Bold Faith Part 2

 

    Two years ago today I wrote about bold faith.  If you are trying to walk closely with God, then you are always growing and expanding.  I want to expand on what God has been teaching me about bold faith in the last two years.

    Bold faith is faith that you live our for the world to see.  It is unapologetic for following Jesus.  A great example is Peter.  Peter got himself into all sorts of trouble for his bold faith, but he acted.  He wasn't worried about consequences until after his impulse to do whatever Jesus asked.  Peter was bold and impulsive, but that enabled him to speak out and do things that other people could not or would not do.

    To live out bold faith is to live out what you learn about what concerns God.  Your heart has to be in the right place for you to be open and obedient to God's lessons.  When you learn what God cares about, then it becomes your responsibility to act on it.  Bold faith requires standing firm and sometimes alone.  You don't get the luxury to hide.  It takes maturity to get to bold faith that does not buckle.

    Moses was a spokesman for God.  He spoke against a government that was hurting his people.  That took bold faith.  Jeremiah was a bold prophet even though he was young.  Noah may have been a drunk, but he always did as God commanded.  Abraham was a liar, but his faith made him father of nations.  He is even known as the father of faith.  David was a murderer and adulterer, but he had a heart that led to bold faith.  Jacob was a liar, but his faith made things happen. 

    No one is perfect.  We all have major issues with sin, but if you are obedient and willing, then you can also live our bold faith.  You have a choice to obey or turn and walk away forfeiting all the blessings that God has intended for you personally.  God can use your weaknesses to make you strong.  You just have to put the excuses away.

Matthew 16:21-28 & John 20:18-25

Turn to God

 

    To turn to God is to surrender your will to His will.  You life is not always just about what you want.  You have a purpose beyond yourself.  The point is to choose Him in all circumstances.  If you turn away from God just because life does not go your way, then you are showing that your faith was superficial.

    Faith is the battle between being self-centered versus selfless to follow Jesus and choosing to follow Jesus no matter what.  To follow Jesus, you must deny yourself.  The Bible never said it would come natural to turn to God.  It just said the gift of salvation was free.  

    The universe does not revolve around you.  This world doesn't care about you.  Even in your own family, you are on your own sometimes.  To know and understand your purpose, you need to learn how to fast and pray.  It is the only way to draw closer to God.  To turn to God is to follow Him as He directs you.  

    It is time to seek wisdom.  It is there for the taking.  It does change your life.  It is easier to be a simpleton or simpleminded, but not nearly as fulfilling in life.  Do not mock what you do not understand.  Do not be a fool and hate the truth.  Choose to turn to God by listening to the Holy Spirit and become wise.

    As the New Year approaches, it is a good time to figure out how you can turn to God in a new way.  What does selfless faith look like in your life.  Jesus has showed us how to love, give generously, hold onto gratitude, and to learn how to deny yourself.  What do you need to fast and pray about to change for the upcoming year?  What ideas and priorities work against you that you may need to submit or reshape?

Proverbs 1 :20-23 & Matthew 16:24-28

Christmas Promise

 

    The Christmas promise is the promise of opportunity to have redemption.  It is the province of God to give the world His son.  The fulfillment of that promise is why we have Christmas.  It is a free gift to anyone who accepts it.  When you accept Jesus' gift of salvation, you receive righteousness.

    We all have the choice to live in God's glory or to stay in our sin and reject His gift.  God will never force you to accept His generosity, but you can't expect the rewards if you don't accept the gift.  Jesus was born a human, but he was already God.  To follow him is to walk into eternal life or glory.  To go your own route marches you right into hell.  

    When you choose to believe the truth about Jesus's birth, life, death, resurrection, and his return one day, you choose salvation from your own destruction.  Sin separates you from God, but following Jesus brings you closer everyday.  Your faith will make you are part of that family and you will never be alone again.  

    You are adopted which means chosen and loved unconditionally.  Jesus replaced death with eternal life.  It is a privilege.  He shows you how to love.  God brings you into the perfect family.  The Holy Spirit empowers you to live the best life you can life.  Appreciate your Christmas present.

Matthew 2:7-11 & Galatians 4:4-7

God's Design for Christmas

 

    God's design for Christmas was to present His son to the world in His own way.  If we do Christmas God's way, then it would not be about going into debt to give gifts that people don't really need.  You give out of love from what you have.  You stop and remember Jesus and ask God what you can give back.  The response probably will not be material things.

    The point of Christmas is to remember your relationship with God and be thankful for the sacrifice He made to have that relationship with you.  He gave up His son Jesus to the world, so that you can have an intimate relationship with Him.  He also wants you to have close human relationships too.  Sin poisons all relationships.  It will distract you from the what really matters: Jesus.  

    Christmas is the time of year to regroup and reevaluate your year.  Take a look at your life and attitude to decide what you can sacrifice for a closer relationship with God.  Sin leads to death.  A true relationship with Jesus leads to life.  A life led by sin never changes, but a life led by Jesus can change every aspect of your life.

