Imagine living in a society where truth was relative, the rule of law did not apply to the powerful elite, and where people in general just made things up on the fly. Imagine living in a world where everyone simply did whatever they decided felt “right” to them, regardless of God’s natural order, His revealed truth, or even simple reality. Imagine people knowing – actually knowing – God’s will, but rebelling against it, just for the sake of convenience.

Sound familiar?

People can be as sincere as they can in making their own choices, but they can also be sincerely wrong. Being sincere does not automatically make our choices right. In fact, when people make choices contrary to the Word of God, the truth is, they are sincerely wrong. And being wrong, sincere though they may be, has consequences.

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Come join us as we go through Daniel 3!

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We all experience personal setbacks and deep hurt in life from time to time. Of course, some are easier than others to recover from for sure. Yet there is no way of escape, for will life happens to all of us. However, some of the most horrific hurts in our lives come when people we think we know betray us, others, or the Lord. Sometimes all three in one fatal blow to a community. The worst is when someone turns their back on Jesus. And when a church leaders fall, it can deviate a community for a generation. 

Judas is an example and a warning to us, and how the disciples moved on is inspiring as an example of what we do when these happen. We need to move on in the ministry of the Gospel, even when it is hard or seems almost impossible. 

The reality is people leave us unexpectedly, and at other times, they walk away from the Lord, seeking to build their kingdoms in the world. Judas warns of how a stubborn venture and the love of money can be our undoing in serving God and others. Setbacks happen, and we must keep moving forward during the hard days. I know it is easier to bury our heads under the covers and sleep or eat a gallon of ice cream while binge-watch a show you have watched three times. However, God would have us seek direction from His Word and pray for new guidance rather than losing heart, momentum, or focus on the mission. 

So one hundred and twenty people went into the upper room to pray for the promise of Luke 22:49. They also sought to know what God would have them do about the "elephant in the room," the vacant seat in their mists. They are moving on, but things are different. We also need to know when it is time to move on and take new with a new team dynamic. Things change, and we need to be able to change with them. God has given us His word and prayer. So let's use the church. People need saving.  

References:

Psalm 69:25-28

Matthew 27:3-8

Numbers 32:23

Proverbs 28:13

Hebrews 4:13

Luke 16:13

Psalm 109:8

Psalm 7:10

Proverbs 16:33

There are things in the Bible and about God that we will never fully understand. Why? They are beyond us in scope. We are finite, and our life is but a vapor. (James 4:14-16) Yet, the eternal God who crafted the universe and holds our life in His hands stands outside of time in infinite glory.

In Psalm 139:10, David describes that our God will always be present to lead and hold us. Isaiah 49:16 says we have been "engraved on the palm of his hands"—never forgetting or leaving us. In John 10:27-30, Jesus uses the language of sheep to describe God's grip on us. The triune God is with us wherever we go.

We can know and experience God relationally through faith, yet fully understanding that He is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is intellectually unattainable. Yet, we should find ourselves encouraged to keep on trying. If God were small enough to understand, He would not be big enough to worship.

DEUTERONOMY 6:4

Jeremiah 9:23-24

John 17:3a

1 Timothy 3:16

Romans 11:33-36

Deuteronomy 29:29

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There is a coming King, our God, and Savior, and with Him will come all the joys of His kingdom. Yet, there is a days when the fulfillment of this promise seems so distant to our finite understanding we can often lose heart. 

Paul tells the Christians in Rome who, by the way, are under heavy political turmoil to remember the promise of the heavenly kingdom. "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent; the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." (Romans 13:11–12)

We are not to look or live like the kingdom of darkness surrounding us. We are the children of God and thus are to be the light of Christ to a lost people. So armor up in light! Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14–16) This is who we are as we wait for Jesus to return. 

Make no mistake about it; Jesus is coming! Are you ready? Is our life a reflection of His glory and grace? What about the church? Are we reflecting the love and grace of God to those around us as we wait for our King? I truly hope so.

References: 

1 Jn 1:1–4

Hebrews 13:1-2

Lk 8:1–3

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Luke 1:35; Act 15:18; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Psalm 139:7; Hebrews 9:14; Psalm 104:30; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6; John 6:63; Romans 8:10; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Corinthian 12:4-6

Taking time to look at the personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit seem to me to be essential in our understating the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is not some unseen force or mystical power. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Triune God. The Holy Spirit is God. From a study of Scripture, we find that God, by nature, is a triune Being. He is ONE God who revealed Himself, subsisting eternally as three distinct Persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of God. He is the eternal life-giving, all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present Person of God who helps us through His refining fire and enabling power as loyal followers of Jesus.

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There is a fundamental need for the loyal follower of Jesus, the necessity of divine power. Power to do the will of God! We need the Holy Spirit's power before we can use it. Now we are not talking about that destructive power that can corrupt a person's soul. You know, a passion or need to have power and authority to take advantage of others.

