We often hear the Gospel and take it for granted. His truth has to be applied to every area of our lives. The Gospel says that you are not your own, you are freed. So walk in confidence. What are the areas in your life that you haven't died to yet? If we are saved, now what??
By Grace, through Faith, we are saved. We are saved for God's glory and Kingdom. Without a personal relationship with Jesus, you don't know Jesus. The enemy is trying to tell us that we're someone we're not, whispering lies to us. Satan is swinging hard and he's coming at our lives. It's a spiritual war and often times we don't even know that we're at battle. We've turned Christianity into consumerism and we wonder why we're getting our butts kicked in this war. We stop fighting and we shift into neutral. To put it simple: you're either stopping, or you're growing.
Ephesians 6:14-18 says "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shelf of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."
The Gospel should lead to a fight and an urgency to go out and share it with others, live it with others. We are ambassadors for the community around us. Know who your enemy is and keep fighting. See the fight for what it is: a battle for spiritual space and spiritual territory. Go and push back darkness. In the Christian bubble, we create a list of what a Christian is supposed to look like. We lead with judgement. We forget we are broken. The only thing you bring to the table is your sin, which makes salvation necessary. He wipes this sin from us. Lead with who you need to know to be saved. Instead, we lead with a list of things you should be and do and not do. We should be a culture that loves people where they are. Don't hold the lost community that we do for Christians. Introduce them to our Savior. Look into this Gospel and be overwhelmed by His love. God wants more of you. He is better than our way. Our way brings death, but His way brings life. James 1:22 says "But be doers of the world, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Surrender to His calling,
Courtney
Monday, March 30, 2015
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Discipleship
What should it cost me to follow Jesus? Jesus isn't calling us to something that He Himself isn't already laying down. Our Savior is so good, because He gets us and He understands us. He isn't someone who is saying "get on my level." He humbles Himself and asks us to follow Him. He's not yelling at us from the sidelines, He's like Shaun T from Insanity doing it right along side us.
Jesus knows what temptation is like. Matthew 4:1 tells us "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil..." He empathizes and sympathizes with us because He knows us and has been where we have been. Loose your identity and put your identity in Him. That's what discipleship is.
We must follow the purpose and plan of God. It's either all Jesus or no Jesus. So, what things compete for your affections? Jesus requires us to be all in, because He is all in for us. We can't have competing affections. That's not trusting God or denying yourself. What is it that you continue to run back to that isn't Christ? Those things don't bring ultimate joy and satisfaction. They will leave you empty. If you're looking for your identity in those things, you will loose your identity. Deny yourself, take up your Cross daily. Every day, choose this identity.
Jesus is intentional in telling us what to do. We are calling ourselves to submissiveness to who Jesus is when we take up our Cross. How often do we justify the things that we do? I find myself doing this all the time. We are fully submitted to Him when we deny ourselves, when it's no longer about us. A relationship with Him is highly relational. Even if it were to cost us our whole lives, we must believe that Jesus really is the son of God. If your self worth is found in anything but Jesus, then it's sin. He is a sufficient identity to place ourselves into. Join in a relationship with Him, He died for you.
We proclaim God in our lives, speech, and actions. Die to yourself. In that you gain life. Luke 9:24 is my favorite verse, it says "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." As we follow Him, we get to walk with the God of the Universe that desires you. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing we are saved by and will be saved by. There is no point in our lives when we don't need to hear that He died for us.
Follow Him. Do it all out because He did it all out for us,
Courtney
Jesus knows what temptation is like. Matthew 4:1 tells us "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil..." He empathizes and sympathizes with us because He knows us and has been where we have been. Loose your identity and put your identity in Him. That's what discipleship is.
We must follow the purpose and plan of God. It's either all Jesus or no Jesus. So, what things compete for your affections? Jesus requires us to be all in, because He is all in for us. We can't have competing affections. That's not trusting God or denying yourself. What is it that you continue to run back to that isn't Christ? Those things don't bring ultimate joy and satisfaction. They will leave you empty. If you're looking for your identity in those things, you will loose your identity. Deny yourself, take up your Cross daily. Every day, choose this identity.
