Life Church Vineyard

Grief Counselor of Hospice Rory Bay

Salvation is beautiful!

Wordy wisdom vs spiritual wisdom

Anyone can be a new creation it does not mean we will be perfect.

“You receive from God in the measure that you believe in His power to do what you cannot do in your life.”

Paul was a life coach to the Corinthian Church. Paul always dealt with problems head on. He discussed all the things that the local Church encountered. 

I can’t… God can!

The Gospel of Jesus counteracts culture.

"It has nothing to do with our goodness but everything to do with His.”

1 Corinthians 1:13-17

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. The New King James Version

There should be unity in the Body of Christ…not divisions. There is no difference in our Churches we are united in Jesus Christ.

Instead of “you do you”…be the you that God created you to be. 

It does not matter what others think of you. It only matters what God thinks of you. 

Philippans 2:9-11

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The New King James Version

The only words we will ever need to hear is “well done my good and faithful servant”!

We are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of heaven and earth. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 and 1:26-31

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  The New King James Version

God redeemed us to share an abundant life in Him.

Matthew 28:12-15

In a fallen world there will always be those with the money and power who spew lies to deceive the world and even those of the Body of Christ.

Be wise in your thinking and speak the truth in love.

Do not fear man but God who has the right to destroy both the body and soul of man.

Blessed are you who discover that even in the smallness,
our attention might be compressed even more.
You who pull out a magnifying glass
to discover, to notice, to taste, to smell
the small joys and simple pleasures that make a life worth living.

Kate Bowler

Matthew 28:12-15

12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. The New King James Version

The chief priests, who were involved in Jewish religious government, bribe the Roman soldiers to spread a false report about Jesus’ disciples stealing His body. Faithlife Study Bible

Although Matthew is brief in his discussion of the resurrection of Christ, he defends it very carefully. The Resurrection was attested by several witnesses, including an angel, various soldiers, and the women at the tomb. The tomb with Jesus’ body in it was sealed, but later the body was not found there. 

The excuse of the soldiers was illogical. No Roman soldier would admit sleeping on the job, as the punishment for this was death. 

Finally, Jesus Himself appeared to many of His disciples, providing even more witnesses to His resurrection from the dead. Matthew presents the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection with precision because the doctrine is essential to the Christian faith.

The Resurrection is a sign that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Resurrection validates the Lord’s own prophecies of it. The NKJV Study Bible

Psalm 56:4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

Matthew 10:26Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

John 5:22-30

We serve a triune God... who controls the universe, who guides, teaches and abides in every believer. The Son embodies the life and breath of the Almighty and bestows it on those who trust in Him. 

We are tripartite and made in His image.

What an amazing God we serve!

How many parts are there to a man? The Bible says that man consists of three component parts: body, soul and spirit. Man is a triune being because he is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), who Himself is a Trinity. 

We are individual and moral creatures capable of loving, sacrifice, doing good deeds and many more, because we were created in the image of God.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Hebrews 4:12)

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The intellect, thought, ideals, love, emotion, understanding, decision, choice and other like qualities are all associated with the soul. In other words, the soul is also the seat of all affections and Satan knows this very well that is why he operates making his to the affections and emotions of man.

It is the soul of man that Jesus died to redeem on the cross (Hebrews 10:39; Psalm 49:8). But the soul is never directed towards God until after the spirit has become regenerated. Man is not able to love God or the things of God until he is born from above. Man’s desires and affections are turned toward God when he realizes his sinful condition and accepts God’s gift of salvation. But even though we have died to sin and been raised to life through Christ, our souls still need to be transformed and purified by the washing of the word (Ephesians 5:26).

Unlike the body, the soul cannot be destroyed by physical death but lives on beyond the grave. The soul does not die when the body dies because Jesus said to not fear those who can kill the body, but rather fear Him (God) who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).

John 4:24 says that “God is Spirit” and the spirit of man is the part that resembles God most. This is manifested in our assurance of salvation when it says in Romans 8:16 that “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.”

It is the spirit that gives man the ability to have an intimate relationship with God; it is that part of us that is enabled by God to know and worship Him. The spirit of man is what gets born again or regenerated. Just as the soul is the sphere of activity where Satan operates, the spirit of man is the sphere of activity where the Holy Spirit operates in regeneration.

