John tells us in 1 John 4:8 and 16 that God is love.
In John 3:16 John tells that because God is love He did something. He sent His one and only Son to give His life for our sin. God’s love moved Him to do something of infinite good for us.
So if God is love and He loves us, what is love?
Our culture says that love is:
(1) an attraction based on kinship or admiration or common interests
(2) a strong sexual attraction
God says that love is very different from what the culture says it is.
God says that love is:
(1) showing undeserved kindness
(2) being faithful
(3) delighting in the presence of another
(4) putting someone’s needs ahead of your own
God’s love is about others.
God’s love is always unconditional and eternal.
Four Pictures of God’s Love
Picture #1: God’s love is grace.
Genesis 20:1-2
Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in the Gerar, and there Abraham said to his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
Abraham, a man of faith, the man God had chosen to form a nation out of for Himself lied to Abimelek about Sarah being his wife. Abraham betrays his wife and fails God.
In Genesis 20:11 Abraham explains why he lied to the king about Sarah being his wife. He says, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’”
Now, I understand. Abraham was fearful and didn’t trust God to take care of him and Sarah. He didn’t believe that God would or could protect them. And this is a man of faith?
Because of his lack of faith in God. Abraham gets into a position where he could not only lose his wife, but also hinders the promises that God had made him. He was messing with God’s will.
So what does God do?
Genesis 20:6-7
Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. This is why I did not let you touch her. Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.”
God intervenes and keeps Abimelek from having sex with Sarah. God also demands that Abimelek give Sarah back to Abraham.
Genesis 20:14-16
Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelek said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.” To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”
Then God has Abimelek give gifts to Abraham and Sarah that enrich them. He also had Abimelek allow Abraham to live anywhere he wanted.
Grace gives us more than we deserve. God took a lack of faith on Abraham’s part and turned into a huge blessing.
Now, we need to remember that God promises us grace, but we can never presume on that grace. We cannot live like we want to and assume God will, because of His grace, get us out of any bad situation we get into.
God does assure us that His love will be there in the midst of our sin and our struggles.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is based in and on the grace of God.
Picture #2: God’s love is protecting.
Genesis 3:24
He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden He placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Many would see God’s action here as discipline or punishment for Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God.
This action is protection. God didn’t want Adam and Eve eating from the tree of life and living forever in a state of rebellion against Him. God wants us to live forever in right relationship with Him, not in sin.
God will not let His children stay in an unhealthy spiritual condition without making us desire to change.
God will confront us about our sin because He knows it will destroy us if not dealt with.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about putting ourselves under the authority of God and His protection.
Picture #3: God’s love is accepting.
In John 8 the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman to Jesus who they had caught in the act of committing adultery. I have always wondered exactly how they accomplished that and where the guy who she was committing it with was.
The religious leaders ask Jesus what He thought they should do with her. They then reminded Him that the Law said to stone her, like Jesus needed to be reminded what the Law said.
Jesus simply told them that the one without sin could throw the first rock. They all dropped their rocks and left.
Then Jesus goes to the woman. He asked, “Where did they go? Has anyone condemned you?” The woman answered, “No one, sir.” Jesus said, “I don’t condemn you either. Go! From now on don’t sin.”
Jesus didn’t condemn her.
Jesus didn’t reject her.
Jesus accepted her.
God’s love accepts us like we are. But God’s love also always motivates and empowers us to change.
God loves and accepts us, but not our sin. God hates our sin.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about accepting people and loving people and, with God’s love, helping people to be transformed into the image of Jesus.
Picture #4: God’s love is restoring
John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know I love You.” Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know I love You.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.” A third time He said, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” Peter said, “Lord, You know everything; You know I love You!” He said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
Why did Jesus ask Peter three times if he loved Him? Peter said he did the first time and the second. Why did Jesus ask the third time? Well, let’s go back to Peter’s denial of Jesus. Peter denied he knew Jesus three times. Jesus was allowing Peter to affirm his love for Jesus the same number of times that he denied his love for Jesus.
