God loves us

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12

John is continuing his thoughts that we looked at in vv. 7-10, and as I mentioned last time, this is the central core of Christian theology, the part that everything else is built upon.  Simply stated, this love core flows like this:

1. God loved us while we were still sinners.
2. God sent His Son to die for our sins.
3. We loved God and responded to the Gospel.
4. God loved our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Therefore, so do we.

We see this pattern at work once again in verse 11.  God loved us, so we should love each other. Then John, as was his custom, takes one more step.  Since no one has ever seen God, and since God loves all of us and we love Him, if we also love each other, God’s love will be complete in us and visibly expressed within His Body, the Church.  This is as far as John has gone so far…

At this point, we can infer that there is another step.  The other step is implied in John’s mentioning that “no one has seen God.”  OK, why did he choose to write that?  Think…

No one has seen God, but if we love one another as God loved us, then His love will live amongst us, and through us all will see it.

I have seen a number of debates about Evolution and Creation.  These kinds of discussions usually have at their core, an assumption that if we cannot observe some “evidence” that God exists, then we can determine that He does not exist.  I’m no scientist, but this seems to be a natural inclination on the part of people who are educated with regard to the Scientific Method.  Remember that one from your school days?  It was the one about observations, and testing theories with observable evidence.

Back to John.  Have you ever thought that it would be nice if you could find the positive “proof” of God’s existence? Yes, something that can be observed and studied?

Are you sitting down?

John just gave it to you− The proof is God’s love at work in our lives and within the Body of Christ; at least it should be.  Maybe if we started taking these verses to heart and putting them into our everyday manner of living, like we are commanded by God to do, more people would notice that the greatest “proof” of God, the observable evidence, is right there in front of us all: Love for one another as Jesus has loved us, and gave His life for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:16b-18

Read the rest at: https://lifeprojectblog.com/2022/06/26/sunday-sermon-notes-june-26-2022%EF%BF%BC/

Live Intentionally

When we align our goals with God’s, we’ll always end up on the right path.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. We all want to live life to the fullest, but to do that, we must have goals to aim for. Few of us actually take the time to consider where we’re going. How tragic it would be to finish our life and find out we were on a course other than God’s, fighting the wrong fight and struggling to keep the faith. The apostle Paul is a good role model for living life to the fullest. His goals were to know Christ, abide in His power, fellowship in His suffering, and preach the gospel (that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; Phil. 3:10; For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect. 1 Cor. 1:17). Paul aligned his aspirations with the Lord’s, diligently worked to fulfill his calling, and persevered through suffering. He could face the end of his life with confidence since he’d “fought the good fight … finished the course … [and] kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting. Don’t settle for the mediocrity of an unplanned life. Set aside some time this week to get alone with the Lord. Then ask for His help in setting goals that will take you where He wants you to go. Consider every area of your life—personal, relational, financial, and vocational—but make spiritual goals your primary emphasis. Let God help you change direction so you can pursue things that align with His will. Then start living intentionally.

Sermon notes – 1 John 3.11-12

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12

by Don Merrit

John is continuing his thoughts that we looked at in vv. 7-10, and as I mentioned last time, this is the central core of Christian theology, the part that everything else is built upon.  Simply stated, this love core flows like this:

1. God loved us while we were still sinners.
2. God sent His Son to die for our sins.
3. We loved God and responded to the Gospel.
4. God loved our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Therefore, so do we.

We see this pattern at work once again in verse 11.  God loved us, so we should love each other. Then John, as was his custom, takes one more step.  Since no one has ever seen God, and since God loves all of us and we love Him, if we also love each other, God’s love will be complete in us and visibly expressed within His Body, the Church.  This is as far as John has gone so far…

At this point, we can infer that there is another step.  The other step is implied in John’s mentioning that “no one has seen God.”  OK, why did he choose to write that?  Think…

No one has seen God, but if we love one another as God loved us, then His love will live amongst us, and through us all will see it.

I have seen a number of debates about Evolution and Creation.  These kinds of discussions usually have at their core, an assumption that if we cannot observe some “evidence” that God exists, then we can determine that He does not exist.  I’m no scientist, but this seems to be a natural inclination on the part of people who are educated with regard to the Scientific Method.  Remember that one from your school days?  It was the one about observations, and testing theories with observable evidence.

Back to John.  Have you ever thought that it would be nice if you could find the positive “proof” of God’s existence? Yes, something that can be observed and studied?

Are you sitting down?

Read more of Don’s notes: https://lifeprojectblog.com/2022/06/26/sunday-sermon-notes-june-26-2022%EF%BF%BC/

Apollos Watered

“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.” Acts 18:24-25 (NKJV).

Many men and women had the privilege of joining the apostle Paul on his missionary journeys. We don’t always hear mention of them today, but they were no less important. Among these fellow missionaries we meet Apollos; a man passionate about serving the Lord. Apollos is first mentioned as being an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24). Apollos knew the Scriptures and taught it accurately; according to what he knew of John the Baptist. One day as he was preaching, two of Paul’s friends heard him; they took him and taught him even more accurately, causing Apollos to love preaching all the more. Because of his love for the Lord, Apollos was eager to further God’s Kingdom. He was anxious for all to know of Jesus and His love and sacrifice for all mankind. He understood, from studying the Scripture that the Message he had to share was important. Apollos also knew that teamwork made tasks more effective, so when invited to serve on Paul’s team, he did so without question. It didn’t matter who shared the Message, as long as the Message got out!