Jesus is intentional in telling us what to do. We are calling ourselves to submissiveness to who Jesus is when we take up our Cross. How often do we justify the things that we do? I find myself doing this all the time. We are fully submitted to Him when we deny ourselves, when it's no longer about us. A relationship with Him is highly relational. Even if it were to cost us our whole lives, we must believe that Jesus really is the son of God. If your self worth is found in anything but Jesus, then it's sin. He is a sufficient identity to place ourselves into. Join in a relationship with Him, He died for you.
We proclaim God in our lives, speech, and actions. Die to yourself. In that you gain life. Luke 9:24 is my favorite verse, it says "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." As we follow Him, we get to walk with the God of the Universe that desires you. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing we are saved by and will be saved by. There is no point in our lives when we don't need to hear that He died for us.
Follow Him. Do it all out because He did it all out for us,
Courtney
Monday, February 23, 2015
Enjoying the Single Season
With Valentines Day not too long ago, I thought Josh Storie's sermon on singleness was very fitting and worthy of a conversation via blog post. In 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 we hear Paul's opinion regarding sexual temptation. He acknowledges that sexual temptation is real and it's strong. Marriage is an outlet for this. Then in verse 8 he explains how single people should stay that way, unless they're burning with passion. Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire anyone?
But something we ask ourselves is: why? Why should we not seek out a partner? Paul tells us that he wants to spare us from the problems that married people face. He points to the idea that two people who are sinners together in one house causes conflict. You not only deal with your own sin, but also another persons sin. Paul wants to spare us from that. In verse 32 he says "But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord-how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world-how he may please his wife..."
The first benefit of being single that Josh described is that singles have the ability to be carefree and free of anxieties. Paul talks about how he wants this kind of life for us. During this season of our lives we can give and serve and travel and invest in people...the list goes on and on. The second benefit is that single people have the luxury of undivided interest. Single people have one focus: the Lord, but married people don't have that option. With another person, your interests become a little more divided. Being undivided in your pursuit of the Lord is such a blessing and a season of life that should be cherished, because for most people it is only temporary.
So, how do we not waste our time as single people? Give yourself away. We have the time to do it. So now is the time. Give. Invest in people. Serve in the Church until you just wear yourself out. Take risks. My friend Emily's Instagram bio puts it beautifully, "Don't let dreams, be dreams." Be open to the Spirit leading you to focus somewhere crazy.
Another striking point that Josh mentioned is to "use this season of singleness to put sin to death." Put what you're struggling with right now to death, now. Don't look for a relationship to complete you, the other person is always going to fail you in one way or another. Kick your sin habits before you enter into marriage. Desiring marriage isn't something that is sinful or wrong, God created marriage, but don't waste your season of being single. God wants to use you in ways He'll never be able to use you ever again once you are no longer single.
Now imagine if you actually did all this, how amazing the season would be...
Courtney
But something we ask ourselves is: why? Why should we not seek out a partner? Paul tells us that he wants to spare us from the problems that married people face. He points to the idea that two people who are sinners together in one house causes conflict. You not only deal with your own sin, but also another persons sin. Paul wants to spare us from that. In verse 32 he says "But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord-how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world-how he may please his wife..."
The first benefit of being single that Josh described is that singles have the ability to be carefree and free of anxieties. Paul talks about how he wants this kind of life for us. During this season of our lives we can give and serve and travel and invest in people...the list goes on and on. The second benefit is that single people have the luxury of undivided interest. Single people have one focus: the Lord, but married people don't have that option. With another person, your interests become a little more divided. Being undivided in your pursuit of the Lord is such a blessing and a season of life that should be cherished, because for most people it is only temporary.
So, how do we not waste our time as single people? Give yourself away. We have the time to do it. So now is the time. Give. Invest in people. Serve in the Church until you just wear yourself out. Take risks. My friend Emily's Instagram bio puts it beautifully, "Don't let dreams, be dreams." Be open to the Spirit leading you to focus somewhere crazy.
