…, something that moves us, something that directs us, something that speaks to us. Love comforts us and brings us hope in dark times. Love strengthens our spirit when the oceans of despair flood our thinking. Love is always something……. We may not always know what we need, but where love is..., the need is always meet. Let me say that again, we may not always know what we need, but where love is..., the need is always meet. In marriage it could be the feeling of loneliness and love fills that gap. In friendship love steps in and comforts. At work love fills a room with grace as your boss speaks words of guidance. Love sees the need and moves toward a better resolution…, where love is, the need is always meet. This morning I was going to go in a different direction, my notes had me going in a different direction. But when God changes your heart, we need to follow. Remember, it’s His will be done not mine. So love needs to be able to be redirected, deflected, diverted…, love needs to be able to stop us and lead us to go in different direction…, are you getting what I’m saying? The only way possible for this redirection to happen is if we trust the love source. That love source could be a spouse, a friend, a co-worker…, it could be an enemy, or a person causing a hard situation…, maybe God…, but chances are we’re going to keep following our own path unless something steps in and redirects. I want to read five verse that changed my path…, that redirected the message I had intended for today. I’m going to trust God. WHY? – Because of this one word, STEADFAST. David repeatedly used this word frequently when he referred to God’s love: Psalm 26:3 For your steadfast “LOVE IS” before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Psalm 57:10 For your steadfast “LOVE IS” great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Psalm 63:3 Because your steadfast “LOVE IS” better than life, my lips will praise you. Psalm 69:16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast “LOVE IS” good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Psalm 108:4 For your steadfast “LOVE IS” great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. David is one of those guys we find in scripture that God did a lot of redirecting. From when he was a young boy to the time he was king…, David needed God’s help for sure, especially from all the wrong choices he made. What do we see? – God allowed him to make these poor choices to show us the heart of David and to show the redemptive nature of Himself. How was this accomplished? – By seeing these verses unfold in David’s life and embracing God’s steadfast love. Steadfast – unwavering…, unfaltering…, firm…, loyal…, trustworthy. These single words describe the word in an instant, but steadfast is described in these verse as: “great above the heavens…, good…, better than life, great to the heavens”. I love this one, “before my eyes, before my eyes”. We can see this steadfast love…, we see the evidence of God at work…, in my life, in your life, in the lives of those around us. In other words God’s love is observable and able to take action in a way that changes and redirects. Isn’t that what we’re hoping for…, a change, a change for the better. But many times the journey to that change is hard…, and God wants us to see it’s beyond ourselves and we need His help. If you haven’t experienced it yet, there will come a time in our spiritual journey when the Lord challenges our thinking and tests our loyalty. What’s he trying to get us to see? - If we permitting Him to guide us in a new way. I’m sure He would preference us to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, and fully cooperate and move in the new direction. HOWEVER, in most cases He must intervene in the affairs of our lives and allow some discomfort in order to change our present course of action. Remember this, God’s love is steadfast: “great above the heavens…, good…, better than life, great to the heavens…, and before my eyes”. Why? – So we see and we know it’s God doing the work. To get our attention and move us to place God desires, He devises a strategy that is very effective. As much as we aren’t to be ignorant to the Devil’s actions, we must all the more be aware of the ways of the Lord. David spoke these words: Psalm 25:4 (ESV) 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Knowing God's ways will result in a change of thinking, but the big question is will it change our path? Here are three ways God works to move us in a new direction: Disruption of Our Plans Dissipation of Resources Suspension or dissolving Relationships First…, Disruption of our Plans The Apostle Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. In keeping with his mandate, he felt lead to target key cities in the Roman Empire. Yet, the New Testament tells us that on one occasion he wasn’t to do so because God saw fit to stop him. "They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they came near Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not allow them" (Acts 16:6-7). Like Paul, maybe you were heading down a certain path that seemed right…, and you ended up "hitting a wall" and were stopped in your tracks. From that point on, no matter how hard you worked, you were unable of making any real progress. That project may have originally been inspired by a lofty vision…, or maybe deep passion, but didn’t end how you thought. It happens and it shouldn’t keep us down forever…, but it maybe God redirecting. Listen and please understand, when we’re stuck at an impasse our nature or tendency is to return to what’s familiar. We see this in the lives of the disciples after Jesus' death when they went back to fishing…, even though they had clearly been mandated to leave their vocation and follow Jesus. When God leads us out of a place of familiarity and the way forward is blocked, what is the solution? – Redirection, change, a new path. That redirection maybe a time of prayer and fasting…, it could be a time of waiting on the Spirit’s leading, but it came from a disruption in plans. So number one, a disruption in plans, and the second on similar…, a Dissipation of Resources. When God wants us to move in a new direction, He may also permit us to experience the dissipation of resources. Elijah had been powerfully used by the Lord to declare the prophetic purposes of God concerning Israel. And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word" 1 Kings 17:1 And just as the prophet had foretold, the word of the Lord came to pass. "And there was a severe famine in Samaria ... "(1 Kin. 18:2). Let me say, no dew or rain during that time meant famine was just around the corner…, a dissipation of Resources. God looked out Elijah. He gave him specific instruction about what to do. "Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.' So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook" (1 Kings 17:2-6). Cherith which means "place of covenant," was where the Lord demonstrated His faithfulness in taking care of Elijah. However, the day would come when the brook would run dry and the birds would no longer fly. Although Elijah had come to depend on such provision, God seemed to have no qualm cutting off the resources. Let me ask you, Has Your Brook Dried Up? Have you experienced something similar? Are you praying and praying and praying and…, NOTHING? Have your streams of resource have dried up. You struggle to make ends meet and you do not know how you are going to keep going. What’s our Job? To trust the steadfast love of the Lord…, to trust at during these times that God will speak soon. Get this, soon doesn’t mean tomorrow. It might, but chances are it’ll be down the road. So number one, a disruption in plans, second a Dissipation of Resources…, and the third way God redirects our lives is Suspension or dissolving Relationships. Probably the hardest of all the redirective tools God uses…, this is the hardest. A third way the Lord works to set us in motion in a new direction is through the suspension or dissolving certain relationship. We see this clearly in the life of David. The heart of King Achish, once favorable to David, turned away from him. Then Achish called David and said to him, 'Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines'" (1 Sam. 29:6-7). An unanticipated breakdown in a relationship can cause great pain. Believe me I know…, and I’m so happy to have my wife/ex-wife back in my life. when it all originally unfolded I had abandonment issues…, I had unanswered questions. I didn’t feel like much of a man. I tried my best to not be upset with God…, but I was down right angry behind my smiling face. The one thing I know God gave me hope during this time…, through a vision, through people, through understanding His promises. Please understand, God will on occasion send people into our lives for a short season or perhaps even a brief encounter. Here is a powerful truth to embrace when a key connection you value has suspended or dissolved for no apparent reason: The Lord is turning the hearts of men in the direction He desires - Proverbs 21:1 So number one, a disruption in plans, second a Dissipation of Resources…, and the third way God redirects our lives is Suspension or dissolving Relationships. Please get this, do not take the matter personally and become bitter with people or God as though they’ve rejected you. Just know the we need to trust God, and trust that God is steadfast in His love…, never giving up and working it all for our eventual good: Romans 8:28 (ESV) 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. You may not understand what is currently happening in your life and sometimes His ways don’t make sense to us. So please get this, No matter how it may appear on the surface, God is actively involved in the affairs of our lives. Psalm 26:3 For your steadfast “LOVE IS” before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Closing prayer of hope

“Is Love…, Love is” (PART 4) 2 John 1:6 And this “IS LOVE”, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. And this “IS LOVE”, that we walk according to his (God’s) commandments. This passage really stuck with me last week. Love is following what God commanded. Love is following what God commanded. If we do the right, if we avoid the wrong…, that’s love. For most of us, we have step one down from our theme passage: 37… “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV) We love God with intensity…, we share how God has walked us through some pretty awful stuff: illness, financial situations, emotional trials, spiritual problems. God’s been closer than a brother. And each of us can say with confidence, “(I) Love the Lord (MY) God with all (MY) heart and with all (MY) soul and with all (MY) mind.” Remember, intensity is God’s love language. So we’re called to be passionate with our love, be zealous, and show enthusiasm. When we talk about God, intensity fills our lips and it’s what we’re about. Again, most of us we have step one down. But what about step two: 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:39-40 (NIV) “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Simply put, LOVE hinges on loving God and loving others. We go to church, we read our bibles, we pray…, but does all that stuff transform our minds and hearts in a way that we can honestly say, we love God and love others better? - We love God with intensity…, we share how God has walked us through some tough stuff…, but are we loving others better? Are we kinder, more caring? Do we go out of our way to help others? When the Holy Spirit prompts us to say a kind word or when He pushes us to pray for that hurting person…, do we? Would you give to a stranger, not expecting a favor ever to be returned? To push this idea of loving others I want to watch this short video clip: Love others video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvzGZCCq8hk We need to learn to be helpers…. We need to inspire others…. We need to show the world what it means to live out this command: 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love ONE ANOTHER: just as I have loved you, you also are to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV) “LOVE ONE ANOTHER”, the litmus test for every disciple is how well we “LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” Isn’t that what verse 35 states? “35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Listen, please get this…, we fail to love God, when we fail to love others……. A failure to love others IS a failure to love God. Let me say that again, we fail to love God, when we fail to love others……. A failure to love others IS a failure to love God. 