    Redemption requires submission and humility.  You have to see sin for what it is.  You have to believe that Jesus is God in a human body.  You have to see value in other people.  It can take time to learn to love people like Jesus loved them, but it is something every Christian is required to learn.

    Jesus came into this world in the most humble way to start from the point of impact.  He was born to be a servant to people.  He came to show us the way.  His life was in a manner that would connect with the most people.  

    Throughout his life you never read about him giving grand gifts.  He gave of himself, healing, food, and other necessities.  We can learn how to give gifts this Christmas from Jesus.  We can connect with the truth that he came to redeem not make people rich and powerful.  He came to show us how to live humbly and as a servant to the world, not to be served.

    Jesus came and broke the chains of sin.  If we are tied down by sin it is because we allow it to be that way.  We can escape if we allow ourselves to walk in faith.  There is nothing wrong with having money.  It makes life easier, but it does matter what you do with what you have.  Break the chains that hold you back this Christmas.  Take the time tonight to read the Christmas story and really read it.  Don't just skim it because it is a story that you know, but let new aspects sink in.

Matthew 2:7-11 & Mark 10:41-45

Christmas Redemption

 

    The theology behind Christmas is that Jesus came to save .  He came to rescue people and be our ransom for everyone who will believe.  Jesus the is truth about redemption.  His gift of Salvation is offered year around.  You just have to accept it with the openness of a child.

    You may ask why do I need redemption?  That is an important question to ask.  You need to understand your need for redemption.  You have to see that you are a slave to sin.  The human moral and spiritual nature seeks something more, but the life of sin is all people know.  It takes something supernatural to get us to see the need for something different and actually take action.

    Sin is a reality of life.  It curses us to death.  Humans never needed to die, but we got in our own way.  The wages of sin has always been death.  It has always drove distance between people and God.  You are only as close to God as you want to be.  The more you choose obedience out of love the closer you will be to Him, but the more you choose yourself the further you will be.  

    Since the first sin, it has always required blood to have redemption.  Jesus came to be that last blood sacrifice.  Now we only need faith and a repentant heart to have our sins removed.  We deserve whatever we get in life, no one is the exception but Jesus.  He took all that we deserved onto himself, so that we have the opportunity to avoid a spiritual death.

Matthew 1:18-25, 2:7-11, & Ephesians 1:7-8

Listening on the Mountaintop

 

    When you are on the mountaintop and you allow yourself to be still, you hear all sorts of things.  If you meditate and pray on the mountaintop you may just hear a whisper from God.  The Holy Spirit speaks within you, but you can hear him much more clearly when you are still and ready to listen.

    When you listen for God's voice, then you will receive information.  God speaks to you because you choose to listen.  Do not be afraid.  Instead be open and ready to follow obediently wherever He may lead you.  

    God can only use the people that are willing to listen and obey.  With the gift of free will, God will never force Himself upon you.  He waits patiently for you to present yourself to Him.  It does not mean that He is idly waiting on you.  He is always active and involved in everyone's lives.

    God sent Jesus to the world at just the right time.  Jesus was born and lived like a regular human except the fact that he was still God.  He chose to die and resurrected himself to open a door for everyone to have a relationship with God.  In following God's plan, Jesus made it where every living person can have salvation if they choose to have it.

    Jesus was the last blood sacrifice.  It always took blood to be freed from the guilt of sin.  We don't like to think about it because we have stubborn hearts.  We don't want to see our guilt.  However, we have to face our guilt to see the freedom in the covenant that Jesus made with his sacrifice.  It is a marvelous gift, but we have to acknowledge our part in it.

    There are consequences in ignoring Jesus' gift.  Jesus works on all of our hearts, but if we never are willing to hear the message, then we will never experience the miraculous mountaintop experience.  Don't leave the mountaintop without experiencing God's presence.  

    Do not go back into the world as if you had never been on the mountaintop.    God doesn't need us, but He loves us enough to give us purpose and involve us in His plans.  Following His lead is the only way to experience His glory.

Exodus 34:1-11, Matthew 1:20-23, & Luke 9:28-36

Value the Mountaintop

 

    The mountaintop of life have value.  We should not take them for granted.  While you are on the mountaintop, you get perspective.  You can learn humility.  You can find peace and joy.  The mountaintop can be a place of healing and rest.  

    When you are on the mountaintop you have access to a view that you don't have at ground level.  You can see the impossible become possible if you choose obedience to God.  Living out your faith establishes opportunities to see miracles, great things, God moving, restoration, and revival of things you thought were lost forever.  True salvation produces gratitude on the mountaintop.  

    Salvation is only the beginning.  When you appreciate the moments on the mountaintop as a Christian, you are reminded of what is important.  You are able to see the work you have ahead of you hold value.  You see Jesus' sacrifice as the doorway to peace. His human beginning all started through an engaged couple that didn't understand what was happening in their lives, but accepted and obeyed.  They lived extraordinary lives because of their obedience.

    The victories in life belong to God, but we are a part of the process.  We have a role in the big picture that support's God's ultimate victory.  When you are going through the hard times, remember why you are not giving up.

Proverbs 21:31, Matthew 1:20-23, & Luke 9:28-36