John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. The New King James Version

The Jews recognized that God alone had the right to judge humanity. In claiming that the Father committed all judgment to Jesus. To claim the same honor as the Father is to claim equality with the Father. Here Jesus claimed equal authority with God.

The phrase believes in Him who sent Me is unusual. Christ, not the Father, is usually the object of this verb in John. The issue in this passage is the unity of the Father and the Son. All who believe in the One who sent Christ will believe in Christ. A judgment to decide a person’s eternal destiny is no longer possible for the one who has already been given eternal life. However, all believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, not for punishment of sin, but to determine inheritance in Messiah’s kingdom. 

Christ can give life because He Himself possesses life. He not only has a part in giving it, He is the source of it. This is another testimony to Jesus’ deity, because only God has life in Himself. Christ not only gives spiritual life now, He will give physical life later. 

Jesus was teaching the universality of resurrection, not the timing of it. those who have done good: The only “good” anyone can do is to believe on Christ, the One God sent. All other good actions flow from that. Anything good that is done without that belief means nothing to God and will result in the resurrection of condemnation.

Christ’s judgment is righteous because it is in accordance with God’s divine will. Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself”; here He says He can do nothing independent of the Father. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 11:27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.

Luke 10:16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

1 Corinthians 5:9–11

Faith alone pleases God! In order to receive guidance from Him you have to believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek His will in their life.. 

We must be wise enough to judge those who profess Christianity but their lives do not show any change. Those who do not believe…are not to be judged by us their lives are in God’s hands.

1st Corinthians 5:12 Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.

Be as wise as the serpent but as gentle as the dove!

“Then Jesus said, ‘Stand up. Pick up your mat and walk.’ And immediately the man was well; he picked up his mat and began to walk” (John 5:8-9 NCV).

A gentle stranger has stepped into your hurting world and offered you a hand. Now it’s up to you to take it. Max Lucado 

1 Corinthians 5:9–11

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. The New King James Version

Paul is not referring to the sexually immoral people of the world (his mission field), but to those who call themselves Christians and participate in sexual immorality. He views such people as dangerous to the overall health of the congregation since they may entice others to follow them in sin. Faithlife Study Bible

Christians are called to influence the world, not run away from it. They are agents of God to carry the light of Jesus Christ into a dark world. Eating together is a key part of fellowship and closeness with others. The Corinthians were not to have fellowship with those who claimed to be Christians but whose lives were dominated by sin. The church’s responsibility is to discipline its members while trusting the Lord to judge the world. The NKJV Study Bible

Alas, that there are many called Christians, whose conversation is more dangerous than that of heathens! Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Ephesians 5:5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

2 Corinthians

It takes the power of Holy Spirit to carry out God’s calling for your life. 

Others will not always agree with you. Jesus never said that it would be an easy path but He did say that He would never leave us alone and without hope. Christ within is our hope.

…the story is not about us; it's about Jesus.

Jesus is the only Judge and King who will never fail. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. (1 Peter 3:22) He is interceding on our behalf. (Romans 8:34) He is the One who rules and reigns forever. (Revelation 11:15) 

While we put our trust in human leaders who fail us, God sits on the throne.

While Israel longed for peace in the midst of chaos, God planned to send the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

While we long for peace, Jesus is our peace.

Whether we are in peace and prosperity or in chaos and hardship, our God does not change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) We can rest in knowing that, no matter how uncertain the world around us seems, He rules and reigns! First5 

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I can't see God unless there is skin attached. And because of grace, there is no substitute for the presence of one another.

So yes. Grace is my hope.

This week, let us welcome and offer moments (gifts) of grace. SabbathMoments 

2 Corinthians (Paul’s purpose in writing this letter to the Corinthian Church)

In 1 Corinthians, Paul had instructed the believers in Corinth to discipline an incestuous member, and to take a collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Titus gave Paul a report that was on the whole encouraging. The Corinthians had responded properly to 1 Corinthians. They had faithfully carried out the discipline necessary. But Titus also informed Paul about the presence of “false apostles” (11:13) who accused Paul of walking according to the flesh (1:12, 17; 10:2), being deceitful (2:17; 4:2; 12:16), intimidating the church with his letters (10:9, 10), unjustly mistreating someone to the point of ruining that person (7:2), and defrauding people (7:2). These false teachers probably pointed out that Paul had not returned as he promised, and used this as evidence for his duplicity (1:15–17, 23, 24). They even attempted to discredit Paul by charging that he was raising money to enrich himself (7:2; 8:16–23). Inevitably these accusations raised doubts in the minds of the Corinthians about the integrity of the apostle Paul.

