To Be Mature

In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk-- better yet, RUN on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline-- not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.

But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generousity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.... He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive in Christ.

No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babies in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love-- like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Ephesians 4 according to Eugene Peterson and The Message.

HUGS ALL! Dacian

Mathew Class

Just a reminder for everyone that the class on the book of Mathew begins this Sunday (January 17) at 9:15 before church. We will meet downstairs in one of the classrooms. This study will last 5 weeks and it is a good idea for you to read the entire book of Mathew before we begin. The class will follow this basic schedule:
Week 1- the purpose of Mathew and the outline of Mathew
Week 2- Mathew's understanding of Jesus
Week 3- Mathew's understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven
Week 4- Mathew's understanding of the Church
Week 5- Some interesting verses in Mathew.

Hope you can make it!
Duane

Who am I?

Heb 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Looking for the secrets of life? Maybe some divine wisdom? Good news, you do not need to climb a mountain or speak the magic words. If you are in Christ you are enlightened! You partake of the God of all Creation. Enjoy that today.

E-votional

Holy of Holies

1 Cor 3:16, 17b Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?...the temple of God is holy and that is what you are.

I consider myself pretty normal. I am a normal height for my people group. I am around an average weight and have an average build. I don't really excel at anything. I am not a superstar but I am average at many things. I could be called an average Joe but I am not. Something sets me apart. Someone has put me head and shoulders above the rest and if you stand in the same Light as me you can claim the same truth. If you have ever struggled with being "normal" or "average," then here is some good news for you.

When Jesus was crucified, the veil in Herod's temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt 27:51). This veil separated the holy place from the holy of holies where the glory of the Lord was to reside (Ex 40:34, 2 Chron 5:13b-14) Only one person was allowed to enter that room and that person, the Levitical high priest, could only enter once a year on the day of atonement (Lev 16). This was a pretty special place for in it the sins of all the people were atoned for, for the year. When the veil was torn it revealed that the glory of the Lord no longer resided in the temple. He actually pressed the eject button about 600 years earlier when the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s temple in 586 BC.

During His earthly ministry Jesus had become for us the Temple (John 2:19). In Him resided all the glory of the Lord (John 1:14) He was a very special person for on Him the sins of the world were placed (2 Cor 5:21) and in Him we have forgiveness of all our sins (Eph 1:7). After Jesus (the temple) was crucified, resurrected and ascended; the Lord chose a new temple....

You!

If you have accepted Christ as Savior, you are now the new temple of the Lord (2 Cor 6:16, 1 Cor 3:16-17)! In you resides all the glory of the Lord (1 Cor 3:17) and all of your sins, past present and future have been forgiven (Col 2:13-14). You have been consecrated, you are literally clean, and you are now permanently holy (1 Cor 3:17). The Greek word for temple in 1 Cor 3:17 is naos. This word, as opposed to heiron which refers to the outer court, makes reference to the inner temple. You are the naos of God. You are the new Holy of Holies of God! You are special beyond belief and shame on anyone who calls you normal! You are anything but normal. You are the Holy of Holies of God! Accept the truth, claim it and live it! Praise Him today!