Things Just Got Real

June 18, 2017 • Collin Monger

The life of a believer should be filled with joy because there is nothing more joyful than the knowledge of having a personal, saving relationship with God. It is a joy the world cannot match or even come close to! On the other hand, though, there is another side, the side that says there will be difficulty, there will be hardship, not everyone will respond. And when we come across those times we say, “Things Just Got Real.” God is a dividing God: • Jesus did not come to integrate the church and world, but to separate it from the world • As a believer you are not called be ‘of’ the world, even if you are ‘in’ the world God is a possessing God: • God wants all of you and wants to be first in your life • People won’t always understand this and believers will face hostility God is a reassuring God: • Jesus says “do not fear” or, in other words, don’t live in fear • No believer will ever be alone, even if the world rejects them for the sake of Christ (Verses cited: 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 5:11; 2 Peter 3:9; John 14:6; Matthew 10:14; Galatians 5:1; Matthew 25:32; Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:12; 1 John 4; Luke 4:22; Isaiah 8:12; Psalm 73:23; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 3:14)

God Prefers the Weak

June 11, 2017 • Collin Monger

When we read about great people of the Bible it can be tempting to want to compare ourselves with them and then become discouraged when we think we don’t match their faith, we’re too weak in the faith. It becomes easy, then, to doubt our ability. Moses was one of the greatest men in the Bible but what we find when we read about his life is that he also had doubts. And through it all we see how God chose Moses, not because of his greatness, but because of his weakness and God was able to work. God chose Moses because of his weakness: • Moses had nothing to offer except a willing heart • God is not looking for your ability. He’s looking for your willingness to be used Moses doubted what God told him: • Moses was convinced God was wrong • We all go through times when we doubt God’s plan – think we can’t do it God strengthens the weak: • God told Moses He would be with him and make up for his weakness • In order to be strengthened, a thing must become weak. In order to be filled, there must be emptiness. God prefers the weak because in them He can work. (Verses cited: Philippians 4:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:27, 29, 31; Acts 7:22; Isaiah 55:8; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Psalms 27:1, 144:1; Matthew 5:4)

A Song That the Angels Can't Sing

May 28, 2017 • Derrick Whitmore