Christ is the answer

There has been much spoken about "relevance" in the midst of declining church attendance numbers in the 2000's. The American church in the name of keeping itself afloat and appealing has tried all kinds of tactics and ideas from coffee shops to concert experiences to even offering the self centered theology of the American culture as though God was 100% behind putting us at the center. Yet if you want to be relevant to a human being do you not have to talk about Jesus Christ? If we are vending anything to people it should not be more "appealing" religious goods and services but the life, person, and spirit of Christ. After all every human on this planet according to Colossians 1:16 is made "by Him and FOR Him." Therefore Christ is God's total answer to mans total need.

The bottom line is man is too great a creation to be satisfied by anything but the spirit of Christ. And because man did not make himself, he cannot change this about himself. He can try and seemingly has tried to be fulfilled by all kinds of other things and yet he cannot shake his inner need for Christ -- it's been written into him by his Creator. Gas goes in the car, oil goes in the lamp, Christ goes in the human being. This will not change. Christ has divinely cornered the market on human fulfillment.

God's desire has always been internal intimacy and companionship with man by his Spirit. Everything else flows out of that. The church unfortunately has majored on the benefits and features of Christ more than on Christ himself. Thus an incomplete gospel has left an incomplete result. The church has even tried to set herself up as the end to be sought. Yet when did Jesus ever mention church attendance as a cure all to what ails man? If it is true individually that if a man tries to save his own life he will lose it; it must be true corporately as well in regard to the church. If a church tries to save herself, she will lose herself, but if she loses herself for the sake of Christ she will find herself and her true meaning. Christ is the cause of the church, the advancement of His kingdom/spirit in the hearts of humanity. They must re-adopt the great words of the apostle Paul: "We preach Christ and not ourselves."

Some notes for this Sunday!

1) There are times to use prayer so things get changed, but there are times to use prayer so we get changed. 2) In the midst of worry, we need the view and opinion of God (His Glory) which Jesus said was bestowed upon us in John 17:22. 3) Worry says God doesn't care so I'll have to worry this situation through with stressing and striving; but faith says God does care and He and I will work this out together. 4) We keep asking God for a worry free life and haven't realized He's already given us one (Christ life within us!) 5) Jesus points out in Matthew 6 that the entrance of worry into our lives is directly tied to not realizing our value to our Father. 6) John says in 1 John 4:18 that if we are tormented with fear, we have not understood our Father's perfect love for us. Therefore, do not try to trust God more but rather get to know Him and His love for you better. 7) Jesus never said troubles won't come but He points out in Matthew 6:34 not to bring tomorrow's troubles into today; ruining both days. 8) A great way to overcome stress and worry is to lean into quality relationships and community. Healing rarely happens in isolation.

This Sunday!

Be sure and join us this Sunday as we continue the series, “Freedom From Fear, Worry, and Anxiety”! We will be looking at two of the ways we can keep the stresses of life at bay:

1) Work out your own salvation not everyone else’s.

2) Take authority over negative emotions.

Philippians 4:6-8 (NKJ)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, *will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. *8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, just, pure, lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Philippians 2:12-13

12 Therefore, my beloved… work out *your own *salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.

Philippians 1:6

…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work *in you* will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so you will not be dependent on anybody.

Sunday!

It was once said, “The power of the Christian life doesn’t come FROM the mind, but it does come THROUGH the mind.” Are you making every thought check in at the front desk of your mind manned by the Holy Spirit? If not, you may quickly become susceptible to the enemy’s weapons of fear, worry, and anxiety. Join us this Sunday as the gateway to your freedom is opened!

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Freedom From Fear!!

Join us this Sunday as we begin the brand new series: Freedom From Fear, Worry, and Anxiety! Thankfully every foe we face in this life is a defeated foe and the footprint of God's Son is already imprinted on their necks! We will be tending to our hearts this Sunday as stress is just an outworking of fear and worry trying to work in. The heart is designed to give life to whatever we allow to camp in it, so it is very important God's Word and His Seed are not choked by the cares of this life.