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God “IS LOVE”. 1 John 4:7-8 NIV “Whoever does not love does not know God”. Do you know God? – If yes then we love……, and if we don’t love we don’t know God nor do we know how to love God and others right. What’s the results? - We fail to love God, when we fail to love others……. A failure to love others IS a failure to love God. How do we fail to love others? Proverbs 12:1 ESV Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. The proof of our love, is us taking the time to discipline. With a toddler it’s a smack on the hand so Johnny won’t get burned. As a child gets older, it maybe a hash word the SEEMS to come from anger. For the young adult, it’s a real conversation about poor choices and where those choices may lead. In every instance there will be pain: physical and emotional pain caused by the loving parent. Why? - Because we love Johnny, we love Tiffany…, we love them enough to cause a little pain, a little hurt so that down the road big pain and big hurt can be avoided. We love them enough and we hope that this discipline will help them make better choices in the minutes, days, and years to come.” Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. We fail to love when we “seek revenge or bear a grudge”. Our natural response when we’re hurt is to lash out and hurt back. Is that loving? Is it loving to stand toe to toe and spew mean hurtful words? No, that’s revenge speaking…, that’s pain producing more pain…, adding wood to the fire. Adding wood to the fire will only cause a bigger fire. What do we need? – Water, so drench the flames of pain. What is our water? – LOVE. On the same note love doesn’t “bear a grudge”. Our love should never, ever go out of its way to purposely hurt someone…, but we do. Even the best Christian fails in this area. Are you catching the ball I’m throwing? We don’t discipline as we should, we seek revenge and bear a grudges. How else do we fail to love? – We wrong others Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. I’ve taken from others with little or no regard to their feelings. I’ve placed my parents tough situations. I’ve wronged my wife and kids with uncaring words. I’ve left friends hanging…, “Love does no wrong to (others)”……, but I have. I’m sure you have. I can say with confidence we have all failed to love in this matter. Then this: 7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV) We fail to love when we pass judgment, convict and make our ruling as if we’re God. Listen, we need to judge between right and wrong…, we need to make good choices, God honoring choices……, BUT we are not called to pass judgment. Can we call out sin? - Yes, but we do so to discipline or guide…, not to be ruler. Brothers, sisters we need to pull the 2X4 out of our eye and see what God sees. An opportunity to LOVE, an opportunity help, an opportunity remove the speck…, but not with hatred, but love. We don’t discipline as we should, we seek revenge, we bear a grudges, we wrong others, we pass judgment…, that’s a few examples how we fail to love. How should we love others? Sacrificially…, even when it costs. Selflessly…, not thinking of ourselves. Wholeheartedly…, putting all we have into it. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU…., JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU… you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV) How should we love others? – “JUST - AS - I - HAVE - LOVED - YOU” How did Jesus love? - Sacrificially…, Selflessly…, Wholeheartedly. We need to love others the same way Jesus loved us: Sacrificially…, even when it costs. Selflessly…, not thinking of ourselves. Wholeheartedly…, putting all we have into it. Jesus gave everything, He sacrificed all that He has…, He gave till there was no more to give. He didn’t look at the cost and say, “That’s tooooo much”. He sacrifice from the moment He left heaven till the moment He died on the cross…, for you, for me. So that we might be set free. He wasn’t thinking about Himself, He wasn’t thinking about His health or His financial future. My goodness He didn’t even have a home…, well a brick or wood building. The only home He was hoping for was the one in your heart and mine. What did He do? – He invest all, His whole heart to complete us. Remember, God’s love more than compliments us…, it completes us. What can we do to love others better? – “that you love one another: JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU”: Sacrificially…, even when it costs. Selflessly…, not thinking of ourselves. Wholeheartedly…, putting all we have into it. Let me close by share a testimony…, Julie’s testimony: Love people. God commands it. We do our best at it. Some days loving others is easy. And yet, on other days, I fail miserably at it. Especially when hurt and misunderstanding enter the scene. Ever been there? Last week I had allowed someone’s actions to affect me to the point of anger, which grew into bitterness, which turned into vengeance. I thought and talked and acted like someone who wasn’t me, like someone who’s blog name didn’t contain the words “loving others.” Friday morning, it was clear I wasn’t going to be able to conquer these feelings and emotions on my own. As I was driving down the road to Bible class, I asked God to remove from me these ugly emotions, as I told Him I was sorry for allowing them to take root in the first place. I know better. And, wouldn’t you know, as we began our Bible class, the leader asked us to open our Bibles to John 13:34-35. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” With tears filling my eyes, I could barely read the words. I knew God was speaking straight to me. Love people because you love God. Our leader went on to share the definition of divine love – An act of will that lays aside itself and extends itself for the building up of another. The anger I had toward this person began to dissolve, and was replaced with compassion, and unbelievably, love. Right then I saw this person in a different way… as one who needed God’s love, not my wrath. (What if we looked at every single person in this way… as one who needed God’s love??) The vengeance lifted, and the bitterness disappeared. It doesn’t even make sense as I write this, but I came to the understanding I could set my feelings aside, and extend forgiveness to build up this person. How this one lives is between he/she and God. Actually, how we live and love matters, and some day we’ll each be accountable to God for how we did so on this earth. I don’t have to keep a record of anyone else’s wrongs. Mine are more than I can handle. Even though my hurt and anger was unknown to the other, I can choose to let go of it all, and go on living a free-from-bitterness life. I can love people because I love God. I can love people because God loves people. I can love people because God loves me. Period. However, this doesn’t mean we allow people to walk all over us. Goodness, no. We can love people, even if we choose to love from a distance. We can love as we maintain healthy boundaries. And, sometimes that, in itself, is loving others. So, if we ever find ourselves failing to love people–or someone in particular–may you and I return to the above definition of divine love. We can choose to allow it to be our guide by which to live and love. Say it with me: I CAN LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE I LOVE GOD. I CAN LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE GOD LOVES PEOPLE. I CAN LOVE PEOPLE BECAUSE GOD LOVES ME.

“Is Love…, Love is” (PART 3) Over the last couple of weeks we’ve explored a couple “Is Love…, Love is” statements. What did we find? – God’s love is more than we could ever hope for…, more than we dream of. God’s love can and will produce miracles: in people, in their hearts, in their minds, and in their souls. Why is this important? – Because God’s love produces the impossible. What we deem as impossible God sees as an opportunity…, and sometimes these opportunities take time. For Sarah and Abraham it took decades before their son was born…, promised by God, but a story of love that took many twists and turns which lead to blessing. God’s love took time as we see the love story unfold in King David’s life: from a lowly shepherd boy to the killer of giants…, to finally King of Israel. In that message I shared a story of how the God of the impossible took my circumstance and did something amazing…, His love, God’s love reunited two broken vessels. It didn’t span decade, but it did take a few years. Why? – For God’s glory…, His figure print, the evidence of who He is to be seen. Could He have worked more quickly? – Sure, but He was teach two people how to follow this command: Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) 37… “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Love God, love your neighbor (love others)…, it sounds simple…, but when God’s love is dealing with people it’s NEVER simple. What’s God doing in the process? God is opening a few new doors, and close a couple that deal with the past. Remember, God’s love more than compliments us…, it completes us…: Philippians 1:6 (ESV) 6 And I am sure of this, that he (God) who began a good work in you (that’s us) WILL bring it to (To what?) COMPLETION at the day of Jesus Christ. Let me say that again, God’s love more than compliments us…, it completes us. GOD’S LOVE MORE THAN COMPLIMENTS US…, IT COMPLETES US. So number one, God is the God of the impossible who looks at our mess and sees an opportunity. Then this, God’s love makes us whole…. God’s love makes us who we are and tell us what we’re about. Outside of God’s love we’re incomplete. Did you get that? - Outside of God’s love we’re incomplete. God’s love changes us, frees us, forgives us and redeems us. God’s love compels us to take action and removes fear. It calls us to holiness…, not in our own strength or by our own efforts, but by the Spirit: 1 John 4:13 (ESV) 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. GOD - “IS - LOVE”, but only by His Spirit can we truly be complete. We CAN’T do this on our own. God has not given us the capacity to live this Christian life on our own. Many will try and fail. Many have become disillusioned…, distraught…, disenchanted with God because of these failures. As we move through this series we need to let go of the idea that God wants to compliment us……, and see that He wants to complete us, make us whole…, but we truly need His help, we need His Spirit. This is what His Spirit spoke to me this week…, I can’t do it for you. I can point you in the right direction, I can aid you along the way. I can teach you about God and the greatness of His love…, but at the end of the day I - CAN’T - DO - IT - FOR - YOU. Look at Jesus command again: Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV) 37… “‘Love the Lord YOUR God with all YOUR heart and with all YOUR soul and with all YOUR mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. I