LIVING BEYOND MYSELF

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)



God has made me part of a new (Kingdom/Church)
…you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people…

Paul is primarily writing to Gentile believers in these verses and here he returns to the thought he first raised in verse 12 when he described how these Gentiles were excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise. But the point he is making here is that it doesn’t really matter because they are now citizens of a new kingdom.

Citizenship is a really important thing. As citizens of this country, we have some benefits that we can expect to enjoy. We reap the benefits of being protected by our military and law enforcement officials. We have the right to travel wherever we want and to choose where we want to live and work. If we’re charged with a crime, our rights are protected by the Constitution. We get to elect the people we want to govern us. But we also have some responsibilities. We are required to pay our taxes. Although many choose not to, we have a responsibility to participate in the election process by voting. We have to submit to the laws that govern us. When we choose to be followers of Jesus Christ, we automatically become citizens of His kingdom. And that citizenship also comes with privileges and responsibilities.

We get the privilege of being part of a body where we can be encouraged and where we can grow in our faith. At the same time, we also have a responsibility to participate in the life of the body and submit to its leadership. We have a responsibility to provide our share of the financial resources that are needed to maintain and advance the kingdom.

God never created Christians to be foreigners and aliens to His kingdom and to the manifestation of that kingdom here on earth – the church. So I can’t understand why any believer would want to be an illegal alien here in this world when they could experience full citizenship in the kingdom of God. Take the full benefits and see what God does in your life...you are loved!

The Church

Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 2:21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Thank you for those who were praying for Amy yesterday. The tests were taken; now waiting for the results. We are just praying that God will take care of everything in Jesus name! It's been a busy week. We've had a lot going on. Sprinklers broken at the church and hopefully fixed. (Thanks Larry, Larry, Danny, and Kevin.) Praying for a young boy, Brody...Not sure if we can pay the bills at the end of the month. Lots of spiritual warfare happening...In the midst a young couple gave their hearts to Christ last Sunday...The scripture we are looking at this Sunday in Ephesians means so much.  It means we are a part of something big, each of us are a part of the body. Paul here talks about Jesus being the chief cornerstone. Cornerstone of what?  The church..."In him the building (us) is being joined together and rises up to become a holy temple." Peter also described this process

“As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4, 5 (NIV)

It’s interesting that Peter, just like Paul has done in this passage, uses passive verbs to describe this process. In other words, we can’t make ourselves into a building. It is Jesus who is doing all the work. Peter and Paul also use a present tense verb to describe the process – the NIV very accurately gives the sense that this is a continuing process – “we are being built” into a spiritual temple. What does that mean for you and me? It means that God is building a incredible church, all of us together doing the work making this a place were many will come and worship and serve. That's why we need you.

The big thing on my heart today and I've been seeking God over is this: How do we make it financially moving forward ? We have many who give faithfully every month to support the work that goes on through our ministries. But what about those of you who don't? I know God doesn't need our money...ect. I have heard all the reasons for not giving. But when I look at the word of God it says something totally different. Paul tells us in Corinthians to give and give cheerfully. For the mission of the church to continue we need those of you who call CFW home to become a part of the faithful who make the ministry happen. I hope you will ask God how you can help. This Sunday we will be taking an extra offering to help offset this months shortfall. Please be a part of the amazing solution as we continue to move forward Loving God and Loving People! Questions on how you can help? Give me a call. You are loved...

 

Trust Your Bible. It's True!

Trust Your Bible. It's True!

'...that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled...' Matthew 26:56 NIV


What an amazing day yesterday! God was in the house and we saw a move in peoples lives in an incredible way. Two gave their hearts to Christ and we saw the Holy Spirit draw many closer to Him! This Sunday we get to baptize six who have made a decision to follow Christ. God's doing some special things and I hope you will be a part of His Spirit's move in our church...

As I sat in my office speaking truth into someone's life, the question came back at me? Don't you use something other than the bible to counsel people? My answer, I do not! The bible has all the answers if we truly want His answers. The bible is filled with amazing facts; like the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. His death fulfilled no less than 29 different Old Testament prophecies. The odds of that happening are virtually impossible! Mathematician Peter Stoner has a graphic example similar to this: suppose Texas was covered in dollar coins half a mile deep. One of the coins has a mark on it. What is the probability that a blindfolded person could, on their first attempt, select that exact coin? That's the likelihood of just eight prophecies being fulfilled in one lifetime. However Jesus fulfilled 29 of them in one day! Let's look at some of the prophecies He fulfilled: (1) '...They pierced My hands and...feet.' (Psalm 22:16 NKJV) (2) 'They divide My garments...and...cast lots.' (Psalm 22:18 NKJV) (3) '...in that day...I will make the sun go down at noon, and...darken the earth in...daylight.' (Amos 8:9 NKJV) Jesus predicted both His death and His resurrection. He told His critics, '..."Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."...the temple He had spoken of was His body.' (John 2:19-21 NIV) Jesus orchestrated every event, including Judas' betrayal, the high priest's hypocrisy and Peter's denial. Why? 'That the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.' So you can trust your Bible because it's true. And something else is true too. God is '...able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...' (Ephesians 3:20 NIV) Note the words 'immeasurably more'. What seems impossible to you at the moment is all in a day's work for Him. So start trusting Him to work on your behalf. You are Loved...

Patria Potestas

 

'...you received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing son-ship]...' Romans 8:15 NKJV


I was doing some research for one of my messages and ran across this. This is a incredible reminder that we are God's!

