Service and the Spirit
Today Pastor Amy read
Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit came down to live in the hearts of the disciples and all those who believed. We learned that the meaning of "spirit" is breath or wind and it stands for the most basic thing we need to live. The Holy Spirit fills the church with what it needs to live. It reveals wrong(sin) and right(righteousness).
If the Holy Spirit is involved in our service, it should look different. We'll do it with a Christ-like attitude.
What does your service attitude look like?
Labels: growth, journey
Meditating
1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Today Pastor Jason read Psalm 1 and talked about meditiation which is an invitation to apprehend God. When we medititate on His word, we are opened up to the mind of God, His world and His presence in the world. God's word enters us and changes us. In verse 3, the person who meditates on His word is compared to a tree planted by streams of water. God turns us into the people He wants us to be when we love His word.
What passages we meditated on affected you today? What caused them to affect you in that way?
Labels: growth, journey
Fasting to Remember
Pastor Henry read
Deuteronomy 8 today where the people of Israel are standing on the banks of the Jordan waiting to cross over into the Promised Land. Moses is telling them to remember the Lord and His provision for their lives as they enter the Promised Land. He knew of the danger that a land with many good things would bring - pride, amnesia and stupidity - forgetting that all good things are from God.
The cure for this is in verse 3 - fasting. This is refraining from food or other things for spiritual purposes, or letting go of our appetite to seek God on matters of deep concern for others, ourselves and the world. In
Matt. 6:16-18 Jesus warns us of one the the dangers of fasting - that is, making it about ourselves instead of about God.
From what is God calling you to fast? Think about what is consuming your life and feast on God instead.
Labels: growth
Turning Point
Today, Pastor Henry talked about the turning point which can be described as a time in our lives marked by the making of a serious commitment which changes our life. Disciples of Jesus have turning points in their lives. We looked at the case of Saul in
Acts 9:1-31 where he had an encounter with the risen Christ and was changed. He saw a blinding light and couldn't see for 3 days. During this time, he became changed by God's spirit.
When did you encounter the Risen Christ and what effect did it have on your life?
Labels: growth, journey
Your Spiritual Journey
Today, we began a new series at MCC about our spiritual journey and how we go from being searchers to followers, a process called discipleship. Pastor Jason talked about
Galatians 1:11-21 where Paul is talking about his past as a Pharisee and how God, in His grace, called him out of that to become one of the church's most effective missionaries. He was looking for God in rules and regulations but it was the wrong direction.
The handout we were given outlines 7 possible steps in discipleship: Not interested, Curiously seeking, Searching assertively, Faith commitment, Experiencing new life, Grwoing in Community and Living Missionally. Where are you on your spiritual journey?
Labels: growth
Bloom Sunday
Today we read
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 which was so appropriate for Bloom Sunday. Paul says in verses 6-7:
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." This makes it clear that God causes spiritual growth and not any of us. We only need to keep our eyes on the "Son" as plants keep their eyes on the sun. This is where we find life.
How is God making you grow right now? I believe that by keeping my eyes on Him, He is making me righteous or right with Him through the process of sanctification. He is changing me to be able to make more choices based on love and truth rather than selfishness. This is a life-long process in which I have to continually trust that God knows what is best for His purposes even if it doesn't seem good for me at the time.
Labels: growth
