in not of

We haven’t received the world’s spirit but God’s Spirit so that we can know the things given to us by God. These are the things we are talking about—not with words taught by human wisdom but with words taught by the Spirit—we are interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people. But people who are unspiritual don’t accept the things from God’s Spirit. They are foolishness to them and can’t be understood, because they can only be comprehended in a spiritual way. Spiritual people comprehend everything, but they themselves aren’t understood by anyone. Who has known the mind of the Lord, who will advise him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:12-16, CEB)

We have God’s Spirit to understand the things of God. TO me this is another way to say we are in the world, but not pf the world.

We exist here in this place at this time, but we are part of God’s kingdom. People who are not a part of the kingdom, i.e. do not have the Spirit to understand the things of God are in the world and or the world. They do not comprehend the things those in the spirit do.

We must live in a way that we share God’s love every day so all may come to know the love God has for them.

Loving People. Loving God.

Be yourself

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I didn’t come preaching God’s secrets to you like I was an expert in speech or wisdom. I had made up my mind not to think about anything while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified. I stood in front of you with weakness, fear, and a lot of shaking. My message and my preaching weren’t presented with convincing wise words but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. I did this so that your faith might not depend on the wisdom of people but on the power of God. What we say is wisdom to people who are mature. It isn’t a wisdom that comes from the present day or from today’s leaders who are being reduced to nothing. We talk about God’s wisdom, which has been hidden as a secret. God determined this wisdom in advance, before time began, for our glory. It is a wisdom that none of the present-day rulers have understood, because if they did understand it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory! But this is precisely what is written: God has prepared things for those who love him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being. God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, including the depths of God. Who knows a person’s depths except their own spirit that lives in them? In the same way, no one has known the depths of God except God’s Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:1-11, CEB)

This passage starts out with Paul saying when he came to Corinth he didn’t pose as if he was better than anyone else there. He didn’t use big words to impress. He simply told the story that he had heard and explained how Jesus was the Messiah.

He plainly told the story so that everyone’s faith might deepen.

God has given us the story to share to show the love God has for all of creation.

Our job is not to impress or win over. Our job is to be ourselves and tell the story.

In telling the story we share love, and allow others to hear and grow in faith.

Go and tell and love.

Loving People. Loving God.

What sign do you need?

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father; that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus replied, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been with you all this time? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I have spoken to you I don’t speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Trust me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe on account of the works themselves. 12 I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father can be glorified in the Son. 14 When you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. 17 This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you.

25 “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. 26 The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you. 27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:8-17, 25-27, CEB)

Could you imagine walking with Jesus for any amount of time and then asking him to show us the Father? We can’t imagine it because we know the whole story and know for certain that Jesus is the Messiah. So would we have asked the question Philip asked?

Philip had walked with Jesus and yet still wanted a sign. We want signs all the time and even when we get them we don’t believe them.

What sign would make you believe 100%?

Or do you believe 100%?

We can know that the promises are true because of the number of times they have been proven true.

Know that Jesus is the Messiah and we are safe in His hands.

Loving People. Loving God.

Don’t be afraid…

5 During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. 6 They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. 8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. 9 Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. 10 All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. 11 An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear. 13 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. 16 He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. 17 He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:5-17, CEB)

When Zechariah saw the angel he was startled and overcome with fear. Then the angel said don’t be afraid. Almost every time an angel appears in the bible it says do not be afraid. Why?

Have you looked at the description of angels in the bible? They are scary. Some of them have multiple head and multiple sets of wings. They don’t look like us. So they say don’t be afraid of me, I am not here to harm you.

The angel that appears to Zechariah gives him great news that he will be a father. Elizabeth you is barren will have a son and he will prepare the way for the Messiah.

We will all do things we do not think we can because of God working through us.

Always remember that.

Loving People. Loving God.

plant

7 Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant. 8 Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. 10 So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10, CEB)

What are you planting?

We should be planting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Because God has filled us with good things and we should overflow with that in the world.

Even when people are mean-spirited and evil towards us we must show them we are followers of Christ and we do that by love.

Love in all things and plant love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Led by the Spirit

16 I say be guided by the Spirit and you won’t carry out your selfish desires. 17 A person’s selfish desires are set against the Spirit, and the Spirit is set against one’s selfish desires. They are opposed to each other, so you shouldn’t do whatever you want to do. 18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren’t under the Law. 19 The actions that are produced by selfish motives are obvious, since they include sexual immorality, moral corruption, doing whatever feels good, 20 idolatry, drug use and casting spells, hate, fighting, obsession, losing your temper, competitive opposition, conflict, selfishness, group rivalry, 21 jealousy, drunkenness, partying, and other things like that. I warn you as I have already warned you, that those who do these kinds of things won’t inherit God’s kingdom. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-25, CEB)

Be led by the Spirit and you will not carry out selfish desires.

