Here in Rock Hall, we have tried to stay focused on developing as followers of Jesus as we Gathering to worship; Growing in relationships; and Going to serve.
Growing in our relationships includes growing in our relationship with Jesus. This leads us to develop his character in our lives and understand his calling on our lives. This GROWING happens as we learn more about him and put it into practice.
This is the way that our experience of God's power at work in us, it doesn't stop with us, it makes a difference in the world around us.
This series of talks from City Changers, a ministry who's purpose is to help disciples live out their calling as disciples in such a way that their community is changed. That's our desire here in Rock Hall.
Consider this from Matt 5: 13-16 in the Message paraphrase of the Bible
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
INTEGRITY
Man is so overwhelmed by the consequences of the fall of Adam, that he does not recognize the implications of the triumph of Jesus Christ through the cross in His death and resurrection. This victory is one in which humanity has been included. This defining reference of our lives gives us the ability to now live the way Jesus lived when he walked in the flesh here on earth. The only difference between Jesus Christ and us, in living a victorious a life of integrity, is His understanding of who He was.
On our behalf He brought all things to perfection through his ultimate sacrifice. Now He commands all men everywhere to come to their right mind, and discover redemption. God has given guarantee to our innocence when He raised Jesus from the dead. And now the life of Christ is confirmed in you. This determines that you are no longer a ‘sinner’, but you have become the ‘righteousness’ of God.
The revelation of righteousness by faith unveils how God in Christ succeeded in restoring man’s lost sense of identity and innocence, to now live without any sense of blame, guilt or inferiority. In essence the new Testament calls for revelation knowledge of our perfect redemption. Our faith, and not works and performance of a contribution to qualify for that which has already been established, is now the basis of our integrity.
By implication He is not making us…. He has made us ……. We see how even in the translations of the bible they struggle to deeply understand this.
Heb 10:14 NKJV
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Heb 10:14
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called,” Eph 4:1
Eph 4:1 walk worthy (Greek = axios)
Thayer Definition:
1) weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much
2) befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing
The Hebrew word for righteousness is the word zadok, which refers to the beam in a scale of balances. If Christ is the standard measure, then that which reflects His likeness and image alone will balance the scale.
Christ is the measure of our integrity. This is what Paul was communicating to the Ephesian church, when he spent the first three chapters of the letter to communicate to them their true identity and position in Christ.
Temptation seeks to tamper with our integrity. Temptation is only temptation when your spirit identity is challenged to again accept an inferior identity. Temptation wants to convince you of shortcoming, lack and imperfection. The wisdom that comes from above persuades you of fullness and completeness. Whenever temptation registers in our minds, its mission is to win our minds in order to win our vote. Its aim is to entice us to agree that its appeal is irresistible and to subject us to a lower reference that we have been called to. Its desire is to blind our minds to spirit reality, so that what is ours in Christ and who we are in Him seem vague and irrelevant!
Embracing the truth of your spirit identity revealed in Christ is the cleft of the Rock that shelters you from temptation, it is also your armour and weaponry. The revelation of our identity in Christ is the conviction with which we arrest every thought and thus demolish every stronghold.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ;” 2Cor.10:4-5. NKJV.
Because we were raised together with Christ; let us now engage and occupy our thoughts with Throne Room realities and not with the futile contradictions and distractions of a lesser life.
Col 3:1-2 Mirror
Pursue with diligence the consequence of your co-inclusion in Christ. Relocate yourself mentally! His resurrection co-raised you to the same position of authority, seated in the strength of God’s right hand. Becoming affectionately acquainted with Throne Room thoughts will keep you from being distracted again by the earthly (soul-ruled) realm.
Any instruction that still places the emphasis on man’s contribution to improve himself and his conduct limits man again to personal discipline and effort under the futile system of the law of guilt and condemnation; and insults the completed work of God in Christ. Our appeal to people is to ‘Behold’ so that they can ‘Become’.
Our conduct is no longer the basis on which God engages with us – it is our inclusion in Christ that determines whether we are blessed or cursed. Deuteronomy 28 is fulfilled in Christ – we are loved, blessed and favoured because we are in Christ. Every promise is YES in Christ, we speak the Amen!
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