can’t do it for you. “‘Love the Lord YOUR God with all YOUR heart and with all YOUR soul and with all YOUR mind…, that’s speaking to you. As a pastor I’d love to say I do this perfectly, but I don’t. Is God my God? – Yes. Does He make a difference in my life? – Yes. Do I love like He does? – I try, but I don’t do it perfectly…, nor can I do it for you. Believe me I’ve tried. Why? – Because loving God leads to blessing: Romans 8:28-29 (ESV) 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Loving God leads to blessing, but have looked at the next verse: 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. God looked down throughout all of eternity and seen me, Mark Peck…, He seen you (choose someone), and He “foreknew” us…, He seen what we could become. What’s our job in this? – “conform(ing) to the image of his Son”. Again, I can’t do it for you. Get this, the image of His Son is found in the this four letter word, LOVE. Whatever else God is try to make me and you…: less selfish, less prideful, more generous, more patient. Whatever they are the total is this…, more loving. More love for God, “‘Love the Lord YOUR God with all YOUR heart and with all YOUR soul and with all YOUR mind…, and more love for others, 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Please understand this call to love God is more than, “I LOVE cake”…, more than, “I’d LOVE a cup of coffee”. Not only can I NOT love God for you, but the call is to love is to love totally, completely “‘Love the Lord YOUR God with “ALL” YOUR HEART and with “ALL” YOUR SOUL and with “ALL” YOUR MIND. With every fiber of your being…, with all you are…, the call is to LOVE. Then get this, this passage uses these three words to push the point home: “heart, soul, mind”. Heart is my emotions, mind is my intellect, and soul where we draw our strength…, that deep place where God plants that seed of love……. But they all need to be working in conjunction with one another, they all need to be working at the highest optimum capacity. Too often they aren’t, we think we’re complete and utter failures if this love thing is working perfectly. Listen, we weren’t call to be Christian clones. All too often we think if we mix together the same ingredients, we’ll get the same outcome. The Christian life isn’t as simple as adding oil, a couple eggs and some mix then cook on 350 for 20-25 minutes to get a cake. If it were that easy, don’t you think more people would be experiencing God’s love…, more people would loving God and others……, but we’re a mess: If Heart is our emotions, the mind is our intellect, and soul where we draw our strength…, and those things aren’t working right……, what do suppose will be the outcome? – Problems, issues, pain, suffering; yet so many think all the right answers can be found in cloning or some cookie cutter receipt. If love were that simple, right? Love may not be simple because of how it’s tied to our: “heart, soul, mind”, but simple love is found on every page and in every word of scripture. This is what I mean by simple love, love that not overly complicated or complex. Love that is tied to an anchor of bitterness. This love needs to be caring, kind, selfless…, rooted in God’s word. God made love to be simple: 2 John 1:6 And this “IS LOVE”, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. What is love according to this passage? – “that we walk according to his commandments”. What are His commandments? You shall have no other Gods before me You shall not make for yourselves an idol You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy Honor your father and your mother You shall not murder You shall not commit adultery You shall not steal You shall not give false testimony You shall not covet But it all comes down simple love: Love God, love other. Remember, “‘Love the Lord YOUR God with all YOUR heart and with all YOUR soul and with all YOUR mind…, 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ It comes down to this question, how do we love God and others better? - FINDING THE RIGHT LOVE LANGUAGE When Kathy and I started seeing the marriage councilor, she suggested reading Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages. Married or not it’s a great book for human relationship…, a real what eye opener on seeing how each of us are stimulated to love differently. Patrick Morley shared this shot testimony: I had to chuckle. For twenty three years I have loved Patsy the way I want to be loved. I feel loved when Patsy spends large blocks of quality time with me. Since that’s how I want to be loved, I assumed that was the best way to love her. So, I have smothered Patsy with long talks and doing things together. For twenty three years Patsy has loved me the way she wants to be loved. She feels loved when I help out with household chores, run errands, or do small acts of kindness, so that’s how she loved me. If I needed a clean shirt I might say, “That’s okay, I’ll just re-press this one. Nobody will know.” She would always say, “No, that’s okay. Really. I’d love to run up to the cleaners for you.” In other words, we have loved the way we want to be loved but really didn’t know how the other wanted to receive love. Here’s the question: Do you know how God wants to be loved? Are you loving God the way He wants to be loved? I fear we haven’t thought deeply enough about how He wants us to love Him. How does God want to be loved? In his article pastor Morley says: LOVE GOD WITH INTENSITY The first way God wants to be loved is with intensity. Luke 10:25-28 (ESV) 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Job’s wife said, “Why don’t you just curse God and die.” Job replied, “Oh, you are speaking like a foolish woman. Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him!” When persecuted, Jeremiah wrote, “But if I say I will not mention Him or speak anymore in His name, His word is in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones! I am weary of holding it in! Indeed, I cannot!” Wouldn’t you love to have that kind of passion for God? To love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind is to love God with the totality of our being, with the sum of our strength, with every ounce of our energy. We are to bring an intensity to the loving of God. Today I want to close with this idea, LOVE GOD WITH INTENSITY. Intensity is God’s love language. So be passionate with your love, be zealous, show enthusiasm. When you talk about God share how great and absolutely wonderful He is…, be intense. And this “IS LOVE”, that we walk according to his commandments…, and LOVE GOD WITH INTENSITY.

This is a must read... “Is Love…, Love is” (PART 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXCQyq6r1ko She likes orange peppers, I don’t. I like super strong coffee and she likes brown water. She’s always right, I’m often wrong. She likes it her way, where I don’t care a whole lot. Worrying is her thing, but as for me, I could care less. Opposites seem to compliment one another. Opposites bring a balance and at times opposites bring fighting and bickering too…, but at the end of the day, the things that make us different shouldn’t push us apart they should get us to see the blessing we have in each other, and how these opposite COMPLIMENT. God’s love more than compliments us…, it completes us. Where I’m weak, God is strong. God is forgiving when we tend to hold unforgiveness. We’re all smart in or own minds, and God giggles at our plans. God is limitless in all He is…, limitless. He can do the impossible where I can barley manage my checking account. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 ESV Has For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37 God looks at a situation and before you know it He’s making the impossible, possible. Have you ever faced a seemingly impossible situation…? Maybe you’re facing one now. Or this, is what you’re asking God for seem unlikely to come to pass? Is your faith being tested? I’ve been there, and the testing of our faith is NEVER easy. Maybe, you feel completely trapped…, wedged in…, and overwhelmed, with no solution in sight. Maybe you’re confronted with a challenge where there is no resolution. Or, your heart is heavy with doubt…, you truly can’t figure out what to do next, you pray and pray and pray…, and NOTHING. Impossible fills your mind and your overwhelmed by the emotional rollercoaster. In those moments you’re left wondering, “Are things ever going to get better?” God looks at impossibility as opportunities, opportunities to do the impossibility. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” George Muller once said, “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.” “Faith begins where man’s power ends.” God brings us to the foot of a mountain and asks us to climb, not for our glory, but to prove His. What’s God’s goal? – It’s two fold, one to show us the impossibility and second to show us His limitless power. In the Bible, God led the Israelites into the wilderness toward the Red Sea. He guided the people the people to this place. As the people camped at the edge of the Red Sea, they noticed that the mountains were on one side, and the sea was before them. When the Israelites saw Pharaoh’s soldiers in the distance charging toward them, it appeared they were trapped with no apparent way out. Terrified, the people cried out to Moses in despair. Fear gripped their hearts and doubt replaced their faith. But, Moses trusted God in this impossible situation. Moses didn’t get upset, he didn’t give up…, or give in to desperation. Moses stared into the mouth of the beast…, this impossible situation and said: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm. And you will see the deliverance of the Lord. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” Exodus 14:13-14 God then told Moses to tell the people of Israel to “go forward.” Moses lifted up his staff and stretched out his hand over the sea and divided it. God intervened, for sometimes He prefers to work in situations that some deem impossible. He dramatically caused a strong wind to blow. The waters parted. And the people walked on the sea floor, on dry ground, safely to the other side. Similar to the Israelites, God allows temporary…, difficult…, heart wrenching situations to show us impossible circumstance. What looks like a mess, God sees as opportunity…, and He can do the same in those moments…, a miracle. A few years ago my life was flipped upside down. After 26 years of marriage I found myself single again…, I was divorced. I couldn’t believe it. I prayed and prayed…, I had others praying and NOTHING seemed to help. I was lost, afraid, feeling alone. Before the papers were signed God gave me a reoccurring dream: It was the most real dream I ever had. Kathy and I were walking along the seashore holding hands. I could see the smile on her face, I could feel the coolness of the sand and the water lapping over my feet. There was a brisk breeze and it was blowing Kathy’s hair in her face. She looked me in the eyes and said, “I love you”. Then, as we continued our walk I noticed two children playing. They had a sandcastle built and were yelling at each other and chasing each other around the castle. After kicking down part of the sandcastle, the younger of the two, a little curly blond hair boy came running toward us…, followed by his older angry sister. The little guy reaches us and leaps into Kathy’s arms yelling, “Grandma save me”. Then as the seven year old sister comes up to us I realize she looks exactly like Kathy when she was her age. What did God do for me in those moments of pain? – He filled me with hope for the future. I shared this vision with whoever would listen. And I was going to hold God to this…, like if I told enough people God would make Kathy reconcile with me. It was as if I was going to twist God’s arm and make Him submit. Well that didn’t happen. The divorce paper got filled…, the hearing happened…, the judge made his ruling. For a while I held on…. Year one was so hard, starting over by myself…, my finances weren’t so great, I stop pastoring. My friends did what they could, but I was tough to be around…, I was kinda a downer to be around. And to be honest, I was quite upset with God for allowing this tragedy. Year two was better, I started pastoring again, my finances were getting better. I started seeing a Christian councilor to help me with my grief and set some new life goals. Little by little I started seeing that dream more as God giving me hope rather than the reality I once thought it would be. Moving into year three I concentrated and focused on truly meeting someone new because my mother-in-law told me Kathy was never going to take me back. She and I could only see the impossible. Friends talked to into going on a date with a wonderful person, a Christian woman for sure. The date went well, better than I hoped and we made plans for a future date. The following week as bow-season, which gave me opportunity to pray and seek the Lord. What did God do? He brought to mind this passage. I could feel it floating around in the back of my mind: Joel 2:25-27 (ESV) 25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. 