"Paul's audience would have understood his use of Roman adoption in teaching the benefits we receive as redeemed members of God's family. A Roman father held absolute right and control, legally entitled 'Patria Potestas', over his children at any age. Roman adoption was a two-step process that transferred children from one patria potestas to another. (1) Emancipation. This step included a symbolic sale where the natural father twice 'sold' and 'bought back' his child, and a third where he didn't buy them back, ending his paternal rights. (2) Vindication. Here the adoptive father presented his case for adoption to a Roman magistrate, who legally transferred the child to his patria potestas. Likewise, we have been transferred from Satan's grip to our heavenly Father's blessed patria potestas! The benefits of Roman adoption were Paul's chief focus in Romans chapter eight: (a) The adopted person lost all rights in their old family and gained a new father, plus all rights of a legitimate member of their new family. (b) They became heir to their new father's estate. When there were other siblings, they became joint-heirs together. (c) All their debts were completely cancelled, legal records of their history were expunged; the past had no effect on their new life. (d) Seven citizens witnessed all legal adoptions. If the adoptee's legitimacy was ever challenged, each witness could testify to their legitimate standing. Thank God, 'The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.' (Romans 8:16 NIV) No less than the sevenfold Holy Spirit Himself validates your membership in God's family!" You are loved...

'Trusting God's Promises!' (2)

 

'...no...Scripture is...of one's own interpretation.' 2 Peter 1:20 NAS


Sorry for not getting out yesterday's "Thought for Today" to you. My email server went down and I didn't get email till this morning. So if you want to read yesterday's thought, go to our website calvarychurch-ag.org, go to the pastor's page, and go to my blog. Then this blog might make more sense...lol.

 Here are two more principles for discerning which promises in Scripture are for you: (1) Try to understand the context. No Scripture stands in isolation, but should be read in conjunction with every other Scripture on the same topic. If you isolate 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13 NKJV), believing 'all things' includes leaping from a twelfth-story window, don't blame God's Word for your unexpected demise! I know that's a large exaggeration, but there are those who make that kind of leap with the scriptures everyday. If you had read the point Paul was in in it's true context, it would have said, '...I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all [these] things through Christ who strengthens me.' (Philippians 4:12-13 NKJV) This Scripture doesn't mean you can do anything you want, but that God will enable you to get through anything you encounter while doing His will. (2) Test Scripture by Scripture, not by your own desires. 'No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation.' Some Bible promises are universal in application, and some are personal. The personal ones apply to the intended hearer; the universal ones apply to all believers. That's why it is important to know which is which. If you think the Scripture, '...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household' (Acts 16:31 NKJV), guarantees your entire family's salvation, you might be disappointed and think that God failed. No, that was a personal promise made and fulfilled to the Philippian jailer. A universal word for you and your family is, '...In fact, God...wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.' (2 Peter 3:9 CEV) He wants your entire family to be saved! Learning to rightly divide the word is something God himself will help you with. You are loved...

'Trusting God's Promises!' (1)

 

'...when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.' Hebrews 10:36 NIV


I remember singing in church this song, 'Every promise in the Book is mine!' Exciting words and I can't really even remember many after all these years - and sometimes we ask are they really true? If you've prayed for the fulfilment of a Bible promise that didn't materialize, you may have wondered, felt disillusioned, or even stopped trusting.

In faith and trust we must believe that every promise in the Book intended for you, is yours! God is committed to keeping every promise He has made (Matthew 24:35). So how can you know which Bible promises are yours? Here are some Scriptural guidelines to help you: (1) Be sure you understand the promise. God is committed to His Word, not to your interpretation of it. That's a big one! We have this tendency to look at a promise and lay a expectation on it that doesn't fit the promise. When Jesus said, '...Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up' (John 2:19 NKJV), His audience completely misunderstood Him, thinking He meant the literal temple when He meant His body. (2) Walk in the Spirit, not the flesh. Walking in the Spirit, Peter received divine understanding of Christ's deity. When Jesus asked, 'Who do you say I am?' Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, '...this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father...' (Matthew 16:15-17 NIV) Soon afterwards, walking in the flesh, the same man totally misunderstood Jesus and was severely rebuked by Jesus (Matthew 16:21-23). Why? Because '...the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God... nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' (1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV) So submit your thoughts to God; pray for His guidance, and in due course, you'll get the insight you need. You are loved...

Serving in the Kingdom (3)

 

'The father [or mother] of a righteous man has great joy...' Proverbs 23:24 NIV


Serving in God's kingdom is always a privilege...The hardest work is sometimes the most overlooked work. 'A husband came home from work one day and the house was an absolute mess. Clothes were strewn all over the floor, dirty dishes filled the sink, the kids were crying, the beds were unmade, the bathroom smelled badly and the TV set was blaring. When he asked his wife what was going on, she replied, 'You know how you ask me every night what I did all day? Well, today I didn't do it.' This morning as I was preparing for this blog, God brought to mind the biggest asset to His kingdom, mom and dad's. If you're a stay-at-home mom or dad, God considers your work to be important. It's more important to the future than just about any other profession - because you're determining the quality of the next generation. One of the biggest decisions Amy and I made was to have Amy stay home to be with our boys. Personally I think she did an amazing job. Look at what Martin Luther said, 'What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in Heaven for our Lord.' One day God will say, 'Well done,' to parents who cared for children - bathing them, feeding them, cleaning up after them - when they were tired and thought nobody was looking. Somebody is looking. Somebody is keeping track. It is worth it! You are the one who makes your work significant - not the other way round. When you discover the gifts God has given you and the passions He has placed within you, and put them to work in the service of values you deeply believe in - you are 'working for God' in the truest sense. So each day ask God to make your work go well. And try to identify the larger picture in your work that makes it a 'calling'. You are loved....