Be still, oh wandering mind, from the worries of this world
Be calm, oh worried heart, over things you've no control
Find rest, oh weary soul, in the One who made all things
The Counselor has come and The Comforter is near
So you, oh mixed emotions, shall know not what it is to fear
Praise ye instead The Lord above lords
Sing praise, you broken voice
Bring praise, you shaking hands
Seek grace, you blinded eyes
Hear faith, you useless ears
The bloods of the nations cry out for Salvation
Salvation
Salvation through sacrifice, no greater love
Salvation through sacrifice, He poured out His blood
Salvation through mercy, forgiveness through grace
Sweat from His face are ye, oh petty sins
So be still, oh wandering mind
Oh worried heart, be calm
Find rest, oh weary soul
Find rest
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Jesus is the change the world is waiting for.
What if I told you "You, personally, hold the key to the transformation of this world." What if I told you "You already possess the knowledge and the tools to change the world."?
Let's take a look at one of the core values of my church
Jesus is the change the world is waiting for.
Jesus loves us way too much to let us stay the way we are.
We are always being transformed into Jesus image.
Within that tag line are some pretty bold statements that I think we can all agree are factual.
Let's see if you guys agree:
Jesus IS the change this world is waiting for.
Jesus loves us.
We are constantly being transformed and growing.
Jesus is the one doing the transforming, not us.
Did ya hear that first one? Jesus is the change this world is waiting for. However, that leaves some work for us to do and some challenges for us to face.
Romans 8:18 says
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:18, 19, 22-25 NIV)
Notice that it says the whole world, all of creation, is waiting for Gods children to be revealed. It's waiting for Jesus image to be shown in this world. The whole world is waiting on us to share Jesus with them. Now, there's nothing easy about that. There's never anything easy about sharing Jesus with the world. Sometimes times we like to think that since we're Christians our lives should be simple with no interruptions or difficulty but that's not biblical but Jesus never said it would be easy. There are going to be challenges. In Matthew 5 He said we would face insults and persecution, not rainbows and butterflies. Here's some good news from the prophet Isaiah, he says;
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you."
(Isaiah 30:18, 19 NIV)
There is a pretty smart guy I get the privilege of knowing, that guy is Pastor J. David Alderson, or you may simply know him as 'Dave'. Dave, who once commented on his transition from the theological world back into the secular word told me "We have to fight to get back in the world." Notice he didn't say "back at the world" or "back of the world" he said "We have to fight to get back in the world."
That's true, there will always be challenges to revealing Jesus to the world. There will be resistance. You see, acceptance of change is admission of being wrong in the first place. I don't know about you but I don't like admitting I was wrong, so it will always feel like a fight, but here's what we know.The world is waiting to hear the gospel. It's not just patiently waiting. It is eagerly waiting, it is desperate to hear what we have to say. We have the key to the transformation of this world. That key is Jesus Christ!
Let's take a look at one of the core values of my church
Jesus is the change the world is waiting for.
Jesus loves us way too much to let us stay the way we are.
We are always being transformed into Jesus image.
Within that tag line are some pretty bold statements that I think we can all agree are factual.
Let's see if you guys agree:
Jesus IS the change this world is waiting for.
Jesus loves us.
We are constantly being transformed and growing.
Jesus is the one doing the transforming, not us.
Did ya hear that first one? Jesus is the change this world is waiting for. However, that leaves some work for us to do and some challenges for us to face.
Romans 8:18 says
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:18, 19, 22-25 NIV)
Notice that it says the whole world, all of creation, is waiting for Gods children to be revealed. It's waiting for Jesus image to be shown in this world. The whole world is waiting on us to share Jesus with them. Now, there's nothing easy about that. There's never anything easy about sharing Jesus with the world. Sometimes times we like to think that since we're Christians our lives should be simple with no interruptions or difficulty but that's not biblical but Jesus never said it would be easy. There are going to be challenges. In Matthew 5 He said we would face insults and persecution, not rainbows and butterflies. Here's some good news from the prophet Isaiah, he says;
"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you."
(Isaiah 30:18, 19 NIV)
There is a pretty smart guy I get the privilege of knowing, that guy is Pastor J. David Alderson, or you may simply know him as 'Dave'. Dave, who once commented on his transition from the theological world back into the secular word told me "We have to fight to get back in the world." Notice he didn't say "back at the world" or "back of the world" he said "We have to fight to get back in the world."
That's true, there will always be challenges to revealing Jesus to the world. There will be resistance. You see, acceptance of change is admission of being wrong in the first place. I don't know about you but I don't like admitting I was wrong, so it will always feel like a fight, but here's what we know.The world is waiting to hear the gospel. It's not just patiently waiting. It is eagerly waiting, it is desperate to hear what we have to say. We have the key to the transformation of this world. That key is Jesus Christ!
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