Friday 29th Sep 2023
The One who was sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” “It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will freely give water from the spring of life to anyone who is thirsty. (Revelation 21:5, 6 NCV)
Embrace the new life we have in Christ, by realising all the love God that has for us, taking him at his word, allowing the spirit of God to work in us by leaving the old behind and living as an overcomer.
If we don't embrace what is new we become stuck in our ways. Jesus was always doing a new thing. He never did things the same twice.
God likes it when we look to him for what is coming. Life is certainly not Predictable
If we always do what we have always done we will get what we have always got. In Christ we have new beginnings mercy new every morning.
In Titus chapter 3 paul reminds us we don't want to focus on our old life and reminds us who we are today. Our testimony is never meant to glorify the past, the best we can say is
I am what I am by the grace of God. Not as a resignation to I’ll never change but a testament to his working in us. The past is meant to serve as a reminder not to go back to the old ways.
You can learn from it or run from it.
Many try and live in the past thinking things were better in the old days. Can we embrace the season we are in yet stand form in faith to see a breakthrough coming.
Titus 3:1-7 NLT
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
But—“When God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
God declared his love though Christ and Revealed himself, his nature his love poured into our heart by the Holy Spirit.
Once we have received the love of God, cannot help but lead our lives loving others, so we live loving everyone in this world.
The new nature that we have received is the nature of God which is love.
A true reformation has taken place, the nature of Christ transforms us.
It begins with faith we believe in God. Then a decision to turn around. Which God sees and responds to and it is in that moment a miracle takes place.
What response will we make to the call for change of mind?
We can’t go back to our selfish ways. We and our community has changed forever. This is the new nature that Paul talks about.
You have no obligation to do what your old sinful nature urges you to do. Romans 8:12 NLT
At one time we were filled with darkness ignorant of God's blessing, but now we are filled with the knowledge of Christ, His nature is now our nature.
Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:14 NLT)
The filling of God holy spirit empowers us to live like Christ to love like Christ.
Perhaps we have felt dry spiritually, hungry thirsty perhaps we are more in touch with the old life than the new life.
When we are connected to the vine, which is Christ we are continually fed with the nature of Christ.
Instead of rebellious we have become obedient.
Instead of complaining when asked to do something, we are willing.
Instead of slandering others (gossiping) and arguing we are gentle and humble.
We appreciate others, not talking behind their back.
Instead of being foolish, allowing anything to trick us into thinking evil. We have the wisdom and understanding that come from God's rich treasures.
If we lack wisdom we can ask and He will reveal to us his plan.
Instead of us being easily misled we know what is the hope of our calling.
We are sure that God has a plan for our lives.
We know the inheritance we have as children of God.
Instead of being slaves to passions and pleasures, we are living to please the one who separated us from the world.
Instead of evil, our lives are full of light and goodness.
Instead of being envious of others who are blessed, we rejoice.
Instead of hated, we are filled with compassion and love.
We no longer live as we did before Instead, we clothe ourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:12-17 NLT
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
One thing is clear we represent our Lord here on earth, we are chosen by God to reveal Him.
As representative of Christ people see the fruit or evidence of Christ in us.
Not that we become disconnected from people - the opposite happens, people loved to be around Jesus.
We reveal God by the way we love others.
Just because people will forgive us We don't need to continue to give them reasons to forgive and keep causing them pain.
We are chosen not because we deserved it but God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
This is the good news that we spread that he loved us and nothing we have done could would pursued him otherwise.
He loved us, took away our sin he is not about to condemn us. In giving us a new birth a place with him in bold confidence in eternal life.
God's nature was to be generous and lavish in his giving us his Holy Spirit. With God's favour on us He declare us to be right in his sight.
We are now fully equipped to spread the love that we have received.
Paul finally said to Titus, insist on teaching God's grace so that everyone who puts their trust in God will devote themselves to doing good.
We are looking for what God is doing that is new but we still line up with his word.
His word stands forever. Our methods change but the message remains.
In all we do we are looking to remain faithful to the original idea of creation redemption and restoration
2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
The Spirit of God enables those whom God has called to fulfil the call.
God appoints us, He equips us and He sends us to share the love we have received with the next person we meet.
The Holy Spirit confirms Christ nature in us
Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV)
God is directing our hearts towards him.
God wants his love to be manifest in us to the degree that it spills out.
God has given us a wonderful church to meet like minded folk, who encourage us challenge, perhaps annoy us. There is always opportunity to give, or even forgive.
Growing is a sign of life. As Life generates life.
The father gave the son life and to have that life in himself, self sustaining life and he gives that life to whom he chooses.
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NKJV)
if we are lacking in an area of grace, God will give us an opportunity to practise such grace.
Romans 5:
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We have come into a new life and it doesn't matter if we have been a Christian 40 years let's never forget the new life we have.
How much more that now we are children of God he loves us more. Christ love in us keeps us maturing in Christ
It is by His love in us for other Christians that people will know we are his
Christ is revealing His love in a deeper way, that nothing we can do could make him love us less, or perhaps His love is being revealed in how we love others.
His faith in us, his Spirit working in us something new.
Learning something like head knowledge or coming into the new life where that knowledge becomes a reality to us
It would be a shame if we were always learning but never coming into the knowledge of the truth. Have circumstances made us think that we are somehow not as loved as others.
Perhaps we have lost some of the passion we had. Jesus said to his disciples I have had meat to eat that you don't know about. What sustained him was that he got to share his faith with others.
My final point is this.
This new life we are above only and not beneath.
Have we let circumstances get on top of us that we go through with the attitude that we are just making do or just getting by?
Understanding our position in Christ as “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37)
How are we more than conquerors? “Through Him that loved us”.
Know how loved you are, and you reap the benefits of Jesus’ victory at the cross!
Everything that God does for us is because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We are blessed, favoured and loved because Jesus paved the way
See that you know that your sin taken away in Jesus and know that you are no longer condemned. When you realise that He does not condemn you, you will comprehend His mighty love for you and you will be more than a conqueror.
When we begin to see ourselves as God see us, we begin to even love ourselves. Loving ourselves is one the first steps in learning to love others
"may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen."
(Hebrews 13:21 NLT)
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