When our fellowship, our intimacy with Jesus is broken, Jesus desires to bring us back to Himself. His will is always for us to be in right relationship and right fellowship, intimately connected to Him.
Jesus will do what it takes in our lives to bring us to that place.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about building intimacy in our relationship with Jesus. And helping others be restored to Jesus.
Jesus loves you! That is the overwhelming message of the Bible.
Jesus wants you to experience His love in your life all the time. That can only happen if you are in right relationship and right fellowship with Him.
We have to be honest with Jesus. We have to let Jesus Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls from our lives. Then we can share our lives with Jesus. We can share every part of our lives with Him.
We can share the:
Sins
Struggles
Fears
Hurts
Joys
Desires
Dreams
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about surrendering you life to Jesus so you can share all of it with Him and experience His unconditional, no boundaries, no time limit love.
In And With Jesus’ Love Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Sunday, May 11, 2014
God's Way is Truth
In John 18:38 Pilate asks what is truth. That is very ironic because he is looking right at truth.
You see, truth is not a
Religion
Way of Life
Philosophy
Truth is a person - Jesus!
In Ephesians 4:15 we are commanded to speak the truth in love.
All through Scripture, truth is who God is and a thing He highly values in us as His people.
Truth is to be part of our worship of Jesus.
John 4:23-24
But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Truth is found in and by the Holy Spirit.
John 15:26
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me.
Truth is found in God’s Word.
John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.
Truth is found in the Gospel.
Galatians 2:5
We didn’t give in and submit to them for a single moment, so that the truth of the Gospel would continue to be with you.
Truth is found in the church.
1 Timothy 3:15
So if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God’s family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.
The truth is vital because it does two things that are absolutely necessary if we are to follow Jesus.
Truth frees us.
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth purifies us.
1 Peter 1:22
Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your souls, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart.
So since according to The Ephesians 4:15 passage I am to speak the truth in love, I want to share a truth that can transform you and all God’s people if we will believe it and live it.
The truth is that we were created by God to be in Community. God didn’t created us to be lone rangers. God created us to relate to others for support, encouragement, and accountability.
We live in a culture that emphasizes individuality and independence.
Jesus emphasizes community and interdependence.
So what does community consist of?
C : commitment
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord ! Trust Him! He will act and will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like high noon.
We are to be committed to Jesus and His church and His Kingdom, not our own comfort and convenience.
O : others
Philippians 2:1-4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
It is not about you! It is about JOY - Jesus, others, you.
M : mature
2 Corinthians 13:11
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
We are to grow into the likeness of Jesus. If your children were not progressing as you believed they should, you would seek out help. We need to progress by growing to be more like Jesus every day.
M : men
1 Chronicles 12:32
From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
Our churches, our communities, our nation will not be healthy until men step up to be the spiritual leaders in their families.
Men, we are commanded by God to love our wives unconditionally
Men, we are commanded by God to provide for our families.
Men, we are commanded by God to lead our families to Jesus.
U: unity
Romans 15:5-6
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is a family. We are the Body of Christ. Jesus desires that we be in unity.
N : new
Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. I will put My Spirit in you and will see to it that you follow My laws and keep all the commands I have given you.
Jesus gives us a New mind, a New heart, a New spirit. The newness of Jesus brings refreshment. He brings new works of God into our lives. He brings changes. Changes are hard but good and necessary.
I : intensity
Romans 12:11
Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord.
We need to passionately
Love Jesus
Worship Jesus
Study God’s Word
Serve Jesus
Pray
Share our Jesus story
T : transparent
1 Thessalonians 1:5
And here is why: what you experienced in the good news we brought you was more than words channeling down your ears; it came to you as a life-empowering, Spirit-infused message that offers complete hope and assurance! We lived transparently before you so that you would know what sort of people we truly are. We did it for your sake.
We have to take off the masks. We have to let God work in our lives like He wants to. We have to let the world see who we are and how God is transforming us from sinners to saints.
