Arise and Abide

Reading from John 12:20-32, Jesus is the picture of obedience. Jesus faithful and focused on the Goal. The kernel of life. The lone kernel’s death brings more kernels that were not there before. Laying down our life for the abundant life God has for us. If we want to serve Him we must follow Him.  The Holy Spirit is with you. The cost of being a disciple is laying down my life. Waiting for God’s timing to move. We go, we wait, and when God says, we do. Jesus’ disciples spent years with Him, God wants to spend time with you too. Jesus’ life is the kernel, we are to follow Jesus and likewise lay down our lives.  Follow Jesus, going into the dirt, bringing up new life, growing, and sharing in the eternal life. Living a life of Honor. Jesus draws people to Himself, we are to guide others in following after Jesus.

The recounting and remembering everything the LORD had done for Israel. Joshua reminds the people of the importance of following the LORD. Joshua looking back on His life, recognizes that it is all God’s goodness and strength. Remembering all God has done helps us remain in Him, it is part of relationship. We are unable to do it on our own, we need a savior, God knew it and wanted the people to realize it and ask Him for help. The prophetic message of Joshua. God brings the victory. We need to choose to serve God and allow Him to bring the victory. If you don’t choose to serve God, you will wind up serving another god. The cost of being a disciple, lay down your life and follow Jesus. Set up reminders for yourself that point you to Jesus, tear down the ones that lead you elsewhere.  Jesus sacrifice is part of our story to remember. We have the call to serve God, and Jesus our example to follow. God’s promise to bring victory, all we do is follow. The implied promise in verses 19 and 20, if you remain with God, God will remain with you, there is no better goal than remaining with God.  

God’s heart for humanity to move from what is good to what is better. The contrast from the old and the temporary and the new glory of Christ and the eternal effect of Jesus sacrifice. God’s law written on our heart vs. written on external stone tablets. Having rules, knowing what’s expected, gives me a goal to try for but the Spirit of God living in me is a far better way to live. Turning to Jesus is how the vail is removed. The price is the same we see throughout scripture, the call to repent and believe. The freedom we receive through Christ. God makes us more and more like Himself, its not something I achieve. It is in our nature to want to achieve something, but the effort we really need to make is to turn towards God and remain in Him. The promise of freedom and transformation.

An introduction to 1 Peter and summary of chapter 1 before reading 1 Peter 2:1-17. The message ending with a reminder to use our freedom in a way that honors God, not as an excuse to do evil. In his writings, Peter reminds us of our identity in Christ. Every time we come to scripture, there is a piece of surrendering to God’s way, we find our freedom by following Christ. What does freedom mean to you? Freedom from darkness and freedom from worldly attachments. A good chapter for thinking through where we find our identity. Peter quoting the book of Hosea. Where do you find your identity? To what have you attached yourself? Keep away from worldly desires that wage war against our soul. Repent, don’t wallow, walk on in your life of faith. Peter reminds us of Jesus position as cornerstone. The religious will stumble on the way of Jesus.

 God wants us to show mercy. Humanity quickly gets off track and is quick to take offence when they don’t understand. All sin breaks God’s heart and He wants us to repent, He is not looking to condemn instead judges with mercy and forgiveness. The Pharisees could not hear Jesus because they could not let go of their pride. Listening to and knowing the voice and teachings of Jesus, versus the voice of the enemy, sin crouching at the door. We can be slaves to sin or surrendered to Christ. We must surrender all, especially what voice we allow influence over us. If we listen to the Holy Spirit, He will lead us into truth. The eternal life is the hope and the promise we have.

God’s law is good, the hard part is that is shows us our sin, for us to be free of our sin we need Jesus. There is nothing about God’s sacrifice that can be used against us, it is a gift and it is perfectly freeing. God did not abandon Adam and Eve and continues to create opportunities for us to built trust. We show God love and honor by trusting that His way is the best way to live life. We must be aware of our sin so we can surrender all. The main point is following Christ, not obedience to the Law. God’s heart is for us to have a full life. Following Jesus into the Law requires full surrender of personal moral codes.  The promise of God’s Spirit living in us and being given the identity Children of God.  

 God is love, and God defines light and dark. God wants to fill the earth with His image of love and uses people to do it. The eternal intent of God’s creation. Humans come at the end of creation and then everything is declared not just good, but “very good”. The work to be done to multiply the image of God and fill the earth with love. Life is a gift and the life of creation is a gift for us as well. The call to trust God and remember all He has done and already given us.  God loves us and will provide all we need, as He always has.  Be still and know that He is there, and He is for you. Matthew 13:13-32, the parable of the Mustard Seed. We get to be part of the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The fruit begins with the seed, the Word of God planted in our hearts. The importance of listening and understanding. Isaiah 6:9-10 prophecy coming to fulfillment and explained by Jesus. The Picture of Jesus really wanting us to listen and to be aware of the things that distract us from remaining in Him. The disciples miss it, just like everyone else. The disciples were good soil because they kept going to Jesus for understanding. The heart of God is for people to turn to Him and let Him heal them. He only requires us to listen, understanding will be given. As you are listening to God today, what things are distracting you from listening, ask Jesus to help with these things. Trying to listen with ADD. Following Jesus costs us time and pride. 

Opening with the context of Galatians 5. The theme of Freedom, and that Christ has set them free. By following selfish desires, one does not live a free life. Jesus died to make us right, but still people get it wrong, and God loves us so much that He sends us messages to get us back on track. The fruit produced when we are off track vs the fruit produced when we remain in Jesus. Sin nature fights against what the Spirit of God is doing in our life. That is why we need to pick up our cross daily.  Patterns emerge in life that will reveal areas that need to be surrendered. The Fruit is seen, expressed, and experienced in our relationship with God and with people. For you have been called to live in freedom, we want geographical freedom but the freedom we really need only comes from God.

Opening with the context of Matthew 7:15-21. The difference of trying to follow the rules to avoid punishment out of self-preservation.  Fear compels us into a different direction, wanting to avoid punishment compels me to learn the rules, but it’s not about rules, it’s about loving God, and loving people. Jesus wants us to be aware of false prophets and be able to identify them. Isaiah 30:10-11, tell us lies, get off your narrow path. False prophets tell the people what they want to hear, so people are drawn to false prophets and their message. Church is not about you, its about Jesus. Recognizing bad fruit in our own lives and in the lives of others, and what to do about it. Surrender our won way and follow Jesus. Luke 13:6-9 the fig tree that fails to produce fruit. The promise of the Kingdom, our true home.