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians out of his concern for the Corinthian church (7:12). He wanted to offer the church some further instructions concerning the repentant offender (2:5–11) as well as about the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem (9:1–5). However, Paul’s main purpose for writing 2 Corinthians was to defend his ministry. Paul’s opponents in Corinth had severely attacked him. He wrote this letter to prove that his ministry was sincere and genuine, and to reassert his authority as an apostle of Christ. The NKJV Study Bible

11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 

1:17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No?

10:2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

2:17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

12:16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you?

10:9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”

7:2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one.

21:3 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

8:16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

7:12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

2:5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

9:1 Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. The New King James Version

John 3:3 unless we are born again...

What is born of the flesh is human and limited but what is born of the Spirit belongs eternally to God. 

Everything is possible to those who believe.

Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy … Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:7;  9) In our relationships we will encounter conflict. When we do, let's remember to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. (Micah 6:8) 

One of the ways we can guard against pride is to remember the cross. Our redemption (being bought and saved by God), justification (being declared right in God's sight) and even sanctification (the process of God making us more like Jesus) all come through the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. First5 

Everybody is a little broken. (Or, a lot). But that's okay. Because it is from our brokenness that we love and become healers, and risk and pay attention, and fall down and get back up and are forgiven. And invest with our whole heart and indiscriminate desire. May each and every one of us find this freedom. (Gospel of Luke 7:36-50) SabbathMoments 

John 3:3

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The New King James Version

Nicodemus’ misunderstanding stems from the ambiguity of this phrase. The Greek adverb used here, anōthen, can mean “from above”, “from the beginning,” “for a long time,” or “again.” That is, the term can indicate either timing or location. Jesus is using the word to point to a location (heaven, the source of the rebirth), but Nicodemus understands it in reference to time or a repeated activity (that the birth must happen multiple times). Nicodemus also appears to take Jesus’ answer to be much more literal (or physical) than He intends; Jesus is talking about a spiritual transformation. For Nicodemus, the phrase would have evoked the prophetic images of a future universal reign of Yahweh or the Messiah, which were symbolic of Yahweh’s future plan to redeem Israel. John uses the phrase only in this passage. 

For Jesus, the idea of coming to God through His saving work is about transitioning from the earthly kingdom (as articulated in the temple scene in John) to God’s kingdom as articulated in a transformed life lived out of love for God and other people. Faithlife Study Bible

The Greek word translated again can mean either “from above” or “anew.” The new birth, or regeneration is the act by which God imparts spiritual life to one who trusts Christ. Without this spiritual birth, a person cannot perceive spiritual things, nor can he or she enter the kingdom of God. The NKJV Study Bible

Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew, as those who have lived much amiss, or to little purpose. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. By our first birth we were corrupt, shapen in sin; therefore we must be made new creatures. No stronger expression could have been chosen to signify a great and most remarkable change of state and character. We must be entirely different from what we were before, as that which begins to be at any time, is not, and cannot be the same with that which was before. This new birth is from heaven, and its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Life Church Vineyard

Pastor Mitch Price

It’s Your kindness Lord that leads us to repentance. Your love is life.

We worship the God who was.

We worship the God who is.

We worship the God who is forevermore.

Matthew 13: “the parable of the seed”

1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

We may be the only one that shows the love of  God to someone.

We become good soil so that the Kingdom of God can shown to others. The Kingdom of God is only achieved in allowing Him into our life. We will never attain perfection. There is only One who can do that…Jesus.

The seed is the message of God’s Kingdom that we are given in Jesus. 

We think a lot abut the Cross, but little about the Kingdom.

The Cross ushered in the Kingdom!

We live in and walk in His Kingdom. It is our privilege to share that knowledge with others. It is achieved in humility knowing that is nothing to do with us but everything to do with Him. 

John 18:36

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Luke 17:20-21

20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

The Kingdom of God is available to us right now. It is accessible in every situation. The Kingdom of God is in your midst.

Matthew 4:23-24

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God. 

God in our life can heal all wounds. 

The Good News is more than the Cross, it’s also the Kingdom.

It’s about His Kingdom.

Invading your kingdom

We advance His Kingdom in the treatment of others. Those who love fulfill His requirements when they are  done in our love for God.

