One Spirit

November 1, 2019 Pastor Stephen Dedman Faith, Salvation, Trust

One Spirit

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:17‬

Our Identity

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God there has been a separation from mankind and God. After Adam sinned he was afraid. Genesis 3:10 says, “And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”” Adam was afraid because he realized he was naked. On that day Adam, due to his sin, was stripped of his identity in God. Thankfully we can have the identity again with God through Jesus and His accomplishment on the cross.

Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians 6:17 that believers are joined so closely to Christ that we become “one spirit with Him.” Paul is comparing our oneness with Christ to the oneness that takes place in marriage between a man and a woman. Even in marriage we keep our individual identities while at the same time two people become one flesh. A similar thing happens when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. However our oneness with Jesus goes far deeper than human marriage as it produces eternal results.

We all inherit the sinfulness of Adam. We are all born lost and separated from God. But we can do something about it by placing our faith in Jesus and become one with Him. As a believer you are adopted into the family of God to never be separated again. Paul says in Galatians 3:29, “and if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” If you are in Christ and Christ is in you, you are saved and redeemed. No longer do you need to be afraid.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for making me a new creation in Christ Jesus. I know that I am in Him and He is in me.

The Judgment Seat

October 31, 2019 Pastor Stephen Dedman Encouragement, Trust

The Judgment Seat

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:10

Standing Before Christ

There are many things that motivate us as Christians to live a life that is pleasing to God. Possibly one of the most important is the fact that one day we all will give an account of our life to Christ. We will not have to report what we did or did not do because Jesus knows all things. Neither will there be any reasons to give excuses for our life here on Earth. As the Scripture says, we will receive what is due for what we did while we were in our mortal bodies.

Paul was motivated by this truth and desired to please God with all his might. The idea of standing before Christ gave him an expected urgency to obey the small still voice of God. The Holy Spirit guides us to do the will of God. That is why Paul says that it is important be controlled by the Spirit of God and no other thing or person. Paul’s ministry was pleasing to the Lord. He was not perfect but he strived to live everyday for the Lord. His actions and words were living proof that Jesus was His master and Lord.

The promise that we receive as true Believers in Christ is found in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The blood sacrifice of Jesus paid for our sin once and for all to give us eternal life in Heaven but we will still stand before Christ to receive our just reward for the things done good and bad.

Prayer

Lord, Thank you for dying on the cross for me and my sins. Give me strength to live courageously for You as I strive to please only You.

Give And Do Not Refuse

October 30, 2019 Pastor Stephen Dedman Encouragement, Trust

Give And Do Not Refuse

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:42‬ ‭

A Right Heart

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus is addressing the issues that plague the heart. Real heart issues that really have an effect on how we treat others and how we live our lives publicly and privately. Most of the issues that Jesus covered are issues that most people have when they are selfish and motivated by self pleasing ambitions.

Jesus says to give to the those who beg and don’t refuse to lend to those who ask to borrow. The heart issue here deals with greed. Most of the time we are not quick to give or lend because we have a greedy mindset. When it comes to our personal possessions we tend to get very selfish. When someone comes to us with a need and we have the means to meet that need we should be quick to help. Most of the time we want information that we should not necessary need. For example we ask a lot of questions when someone wants to borrow money and we test to see if it is really a need or not. What Jesus is getting to in this idea is that when we have a brother or sister in Christ who needs our help we should be willing to help them quickly.

If we see a person who is in need we should be quick to help them before they ever ask for help. 1 John 3:17 says, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in Him?” If we see someone in need we need to meet that need. The issue lies in the heart. Are you more concerned with your possessions or serving God?

Prayer

Lord, show me someone who needs my help. Let me be quick to see the need before they ever ask for help. Thank you for blessing me with what I have.