Wesley Chapel Podcast

This passage speaks of the process of seeking reconciliation for a brother or sister who sins against you. We are accountable to each other for the good of each other and for the glory of God. The Bible tells us to go to the one who offended us, with the goal of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. You shall forgive the offender as if they have never offended you if they hear what you say to them. We are not to limit our forgiveness. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the servant owed the king an unimaginable amount of money--about eight lifetime’s worth of pay. The servant cries out for grace and mercy as his only hope. The king moved with compassion, had pity on the servant, and forgave the servant his whole debt. God in the same way, has mercy on us because of His great love, and forgives us of our debt. We are never able to repay the debt we owe, so we must cry out to God for mercy. It is only by faith that we can receive God’s mercy as a gift. The servant then found a fellow servant, and held against him a debt so much less than what he was just forgiven. We have been forgiven so much from God, but do we then hold on to small debts against our brothers and sisters? We often struggle with forgiving others for things that we too have offended others with. We need God to reveal the Gospel to us and to show us how much we have been forgiven of so that we may then in turn forgive others. We must be humbled in order to forgive. Show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to you. Forgive from your heart, not just with words. If you forgive men their trespasses against you, your Father in Heaven will forgive you.

This passage speaks of the process of seeking reconciliation for a brother or sister who sins against you. We are accountable to each other for the good of each other and for the glory of God. The Bible tells us to go to the one who offended us, with the goal of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. You shall forgive the offender as if they have never offended you if they hear what you say to them. We are not to limit our forgiveness. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the servant owed the king an unimaginable amount of money--about eight lifetime’s worth of pay. The servant cries out for grace and mercy as his only hope. The king moved with compassion, had pity on the servant, and forgave the servant his whole debt. God in the same way, has mercy on us because of His great love, and forgives us of our debt. We are never able to repay the debt we owe, so we must cry out to God for mercy. It is only by faith that we can receive God’s mercy as a gift. The servant then found a fellow servant, and held against him a debt so much less than what he was just forgiven. We have been forgiven so much from God, but do we then hold on to small debts against our brothers and sisters? We often struggle with forgiving others for things that we too have offended others with. We need God to reveal the Gospel to us and to show us how much we have been forgiven of so that we may then in turn forgive others. We must be humbled in order to forgive. Show mercy to others as God has shown mercy to you. Forgive from your heart, not just with words. If you forgive men their trespasses against you, your Father in Heaven will forgive you.

This passage is a transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament. John the Baptist had to step aside in order for Christ to come to the forefront. His natural impulse may have been to assert himself, and stepping aside would disappoint others because their expectations weren’t being met, but these types of struggles only proved how strong John’s faith was. Our satisfaction isn’t through receiving our expectations but by following Christ by faith. When my kingdom is falling apart, I can choose to be discontent, or I can choose to see by faith what God is doing. God gives grace through the struggle. What we possess is not our own. All position and authority come from God. We didn’t earn what we have--God has given it all. If you become possessive, you will worry. But you don’t need to identify yourself in your eyes, or anyone else's. Know who you are in Christ--this will be freedom from insecurity and worry. When I know who I am in Christ, I won’t feel competitive if my identity is attacked. Our view of Christianity has to be greater than just us and what’s in front of us. To decrease is to see that I am not the central piece of the story. This is a freeing realization because it takes the pressure off of yourself. If you are walking in the will of God, you are where you are and who you are right now because this is where God has brought you. Our place in the Kingdom of God is not based on how well we perform or our success, but by our faith. Let your plans go. Listen to the Word of God. We can’t see the whole picture, but we can see by faith. We truly learn to live when we learn what we live for. Will you decrease so that Christ can increase?

