Begin Again

Phil 2:1-2
2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Perhaps often the main problem in the Christian life is not that we don’t try hard enough to be good but that we haven’t believed the Gospel and received its finished reality into all parts of our life. To often, we miss understand the Gospel by spending to much time thinking about ourselves and what we need to do rather than Jesus and what He has already done.

Oftentimes we misunderstand spiritual progress by measuring our own effort or lack there of. Focusing on the quality of our works or our stand against sin places the focus off of Christ and on to ourselves. The focus of the Gospel, the beauty of the Gospel, the power of the Gospel is not in us and our efforts but in Christ and His finished work!

Believing again and again the Gospel of God’s free justifying grace everyday is the spiritual progress we are called to. Spiritual growth is returning to the beginning over and over again! Meditating on, thinking on, and receiving the fullness of Christ and His Work in your life.

Martin Luther wrote, “It is not imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.” Once the Gospel frees you from having to do anything for Jesus, you will want to do everything for Jesus.

Desire spiritual progress in your life? Go back to the beginning. Meditate on Christ –His life, His message, His work. Marvel at His grace, the power of His name, the completeness of His work. Believe and receive all that Christ has done, that is the Gospel.

Once you have done that again and again, what are you going to do now that you do not have to do anything? That is Spiritual Progress!

Blessings,

Darren

It's Not What is Happening, It's What's Really Going On

What do you do when you are struggling to understand? When life has more questions than answers? Times where the present is trying and the future is unclear? During a long period of drought, extended time of confusion? In short, what do you do when you do not know what to do? Gain insight and strength today from Job’s progression through difficult circumstances…

Job 6:29
29...for my integrity is at stake.
-Job was careful to realize that what we do when we do not understand speaks volumes about the character of our life.
-Guard yourself. Guard your heart and your tongue. God is watching.

Job 23:10
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
-Job reminded himself that God sees me even when I do not see Him.
-Though you may feel far from God, He is near to you. Take comfort.

Job 34:10,12
10 “… Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
-Job resisted the temptation to question the character of God in his frustration with his circumstances.
-This is a slippery slope…do not go there!

Job 42:3
3…Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
-After God spoke to Job, Job was reminded…it’s not what’s happening, it’s what’s really going on!
-There is more to the story when we see through eternal eyes!

Hear Paul’s advice when facing disheartening and difficult circumstances…
2 Cor 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Want to hear more? Visit our website at www.rockag.org and click on the sermon tab to listen to the message It’s Not What’s Happening, But What’s Really Going On

Have a GREAT week!

Blessings,
Pastors Darren & Toyie