Persevering through Trials

This third witness finds Jesus reprimanding the Jewish religious authorities on resting on their study of Scripture; their meticulous study of Scripture, yet they stood sentenced. What was so wrong with their interpretation of the Scripture? Answer. They studied it and applied it so they could be pious, moral people. They studied it and sought to obey it to receive the praise of man. They studied it to feel better about themselves.

What’s wrong with that? They failed to see “they that bear witness about me [Jesus]”4; “you do not have the love of God within you”5; “you will receive him [the person who flatters you]”6.

Jesus was claiming God as His Father in an exclusive sense. To the Jew this constituted profanity. It made him literally the Son of God, therefore equal to God. Now Jesus is going to support his claim in 3 ways:
#1. He can only do what he sees the Father doing.
#2. He receives the honor that only the Father can receive.
#3. He displays the power that only the Father can claim.

It is impossible to find any reason in the story why Christ would single out this man. In fact, the story seems to emphasize that there was every reason NOT to heal this man. The only explanation is the sovereignty of God in the display of His mercy. The only explanation is because He, Jesus, wanted to.

Faith is not static.  Genuine faith grows.

Part 2 from our Ladies Rally speaker Susan Hill.

Susan has a passion to lead women into a deeper relationship with their ABBA Father.  She loves to come alongside women, to listen, and to encourage them in their journey by sharing messages about her own personal healing and growth.  She has learned the importance of a personal transparency in sharing the lessons that God is teaching her.

Our speaker this year was Susan Hill from Surrey, BC, who spoke on Psalm 23 " The Lord is my Shepherd.

Susan has a passion to lead women into a deeper relationship with their ABBA Father.  She loves to come alongside women, to listen, and to encourage them in their journey by sharing messages about her own personal healing and growth.  She has learned the importance of a personal transparency in sharing the lessons that God is teaching her.

Nearer my God

God is holy, holy, holy

Worship is defined by God