Isaiah 41:10 (AMP)

Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

Purpose Continues This Sunday...

Ever wondered about your God given purpose? Your primary purpose is intimacy with God through His Son Jesus Christ's internal Spirit. Without that, discovering your secondary purpose can be difficult. Looking at Mark 5 we can see that any time a human being discovers their purpose they will be found seated (not working but at rest in Christ), clothed (with anointing, passion, and provision), and in their right mind (peaceful, fitted).

God has written Himself into us, into the very constitution of our beings. He has written into us the way we are designed to live. This makes sin very unnatural and not native to us. This is the deception ~ the enemy over and over again trying to convince us as humans that something or someone other than God could somehow satisfy us. But our Father has cornered the market on human fulfillment. Man is too greatly designed to be satisfied by anything but His Spirit. Out of this intimate discovery comes the unveiling of God's purpose for our lives that becomes our passion.

This Sunday!

We will be looking at the 5th and final purpose thief “Fear”. It unfolds in 3 areas: Fear of Others (& their opinions), Fear of Opposition, and Fear of Obstacles.

What Problems Do FOR Us:

1) They work for our good.

2) They conform us to the image of God’s Son.

3) They prepare us for the next level.

4) They push us to the Spirit.

5) They equip us to help and comfort others.

6) They reveal what is really in our heart.

7) They remind us to be thankful.

This Sunday!

We will continue the series, "Living With Purpose"! Looking at Purpose Thieves and Dream Killers:

1) Family

2) Friends

3) Failure

4) Fatigue

5) Fear

When you experience failure and the enemy is throwing your past up in your face, simply remember to 'lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of you' by forgetting what is behind, reaching for what is ahead, and pressing through opposition!

Notes for Sunday:

If you’ve ever felt like your life has gone “off course” or wondered “how could God use someone like me?”, I believe Sunday morning is your day! What an opportunity to ‘get up off the mat’ and put an end to the nagging doubts and skepticsm. We are gonna take a look at “Purpose Thieves”, “Dream Killers”, “Vision Assassins”, and “Belief Bandits” that try and affect all of us. In other words, people and things that will try to shoot down your faith, dreams, purpose, and identity.

1) Family. Often in innocence or ignorance those closest to us remember us and know us by the old flesh vs. the new spirit.

2) Friends. How many people’s lives have gone off track because they followed or listened to the wrong friends?

3) Failure. We have all been part of teams, plans, even churches perhaps that have spouted great things but for whatever reason it didn’t work out. Then add to that our personal failures in areas such as investments, jobs, marriage or child raising and we can be staggered. But like Paul (who had a glaring past); we too must learn to forget what is behind, reach for what is ahead (God’s high call), and press through opposition.

4) Fatigue. Do not grow weary in well doing, for we will reap if we faint not. Don’t give up on God as He’ll never give up on you.

5) Fear. Fear of men’s faces, fear of failure, fear of fences and boundaries. All must be addressed.

5 Truths Regarding Your Purpose!

Join us this Sunday as we continue the brand new series: Living With Purpose!! We will look at the differences between our primary purpose as human beings and our secondary purpose; plus 5 TRUTHS REGARDING YOUR PURPOSE AND SIGNFICANCE!!!!

Primary purpose: To live in an intimate personal relationship with God, knowing Him; receiving His love and reflecting it back to Him & others through His indwelling Holy Spirit.

Secondary purpose: A Godly role unique to each individual.

Five Truths Regarding Your Purpose and Significance:

1) You are a marvelous work created fearfully and wonderfully by a supreme and sovereign God (Psalm 139 14-16)

2) God designed you for His purpose (Psalm 139:14-16)

3) God has good thoughts and plans towards you (Jeremiah 29:11)

4) God declared your end from your beginning (Isaiah 46:10)

5) God is who brings your purpose to pass (Isaiah 48:3)