26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. Years were taken from me, and I had given into the impossible. During that trip Kathy was texting my, at first it was quite bothersome because for months I had tried to fence myself off from any contact with her, unless it was dealing with the kids. She needed to move on, I needed to move on and the contact was only slowing the inevitable. Let me say, as hard as these few years have been God worked a miracle. Over the past five months Kathy and I have been, dating and talking, crying together…, mending hearts. What has God done? – The impossible…. In April we’re getting married again and our children are going to be our best-man and maid-of-honor. All this to say this, “God is good when…? ALL-THE-TIME.” What does that mean for this church? – It means the pastor will happier, filled with God’s Joy for sure…, but it inspired me to talk about a few love passages…, mainly the “Is Love…, Love is” statements…, thus the title of this series. What am I hoping for? – To encourage, to challenge, to inspire you to trust God more. What else? – To look at your relationship with God and see how He can and we can make it better. Along the way I want us to concentrate on these couple verses: Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV) 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Love God, love your neighbor (love others). I want God to truly open a few new doors, and close a couple that deal with the past. Remember, God’s love more than compliments us…, it completes us…. Let me say that again, God’s love more than compliments us…, it completes us. I’ll saying this statement several times throughout this series so let’s get it down: GOD’S LOVE MORE THAN COMPLIMENTS US…, IT COMPLETES US. Closing prayer

Watch for (Part 1) in the weeks to come. Love you all!!! “Is Love…, Love is” (PART 2) GOD’S LOVE MORE THAN COMPLIMENTS US…, IT COMPLETES US. God’s love makes us whole…. God’s love makes us who we are and tell us what we’re about. Outside of God’s love we’re incomplete. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) 11 … He (God) has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. We may not see the whole scope of God’s work, but we all experience…, every last one of us, saved and unsaved, have a void where God’s love should be. It’s a feeling of incompleteness because we have a hole in our hearts that ONLY God can fill. We all know there’s something more and we’re missing something…, all of us. It says in this verse that God purposely “planted” this void, this hole, this sense of the eternal, “eternity“ in our hearts. Why? – So we long for God, so we sense our incompleteness…, so we search for a connection. Not a connectedness to others, not to the universe, though many try to fill that void like that…. Others try to fill the void with career, or purpose, but all too often we fill it with things. “(God) has planted eternity in the human heart”, for one reason and one reason only…, so we search for and long for Him and His love. Let me say it again, GOD’S LOVE MORE THAN COMPLIMENTS US…, IT COMPLETES US. As far as God’s love complimenting us…, it doesn’t. Jeremiah 17:9 ESV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Mark 7:21 ESV For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, Romans 1:21 ESV For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Futility, darkness, immoral, murderous, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick”…, that’s us. We’re sick, we’re broken, we don’t work right. Even when we do we’re still mainly looking out for number one…, me, myself and I. Why would God want to compliment that? Please hear this, God’s love does much more than comes beside us and warm our hearts. God’s love runs deep, and digs deeper: Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing (penetrating, cutting) to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. God want to end the futility, end the darkness, remove the immorality, and rid us of murderous hearts…, “the heart (that) is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick”…. Not by complimenting us but by completing us…, making us whole, one with Jesus. How? How is this possible? – God “IS LOVE.” 1 John 4:7-21 (ESV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because GOD “IS LOVE”…, (GOD “IS LOVE”, GOD “IS LOVE”. What is God? – GOD - “IS - LOVE” 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. GOD “IS LOVE”, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. “God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him….” There’s the gospel, the good news of Jesus. God sent His son to save us by being our “propitiation”, our substationary-atonement…, Jesus in my place. I did the wrong, I failed to do the right, I sinned, YOU sinned but God stepped in and changed our eternal destination. What changed? – God’s love completed us. Isn’t that what verse twelve says? - “God abides in us and his love is perfected IN us.” God’s love completed us, but it also removes, doubt, anxiety and fear. Remember, “perfect love (God’s love) casts out fear”. What does this perfect love compel us to do? – To love, “We love because he first loved us.” Are you getting it? - GOD - “IS - LOVE” And that means something. What? What does it mean? Love, or should I say God, doesn’t force Himself on anyone. He draws us in and we come to Him as a response of His loving Spirit. Love/God shows a deep kindness to all. This love is more than how a neighbor looks out for us, stronger than even a marital bond. Love…, Jesus wasn’t pulling favorites, He showed good to everyone without favoritism…, to all sinners. He didn’t covet what others had; He lived a humble life without complaining. Love didn’t brag about who He was. My goodness He was the Son of God. He could have overpowered anyone He ever came in contact with. But is that how Love behaves? - No, He spoke not a word to His revilers…, He never lifted a hand to those who struck Him. Love didn’t demand obedience. Just like God didn’t demand obedience from His Son, but willingness. What do we see? Jesus willingly obeyed His Father in heaven. “The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (John 14:31)…, willingly. Love/God/Jesus…, was…, is…, and will always looking out for the interests of others. In other words, Love is selfless. The greatest expression of God's love is communicated to us in: John 3:16 and 17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Love, Perfect Love is selfless and sacrificial…, putting the needs of others first. How’s that going for you? Are you being a good example of love? – Please understand love is more than a feeling we experience, it’s an action: Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Love is more than a feeling we experience, it’s an action. We can see it. From these verses God's greatest desire is that we join Him in His eternal home, heaven…, that we take action. He made the way, He paid price…, He loved us and enacted His will. If your taking notes write this down…, LOVE FORGIVES. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will (To do what?) forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” - 1 John 1:9. So, what does it mean that God “IS LOVE”? Love is an attribute of God…, it’s a core aspect of God’s character, His Person. No Love, no God…, they go hand in hand to complete us, not compliment our differences. God’s love doesn’t conflict with His holiness, righteousness, justice, or even His wrath. All of God’s attributes are in perfect harmony. Everything God does is loving, just as everything He does is just and right. God is the perfect example of true love…, AMEN. So here it is, GOD’S LOVE MORE THAN COMPLIMENTS US…, IT COMPLETES US. God’s love makes us whole…. God’s love makes us who we are and tell us what we’re about. Outside of God’s love we’re incomplete. God’s love changes us, free us, forgives us and redeems us. God’s love compels us to take action and removes fear. It calls us to holiness…, not in our own strength or by our own efforts, but by the Spirit: 1 John 4:13 (ESV) 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. GOD - “IS - LOVE”, but only by His Spirit can we truly be complete. We CAN’T do this on our own. God has not given us the capacity to live this Christian life on our own. Many will try and fail. Many have become disillusioned…, distraught…, disenchanted with God because of these failures. Today I want to invite you to let go of the idea that God wants to compliment us……, and see that He wants to complete us, make us whole…, but we truly need His help, we need His Spirit. So let’s usher Him in, let’s invite into our hearts: Holy Spirit song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFByOX8Fb0M

