All In This Together

SCRIPTURE

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“My dear friends, you always obeyed what you were taught. Just as you obeyed when I was with you, it is even more important for you to obey now that I am not there. So you must continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation. Do this with fear and respect for God. Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Fear used here refers to reverential awe. Paul is not saying be afraid of God. He is saying do this out of reverential respect and awe of who God is. The All-Sufficient One!

OBSERVATION

The Novela Coronavirus Pandemic has changed our lives forever. COVID-19 has hit several countries incredibly hard. Many have lost their lives to this virus in China, Italy, and several other parts of the world. Here, in United States Novela Coronavirus has rolled in like a blanket of fog, descending on the country. Fear & confusion have swept through the land as Stay-At-Home Orders have been issued by various state governers. The speed, and lethality of this virus have rocked the country! 

Many ask “Where is God in this”? Others definitely say “This IS an act of God”!

My assignment today is to speak to the People of God.

“Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world, and you offer them the teaching that gives life. So I can be proud of you when Christ comes again. You will show that my work was not wasted—that I ran in the race and won.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:14-16‬ ‭ERV‬‬

“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭ERV‬‬

APPLICATION

• Yellows (Speak the language of People & Fun) can use their needs to be constructive, creating ways for people to experience fun/joy, instead of being destructive, by violating Social Distancing protocols because they’re experiencing Cabin Fever.

• Reds (Speak the language of Power & Control) can flip their needs and be an inspirational voice in a time of panic, fear, and confusion, by creating structures that provide a sense of normalcy. 

• Greens (Speak the language of Calm & Harmony) can be a center of calm. Creating a soft landing place for those whose lives have been disrupted by the darkness of this virus.

• Blues (Speak the language of Perfection & Order) can flip their innate wiring. They can be the Logistics Officer of the house, making certain that all necessary supplies have been gathered. Checking to see if people have what they need.

PRAYER

Father,  I thank You that nothing takes you by surprise. I know that You are aware of our situation. We call You Lord of all, and Lord in all!! You protect us, and keep us, comfort us, and lead us. And we love and thank You for it, in Jesus’ name.

Feed The Need

SCRIPTURE

“Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭ERV‬‬

OBSERVATION

Here, Paul suggests we consider what we have in Christ. Encouragement, comfort, sharing, mercy, and kindness. Consider what being in relationship with Jesus does for the Believer, the Disciple of God.  

• Encouragement literally means to PUT COURAGE IN. Christ has put His courage IN you. 

• In your distress, our faith in Christ, in His ability to do anything but fail, brings us comfort. 
• Things that are impossible with man, are POSSIBLE w/ God! We are loved by a BIG GREAT GOD!
• Paul suggests that the readers & hearers of the letter consider the mercy and kindness shown to us by Christ.

APPLICATION

And after full consideration I’ve come to the conclusion that Jesus fully SATISFIES me! Who He is and what He provides fills me up! I am FULL in Christ!!

IF YOU ENJOY THESE BLESSINGS Paul says “You must respond”.  

But how?

1. Agree w/ each other
2. Show love for each other
3. Be united
4. Don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide
5. Be humble
6. Honor others more than yourself
7. Don’t be interested only in your own life
8. Care about the lives of others too

“The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death — his death on the cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honour of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5-11‬ ‭GNB‬‬

PRAYER

My Lord, my King, I thank you for Your love. Thank You for showing us how to love. Help us to love like You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Life’s Healing Choices: Increase My Desire

Matthew‬ ‭5:1-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them. “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

‭

“When Jesus saw the crowds of people there, he went up on a hill and sat down. His followers came and sat next to him. Then Jesus began teaching the people. He said, “Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need. God’s kingdom belongs to them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:1-3‬ ‭ERV‬‬

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall”

BY MOTHER GOOSE

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;

All the king's horses and all the king's men

Couldn't put Humpty together again.

• We want God’s “stuff”, but we don’t necessarily want God.
• We pursue the “blessing” not the One who blesses 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

““Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:27-34‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Truth is I'm tired

Options are few

I’m trying to pray

But where are you?

I’m all churched out

Hurt and abused

I can’t fake

What’s left to do?

Truth is I'm weak

No strength to fight

No tears to cry

Even if I tried

But still my soul

Refuses to die

One touch-will change-my life

Take me to the king

Written by Kirk Franklin

Here, no doubt, we ask a question to which human beings cannot give an answer with any certainty. A reasonable (and traditional) guess, based on our own experiences of going wrong, can, however, be offered. The moment you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first—wanting to be the center—wanting to be God, in fact. That was the sin of Satan: and that was the sin he taught the human race. Some people think the fall of man had something to do with sex, but that is a mistake.... What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’—could set up on their own as if they had created themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

C.S. Lewis “Mere Christianity”

• To try, and do life alone is sabotage. It’s suicide.
• Words mean things. To “Invite Jesus into your heart or your life is to suggest that He is not the owner. You are”.
• But to give yourself over to Him, to give yourself away, is to say He is the owner of your life, and He can do whatever He sees fit to do with it.
• This is where the declaration “I surrender all” is an appropriate response.