Another striking point that Josh mentioned is to "use this season of singleness to put sin to death." Put what you're struggling with right now to death, now. Don't look for a relationship to complete you, the other person is always going to fail you in one way or another. Kick your sin habits before you enter into marriage. Desiring marriage isn't something that is sinful or wrong, God created marriage, but don't waste your season of being single. God wants to use you in ways He'll never be able to use you ever again once you are no longer single.
Now imagine if you actually did all this, how amazing the season would be...
Courtney
Monday, February 16, 2015
The Finish Line
What is the nature of this Christian race? Let's turn to Acts 9:15-16... Luke is describing Paul's call in this passage. Jesus is talking about how Paul is an instrument specifically chosen by God to go proclaim the name of Jesus to those outside of God's people and to those who have been longing for the Messiah. He also gets to go proclaim the name of Jesus to Kings. How awesome is that?! Jesus then goes on to say that there will be suffering involved and that it's going to be difficult, a road marked with pain and suffering.
There is an aspect of Paul's call that is Universal: following Jesus is never free from suffering (James 1:2 tells us that knowing the testing of our faith produces patience). We can't deny the fact that the nature of Christianity doesn't come with some kind of suffering. But quitting because of suffering is a lame excuse in my opinion. When we lay our "yes" down, we know it's going to be difficult. In other words, when we give our lives over to Christ, we know what's in store for our lives.
So, why would we want to be involved in this Christianity thing if we know that suffering is a guarenteed aspect? Well, because it's worth it. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 says, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." Now what a beautiful promise this is to us as Christ followers! There is a crown of righteousness awaiting us. This is why we endure and why we strive to finish the race. This crown is the fullness of Christ's righteousness, bought for us on the Cross.
As a Believer you are counted as righteous. But, we still live in a sinful world and we aren't actually righteous. That's how we can love Jesus and still fall into our worst habits. We all face this, often times I find myself facing this on a daily basis. We will eventually cross that line where our sin no longer separates us from God. And what a glory filled day that will be. So again, why should we strive to finish this race called "life"? Because, Jesus is at the finish line. He clothed us in righteousness and experienced a world free from sin. How awesome will it be to look at our Savior in the face without guilt and shame? Just let that image and feeling for you specifically soak in. It will be perfect. Think of the most joy you have ever felt in your life this far, and then imagine what it will be like to stand in front of your Savior at the finish line.
This is a race worth finishing and enduring. At the finish line Jesus brings restoration and healing. Endure, Courtney
There is an aspect of Paul's call that is Universal: following Jesus is never free from suffering (James 1:2 tells us that knowing the testing of our faith produces patience). We can't deny the fact that the nature of Christianity doesn't come with some kind of suffering. But quitting because of suffering is a lame excuse in my opinion. When we lay our "yes" down, we know it's going to be difficult. In other words, when we give our lives over to Christ, we know what's in store for our lives.
So, why would we want to be involved in this Christianity thing if we know that suffering is a guarenteed aspect? Well, because it's worth it. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 says, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." Now what a beautiful promise this is to us as Christ followers! There is a crown of righteousness awaiting us. This is why we endure and why we strive to finish the race. This crown is the fullness of Christ's righteousness, bought for us on the Cross.
As a Believer you are counted as righteous. But, we still live in a sinful world and we aren't actually righteous. That's how we can love Jesus and still fall into our worst habits. We all face this, often times I find myself facing this on a daily basis. We will eventually cross that line where our sin no longer separates us from God. And what a glory filled day that will be. So again, why should we strive to finish this race called "life"? Because, Jesus is at the finish line. He clothed us in righteousness and experienced a world free from sin. How awesome will it be to look at our Savior in the face without guilt and shame? Just let that image and feeling for you specifically soak in. It will be perfect. Think of the most joy you have ever felt in your life this far, and then imagine what it will be like to stand in front of your Savior at the finish line.
This is a race worth finishing and enduring. At the finish line Jesus brings restoration and healing. Endure, Courtney
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