Y : yield
Romans 12:1
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice - alive, holy, and pleasing to God - which is your reasonable service.
Give yourself to Jesus with nothing held back.
Submit everything to Jesus.
Surrender yourself and all you have to Jesus as your King.
God is inviting you to go on a great adventure with Him and His people. He makes some awesome promises to us as His people, His community.
Jesus promises:
That He has a plan for us that will give us hope and success
That He will listen when we call on Him
That He will direct our lives
That He will reveal Himself to us
To know the truth, believe the truth, act on the truth we have to be in community. And we have to do it with our whole hearts.
With Truth and In Community Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
You see, truth is not a
Religion
Way of Life
Philosophy
Truth is a person - Jesus!
In Ephesians 4:15 we are commanded to speak the truth in love.
All through Scripture, truth is who God is and a thing He highly values in us as His people.
Truth is to be part of our worship of Jesus.
John 4:23-24
But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Truth is found in and by the Holy Spirit.
John 15:26
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me.
Truth is found in God’s Word.
John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.
Truth is found in the Gospel.
Galatians 2:5
We didn’t give in and submit to them for a single moment, so that the truth of the Gospel would continue to be with you.
Truth is found in the church.
1 Timothy 3:15
So if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God’s family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.
The truth is vital because it does two things that are absolutely necessary if we are to follow Jesus.
Truth frees us.
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth purifies us.
1 Peter 1:22
Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your souls, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart.
So since according to The Ephesians 4:15 passage I am to speak the truth in love, I want to share a truth that can transform you and all God’s people if we will believe it and live it.
The truth is that we were created by God to be in Community. God didn’t created us to be lone rangers. God created us to relate to others for support, encouragement, and accountability.
We live in a culture that emphasizes individuality and independence.
Jesus emphasizes community and interdependence.
So what does community consist of?
C : commitment
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord ! Trust Him! He will act and will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like high noon.
We are to be committed to Jesus and His church and His Kingdom, not our own comfort and convenience.
O : others
Philippians 2:1-4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
It is not about you! It is about JOY - Jesus, others, you.
M : mature
2 Corinthians 13:11
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
We are to grow into the likeness of Jesus. If your children were not progressing as you believed they should, you would seek out help. We need to progress by growing to be more like Jesus every day.
M : men
1 Chronicles 12:32
From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
Our churches, our communities, our nation will not be healthy until men step up to be the spiritual leaders in their families.
Men, we are commanded by God to love our wives unconditionally
Men, we are commanded by God to provide for our families.
Men, we are commanded by God to lead our families to Jesus.
U: unity
Romans 15:5-6
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is a family. We are the Body of Christ. Jesus desires that we be in unity.
N : new
Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. I will put My Spirit in you and will see to it that you follow My laws and keep all the commands I have given you.
Jesus gives us a New mind, a New heart, a New spirit. The newness of Jesus brings refreshment. He brings new works of God into our lives. He brings changes. Changes are hard but good and necessary.
I : intensity
Romans 12:11
Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord.
We need to passionately
Love Jesus
Worship Jesus
Study God’s Word
Serve Jesus
Pray
Share our Jesus story
T : transparent
1 Thessalonians 1:5
And here is why: what you experienced in the good news we brought you was more than words channeling down your ears; it came to you as a life-empowering, Spirit-infused message that offers complete hope and assurance! We lived transparently before you so that you would know what sort of people we truly are. We did it for your sake.
We have to take off the masks. We have to let God work in our lives like He wants to. We have to let the world see who we are and how God is transforming us from sinners to saints.
Y : yield
Romans 12:1
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice - alive, holy, and pleasing to God - which is your reasonable service.
Give yourself to Jesus with nothing held back.
Submit everything to Jesus.
Surrender yourself and all you have to Jesus as your King.
God is inviting you to go on a great adventure with Him and His people. He makes some awesome promises to us as His people, His community.
Jesus promises:
That He has a plan for us that will give us hope and success
That He will listen when we call on Him
That He will direct our lives
That He will reveal Himself to us
To know the truth, believe the truth, act on the truth we have to be in community. And we have to do it with our whole hearts.