Galatians (Truth to the Gentiles - 16) I want to start today by making a statement, “Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters”. Let me say that again, “Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters”. When we stand before God at final judgment, the only thing that will matter is if He seeing Jesus when He looks at us. He’s not looking at our many good deeds, He’s not looking at our kind words, He’s not counting our righteous acts…, at that point “Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters”. God isn’t grading on a curve, He’s dispensing - PERFECT JUDGMENT. What’s He looking for? – PERFERCTION. Are you perfect? Listen, if your plan is to hand God your resume at the “Pearly-Gates”…, BAD PLAN. In fact, Paul the writer of a good portion of the New Testament made this declaration: Philippians 3:1-7 (ESV) 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision (not physically but spiritually speaking), For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put NO confidence in the flesh (NO confidence in our many good deeds, NO confidence in our kind words, NO confidence in our righteous acts) — 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. (What are those reasons Paul?) If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Did Paul have it going on? – Yep, but even with this impressive resume it still wasn’t enough…, nor will it ever be. And the same goes for us. “Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters”. Again, God isn’t grading on a curve, He’s dispensing - PERFECT JUDGMENT. What’s He looking for? – PERFERCTION. He’s looking for Jesus in us…, not acts of the flesh. Turn to Galatians 6:11-18 (ESV) 11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. “15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a NEW CREATION.” The more mature we become as a Christian, the less worthy we feel to be a child of God. Do you feel the weight of wanting and desiring to be more like Jesus? – I do, yet I also feel the reality of how monumentally impossible that is. Doesn’t it seem strange the closer we get to Christ the harder things seem? What’s the issue? - His character is rubbing off on us. Here’s the reality, the closer we get to the real beauty of Christ, the more obvious and ugly our remaining sin appears. It’s like this…, when we’re sweeping a hall, we feel pretty good that the dirt is being cleaned up, pushed into the dust pan…; but then a beam of light coming through the window and you see the true situation…, dust filling the air and the dirt in all those small crevasses. We see more because there is more light. The same goes in our spiritual lives, the more truth, the more light, the more we can see all that dirtiness. We clean and clean and still feel and look dirty…, even more so as the light hits our hearts. So we who are Christ's are destined to live with a mingling of joy…, and remorse. Listen, the remorse is only temporary, long enough to move us closer to God and repentance. Where does God want us to spend the majority of time? - Joy, supernatural sense of lasting happiness in God, His character and His people. So get this: If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we really are BEING changed (in the process) into his likeness: 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are BEING transformed (in the process) into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. As the intensity of the light increases, the greater the clarity of our own sinfulness…, that’s what is so difficult to deal with. What are we experiencing? - We experiencing the gap of who we dire to be, and who we truly are in Christ. We rejoice to know Christ and dazzle in our fellowship, but we also feel sorrow over our failed walk. Too often we live in that gap, all ways feeling that failure looming over our heads, rather than the freedom the Spirit brings. Listen, get this…, the lie is, God is expecting perfect. He’s not, Jesus is our perfection. What is God expecting? – A people who are, “BEING transformed”, a church that is, “BEING changed”, followers who are in the process of becoming different. What is God expecting? – A people who are, “BEING transformed”, a church that is, “BEING changed”, followers who are in the process of becoming different. Remember, “15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a NEW CREATION.” What am I trying to preach? - Freedom, freedom from an old mindset, freedom from the try harder follow all the rules mentality. Paul in these last verses of his letter develops a contrast between two mindsets. The one is what he has been trying to drive out of the Galatian churches. The other is the one he seeks to live by and teach. He calls this second mindset a canon or a rule and says that those who are in sync with this rule receive God's mercy and enjoy God's peace…, one a mindset of slavery (governed by fear and rejection), the other a mindset of freedom (govern by the Spirit and love) Why are these so dangerous? - Because if your mindset is governed by the fear of being rejected, you cannot full embrace the freedom in Christ…, that’s why so many reject the cross. All they can see are the rules…, their failures…, but true freedom comes as we embrace the grace, as we humble ourselves before God. What does Satan do? – He keeps on bring up that gap. Listen, get this: WHO THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED WHO THE SON SETS FREE IS FREE INDEED The love of God comes to us through Christ crucified…, grace, the empty tomb, the risen son…, not putting Him back on the cross to be sacrifice again. Let me say that again, the love of God comes to us through Christ crucified…, grace, the empty tomb, the risen son…, not putting Him back on the cross to be sacrifice again. The debuts been paid. Remember Jesus final words: John 19:28-30 (ESV) 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “IT IS FINISHED,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. “Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters”. Let say that together: Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters Only being a NEW CREATION truly matters What is this "NEW CREATION" that truly matters? The new creation is what exists when the old mindset is crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20 (ESV) 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. What is this "NEW CREATION" that truly matters? – It’s seeing, believing and knowing, “CHRIST WHO LIVES ‘IN’ ME”. Paul speaks in Galatians 2:20 of being crucified with Christ…; yet somehow he lives, “IN ME”. A “NEW CREATION” raised, from the dead…, a new birth (John 3:3)…, a newness of life: Romans 6:4 (ESV) 4 We were buried therefore with him (Jesus) by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, WE TOO might walk in newness of life. None of us were saved because we’re perfect or because anything we’ve done…, we can’t earns God's approval it was given to us…, a gift: Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Today, just as Paul was trying to thwart false teaching, I’m trying my best to do the same. Our battle my not be false teaching on circumcision, but is about the lies that pave the way to hell. Remember, “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a NEW CREATION.” Are you a NEW CREATION, are you born again…, has the Holy Spirit taken up residency in you Spirit? Hear me, get this, only being a NEW CREATION truly matters. If you have that then you have all you truly need. What do you have? - The son, and who the Son sets free is free indeed. Free from what? – Free from sins grip, free from an old way of thinking, and free from fear. What are we? – WE are, I am, you are a child of God. So I want to close on that note: No Longer Slaves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k

Galatians (Truth to the Gentiles - 15) The troubles of this world are many and relentless. It’s not always easy to stay focused on heaven. Why? - Life happens: the kids need this, your boss needs that, and your friends need something else. We’re being pulled in a hundred different directions. Where does that leave us? -Filled with emotions…, stressed…, worried. We’re commanded to set our minds on things above…, Heaven and God’s resources, not on earthly things (Col. 3:2)…, Colossians 3:2 (ESV) 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS THAT ARE ON EARTH. How’s that going? Are you setting your mind in things above? Or is your tendency to set your mind things that are happening, troubling things??? Let me say, even the most committed believer would testify that our earthly trials sometimes obscure the heavenly perspective. We worry. We grieve. We stumble. We strain under the toil of our daily labors. We feel the guilt of our fallen condition. Meanwhile, we are assaulted with trouble of various kinds. Those are just a few of the many worldly burdens that frequently keep our thoughts from rising to heaven. Listen, please listen…, we were never meant to do things alone, EVER. This life was never meant to be a one man or woman show. God created us for each other. But our tendency is to think, “I got this”…, “I don’t want to burden others”. I’m not saying you can do some things on your own, but we’re not meant to do it ALL on our own. The bible is clear that our call is to SHARE each others burdens: Turn to Galatians 6:1-10 (ESV) Titled: Bear One Another's Burdens 1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS, BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. So what are we called to do according to these verses? – Look at verse two again: BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS. Then couple that with verse ten: as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and ESPECIALLY to those who are of the household of faith. I don’t know about you but it seems to me that we as a church…, we as follow believers need to be going out of our way to help each other; not only that, but allow others to help us. I’ll say it again, God created us for each other. But our tendency is to think, “I got this”…, “I don’t want to burden others”. We should be ask, we should be helping…, but we’re not. Why? - Because our focus is on our own issues, our own earthly trials and these things sometimes obscure the heavenly perspective. We’re commanded repeatedly to “seek the things that are above” (Col. 3:1). We’re instructed to “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” (2 Cor. 4:18). We must not allow the BURDENS of this life to divert our hearts from heaven…, or to stop us from being a blessing to each other. Giving and receiving as we have need, giving and receiving is the call. How is that possible? When the load weighs us down and the troubles become too much for one person to bear, pie-in-the-sky sentiments can sound very hollow. “Jesus has you back…, God will see you through…, I’m praying for you”, many times it doesn’t seem like enough. Especially, when that person needs more than a few words. Maybe, just maybe we may have to read between the lines…, maybe we need to be open to the Spirit’s stirring and do…, or receive. Maybe all the other person needs is a physical touch and God want to use you. Hear me, that’s precisely why the church is so important. It’s our duty as believers to help bear one another’s burdens remember verse two: BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS. When someone staggers, we help steady the load. If he or she is straining, we help bear the burden. And if he or she stumbles, we lift them up. Helping fellow believers carry the weight of their worldly troubles is one of the chief practical duties that ought to consume every Christian. “let us do good to everyone, and ESPECIALLY to those who are of the household of faith.” Of course, that concept seems novel…, but it truly CAN’T be a concept. Giving and receiving needs to be a part of who we are as a church…, who we are as people…, but more importantly who we are as follow believers. This idea is becoming contrary our drifting culture where secularism is finding its way into the church. We can’t foster these selfish and self-centered notions of ME, ME, ME and I,I,I. Our generation has developed an unhealthy obsession with distraction, where we’re daily being assaulted with excessive trivial diversions that seem to eat up out time and resources. We tend to interact with one another in sound-bites or through faceless social media. Many live in crowded cities and over-populated neighborhoods; yet most individuals are more isolated than ever. Do you get that? – Isolated, feeling alone…, even if you’re surround by people. Let’s be honest, the church today often imitates the culture rather than confronts and/or counteracts its influence. As churches seek to become bigger, flashier, and more technologically savvy, they usually tend to become more cold and impersonal. I never want this to be said about us or this church. I never want to encourage the “me first” agenda where the true call is to love “one another” commands of Scripture. As a result of “me first”, we don’t bear one another’s burdens as we should. Philippians 2:3 (ERV) 3 In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor (esteem, value) others more than yourselves. The ESV says count others more significant than yourselves. Paul made this duty a high priority. It was the centerpiece of his warnings to the Galatian churches. Remember his goal was to thwart false teaching that threatened to place believers in bondage to the Law. In Galatians 