Quiet Time: The Annual Exam

The Annual Exam

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. - Galatians 2:20

Easter is a good time for an annual exam (2 Cor. 13:5).

Galatians 2:20 is a great guide in helping us consider where we are in our walk with Christ.

A Christ follower :

• dies to self daily (Luke 9:23)
• realizes that he/she is not good without God (Romans 3:10)
• lives to please the Son of God (Hebrews 11:6)
• knows that he is loved by Jesus (John 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:16)
• knows he owes the One who loves him everything (Philippians 3:8)

Exams are good; they cover all a pupil has learned up to a specific point in time.and help him to seriously consider where he is as opposed to where he needs to be.

Sometimes, after a thorough exam, one may even realize that he was never actually part of the class.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Are you a Christ follower?

Quiet Time: Hope Springs Eternal

Hope Springs Eternal

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,…     - 1 Peter 1:3-4

Every human hope can be deferred, but one.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and the imperishable inheritance of heaven are the Christian’s hope. This hope renews itself daily without the need of perishable proof.

Jesus resurrection is historically well documented and attested to by many first century eye witnesses.  And, this fact gives the Christian confidence that there is a future beyond what he knows and experiences here on earth; therefore, the believer’s hope is unaffected by time space, and matter and supernaturally grows within him the closer He walks with God (1 Peter 1:8).

The bible says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).

Hope springs eternal with Jesus.

Song Series: Christ Is Enough

Christ Is Enough

First place in everything

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything – Colossians 1:18

Any Christian musician worth his salt longs for the day of writing a song that impacts God’s people toward a deeper love and walk with Christ. It looks like pastor Morgan has done  just that… again! 

 “Christ Is Enough” by Reuben Morgan, is  a foundational  song from the Hillsong Live Glorious Ruins album . By now most contemporary worship teams are quite familiar with Reuben’s work, as the Hillsong church worship pastor. Over the years his songs “Mighty to Save”, “God Is Able”, and “Believe” have become staples on many church song sets.

Brian Houston, senior pastor at Hillsong Church, was so moved by the message in this piece, that he actually built a two part sermon around it. (here’s the link for part 1: http://audacious.me/library_items/sermons/5216d0bb47ef506b89000005)

I love music that re-calibrates my thinking and enlivens my love for the Messiah, the firstborn over all creation. I want Him to be the firstborn of my heart, don't you? 

Firstborn (prōtotokos: the first born of an Israelite family inherited everything that the Father owned; he was the heir apparent, the owner of it all)

 "Christ Is Enough"

(Our worship team will begin learning the song this week and our congregation will begin worshipping with it by mid-October, LORD willing)