ABLE – Everything
This morning we concluded our series, “Are We There Yet”. That said, this is just the beginning. Pastor Alex is walking us through a strategy of making disciples. We will:
Abide in Christ
to Build relationships
and Live the gospel
with Everything.
Pastor Alex defined the gospel as “the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that through faith in Him we can be forgiven and reconciled to God.”
Hebrews 13:20-21 states, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
The God of peace speaks to a wholeness that is available now to bring order (peace) from the chaos of this world. The broken shalom is restored through Jesus Christ!
Equip (v21) means “to make someone or something completely adequate, sufficient, or fully qualified. To the reader’s of the day, equip means:
For a doctor – setting a broken bone
For soldiers – ready an army for battle
For fishermen – mending a torn net
Katartízō is the same word the writer uses to describe God preparing the world. If God can katartizo the world out of things not seen by His spoken WORD, He is certainly able to equip us with whatever task He has for us to do. It is God in us that does the work.
“Working in us” means the Christian life is not us living “like Jesus”; trying to do our best for Him. Instead, it is the Spirit of Christ living in and through us. The idea is that we can’t live this Christian life, but He did and He will live it through us. That’s supernatural life and is what the world needs to see. When they see us living that way, they will see Him, Christ in us, the hope of glory. The Spirit of Christ now living in me enables me to do what He has commanded me to do. Philippians 2:13 tells us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
It’s ALL His…not ours. It is on loan from Him, including: spiritual gifts, time, money, influence, our breath, children, experiences…all His.
Freedom to live the gospel with everything comes from:
1. Recognizing that we only steward this life
2. Remembering WHO gave it all to us in the first place
3. Tasting the joy of living with open hands
The SECRET: The love of Christ compels us to love others with open hands.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
1. Is there anything that keeps you from giving everything?
2. Contemplate the truth that God gave everything by giving His son to satisfy His wrath. How does that impact how you are willing to live sacrificially for others?
