Sadly, most of us natural born United States citizens take our citizenship for granted. We just do. We forget the incredible sacrifices that have been made, and we do not know what it is like to go through the rigorous painstaking process of becoming a legal citizen and upon meeting each requirement stand and proclaim—
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”
Similarly, Christians are often indifferent to the many sacrifices that made a way for us to know Christ. We take our citizenship in heaven for granted. The apostle Paul wanted the church at Ephesus to reclaim their citizenship in heaven and out of sheer gratitude for all that Christ had done for them, make a way for others to belong. Paul urged them to release the past and denounce all allegiance to old idols.
Sacrifice
September 24, 2017
September 24, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
Leave a Legacy
October 22, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
The apostle Paul warns Timothy about people who will do anything to be wealthy, even pretend to be godly: "These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the http://truth...people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrow." (1 Timothy 6:5, 9-10)
Putting aside your Preferences
October 15, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
The prophet Jeremiah was seen as a traitor because his message seemed to be on the side of the Babylonians. Impending disaster was already in motion due to rampant and unrepentant sin of Judah’s kings, religious leaders and prophets, the men who were supposed to be shepherding God’s people. “Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour out judgment on you for the evil you have done to them” (Jeremiah 23:2). The LORD was sick of the wickedness, so He ‘whistled’ for enemy forces to ‘come from the north’ and destroy His beloved Jerusalem and Judah.
Vision & New Life
October 8, 2017 • Dr Charles Kyker
As a zealous young man initially on fire for ‘legalism’ the apostle Paul became a totally new person on fire for Jesus once he encountered the risen Christ. No longer was he about persecuting followers of The Way. Now through the incredible power of the risen Christ, Paul became all about the proclamation of Jesus as Savior—that there is forgiveness of sin available for all who believe. Paul and his team covered a lot of ground (and water!) as they spread the Gospel westward. They had their work cut out for them, but their work was not in vain. Upon Paul’s death, thousands upon thousands had already begun to respond to the Good News of Christ.