Listening to the Word

Ephesians 1-4 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 Both our salvation and our service with the Lord are by grace alone. We might think salvation is by grace and then we work for the Lord in the best way possible; but, Paul reminds us that God’s workmanship in us and his good works through us have both been prepared in advance. God’s grace and enablement are in everything we are and do. It’s all a gift. Our response to this amazing grace must be worship and joyful surrender. The weight of fruit-bearing is connected to our waiting on the Lord. We are fruitful and multiply because we are in Christ and his life is in us. Reflecting each day on God’s goodness to us, in Christ, keeps our eyes off of ourselves and on our Source.   What differenc...

  Romans 13-16   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 The Holy Spirit can empower us to be filled to overflowing with hope. That is great news in a world desperately in need of hope. With hope comes joy and peace as all three are rooted in our full dependency and faith in God. We trust God with our salvation, with our finances, with our future, and all the other unknowns in life. The inner reality of God’s presence through the Holy Spirit orients our thoughts and emotions on God’s promises and truth, rather than on the enemy’s lies and fears; “through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures   we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Are we filling our thoughts with God’s promises and inviting the Holy Spirit’s empowerment each day? The fruit of those habits is much hope which we can then share with those around us. “Lord Jesus, remind me of your promi...

Romans 9-12   “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.” Romans 9:2, 3 Is our heart in anguish for the salvation of our own people or nation? Have we invited God to grip our heart and squeeze it with care for the eternal state of those around us? Paul was ready to exchange his life and eternal salvation for the salvation of his people. This same sacrificial, desperate intercession marked Moses as he cried out to God for Israel. This was the intercession of Jesus and the reason he gave up his life on a cross for you and me. The comforts and distractions of this world can numb us to the eternal state of those who don’t know Christ. We can lose ourselves in self-indulgences, entertainment, hobbies, and games.   When have we experienced anguish of heart for the spiritual state of our nation and cried out to God? “Lord Jesus, I cr...

Romans 5-8 “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘ Abba , Father’.” Romans 8:13-15 We require the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to put to death the “misdeeds of the body”. Resisting temptation in our own strength is not sufficient. Being led by the Spirit means we listen and obey in the direction of mission, but also, away from temptation. Sin’s effect on us is slavery, bondage to addictions, and habits which shape our character and destiny. The Spirit’s effect on us is sanctification, freedom to follow God’s ways and truth. Living for sin means fear rules us, fear of others and fear of the ultimate penalty for our rebellion. Living for the Spirit means intimacy with God our Father as he...

Romans 1-4   “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” Romans 1:16, 17 The power of God for salvation and the transformation of our lives is not found in self-help books, the latest exercise or diet craze, or financial plan. The power of God to save us from ourselves and every addiction prevalent today is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We experience that power of God as we understand, experience conviction of our need, and by faith respond to the gospel. The gospel begins with God’s good command to “be fruitful and multiply”. Sin has blocked our ability to live into that command. The gospel is more than sin-management. It is God’s way to restored relationship with him and with others so we can be fruitful...

1 Timothy 4-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3 “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 5 Rather than avoiding or escaping suffering and persecution for the gospel, Paul encouraged the Thessalonian Church that God was using this persecution to prove them worthy of the kingdom of God. The early church believed persecution for the sake of Christ was a high honor because that was the same path Jesus Christ walked (Acts 5:41). Our salvation is by grace alone and it is only the righteousness of Christ given to us which makes us worthy; however, we are then given the honor of testifying to Christ’s presence in our lives by following Christ in his mission. Suffering for the gospel should be normal, honored, and evidence that we, too, are worthy of Chris...