One of the ways that we live as citizens of heaven is to make our primary goal to exalt Christ. Paul declared and demonstrated this truth by saying that if he were to live, it would be for the benefit and progress of others in their faith, and if he died, it would be far better for Him. So to live is Christ, and to die is gain, so either way, both in life or death, Christ would be exalted. Our hope and prayer is that this would be our perspective and aim as well, as we live as citizens of heaven.
Living as Citizens of Heaven – Part 2 Advancing the Gospel – Phil. 1:12-18a Crosspoint – Dave Spooner – June 9th, 2024 Intro: In all of our lives, we…
The apostle Paul writes this epistle from a prison cell, yet it radiates with gratitude, affection, and hope. This Sunday, our focus will be on the opening verses, Philippians 1:1-11, where Paul expresses his heartfelt thanks and prays for the believers in Philippi. These verses provide us with a powerful model of joyful partnership in the Gospel.
As we close out our series through Habakkuk, we join with the prophet as he rests in joy and worship. Moved from complaint to trust, we will be challenged to take our fears to God, and trust in the One who is the joy of our salvation!
God’s acceptance is not God’s approval, and what God allows will be called into account. Wickedness, evil, violence, and injustice will not have the final word; the one from all eternity, the Lord in His holy temple, has both the first and the last word.
What are we to do, as people of faith, when we face ongoing, lingering, and long-term challenges, hardship, and suffering? What are we to do when it feels like God is not providing help, deliverance, or relief? The book of Habakkuk helps us in these times by giving us guidance, understanding, and hope.
Habakkuk, the prophet, is crying out to God for help and salvation based on his situation and circumstances. We read about his lament, a prayer of complaint, in the opening four verses of Habakkuk.
This marks the beginning of our new eight-week series, "How Long, O Lord?" Join us as we journey with Habakkuk in seeking answers to our prayers of lament. Through engaging in a dialogue with God, Habakkuk discovers the power of faith in the face of waiting for God's intervention amidst prevailing wrongdoing and wickedness.
In this first message we delve into Habakkuk's initial prayer, reflecting on the challenges of waiting and confronting injustice. There is a link in the sermon notes for a special video from the Bible Project that provides valuable insights into the themes of the book of Habakkuk.
When Jesus said, “I AM” (ego eimi), He was identifying with the name of God. God first revealed His name to Moses when He manifested Himself as fire from a bush. Moses asked God what His name was, and God answered, “I AM, WHO I AM” and told Moses to tell His people that “I AM had sent him” (Exod. 3:13-14, see also Isaiah 41:4, 43:10, 48:12).
Jesus powerfully and profoundly empowered Peter to experience healing and restoration through the love he received from Jesus and his own love for Jesus. Jesus then shared with Peter the events that would unfold at the end of his life, urging him to stay committed and follow Him no matter what challenges lay ahead. This message extends beyond Peter to all individuals, emphasizing the importance of following Jesus wholeheartedly. As we reflect on these concluding words in the book of John, we are encouraged to prioritize following Jesus unreservedly, staying focused on Him, and becoming active participants in His unfolding narrative.