The Living Word

Any effort to squash Christianity throughout the centuries has been counterproductive. It's under oppression that our faith thrives and spreads like wildfire. The more dangerous environment for Christianity is one that adapts to fit to the desires of men, where it loses its power and can even become the oppressor. As Pastor Danny will point out in today's message, the church can welcome persecution knowing that no matter how many battles are lost today Christ has already secured the victory.

We've been fortunate to been born into a society that accepts or at least tolerates Christianity, but the comfort and the convenience that we've enjoyed will have a negative effect. If you look at Christians in cultures that persecute Christians, you'll often find that their faith is more real and passionate, because it has to be. It's not that we should pray or desire for that to happen in our own culture, but as Pastor Danny will challenge us in today's message we need to be on guard against complacency in our own lives and in our faith.

When you hear the voice of Christ calling your heart and you listen, that first step of obedience is just the first of many and they don't get any easier. He'll ask you to follow Him into situations that make you extremely uncomfortable. Just look at the lives of the early church and the thousands and thousands of believers that have come before you. As spoiled as we have been in our culture, Pastor Danny will warn us today that we could be called even to the sake of death for Christ and it would be completely worth it.

If your focus is on the here and now and upon your immediate needs and desires, following Jesus doesn't make much sense. Following Jesus leads you into a life of humanity where you serve others even when it compromises your own comfort or ambition. It's not easy, and it's not comfortable. In today's message, Pastor Danny will explain that the life of a Jesus follower is only rewarding if your heart can move past the temporary and focus on the eternal. That's what Jesus calls you into.

With growth comes logistical issues. How, where, and when you will continue to meet. How do the leaders handle the increase in needs? And how are conflicts managed? We may be redeemed but we still bring our humanity with us and that will complicate things. We may want it to be as simple as following Jesus, but we have to be realistic. As Pastor Danny will point out in the example from the early church, they had to humble themselves and submit to the holy spirit as well as to each other for growth to continue.

Who would Jesus hang out with today? The megachurch pastors and Christians who've isolated themselves from our wicked society? Or would he be there out in the world interacting with those that the church has ostracized. All too often we go to church thinking that that's where we encounter Jesus. And He is certainly there. But just like he was during His earthly ministry, He is also out there in the world working in the hearts of those that we label as the least of these.

How did Jesus interact with the lost? He was compassionate and gracious, he acknowledged them and spent time with them, which is something the religious elites of the time wouldn't do. He didn't just ignore the presence of sin in their lives, but instead of confronting it with condemnation He offered forgiveness and hope. As Pastor Danny will point out in today's message, maybe if we were a clearer reflection of those characteristics of Jesus we'd have a better impact on our fallen world.

The story of David, along with so many others found throughout scripture, shows us God's tendencies to pick out the least likely candidates to carry out His will. You look at the people like Moses, Rahab, David and everyone of the original 12 disciples. And this character of God is further emphasized as Pastor Danny will point out if God can use those meritless people simply because of their faith, then He can use you. Not because of your abilities or talents but because of His power and wisdom.

For many believers the extent of their Christian life starts and ends with attending Worship services on Sunday. Jesus has little influence on the rest of their life. And the people around them and in their community may be completely unaware of their faith. As Pastor Danny will point out in today's message, that isn't how this works. Jesus commissioned us to go and make disciples, it was the last thing that he told His followers before ascending into heaven. Sharing the Gospel is essential to our faith.