Wisdom from the book of Philippians.

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1 Thes. 1:12, 2:17, 3:16

2 Thes. 2:!5

15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

2 Thes. 1:11-12

11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:4-6

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I had a thought that the church may need to hear this story again. What if we need to realize Jesus can make us soar again - alive in faith, ready to go, ready to experience his miracles. Many in our church - including possibly even us - may feel like we’ve been here a long time, we can’t change, we haven’t sensed the fresh wind of God’s powerful spirit in us.

- We might even make excuses. 

- We might be negative, we can’t possibly be changed at this point - we’re resigned our lives to knowing christ, but not experiencing the power of his resurrection and work in our lives! 

- It will take faith to know that circumstances change.

- It’s hard for me to imagine life to be different. 

But Jesus is asking us - do you want to be well? 

Do you want to be whole?

Do you want  to be alive in me?

When your answer is passionate, desperate, helpless, Jesus brings new hope and healing to your soul! Don’t try to do things on your own strength. Don’t count on your success, standing or situation in life to assume things are good. You need the miracle of Jesus to bring about a soul on fire, a whole life.

Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. John 14:11-12 

I don't know about you, but my faith feels pretty small when I read this verse. You and I are going to do even Greater Works than what Jesus has done. I can't hardly imagine it but today I'm going to take God's word at face value, like always, and I'm going to trust that Jesus is telling us the truth; that if we believe in Him we will do the same works Jesus has done and even greater works. Still in my weak faith, I sometimes start looking at the first part and assume that I can do same work that he did but Greater Works than Jesus? It truly blows my mind, but I believe it because God's word says it and I believe that things can happen that we can't imagine because we are Jesus hands and feet. My professors used to say it's like incarnational ministry. We are Jesus with skin on to the world around us and that world is getting much darker and needs the bright light of Christ.

My encouragement today comes from John 14:11-12. Just believe that Jesus is in the Father and the f=Father is in Jesus. If you can't muster up that big belief then just believe because of the works you have seen Jesus do in your life or other people's lives. Here's the truth, anyone who believes in Jesus will do the same works he has done and even greater works because he is going to be with the father.

Tim Price | Harvest Ministry Teams | harvestministryteams.com/friday

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.