When you are following where God is leading you you will not be tempted to do what you want but will be sharing the love that God has given you.

You will live in the fruit of the spirit. And the fruit of the spirit is love. Or is it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

I have always wondered about that. It doesn’t say the fruits of the spirit are. It says the fruit of the spirit is. Is it possible for a single thing to be 9 things? Or is it the fruit of the spirit is love, and the other eight describe what love is? Does it ultimately matter when we follow the spirit?

Follow the leading of the spirit and love as you go.

Loving People. Loving God.

what are you saving for?

18 Once when Jesus was praying by himself, the disciples joined him, and he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They answered, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others that one of the ancient prophets has come back to life.” 20 He asked them, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ sent from God.” 21 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Human One must suffer many things and be rejected—by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts—and be killed and be raised on the third day.” 23 Jesus said to everyone, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. 24 All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will save them. 25 What advantage do people have if they gain the whole world for themselves yet perish or lose their lives? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Human One will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see God’s kingdom.” (Luke 9:18-27, CEB)

All who want to follow me must take up their cross daily and follow. Deny yourself and follow.

I wonder what we save for ourselves that we do not give over to others? What should we be denying ourselves that we don’t?

We can take nothing with us when we leave this world. We came into it naked and crying and we will all go out in a box 6 feet underground. (Ok you might not be in a box underground but you get the point.) Everything we have will either go to family or the state, so why do we save it?

Do we trust that God will provide our daily bread?

If we do what are we saving for?

Love with what you got and deny yourself.

Loving People. Loving God.

Be like Paul

19 “So, King Agrippa, I wasn’t disobedient to that heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I proclaimed first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to the whole region of Judea and to the Gentiles. My message was that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God, and that they should demonstrate this change in their behavior. 21 Because of this, some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. 22 God has helped me up to this very day. Therefore, I stand here and bear witness to the lowly and the great. I’m saying nothing more than what the Prophets and Moses declared would happen: 23 that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to my people and to the Gentiles.” 24 At this point in Paul’s defense, Festus declared with a loud voice, “You’ve lost your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you mad!” 25 But Paul replied, “I’m not mad, most honorable Festus! I’m speaking what is sound and true. 26 King Agrippa knows about these things, and I have been speaking openly to him. I’m certain that none of these things have escaped his attention. This didn’t happen secretly or in some out-of-the-way place. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you trying to convince me that, in such a short time, you’ve made me a Christian?” 29 Paul responded, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today will become like me, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:19-29, CEB)

Paul says at the end, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today will become like me, except for these chains.”

Paul wants all of us to be like him. A believer that spread the good news of the love of God for all.

Are you like Paul?

Do you believe?

Do you spread the good news?

Loving People. Loving God.

not guilty

35 The next morning the legal authorities sent the police to the jailer with the order “Release those people.” 36 So the jailer reported this to Paul, informing him, “The authorities sent word that you both are to be released. You can leave now. Go in peace.” 37 Paul told the police, “Even though we are Roman citizens, they beat us publicly without first finding us guilty of a crime, and they threw us into prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? No way! They themselves will have to come and escort us out.” 38 The police reported this to the legal authorities, who were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 They came and consoled Paul and Silas, escorting them out of prison and begging them to leave the city. 40 Paul and Silas left the prison and made their way to Lydia’s house where they encouraged the brothers and sisters. Then they left Philippi. (Acts 16:35-40, CEB)

Paul was a Roman citizen and that gave him rights, to not be beaten for not being guilty. Which of course didn’t happen here.

The authorities wanted to make an example of Paul and Silas that if you spread things they do not agree with you will be beaten and put in prison. Then they tried to let Paul and Silas go quietly to not cause a scene, which backfired.

Paul and Silas did leave, but not right away, and the authorities that tried to stop the message probably only fueled the fire.

Never stop sharing the love God has shared with you for God is always with you.

Loving People. Loving God.

Jesus prays

20 “I’m not praying only for them but also for those who believe in me because of their word. 21 I pray they will be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. I pray that they also will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I’ve given them the glory that you gave me so that they can be one just as we are one. 23 I’m in them and you are in me so that they will be made perfectly one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you gave me to be with me where I am. Then they can see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, even the world didn’t know you, but I’ve known you, and these believers know that you sent me. 26 I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.” (John 17:20-26, CEB)

This is always the reading on the last Sunday of Easter, or at least one of the sections from this prayer. You see John 17 is the high priestly prayer of Jesus split up in three sections, one where he prays about himself, then about the disciples, and then this section where he prays for all who will come to believe because of the disciples. Which is you.

Jesus prayed for you the night before his death in the garden. Jesus prayed for everyone.

We need to help others know they are loved by helping them know that before they were here God prayed for them.

Love always and pray without ceasing.

Loving People. Loving God.