This passage is a transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament. John the Baptist had to step aside in order for Christ to come to the forefront. His natural impulse may have been to assert himself, and stepping aside would disappoint others because their expectations weren’t being met, but these types of struggles only proved how strong John’s faith was. Our satisfaction isn’t through receiving our expectations but by following Christ by faith. When my kingdom is falling apart, I can choose to be discontent, or I can choose to see by faith what God is doing. God gives grace through the struggle. What we possess is not our own. All position and authority come from God. We didn’t earn what we have--God has given it all. If you become possessive, you will worry. But you don’t need to identify yourself in your eyes, or anyone else's. Know who you are in Christ--this will be freedom from insecurity and worry. When I know who I am in Christ, I won’t feel competitive if my identity is attacked. Our view of Christianity has to be greater than just us and what’s in front of us. To decrease is to see that I am not the central piece of the story. This is a freeing realization because it takes the pressure off of yourself. If you are walking in the will of God, you are where you are and who you are right now because this is where God has brought you. Our place in the Kingdom of God is not based on how well we perform or our success, but by our faith. Let your plans go. Listen to the Word of God. We can’t see the whole picture, but we can see by faith. We truly learn to live when we learn what we live for. Will you decrease so that Christ can increase?

The call to discipleship is extremely personal and individualized. God calls each of us individually, though He calls us to live in a community. We are not to idolize anyone in the community. Instead, fix your eyes only on Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter is seen denying Christ three times. Here in John's Gospel, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him three times. When Peter saw his Savior being beaten, his eyes were on himself, and he started doubting everything he had learned in the past three years, and denies Christ. Do you start to look to self and doubt when things are going differently than you planned? Christ commands Peter to teach all he had learned from Him before he denied Him. This life isn’t about us--it’s about others. It’s about feeding the sheep and lambs. We are to serve Christ by serving others. All people suffer in this world, but Christians are going to suffer differently because of self-denial and letting go of desires and selfish ambitions. You must lose your life, take up your cross, and die to self in order to follow Christ. Christ’s command to follow Him is simple, but it is humiliating. You can no longer do what you wish in your flesh. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing your life to others, and their trials. This creates a root of bitterness which can cause destruction within the church. Christ corrects our thinking and reminds us of the humiliating command to only follow Him. Don’t focus on others, or be jealous of their calling. Christ has called you by His own plan. Take your eyes off of others and yourself and put them on Christ. Do you love Christ?

The call to discipleship is extremely personal and individualized. God calls each of us individually, though He calls us to live in a community. We are not to idolize anyone in the community. Instead, fix your eyes only on Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter is seen denying Christ three times. Here in John's Gospel, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him three times. When Peter saw his Savior being beaten, his eyes were on himself, and he started doubting everything he had learned in the past three years, and denies Christ. Do you start to look to self and doubt when things are going differently than you planned? Christ commands Peter to teach all he had learned from Him before he denied Him. This life isn’t about us--it’s about others. It’s about feeding the sheep and lambs. We are to serve Christ by serving others. All people suffer in this world, but Christians are going to suffer differently because of self-denial and letting go of desires and selfish ambitions. You must lose your life, take up your cross, and die to self in order to follow Christ. Christ’s command to follow Him is simple, but it is humiliating. You can no longer do what you wish in your flesh. Don’t fall into the trap of comparing your life to others, and their trials. This creates a root of bitterness which can cause destruction within the church. Christ corrects our thinking and reminds us of the humiliating command to only follow Him. Don’t focus on others, or be jealous of their calling. Christ has called you by His own plan. Take your eyes off of others and yourself and put them on Christ. Do you love Christ?

Hope is believing that what is to come will be better than what we have now. Our hope is eternal, and is in Christ. God is renewing all things in Christ. We have a hope of something not yet come. Everything we experience now is imperfect and fallen but by faith we expect a renewal. The purpose of our lives is eternal. We are only here temporarily, so our faith rests in what is coming. In this passage, John sees the renewal of God. We need God to change our hearts in regards to the resurrection. This will create a longing in us for what is to come. Our goals can get in the way of God’s plan. John saw God saving the masses of fallen man. What God is doing may seem mysterious and slow to us, but it is good. We endure and persevere in this life for a reason. We don’t need to understand why everything is happening, only to believe. God will fulfill everything He has said. Look to Jesus in trials and difficulties and have the faith to hope in what is to come. God will comfort His people. There will be an end of tears and sorrow. Our hope is that God will bring an end to this world of death. See beyond the current pain and trials to God’s coming fulfillment. Everything affected by sin will be made right again. God will complete His work. Live now in the promise of what is coming. Be certain of God’s promises. The only ones who will receive these promises are those who are thirsty--those who long for God. God will comfort those who thirst. Knowing the truth of what happens when we die frees us to live now. We have a gift of seeing the end so that we may change our ways here and now. God has destined us for glory so we anticipate a coming end. He is making all things new.