2 Peter 1:3

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

He gives us everything we need to succeed in life.

The Kingdom of God is at hand. 

 Are we seeing God in our life? 

We need to expect His will in our life.

When His followers ask Him how to pray He gave them the “Lord’s Prayer”. 

Matthew 6:9-13

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Luke 12:47–48

That we may increase in knowledge and wisdom according  to His will in Christ.

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 

Rosemarie Freeney Harding (1930–2004) was a spiritual leader in the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960s. Her Mennonite faith shaped her commitment to radical hospitality, healing, and transformation. She describes the interracial community she and her husband Vincent formed at Mennonite House in Atlanta.

In the early 1960s, Mennonite House was one of the places, perhaps one of the few, where interracial conversation and community was being consciously created in the South.

Freeney Harding’s activism was inspired by her abiding and mystical experience of God’s love and justice. Rachel Harding recalls her mother’s vision: “There is no scarcity. There is no shortage. No lack of love, of compassion, of joy in the world. There is enough. There is more than enough. Only fear and greed make us think otherwise. No one need starve. There is enough land and enough food. No one need die of thirst. There is enough water. No one need live without mercy. There is no end to grace. And we are all instruments of grace. The more we give it, the more we share it, the more we use it, the more God makes. There is no scarcity of love. There is plenty. And always more. This is the universe my mother lived in.” (Rachel E. Harding) SabbathMoments 

And this from Sister Joan Chittister.
What we need, what we want, what we now lack, in other words, is “community”...

Religious know that community is not undisciplined chaos. It is communal care.
Community gathers us for a purpose. It gathers to enable us to do together what we cannot possibly do alone.
Community is not conformity. On the contrary, community — the different gifts that we bring and the lifestyle that grows us all together — makes us stronger than we could ever be without the others.
Community is not control. Community encourages each of us to grow to the acme of our best selves.
Community is not allowing myself to be carried. It is about my carrying all the others, as well...
What this new age needs most are people who seek with the poet Basho the wisdom of community — both in religious communities and in society at large.
Community is the glue we so badly need to hold society together — if we are ever going to revitalize this one.  SabbathMoments 

Luke 12:47–48

47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. The New King James Version

This is a category of disobedience, not as blatant as doing the opposite, but unfaithfulness nonetheless. This servant is disciplined with many stripes, though he is not rejected. Such evaluation of church leaders is described in 1 Corinthians. and is broadened to apply to all believers in 2 Corinthians. 

Discipline for the ignorant is less severe—beaten with few. The parable suggests degrees of God’s punishment: The faithful are rewarded, the ignorant are disciplined a little, the disobedient are disciplined moderately, and the blatantly disobedient are executed. In each case, the stewardship of the servant is evaluated. The NKJV Study Bible

No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations. Not that this would be the tendency of Christ’s religion, which is pure, peaceable, and loving; but the effect of its being contrary to men’s pride and lusts. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Leviticus 5:17 “If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.

Numbers 15:29 You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.

1 Timothy 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Daniel 7:8

In the end times even the elect can be deceived. Be as wise as the serpent but as gentle as the Lamb.

Jephthah was the eighth judge in the book of Judges. Jephthah spoke peace and truth during a less-than-peaceful circumstance. 

Coming to a peaceful agreement isn't easy. It takes help from the Holy Spirit and faith in God. First5 

Daniel 7:8

8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. The New King James Version

The descriptor “little” is derogatory. The close recounting of the deeds of Antiochus throughout the remaining visions suggests that the little horn likely refers to him. However, if Rome is the fourth beast, this horn may alternatively represent the antichrist. Faithlife Study Bible

The horns here represent rulers. Even though the little one begins small, it would become the greatest of all . The NKJV Study Bible

Mighty conquerors are but instruments of God’s vengeance on a guilty world. The savage beast represents the hateful features of their characters. But the dominion given to each has a limit; their wrath shall be made to praise the Lord, and the remainder of it he will restrain. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Psalm 12:3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things,

Revelation 13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

Revelation 13:6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

Christ in the Scriptures Colossians

To God all glory, honor and praise!

When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, do you just throw it away? Of course not. You change the batteries.

When a person messes up or finds themselves in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not! You help them change their batteries.

Some need AA… attention and affection;
some need AAA… attention, affection, and acceptance;
some need C… compassion;
some need D… direction.
And if they still don’t seem to shine…
simply sit with them quietly and share your light. 