5:14 he reminded them: “The whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” How is that love best manifest? “BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (6:2). The first and preeminent or leading example of burden-bearing Paul mentions deals with the burden of another’s sin. “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” (v. 1). That, where sin is a problem and discipline is required, the process is to be carried out (gently and meekly). Remember the goal, the true goal: restoration, not punishment or public rebuke. In other words, the person restoring the sinning brother (or sister) isn’t to approach them as if they were a master over him…, but meekly or gently, as one who is willing to help shoulder the burden so that the one who has stumbled can get to his feet again. Say with me, “I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SIN” Again, “I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SIN” We all have a problem with sin and at times we need each others help dealing with that problem. Verse two simply states the underlying principle is to, What? – HELP, “BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS”. Obviously, the principle applies to all kinds of burdens — not merely the burdens of those who stumble into sin. When Paul suggests that burden-bearing “fulfill[s] the law of Christ,” he makes it clear that he has the whole moral law in view…, or many issues. Every act of compassion and self-sacrificing selfless displays Christ love, fulfilling the moral demands of His law. Paul clearly has in mind spiritual, emotional, and physical burdens — not just physical, not just emotional but all three. The burdens we need to help carry for one another include: guilt, worry, sorrow, anxiety, and loss…, really anything weighty. That could be a financial weight where we help a bother or sister out. See a need and move to help with that need. Let me ask you? Do you need a chapter and a verse to tell you help others? Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to BEAR WITH THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE WEAK and not to please ourselves. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, HELP THE WEAK, and be patient with everyone. “BEAR WITH THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE WEAK, HELP THE WEAK, BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS” If we love our neighbor, if we love the people in this room…, if we care about this church…, we bear burdens. If you need help, then in turn we must allow others to give. Giving and receiving, it all needs to go full circle. If you will do that faithfully, your burdens won’t seem so heavy. Regardless of the trials you suffer in this life…, God has your back. How? - Through the people in this room, people giving. Giving what? – Love… Today let’s get our mind heavenward, off our own issues, off our earthly trials and the off the things obscure the heavenly perspective. If you want to truly help or be help, get these: Colossians 3:2 (ESV) 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE

Galatians (Truth to the Gentiles - 14) Over and over again, over the last couple of weeks, God has stressed this point…, freedom. Freedom from an old way of thinking, freedom from the bondage of this old way of thinking: John 8:34-36 (NIV) 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Has the SON set you free…? Let me ask you again, has the SON set you free? You were stuck on a one way street descend for hell, but God in His infinite GRACE had a plan from the very beginning to set the sinner free, free from the clutches of hell, from the wrath of a holy and just God, free to live a life empower by the Holy Spirit. What did Jesus say again? – “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. SAY IT WITH ME: “IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.” “IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.” “IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.” Not could be…, or not should be, but WILL BE FREE. The issue through this whole book is seeing and dealing with an old mindset, slavery, slavery to a way of thinking that gets us struck upside-down in a ditch. We should be walking freedom, walking in GRACE…, but we’ve got it in our heads if “I” do more, if “I” read more, if “I” pray more, I if “I” try harder somehow that’s going to make things better. Let me say that’s EXHAUSTING. I, I, I, is not what God intended. I, I, I is the old mindset, work, work, work…, do, do, do……, exhausting. If you worked 24/7 365 at trying to please God that’s going to be fail: No matter how hard you try, your “good”, my “good” is not good enough for our perfect, holy, and completely righteous God. We don’t have to compete for God’s favor. If we have the SON dwelling in our hearts we have God’s favor. Listen, no matter how moral or perfect you are, we need His help. As the Old Testament prophet Isaiah points out, your righteousness is about as good as a “snot rag”. - Isaiah 64:6 that’s the cleaned up version…, because the Hebrew phrase for filthy rags, ukabeged ehdim, literally means, “like as rags of menstruation.” Hear me, living under the old mindset, I, I, I is the old mindset, work, work, work…, do, do, do……, is exhausting and puts us in a place of a debt or slavery to God. God doesn’t want to relate to us as debtors or slaves who try to pay him back. His will for us is that we live (what?) FREE—and recognize that the WHOLE debt is paid. We’re not slaves who have to work to stay out of the poorhouse. Get this, get this…, Freedom Depends on Grace, God’s grace, the Grace we find at Calvary. The moment He committed His Spirit to God and said, “IT IS FININISHED” He left us His Spirit to teach us, guide us, and to power this Christian life: TURN TO Galatians 5:16-26 (ESV) Keep in Step with the Spirit 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Freedom Depends on Grace, God’s grace, the Grace we find at Calvary. I’ll say it again, the moment He committed His Spirit to God and said, “IT IS FININISHED” He left us His Spirit to teach us, guide us, and to power this Christian life. remember the call, “let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” What these verses teach is freedom can only be enjoyed as we depend on the Grace of Christ…, and we find this grace as we keep in step with the spirit. Slavery is what happens when you fall away from the power of grace. If your taking notes, write that down. Slavery is what happens when you fall away from the power of grace…, the power of the Spirit. The key to freedom is to keep depending on Grace. Grace and Spirit go hand in hand. But what is grace? Grace is the powerful work of God in our present life. Let me share this acronym: G.R.A.C.E.—God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Write that down, G.R.A.C.E.—God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Grace is God's action NOW, in this moment. How? – By living in step with the Spirit. Grace is getting what we don't deserve…, coupled with Mercy - not getting what we do deserve. We all deserve Hell, it's what we've all earned. The wages of sin is death…. And we've all sinned. But praise God He offered GRACE: forgiveness of sin, the washing of our soul through Jesus atoning sacrifice at the cross. The sacrifice, Jesus’ sacrifice FREES those who believe. We don't deserve heaven, but by God's grace and mercy heaven will be home for the born-again Christian. The Spirit confirms this…, or should I say affirms this truth. But where do you go from that moment of grace? - We still have the rest of our lives to live, and everyday is filled with choices..., same we'll fail at (sin) or fail to do the right (sin)......, things we need to repent of. This is living a "sanctified life" and the Spirit is our guide…, and so much more. The rest of our lives needs to be spent growing closer to the Lord, but our sin pushes us away, away from Him. This is where Grace and the Spirit need to touch our hearts. Because we are FREE we need to make the choice to live FREE, daily…, right choices, God honoring choices. Look at our main passage again: 17 For the desires of the flesh (our old selfish way of thinking) are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, (they’re at odds…, flesh and Spirit are constantly at battle) for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. This isn’t God being mean or hurtful…, or try to be a spoilsport ruining your fun, but He’s trying to protect us from ourselves. Remember, choose to sin, choose to suffer. What I mean is there’s always consequences. For every sinful self-gratifying action, there’s always a negative affect: shame, guilt, hurt, pain. The consequences can be emotional, spiritual, and/or sometimes physical. It may not be today but let me assure you they are waiting around the corner. Let me share an incident: Numbers 12 (NLT) 12 While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. 2 They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them. 3 (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.) 4 So immediately the Lord called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!” So the three of them went to the Tabernacle. 5 Then the Lord descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Aaron and Miriam!” he called, and they stepped forward. 6 And the Lord said to them, “Now listen to what I say: “If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. 7 But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. 8 I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?” 9 The Lord was very angry with them, and he departed. 10 As the cloud moved from above the Tabernacle, there stood Miriam, her skin as white as snow from leprosy. Choose to sin, choose to suffer…, choose the selfish flesh we step away from the Spirit. I’m so thankful the store doesn’t end there…, redemption is on it’s way When Aaron saw what had happened to her, 11 he cried out to Moses, “Oh, my master! Please don’t punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Don’t let her be like a stillborn baby, already decayed at birth.” