Immanuel Fellowship Church

We are all saved by the grace of God through faith. This should create holiness and unity.

Pastor Jim of West County Bible Church shares a message from the book of Philippians.

The gospel work is hard and unpredictable, but oh so worth it. God is the one doing the work and he will see it through when we walk forward in obedience. 

The preached word will have its effect through the Holy Spirit. To the saved it will be a fragrance of life, to the perishing the stench of death.  We are to be a people of perseverance in gospel mission, knowing that results could be divisive and violent (uncomfortable at best), and that the Holy Spirit will show up to both empower us and work in the lives of people.  The gospel is ALWAYS good news to us. It compels us to persevere when mission is hard.

In Jesus, there is forgiveness from sins and freedom that the law can’t give. Freedom from a false identity and freedom from the tyranny of our own efforts.

The Jews were tempted to find their identity in their place as God’s chosen people rather than in the God who did the choosing. This is why they get jealous and angry when gentiles are excited about their inclusion in the gospel. If their identity was more in their God than their special place they would have rejoiced at more coming to Christ. 

This whole story is insane, but it follows Paul for the rest of his life - people who found identity in religion, separation, and authority get their whole identity attacked when God shows up with real freedom in something new.

This story highlights how little we bring to the equation with God. We are sinners who are plagued by sin, but Jesus offers real freedom and salvation in spite of our present and continued life of death.  In Jesus, there is forgiveness from sins and freedom that the law can’t give. The best we bring to the table is sin and death, but Jesus forgives anyway.  

This text shows us the power of word and Spirit. God’s word and the power of his spirit work in tandem to move his kingdom forward. Power without the word of God is demonic and helpful for no one. The word spoken without the Spirit can be wielded like a weapon to hurt rather than convict.  Its God’s word and God’s power, but it is manifested through man’s faithful particpation in what God is doing.

The life of Jesus is a life of proclaiming the gospel message. We gather and proclaim it regularly to each other afresh and we scatter and proclaim it to a world in desparate need.

Pastor Jesse preaches on Acts 12:1-24.  God is sovereign over life and death, and His mission and glory will proceed and win even in the face of evil.  Life is not guaranteed but what is guaranteed is eternal life in Him.