With Truth and In Community Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Sunday, May 4, 2014
The God's Thoughts and Ways
Isaiah 55:8-9
The Lord said, “My thoughts and My ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”
God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.
God’s ways are not our ways.
His thoughts and ways are higher than our.
His thoughts and ways are better than ours.
Then why don’t we base how we live on God’s thoughts and follow His ways in our daily living?
I have seen three reasons that people don’t follow God’s ways.
They don’t know what God’s thoughts and ways are - Ignorance.
They are struggling to understand God’s thoughts and follow God’s ways - Confusion.
They don’t want to know God or follow Him - Apathy.
The solution to the first is to ask God. In James 1:5 we are told, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
The solution to the second is to seek God. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
The solution to the third is repentance and transformation. We have to want God and to know Him. That is not an automatic thing. We have to turn from living life based on our desires and turn to Jesus and living life based on His desires. The turning is our choice and the living based on Jesus’ desires is God transforming you.
So what are God’s thoughts and ways?
First is AVAILABLE.
Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is yet near. Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes. Let them return to the Lord so that He may have mercy on them, to our God, because He is generous with forgiveness.
We are commanded to:
Seek God while He may be found
Call on God while He is near
This passage implies that there are times when God cannot be found and when he is not near.
We have grown up in the American church being taught that God is available whenever we want Him or when we are ready for Him.
I believe that is a lie.
In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, but I choose and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
In John 14:6 Jesus says, “No one come to the Father except through Me.”
We come to God:
Through Jesus
On God’s Terms
On God’s Timetable
We are blessed by God:
Through Jesus
On God’s Terms
On God’s Timetable
We don’t relate to God based on our terms, but based on His.
Second is FORGIVING.
Psalm 103:10-12
He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.
God is a loving and forgiving God.
God’s love is unconditional.
God’s forgiveness is NOT!
David outlines conditions for God’s forgiveness in Psalm 103:13, 17-18.
Verse 13: The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
Verses 17-18: But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to His covenant, of those who obey His commandments.
God forgives those who:
Acknowledge Their Sin
Repent of Their Sin
Obey Him
God loves us no matter what.
God forgives us when we turn to Him in confession and repentance.
Third is FAITHFUL.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God faithfully keeps His promises. He called you to be partners with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Timothy 2:13
If we are not faithful, He remains faithful, because He cannt be false to Himself.
God will never go back on any of His promises. God will not back off His promise to bless or His promise to not bless.
God will always do what He says He will do.
Psalm 145:13
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all His promises and faithful in all He does.
You can count on God.
Fourth is HOLY.
1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
We are commanded to be holy. What does that mean?
Holiness has two aspects to it.
One is separation. We are to be separated to God for His purposes and His alone. We are not to be focused on our will but on God’s will. We are to be focused and living to do God’s will exclusively.
Two is moral excellence. We are to live according to God’s values and standards not the values and standards of this fallen world.
We are to live holy!
Fifth is TRUTHFUL.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Everything Jesus said was true.
Everything Jesus did was right.
The Word of God is absolute truth with no error.
Anything that disagrees with God and His Word is wrong, it is a lie.
Lies lead to captivity.
Truth leads to freedom.
John 8:31-32,36
He said to the Jews who believed, “If you keep and obey My Word, then you are My followers for sure. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free for sure.”
If anything in your life disagrees with Jesus or His Word, it should have no place in your life. You need to get rid of it.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about acknowledging that God’s thoughts and God’s ways are better than our thoughts and ways.
If you want a life that has
Purpose
That is Full
That is Eternal
The only way is God’s way.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about coming to Jesus and letting His thoughts and ways be what you base your daily living on.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus gives us the invitation of a lifetime. He says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Look at that invitation.
Come to Jesus
Get Away with Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Keep Company with Jesus
The results are
Rest
Grace
Freedom
So come to Jesus and let His thoughts be your thoughts.