Hope is believing that what is to come will be better than what we have now. Our hope is eternal, and is in Christ. God is renewing all things in Christ. We have a hope of something not yet come. Everything we experience now is imperfect and fallen but by faith we expect a renewal. The purpose of our lives is eternal. We are only here temporarily, so our faith rests in what is coming. In this passage, John sees the renewal of God. We need God to change our hearts in regards to the resurrection. This will create a longing in us for what is to come. Our goals can get in the way of God’s plan. John saw God saving the masses of fallen man. What God is doing may seem mysterious and slow to us, but it is good. We endure and persevere in this life for a reason. We don’t need to understand why everything is happening, only to believe. God will fulfill everything He has said. Look to Jesus in trials and difficulties and have the faith to hope in what is to come. God will comfort His people. There will be an end of tears and sorrow. Our hope is that God will bring an end to this world of death. See beyond the current pain and trials to God’s coming fulfillment. Everything affected by sin will be made right again. God will complete His work. Live now in the promise of what is coming. Be certain of God’s promises. The only ones who will receive these promises are those who are thirsty--those who long for God. God will comfort those who thirst. Knowing the truth of what happens when we die frees us to live now. We have a gift of seeing the end so that we may change our ways here and now. God has destined us for glory so we anticipate a coming end. He is making all things new.

The days of King Herod were a time of darkness—a political and spiritual oppression. Any rebellion against the oppression was met with violence. Men only found hope in the promise of the coming Messiah. Zacharias and Elizabeth lived with this hope. They lived in reproach of the people because they could not bear any children. But the real meaning of Christmas is that in any darkness in your life, the Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings. When Zacharias was given the proclamation of his answered prayer a child, he doubted, instead of receiving glad tidings. The meaning of Christmas is that God has visited and redeemed His people. He looked upon us to benefit us. We have no strength so we needed Christ to be born, and to die for us in order to receive His strength. God is true to His promises and covenants with His people to save us from our enemies—the devil, sin, and our own carnal tendencies. He sent His messenger, John the Baptist, to declare the message of repentance, of the high places being made low, crooked places made straight, rough places made smooth. Repentance prepares the way for the Lord to enter in. Forgiveness of sin is the reason for the Gospel. It is entirely because of the mercy and grace of God. Christ has come to bring the light of the Gospel to those who sit in darkness from sin. Only Christ can guide our feet to the way of peace. We are all in darkness before the light of the Gospel shines upon us. Only in Christ are we delivered from the darkness. So what will you do with this message? Will you doubt it? Or will you receive it by faith, and be guided into the way of peace?

The days of King Herod were a time of darkness—a political and spiritual oppression. Any rebellion against the oppression was met with violence. Men only found hope in the promise of the coming Messiah. Zacharias and Elizabeth lived with this hope. They lived in reproach of the people because they could not bear any children. But the real meaning of Christmas is that in any darkness in your life, the Sun of Righteousness has risen with healing in His wings. When Zacharias was given the proclamation of his answered prayer a child, he doubted, instead of receiving glad tidings. The meaning of Christmas is that God has visited and redeemed His people. He looked upon us to benefit us. We have no strength so we needed Christ to be born, and to die for us in order to receive His strength. God is true to His promises and covenants with His people to save us from our enemies—the devil, sin, and our own carnal tendencies. He sent His messenger, John the Baptist, to declare the message of repentance, of the high places being made low, crooked places made straight, rough places made smooth. Repentance prepares the way for the Lord to enter in. Forgiveness of sin is the reason for the Gospel. It is entirely because of the mercy and grace of God. Christ has come to bring the light of the Gospel to those who sit in darkness from sin. Only Christ can guide our feet to the way of peace. We are all in darkness before the light of the Gospel shines upon us. Only in Christ are we delivered from the darkness. So what will you do with this message? Will you doubt it? Or will you receive it by faith, and be guided into the way of peace?