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “O God, I beg you, please heal her!” 14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had done nothing more than spit in her face, wouldn’t she be defiled for seven days? So keep her outside the camp for seven days, and after that she may be accepted back.” (Consequences still remained to teach Miriam, just like they do for us) 15 So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again. Miriam was kept out of the camp, WHY? - To show the camp and us there are consequences to sin……, AND, and to give her time to think about her actions. But not just time to think, but also to choose a new path, a different direction…, a more God honoring route. Part of that freedom we’ve been talking about over the last couple of weeks is found in the moments we call repentance. Repentance is the act of identifying the Sin, admitting it's wrong…, then turning from it. This passage gives us a short list: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality (homosexuality, adultery, fornication – sex outside the bond of marriage), impurity (shameful deeds, whoredom, perversion) sensuality (debauchery where we give into every lustful pleasures…, think orgy) 20 idolatry (where we place other things above our relationship with God), sorcery (witchcraft, not magic tricks but calling on the powers of darkness), enmity (the state or feeling of being ACTIVELY opposed or hostile to someone or something…, ongoing or continuous hatred), strife (causing others to feel hatred), jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries (pot stirring), dissensions, divisions (causing relational issues), 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. This isn’t a one and you’re done way of life, but a pattern of think and acting that you’re UNWILLING to change. The bible is clear here, if these things go unchecked…, if these patterns of thinking and acting go unchanged heaven will not be your home, “I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” We have to eject one way of thinking and acting, and embrace another. Again, this isn’t a one and you’re done way of life, but a pattern of think and acting that you’re UNWILLING to change. This is where repentance frees us, where Jesus frees us. “IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.” We have to eject one way of thinking and acting, and embrace another. What? We have a short list for that too: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love (placing the needs of others before your own…, selflessness), joy (the supernatural ability to feel happiness no matter the situation), peace (where fear is removed and an unbelievable calm fills your heart), forbearance (patience or the ability to remain under the weight of a hard situation) kindness (treating others with care), goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law…, against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. We have to eject one way of thinking and acting, and embrace another…, at times this may seem impossible, and in reality it is, without the Spirit’s help. Remember, but the fruit of the “SPIRIT”, not the fruits of pastor Mark, not the fruits of Kathy or Barb…, but the fruit of the “SPIRIT”, supernatural from God. We have to eject one way of thinking and acting, and embrace another…, something spiritual, something supernatural. This may take many failed attempts, but the pattern should be there. GRACE fills in the gaps, not so we can sin more…, but till we get a chance to repent. GRACE fills in the gaps, not so we can sin more…, but till we get a chance to repent. This morning I want us as a church to follow the pattern Moses used, confront the sin, see the consequences and allow the time to repent. So I want to close today with that in mind…, time. “IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.” So let’s worship to those words and I’ll let the Spirit do this work. Who You Say I Am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bytj0G6RmEk

12 things pastors cannot do… I read the following list and it got me thinking..., really thinking. I wish I was the super pastor who had these exceptional powers, but I’m not and it’s ok. God’s got my back: fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10 For a moment, read through the list and realize it pertains to you too..., and know God’s got your back too: Read minds. Everybody knows that, but many church members hold pastors accountable for unstated expectations. Be everywhere. No human being can be every place at once, yet some members still get angry when pastors have to say “No.” Change hearts. Only God can do that. Know everything. Most pastors study hard, but nobody can answer every question somebody asks. Please everybody. Even Jesus couldn’t do that. Live sinlessly. Nobody can. Including you. And me. We’re all sinners. Grow churches. If the church does grow, it’s because God does it. Multiply dollars. That’s too bad, too, since some churches don’t pay their pastors well. Escape mistakes. All of us will mess up sometime, often unintentionally and even unknowingly. Avoid favoritism. Pastors minister to everybody, but having better (and best) friends is natural. Reveal everything. No matter how much you may want to know the details, pastors may not be in a position to tell you. Ignore sin. Pastors must address this issue, even when it’s not popular. Say a prayer for your pastors today, just like I’m going to be over you. Love you Your Brother in Christ Mark

Something’s a little different... This morning I did something different. I normally read a bit from my bible, but today I woke with the urge to worship. Not sing merry songs of joy, but really worship the King. So I got my tablet and YouTubed a few songs. I like to the ones with lyrics I find that helpful. What did I do? - I began to sing..., worship. What happened? My heart began to melt and the heaviness on my heart seemed to disappear. Shoot, I felt lead to pick a few songs for next Sunday. Man God has truly blessed me. Today I want to sure the song God focused on this morning. Sing along..., no, worship and let God free you from your spirit of heaviness: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ__W9VH9Lo

Galatians (Truth to the Gentiles - 13) Last week we talked about slavery, slavery to a mindset, slavery to a pattern of thinking: a victim mentality, pridefulness, depression. These are just a few ways we get ourselves stuck mentally speaking. What happens? – we dwell on these thoughts and these thoughts take us to a place far from God, far from God’s heart and far from having the life God intended us to have. I proposed that we are going to remain slaves to these mindset until we allow the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts. Remember, we have ALL of the Holy Spirit…. Did you hear me? We have ALL of the Holy Spirit: ALL His power, ALL his healing, ALL his strength……, but does the Holy Spirit have ALL of you? We’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit and He lives in us, but are we doing what we could…, are we doing as we should? Are we listening to the voice of freedom, or have we giving are hearts to a mindset of slavery, a way of thinking that drowns out the Spirit’s voice? Again, Ephesians 4:30 (ESV) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (ESV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do things He “doesn’t” want us to do..., we quench the Holy Spirit when we refuse to do thing He “does” want us to do. Did you get that? We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do things He “doesn’t” want us to do..., we quench the Holy Spirit when we refuse to do thing He “does” want us to do. I’ve been guilty of both which leads to the slavery mindset…, but when the voice speaks and do what He ask, man the resonates in our spirit and breaks the spirit of disobedience. So again I ask, does the Holy Spirit have you? These two patterns of thinking produce slavery and holds us down and keeps us oppressed. What’s the goal? The goal is a new you, a new way of thinking, a new way of living where we cast off the chains of heaviness and allow the Holy Spirit to do something amazing in our lives. Listen, CHRIST HAS SET US FREE…, CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. Say it with me, CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. Again, CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. Christ has set us free from the slaves we were: slaves to the old way of doing things…, slaves to the old way of seeing things…, and the slavery to our old way of thinking. One more time, CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. TURN TO Galatians 5:1-15 (ESV) Christ Has Set Us Free 5 For freedom Christ has set us free…, For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. The text begins with a clear and refreshing statement: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” This is God’s will, His heart for us is to live…, to live FREE. Not misusing our freedom to sin more, but to live FREE. Hear this, God’s will isn’t some cosmic question game…, God’s will is written in every page in the bible. Did you get that? - God’s will is written in every page in the bible, but all too often we think it’s: where to go to school, what job to take, where to live…, should I buy that car. Does God care about these things? – Not as much as we think. The big question is, are we honoring God in these choices? Are we honoring God with our actions? Do we honor Him with how we think? We need to orient our lives with this mindset: "For freedom Christ has set us free." Christ's will is for us to enjoy freedom, but it’s also about something more…, taking a stand. “stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”. Where you go to school, what job you do, where you live, aren’t nearly so crucial as our stand. Our stand are the things we won’t give into, and the context of this passage is to a “yoke of slavery”…, or and old way of thinking. What’s the old way of thinking? That by trying harder and following the LAW…, that’s freedom. But Paul teaches us hear just the opposite: 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. The old way of thinking is, we’re justified or made right by the LAW. Get this…, get this, we are justified and made right by the Grace of Jesus. The issue at this time was circumcision, and thinking that this action was somehow going to make us right or perfect before a holy God. Does observance of the Law save us? NO: Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved (not observance of the Law, not circumcision), through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. “For it is by grace you have been saved” which is Paul’s point in verse three and four: 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. Accepting God’s grace is freedom, where the Law bring judgment and condemnation. Let me say that again, Accepting God’s grace is freedom, where the Law bring judgment and condemnation. Let me share this illustration called, Playtime at the Piper's: I have a playtime with my sons after supper each evening until about 7:00 p.m. It’s easy to please a 3 year old with a game…, building towers out of blocks with on the floor. When 7 p.m. comes, I usually say, "OK, Abraham, pick up the blocks and put them in the cart." And he usually says, "Will you help me please, Daddy?" Now I have two possibilities. I can say, "No, you pick them up, and get it done in two minutes or there will be trouble!" He may pout and fuss, but generally the job gets done. Or I can say, "Sure I will. Let's see how fast we can do it together." So he hurries and works much faster and more efficiently with my help and we even have fun doing what needs to be done. In the first case, he isn’t free. He does ALL the work himself, what a chore? That’s yoke of slavery on his back…, (say in a little boy’s tone with a curled down bottom lip) “look at all da the big heavy blocks”. He’s not acting in freedom because the task is monumental, weighty, irritating and discouraging. But in the second case he’s free. He does better work. Why? - He’s got the fathers help and Grace fills the situation. He has the freedom of joy and doesn’t feel the oppressive burden on his back. He still knows that Daddy punishes for disobedience, but there’s no heavy yoke. What's the difference? Daddy was on the floor helping— and even making it enjoyable. The work got done: but in one case under the yoke of slavery (the Law), in the other case in freedom or Grace (the Father’s help). There is a clue here for how we can live in freedom and obey Galatians 5:1. The key to freedom is whether we have to do the work ourselves to escape punishment, or whether our Father comes down to be with us and help us. Verses 2, 3, and 4 each portray a way to stay under a yoke of slavery. So these verses function as warnings against slavery. Then verse 5 gives a positive description of how to stand in freedom. Let's look at each of these verses in turn. Don't Bribe God for Blessing We'll take verses 2 and 3 together: "Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you (or: Christ will profit you nothing). I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law (literally: that he is a debtor to do the whole law)." A reader who is totally insensitive to all that has gone before in Galatians might say, "O, that's easy. Paul says circumcision is wrong and displeases God and non-circumcision is right and pleases God. So the point is: do what pleases God—avoid circumcision at all costs." But do you see what that superficial reading does: it makes non-circumcision into something just as dangerous as circumcision, namely, a work that you can use to earn things from God. Look more closely at verse 2. " If you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you " The problem with the Judaizers was that they wanted to cash in on what Christ did by making seem like it was something was something they could do on their own. And Paul says that if you try to earn dividends from Christ from your own investment of circumcision…, Christ will profit you nothing. Why? Because all the spiritual and physical benefits Christ gives are dividends paid from his own investment at Calvary. Does that make sense? – Jesus paid it ALL. More or less the person who gets circumcised (or live under the old mindset) are putting themselves into the place of a debt or slavery to God. From these few passages we learn that God doesn’t want to relate to us as debtors or slaves who try to pay him back. His will for us is that we live (what?) FREE—and recognize that the WHOLE debt is paid. We’re not slaves who have to work to stay out of the poorhouse. That’s Paul’s point - Freedom Depends on Grace…, God’s grace, the Grace we find at Calvary. What these verses teach is freedom can only be enjoyed as we depend on the Grace of Christ. Slavery is what happens when you fall away from the power of grace. The key to freedom is to keep depending on Grace. But what is grace? Grace is the powerful work of God which he exerts freely for you in your present life. Let me share this acronym: G.R.A.C.E.