Most of us have heard Lord Acton's quote, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." This observation Lord Acton made in a letter to Bishop Creighton on April 5, 1887. The truth is that the power of the world does corrupt.

But the power we are promised as believers is the Holy Spirit, first as a purifying fire and then an enabling power. God works in and through the believer as individuals and as church body members. As a faith community, we build one another up and, most importantly, make Jesus known. "And let us consider one another to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24–25)

Jesus is coming! Are we telling others about His divine love and grace? If not, why? Are we afraid or overwhelmed? Do we feel powerless and broken? Do those around us know God's grace is freely available for the undeserving? His arms are open wide, and Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28–30)

References:

Matthew 28:18–20

Matt. 24:36

Mark 13:32

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Every story has a beginning. Some may be better than others. For example, "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen" from 1984 by George Orwell. How about Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities? "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." or "Here is a small fact: You are going to die," from The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. These tell us much about what will come through the author's narrative. There will be twists and turns as their story unfolds, but we know from where we are starting our journey.

One of my favorites is, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." by God (Genesis 1:1). This one-of-a-kind statement explains everything that follows. If we understand this truth, everything that follows makes sense in its context. The prologue to the Book of Acts is the same. Sitting within the context of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts sits three verses that act as the bridge to the larger context of Luke's investigation, historical documentation, and personal witness of the work and ministry of Jesus.

Luke sets up the church's future by continuing where he left things off in his gospel accounts about how the kingdom of God will continue in the absence of its King. The King sends the Holy Spirit will empower His witnesses to be His ambassadors with powerful gifts of the kingdom to take the message of Jesus to all nations. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20–21) Remember, the quickest way for God to get you where He wants you is for Him to use you where He has you.

References:

John. 14:12

John 21:25

John 14:15–18

John 16:7–11

1 Corinthians 15:13–19

John 13:1

Mark 1:14–15

Revelation 11:15

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Acts 5:3-4; Isaiah 6:8-10; Acts 28:25-27 and many more

As we have seen and learned so far in our studies together that the Holy Spirit is not some unseen force or mystical power. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Triune God. The Holy Spirit is God. From a study of Scripture, we find that God, by nature, is a triune Being. He is ONE God who revealed Himself subsisting eternally as three distinct Persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit.

References:

ACT 5:3-4 

Isaiah 6:8-10

Acts 28:25-27 

Jeremiah 31:31-33 

Hebrews 10:15-17 

Psalm 95:7-11 

Hebrews 3:7-9 

Luke 1:35 

Act 15:18 

1 Corinthians 2:10-11

Psalm 139:7 

Hebrews 9:14 

Psalm 104:30 

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 

John 6:63 

Romans 8:10 

2 Peter 1:21 

1 Corinthian 12:4-6 

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Exodus 34:6-7 are the most quoted verses in the Bible. Lane states, "The text... is one of the most evocative of the Old Testament. The words and images of this text have inspired numerous parallels and countless echoes in the texts of ancient Israel. Parallels exist in all three of the major divisions of the Old Testament [the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings]. These parallels show that it was one of the most generative texts for the ancient community."

Why? These verses are ground zero for the theology of God's Character. They speak directly to His steadfast love and faithfulness. The nature and character of the His Church, the assembly of loyal followers, must reflect the same personality and nature of God. Seem to make sense, right? If not, we will end up with an ugly orthodoxy and be labeled hypocrites at best.

It is important to remember that the God of Exodus became flesh and is fully revealed in Jesus Christ (John 1:14-18; John 14:8-9). Therefore, we, the gospel community, are called to make Jesus known to all. (Matthew 28:18-20) For it is Jesus who has made the LORD God's love known to the world (John 3:16). As we build a Jesus-centered community, we must find it full of love, grace, truth, and justice. Now grace and truth are not in conflict but exist in beautiful agreement. The church must have both. There are good things we seek to cultivate (See John 15) and others that need to be and will be, weeded out in the future. Yet, we do not wish to destroy the good with the bad (See Matthew 13:24–43). So how do we balance these two issues? We don't. Jesus did it on the cross of Calvary.

Some behaviors are welcomed and encouraged, and others are not permitted to be among God's people. The works of the flesh versus the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians Five is a great example. But we need to remember that those who most need the hope of the Gospel are not saved. Therefore, their actions, addictions, attitudes, and speech have not been redeemed, for their souls are still without the redemptive Spirit of God through faith. (John 1:12) Therefore, we are responsible for creating a church culture that reflects the beautiful nature of God as we reach out to the lost and the religious alike with God's love.

References

Exodus 34:6-7

Romans 2:4

Psalm 108:4

John 1:14-18

1 John 1:8–9

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