Change

This past week has been a reminder to me about the change that happens when Christ comes into our lives.

Baptism is a symbol of that change; from burial of the "old self"
and its ways, to a "new birth" in Christ and the ways of the Kingdom.

We should, by His Spirit, be putting off the "old" and starting to wear the "new".

Have you experienced that change?

Reading the third chapter of 1 John, here's the verse that struck me:

¹⁴We know that we have passed out of death into life…
1 John 3:14 (a) (ESV)

I think many of us might say, "Not sure I understand that, but I've got my ticket to Heaven," and then we go on living just like we used to, just like the rest of the world.

As someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ, we should be changed; our lives should be different. Look at the difference:

¹⁴ If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. ¹⁵
Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don't have eternal life within them.

 ¹⁶ We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God's love be in that person?

 ¹⁸ Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the
truth by our actions. ¹⁹ Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident
when we stand before God. ²⁰ Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

 ²¹ Dear friends, if we don't feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.
²² And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

 ²³ And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. ²⁴ Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. 1 John 3:14-24

Wow, read that again, slowly and let it sink it!

Experience that re-birth and live in the power of His Spirit – Be Changed!

"Launch the Love!"

 

WOW

What an incredible week!

I've had the privilege of baptizing 6 incredible people in the last 5 days!

They are all coming to understand what it means to be reborn, remade, reconciled, and regenerated IN Christ!

What struck me as I was reading 1 John and thinking about last night's baptism was how "RELATIONSHIPS MAKE LIFE RICH".

The fact that we can have a relationship with our Creator is incredible by itself, but then He takes our earthly relationship to a whole new level!

I love doing baptism in the fountain on campus, here's why.

First, you never know who will walk by and the testimony it gives to the world!

Secondly, you are at an institution of higher learning; ok, what does that have to do with it?

We are commissioned by Christ to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

A disciple is a learner, someone who has a deep intimacy with Christ and is learning His ways.

We are baptizing at an institution that is teaching the ways of the world and by our baptism we are proclaiming we are learning what it means to be a part of our Father's Kingdom!

Lastly, and this might seem like sacrilege to Seminoles!  On a campus that prides itself in being the "Unconquered", baptism is saying to the world my sins have been "Conquered" by Christ and I am surrendering to Him!  I will not be conquered by evil!

Last night Drew went with me and as we left he said, with some disappointment, "Sure were a lot of people here for only 3 people getting baptized!"

EXACTLY!

How INCREDIBLE is that?

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10

The Heavens rejoice over one, shouldn't we?

Wednesday night and last night were an awesome display of how God is making us a family! 


Thanks for allowing me to be a part!

1 John 1

As we continue to Launch the Love we challenged you to read a chapter
a day from 1 John.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. ²The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. ³We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. ⁴We write this to make our joy complete.

Walking in the light

 ⁵This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

 ⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John

Not sure what exactly jumped out at you when you read the first chapter of 1 John, but here is what hit me.

If we profess to follow Christ
our faith needs to be tested.

⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
2 Cor 13:5

• Is my life different
  than before I started following Christ?
  
• Has my attitude, priorities, values and desires changed since following Christ?
  
• Are there issues in my life that I feel powerless to overcome?
  
• Is there a desire to spend more time getting to know God?
  
• Is there a desire to spend more time doing the will of God?
  
• Is there a feeling of joy when among others who believe?
  
• Am I finding more joy?
  

 

I would hate for any of us to miss it!

Scott spoke yesterday about a religion versus a relationship that brings about life change. Maybe you've been religious but when you answer the questions above there are no vital signs. My challenge to you would be to read the story of the great, but unsaved, religious leader Nicodemus (John 3:1-10) and see what Jesus has to say to him.

More our joy be complete!

Truth

Today we rejoice in truth.

My prayer is that over the last week you have encountered God and have experienced His love for you! As you've come to understand just how much He loves you, you've learned to love Him with all of your heart, your soul, your mind and strength.

Today we gather to praise our God, the one and only true God, for who He is and what He has done for us!

We gather in His name, a name above all names!

We gather to praise Him because He is not distant, but a loving, relational God; Abba – our Father; Immanuel - God which walked with us; the Holy Spirit – God in us!

We gather to rejoice in the truth because He is!

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

We gather because nothing can separate us from His love!

³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

We gather because His love for us is extravagant!

"Keep company with God and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His
love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that."     Eph. 5:2 (Mes)

We gather because He is!

⁹ Gather the nations together!
      Assemble the peoples of the world!
   Which of their idols has ever foretold such things?
      Which can predict what will happen tomorrow?
   Where are the witnesses of such predictions?
      Who can verify that they spoke the truth?

 ¹⁰ "But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the Lord.
      "You are my servant.
   You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,
      and understand that I alone am God.
   There is no other God—
      there never has been, and there never will be.
 ¹¹ I, yes I, am the Lord,
      and there is no other Savior.
Isa 43:9-11

Rejoice in that truth today!

Love is not self-seeking

Valentines is all about giving reminders of how much you love someone. May I remind you of the greatest love gift ever:

 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself

      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
Phil 2:5-8

He surrendered His rights, became a servant, and then became the Sacrifice for you!

He Loves You!

Will you have that same attitude today?

Wear love today!

Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Phil 3:16

Today we practice - Love that does not act unbecoming (rude,behave unseemingly, act improperly)… or rejoices in unrighteousness (evil, iniquity, injustice, wrongdoing)

He is…
Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
Isa 6:3

Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
John 17:21

Today is a chance to practice who you are in Christ, not who you once were.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and declared that you will follow Him and His ways alone, then you are not who you once were; you are being remade, reborn, reconciled, renewed!

As disciples, followers of Jesus we should be learning who we are in Christ.

Look at this passage:

 ¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not
on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Col 3:1-4

Your life is now in Christ, you are a new creation!

Here's your old way of life:

 ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.^[b]
7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col 3:5-10

Today take off the old self and put
on the image of Christ!

Live the life you have already attained!

Your old nature is dead, it wants to pull you down, don't let it!

 ¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

Let that sink in…

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Col 3:12-14

Wear love today – Wear His name!

Thursday – no boasting!

Today is about not boasting or being proud. It's all about humility.

Think about this verse:

He is…very nature God…made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, Phil 2:7

God, who had every
right to boast, made Himself "nothing", NOTHING, NOTHING…let that sink in…I on the other hand, am always trying to make something out of myself!

Put yourself in situations that will humble you, yes, I said humble you!

Why?

Because He did.

Look at all of that verse:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself

      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross! Phil 2:5-8

Our attitude should be the same!

We should…Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Romans 12:10 (MSG)

Here are some suggestions:

Don't steal someone's "ego-food".

What's that mean? You know, it's when someone is telling a story and you can't wait for them to shut-up so you can tell your story that is way better than theirs, DON"T DO IT!

Listen more than you talk!

God gave you two ears and only one mouth! Listen twice as much!

Make someone feel greater than you.

Walk away from every encounter today asking yourself, "Did they feel more important than me?"

Ask for help.

Especially if you are a guy, there is nothing that humbles you quicker than saying you don't know how to do something!

Confess your sins.

AHH, really, you had to go there? Yes, this is about practicing humility! I think this humbles you more than any other, when we finally admit who we really are. It is also the most freeing thing; you won't have to wear a mask with person any longer!

Have an awesome
day being humble!