—God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Write that down, G.R.A.C.E.—God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Grace is God's action NOW, in this moment. Grace is getting what we don't deserve..., coupled with Mercy - not getting what we do deserve. We all deserve Hell, it's what we've all earned. The wages of sin is death.... And we've all sinned. But praise God He offered GRACE: forgiveness of sin, the washing of our soul through Jesus atoning sacrifice at the cross. The sacrifice, Jesus’ sacrifice FREES those who believe. We don't deserve heaven, but by God's grace and mercy heaven will be home for the born-again Christian. But where do you go from there? - We still have the rest of our lives to live, and everyday is filled with choices..., same we'll fail at (sin) or fail to do the right (sin)......, things we need to repent of. This is living a "sanctified life". The rest of our lives needs to be spent growing closer to the Lord, but our sin pushes us away, away from Him. This is where Grace needs to touch our hearts, and because we are FREE we need to make the choice to live FREE, daily. Part of that freedom is found in moment we call repentance. Repentance in the act of identifying the Sin, admitting it's wrong..., then turning from it. This may take many failed attempts, but the pattern should be there. GRACE fills in the gaps, not so we can sin more..., but till we get a chance to repent. Today is about live out verse 13: For you were called to freedom, brothers. For you were called to freedom, (sisters). Altar time

Galatians (Truth to the Gentiles - 12) Slavery is a product of the fall of man and has existed in the world since that time. It was not a part of God’s original plan, and God’s order has gradually been re-established since the time of Christ…, and slavery, physical slavery has gradually been eliminated. Christian nations, those based upon Biblical principles, have led the way in the abolition of slavery. In my mind, America has and was at the forefront of this fight. After our independence, great steps were taken down the path of ending slavery. Through what I’ve read, many Americans during this time of unrest had the new mindset and were moving toward these ends. Unfortunately, the generations following the Founders did not continue to move forward in a united fashion. A great conflict was the outcome of this failure…, the Civil War. Brother against brother, sons against fathers, neighbor against neighbor the war ensued for years. Why would brothers fight against brothers, sons against their fathers, and neighbors fight against their neighbors? - The fall of man…, starting with Adam and Eve rebelling against God the Father…. The rebellion continued in the family with Cain and Able…, the first civil where two brothers fought which lead to the first murder in the bible. As we read though the pages we see other brothers fighting brothers, other sons fighting their fathers: David and his son Absalom leaving Absalom dead…, Joseph and his brothers where Joseph escapes death, but his brothers’ jealousy and rebellious hearts are quite evident: Genesis 37:18-28 (ESV) 18 They saw him (Joseph) from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. 25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. If we read the rest of the story, Joseph was a slave to many masters, and as his life unfolded his life reflected the glory of God…, the evidence of his true Father. What do we see? – A man’s unjust treatment…, yet God is shaping him, molding him and preparing him to help save the nation and his bothers who sold him into slavery. My question to you this morning, what are we slaves to? Is it greed? Is it impoverished thinking? Have we given ourselves over to lust or hatred? Maybe your bent is food or a thirst for acceptance. Again, what are we slaves to? Listen, we might not be slaves to a person, but we maybe slaves to a way of thinking…, just like Joseph’s brothers, just like Adam and Eve, just like Cain, just like Absalom. Our way of thinking is our master, destructive and hurtful…, OR God honoring and loving filled with grace like Joseph. Remember, nothing is different till we start thinking differently…, and in turn choosing a different course of action. In our main passage today Paul is trying desperately to get us to see this very thing…, slavery to a mindset, slavery to a way of thinking. Turn to Galatians four and we’ll read it together. Galatians 4:21-31 (ESV) 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? (That’s the mindset, to be under the Law and a rhetorical question to get us thinking. [repeat])22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically (or as an illustration): these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. Slave or free…, barren and desolate or “children of promise”. How do you see yourself? Are we going to remain slaves to a mindset that holds us down and keeps us oppressed? OR, do we cast off the chains and allow the Holy Spirit to do something amazing in our lives? I’m going with option two, I want the chains gone; I want the weigh of the Law off my back. I WANT TO BE SET FREE!!! AMEN. Paul puts it another way in Romans 6:13 ESV Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. “from death to life” or from slavery to freedom, our call, our identity is wrapped up in seeing we’re “members to God as instruments for righteousness”. What’s our job? Look at verse 30 again: “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” “Cast out the slave woman and her son”, cast out that old mindset; cast out that old way of thinking. How? By embracing our freedom, by embracing what we “inherit with the son of the free woman.” Then the question becomes, what did we inherit from the son of the free woman, Jesus? Our inheritance are the things we find in Jesus. Paul said in Ephesians 1:11-14 (ESV) 11 In him (Jesus) we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Paul is writing to Gentile Christians in Ephesus. This passage was written to assure Gentile believers, that when Christ comes again, they WILL receive the same spiritual inheritance as those Jews who had already believed in Christ. So let’s look at what Paul says about this inheritance – what it is, how we received it, and why we received it. Verse 11 tells us literally we are claimed as Christ’s, the (ESV) say, “In him we have obtained an inheritance”, the (NLT) says, “we have received an inheritance from God”, the (NIV) translation is, “In him we were also chosen”. So which is it? Have we been claimed as God’s inheritance, or have we received an inheritance from God? The answer is both. No matter how you slice it, as believers God’s chosen…, we’re His children and claimed as such. “predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will”. So not only does our inheritance mean we were chosen, but we were chosen for a purpose. What’s the purpose? – To have God’s will, His heart, His love, His compassion, His Grace, His mercy coursing through our vains. Folks, we’ve been given a blood transfusion we’ve been infuses with something special…. What flows in our vains? – Holy Spirit power. “When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…, sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” We have all of the Holy Spirit, but does the Holy Spirit have all of you? We’ve been sealed the Holy Spirit and He lives in us, but are we doing what we could…, are we doing as we should? Are we listening to the voice of freedom, or have we given “the slave woman and her son” dominion in our heart? Please listen to these last couple passages: Ephesians 4:30 (ESV) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (ESV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do things He “doesn’t” want us to do..., we quench the Holy Spirit when we refuse to do thing He “does” want us to do. Did you get that? We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do things He “doesn’t” want us to do..., we quench the Holy Spirit when we refuse to do thing He “does” want us to do. I’ve been guilty of both which leads to the slavery mindset…, but when the voice speaks and do what He ask, man the resonates in our spirit and breaks the spirit of disobedience. So again I ask, does the Holy Spirit have you? 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15-17 Spirit Break Out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv4qIpyAF2M Today let’s lay claim to verse 31: “So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.” Today isn’t about living in the past, but moving forward in the power of the Spirit…, not as a slave, but as free men and women of God. Freed by Grace and living out the commands of God the best we can, not grieving or quenching the Spirit…, but allowing Him to change us. AMEN!

Where is God??? We find the evidence of God everywhere, but the greatest evidence of God and His handiwork is creation it self. Creation itself scrams, “THERE’S A GOD, THERE’S A GOD, THERE’S A GOD!” For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. - Romans 1:20 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. - Psalm 19:1 It’s right before us, yet all too many think it happened by chance..., that it was all some cosmic accident. Wrong, the universe came from order not chaos. It seems to has been designed..., and design says the must be a Designer, GOD. The only reason people want to believe it was an accident is because they want to deny there’s a God. No God No rules..., no law no eternal punishment for lawlessness. Let me say WRONG!!! We’ve all broken God’s law..., none of us are perfect, other than Jesus. And a “JUST” God will punish us. What’s His punishment, eternity in Hell..., it’s the only one He has. For the greatest to the least crime, just one punishment. Again, No God No rules..., no law no eternal punishment for lawlessness. Yet the creation itself testifies God is real. Today look at this video and these pictures. You can you see the raw power of the creation. In comparison God’s power is infinitely greater. It’s beauty pales in comparison to God’s great love. Creation itself scrams, “THERE’S A GOD, THERE’S A GOD, THERE’S A GOD!”

Cool church outing