So come to Jesus and let His ways be your ways.
With Jesus’ Thoughts and In Jesus’ Ways Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
The Lord said, “My thoughts and My ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”
God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.
God’s ways are not our ways.
His thoughts and ways are higher than our.
His thoughts and ways are better than ours.
Then why don’t we base how we live on God’s thoughts and follow His ways in our daily living?
I have seen three reasons that people don’t follow God’s ways.
They don’t know what God’s thoughts and ways are - Ignorance.
They are struggling to understand God’s thoughts and follow God’s ways - Confusion.
They don’t want to know God or follow Him - Apathy.
The solution to the first is to ask God. In James 1:5 we are told, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
The solution to the second is to seek God. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
The solution to the third is repentance and transformation. We have to want God and to know Him. That is not an automatic thing. We have to turn from living life based on our desires and turn to Jesus and living life based on His desires. The turning is our choice and the living based on Jesus’ desires is God transforming you.
So what are God’s thoughts and ways?
First is AVAILABLE.
Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is yet near. Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes. Let them return to the Lord so that He may have mercy on them, to our God, because He is generous with forgiveness.
We are commanded to:
Seek God while He may be found
Call on God while He is near
This passage implies that there are times when God cannot be found and when he is not near.
We have grown up in the American church being taught that God is available whenever we want Him or when we are ready for Him.
I believe that is a lie.
In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, but I choose and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
In John 14:6 Jesus says, “No one come to the Father except through Me.”
We come to God:
Through Jesus
On God’s Terms
On God’s Timetable
We are blessed by God:
Through Jesus
On God’s Terms
On God’s Timetable
We don’t relate to God based on our terms, but based on His.
Second is FORGIVING.
Psalm 103:10-12
He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.
God is a loving and forgiving God.
God’s love is unconditional.
God’s forgiveness is NOT!
David outlines conditions for God’s forgiveness in Psalm 103:13, 17-18.
Verse 13: The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
Verses 17-18: But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to His covenant, of those who obey His commandments.
God forgives those who:
Acknowledge Their Sin
Repent of Their Sin
Obey Him
God loves us no matter what.
God forgives us when we turn to Him in confession and repentance.
Third is FAITHFUL.
1 Corinthians 1:9
God faithfully keeps His promises. He called you to be partners with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Timothy 2:13
If we are not faithful, He remains faithful, because He cannt be false to Himself.
God will never go back on any of His promises. God will not back off His promise to bless or His promise to not bless.
God will always do what He says He will do.
Psalm 145:13
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all His promises and faithful in all He does.
You can count on God.
Fourth is HOLY.
1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
We are commanded to be holy. What does that mean?
Holiness has two aspects to it.
One is separation. We are to be separated to God for His purposes and His alone. We are not to be focused on our will but on God’s will. We are to be focused and living to do God’s will exclusively.
Two is moral excellence. We are to live according to God’s values and standards not the values and standards of this fallen world.
We are to live holy!
Fifth is TRUTHFUL.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Everything Jesus said was true.
Everything Jesus did was right.
The Word of God is absolute truth with no error.
Anything that disagrees with God and His Word is wrong, it is a lie.
Lies lead to captivity.
Truth leads to freedom.
John 8:31-32,36
He said to the Jews who believed, “If you keep and obey My Word, then you are My followers for sure. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free for sure.”
If anything in your life disagrees with Jesus or His Word, it should have no place in your life. You need to get rid of it.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about acknowledging that God’s thoughts and God’s ways are better than our thoughts and ways.
If you want a life that has
Purpose
That is Full
That is Eternal
The only way is God’s way.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about coming to Jesus and letting His thoughts and ways be what you base your daily living on.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus gives us the invitation of a lifetime. He says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Look at that invitation.
Come to Jesus
Get Away with Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Keep Company with Jesus
The results are
Rest
Grace
Freedom
So come to Jesus and let His thoughts be your thoughts.
So come to Jesus and let His ways be your ways.
With Jesus’ Thoughts and In Jesus’ Ways Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)