In our churches today, many desire the spotlight; to be recognized for being in an important position in the church. We want to feel irreplaceable. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Paul addresses the people saying, it doesn’t matter who does what, we are all part of the same body of Christ and should work as a team; ultimately God is the One who makes things happen! “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”     

It doesn’t matter where you are serving in the church, on the front end or behind the scenes, God can use each one of us in a powerful way. Apollos served the Lord with his whole heart; he “watered” the seeds with his whole heart. God gave the growth and received the glory! Someone may have come before us and planted the seeds, but what a blessing to help those seedlings grow with the living water of God’s Word.

 

More and More

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God. –1 Thessalonians 4:1  Some Christian denominations celebrate a confirmation service for young teens at age thirteen, in which the teens publicly confirm their faith in Christ. In the Anglican tradition, a bishop prays: “[May this child] continue thine forever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit more and more.” That last phrase is not a prayer for more of the Holy Spirit; rather more and more evidence, or fruit, of the Spirit in the child’s life “until [he] come unto thy everlasting kingdom.”

Paul used the same phrase—“more and more”—when writing of his desires for the Thessalonian Christians’ spiritual growth: “abound more and more.” His point was that there is no end when it comes to Christian maturity. The day of our conversion to Christ is the beginning point in a lifetime process of being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). That means we should never stop growing spiritually; we should never stop bearing fruit; we should never stop manifesting good works. Wherever you are in your Christian walk, your journey is just beginning. Measure your growth in grace by your sensitiveness to sin. Oswald Chambers David Jeremiah

The Cost of Disobedience: Forfeiting Our Heavenly Reward

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/chorusinthechaos/the-cost-of-disobedience-forfeiting-our-heavenly-reward/

A Look at God’s Existence: Evidence We Want vs Evidence We Should Expect

https://chab123.wordpress.com/2022/06/27/a-look-at-gods-existence-evidence-we-want-vs-evidence-we-should-expect-4/

We Are Ambassadors for Christ

John 14:9Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. Ambassadors are called to represent someone or some idea. The job might be easier if you agree with the one you represent or the idea you represent – but – it is still a tough position. Can you think of any position you have held or hold where you represent someone else?

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. In most cases – employees are ambassadors or representatives for their employers. When I worked for McDonald’s – I was asked to dress and behave a certain way while on the job. While on the job – I had to follow the prescribed behavior and dress as directed by the ones I represented – McDonald’s. Away from work – I had more freedom to be myself – but while I represented McDonald’s – I needed to follow their rules.

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. A current battle going on right now is between Republicans and Democrats. One party has control of the both sides of Congress and the White House at this particular time. It happens. We’ll live through it. We have in the past. Some however – on both sides of the political spectrum – revel in putting the other side down whenever possible.

Ambassadors have a tough job. They must represent someone else. People like Nikki Haley – The former US Ambassador to the United Nations – and Sarah Huckabee Sanders – the former White House Press Secretary – represented their boss – the former POTUS. They may not have always agreed with him – but while in his employment – they were asked to follow his directives. Ambassadors are hired – in most cases – to represent their employers.

Read the rest: https://raymcdonald.wordpress.com/2022/06/14/we-are-ambassadors-for-christ/

A Robust View of Heaven

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 Lee Strobel wrote about Clay Jones, who came to Christ at age twelve after hearing Billy Graham preach about heaven and hell. Over time Jones grew in the Lord, married his sweetheart, and became a pastor and professor. One day, he was diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer. Getting the news, Clay and his wife held hands, wept, and prayed.

“This is going to sound strange,” Jones said, “but I wasn’t afraid of dying…Yes, I mourned that I’d be leaving my wife. But, you see, I had a robust view of heaven—and that’s what made all the difference.” Jones’ initial diagnoses proved in error, and he was successfully treated for a milder form of the disease. But he’s never forgotten the peace of knowing that to live is Christ and to die is gain.[1] Because of God’s love for us, we can spend eternity with Him, and that changes everything!   If God can create all the beauty and excitement of our current universe, he’s certainly capable of creating an eternally stimulating and rewarding experience for his followers in the new heaven and the new earth. Clay Jones David Jeremiah

Saving Faith

When we’re convinced of Jesus’ sacrifice and trust Him with our life, we experience true saving faith.

John 1:9-13 9 This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. Yesterday we discussed the knowledge required to become a Christian. Now, let’s look at the remaining elements of saving faith: conviction and trust. Knowledge of Jesus must be accompanied by confidence that the facts apply to us personally. First, we must own the truth that I have broken God’s law, and that makes me a sinner. Second, we acknowledge that none of our efforts can earn His favor. Third, we agree that Jesus died for each of us and paid for our sins, no matter how terrible the transgressions may be. Fourth, we believe that this payment for our wrongdoing is fully sufficient; nothing else is needed. Finally, we accept by faith that we’ve been adopted into God’s family. The invitation is extended to all humanity. Once we are convinced that Jesus is our Savior, trust is demonstrated through action. As “new creatures” (Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Cor. 5:17), we will have a fresh perspective and different values. Jesus, our Lord, now has authority over our life, and He alone deserves to be our highest priority. He knows what pleases the Father and has sent His Spirit to live in us and teach us. Are you lacking in knowledge, conviction, or trust? If so, ask the Father to help you come to true saving faith.