(Rachel Dansby Freeman)

Colossians is the one book in the New Testament that uniquely centers on the cosmic Christ—“the head of all principality and power” (2:10). Paul wants us to know that in Jesus we see the face of God: “He is the image of the invisible God” (1:15). As such, Jesus’ divine nature and incarnation are celebrated as watershed realities. This image of the invisible God is the Author of reconciliation (1:20–22; 2:13–15) and our Redeemer and Reconciler (2:11–15, 20–22). Because of those facts, it only stands to reason that He is the basis for all believers’ hope (1:5, 23, 27). The NKJV Study Bible

“and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Paul illustrates the adequacy of Christ by demonstrating how the Colossian believers are complete. In Christ, the Colossians have put off the power of sin and the flesh, have received new life, have been forgiven, have been delivered from requirements laid down by human traditions, and have been freed from the powers of spirit beings. There is nothing that the Christian needs to add to what was received in Christ at the time of conversion. Paul emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ in order to refute the Gnostics and the Judaizers who respectively believed that special knowledge or works were necessary to make a Christian complete.

“ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Firstborn could denote a priority in time or in rank. The word does not describe Christ as the first being created in time because the hymn proclaims that all things were “created by Him” and that “He is before all things.” Jesus is the eternal One who was before all creation. The idea of firstborn in the Hebrew culture did not require that one be the first son born. This was not the case with either Isaac or Jacob. But they were the firstborn in the sense that they were rightful heirs to the line of their fathers. Being firstborn referred more to rank and privilege than to order of birth. Since Christ is God, He is supreme in rank over all creation. Yet He is not only the transcendent deity who created us; He is the One who died on our behalf and was subsequently raised from dead. Thus He is also the firstborn from the dead. The first One who experienced the true resurrection.

"This image of the invisible God is the Author of reconciliation”

Since believers have been released from ritualistic observances why should they let others bind them down again? No human work can be added to the merit of Christ’s death. His work on the Cross is the only acceptable work in God’s eyes. The legalistic commands of others are a self-imposed religion and are of no value for salvation.

Not only were our personal sins forgiven at the Cross, but those rules that condemned us have also been removed by the death of Christ. Principalities and powers allude to Satan and the fallen angels. Paul is describing Christ’s victory on the Cross over the powers that opposed Him and that were against God’s faithful people. Satan and his forces thought the Cross would be their victory and Christ’s defeat. In reality, at the Cross the Lord vanquished His foes, took away their weapons, and made a public spectacle of them.

“and our Redeemer and Reconciler”

 Whereas all Jewish males were required to receive physical circumcision, the circumcision that is from Christ is without hands. Rather than the mere removal of flesh, Christian circumcision is the spiritual removal of sin from the heart, taking part in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. 

Baptism is the symbol of the believer’s association with Christ’s death on the Cross. Water baptism itself does not bring forgiveness of sins, but Paul uses the rite to help explain the work of the Spirit. The early church would never have understood the idea of an unbaptized Christian. Baptism and faith were considered to be the outward and inward realities of being a Christian. Some have highlighted Paul’s close association of baptism and circumcision in this passage as an indication that water baptism is a sign of the New Covenant, just as circumcision was a sign of the Abrahamic covenant.

“He is the basis for all believers’ hope”

The Colossians’ faith was grounded in the nature and work of Jesus Christ. Love flows from faith and proves the genuineness of one’s faith. The Colossians’ sacrificial love for all the saints proved their true belief in Christ.

The perseverance of the Colossians was proof of the reconciling work of Christ on their behalf. Paul uses this exaggeration “every creature under heaven” to illustrate the rapid spread of the gospel. The apostles are said to have turned the world upside down, even though their ministry up to that point had been limited to a small portion of the eastern Mediterranean region.

In Greek pagan religions, a mystery was a secret teaching reserved for a few spiritual teachers who had been initiated into an inner circle. Paul uses the word to refer to knowledge that had been hidden from ages and from generations, but was now being revealed by God. The Lord had revealed this mystery to Paul and called him to be a steward of it. 

The mystery is that Christ now lives within Gentile believers: Christ in you, the hope of glory. This is in harmony with Ephesians. In that letter, Paul states that the mystery is the union of Jews and Gentiles in one body, Christ’s church.  The NKJV Study Bible

Psalm 89:27 Also I will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Philippians 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Revelation 3:14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: