Sunday, November 27th - First Sunday of Advent Reading (Hope)

Sunday, November 27th - First Sunday of Advent Reading (Hope)

What is Advent?

Advent is a season running through the month of December in which Christians look back to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, when the Son of God became a man for our sake, and we look forward to his coming return. In setting apart time to focus on parts of Christ’s life throughout the year (Lent, Easter, Advent, and Christmastime), we orient our lives, not around our business calendars, or sports calendars, but around the life-giving life of Christ who though being God, humbled himself and took on flesh and blood for our sake, to cleanse us from our sin and reconcile us back to God. To deliver us from the domain of darkness and bring us into the Kingdom of Light and Life in God. 

This season encourages us to do some self-examination as we ponder the coming of God in Christ, in the flesh, born in Bethlehem. We were created to live with God, towards God, and for God and our hearts will remain restless until we find rest in Him, as the early church Father Augustine says. Our desire this season is to work together to quiet our hearts, to let the Spirit of God convict us, comfort us, and call us toward Christ. To prepare him room in our hearts, and to orient our lives around him finding the hope, joy, peace, and the eternal fullness of life God has given us through Jesus.

As a means of doing that, each week we will read some scripture and light a candle. As Advent continues and we near the celebration of Christ’s coming, the light of the candles will grow. This week, we are reflecting on the hope of God, who promised from the very beginning to redeem and rescue us. This candle, as it burns, reminds us of the confidence and hope we should have in this and every season, as we look back to the fulfillment of God’s promises in the coming of Christ and then look forward to the return of Christ prophesied in the New Testament. Our God who has promised is faithful.

Join me in reflecting on the prophecy found in scripture.

Reading Isaiah 9:2;6-7

The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

    and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

    with justice and righteousness

    from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this.

Prayer

Lord God, many things are pulling for our attention as we enter this Advent season. For some of us, our days are filled to the brim with friends and family, for others work consumes much of our life, for those of us who are young anticipation for gifts crowds our hearts and minds, and for those of us who are aging, our joy and hope is mixed with grief as we consider those who aren’t around this year. 

You are not shocked by any of this. Would you meet us where we are and lead us deeper into your truth so that we might know and believe you are near? That you sent your son to be God with us, not once a long time ago, but once and for all.

Help us to make room in our hearts and minds to see and savor your Son this Advent season. Comfort the afflicted, counsel the confused, convict the consumed. Glorify your name in our hearts and lives. May all the glitz and glam, hustle and bustle, desire and longing, aches and pains draw our hearts more fully to you.

We ask these things in Jesus' name,
Amen.

Christ, we have been given much, not for us to keep, but to give 1Co 12

In Christ, we have been given much - eternal life in Jesus, the beautiful simplicity of our faith - we are righteous in Christ by the grace of God and faith in His love - Jesus’ person and work (on the cross).

Now, being made children of God, we get to be imitators of God!  What we are, children of God, is in Jesus, by God’s generous gift of grace through Jesus (Jo 1:12-13; 3:5-8; Ro 8).  With what we are given as God’s children, we can now be generous as our Father is generous (Eph 4:7-8,11-16) what we are privileged to do is to imitate our Father as dearly loved children (Eph 5:1-2), living too as He does, a life of love and to act on that love for the common good - of one another - as Jesus loves us, we are to love one another.  

So, being made in God’s image and likeness, and now created in Jesus, as God is to Himself, love, and it overflows to us, so we are to be with one another so that our love might too, overflow to others. (1Thes 3:12-13)

What does this privilege look like?  To love, serve, and bless, with all that we have been made to be - the image and likeness of God, and are being given as children of God to express that love - we are called to live and love according to our making and our being created in Jesus for obedience and good works and do those works with all that we have been given - loving God and one another, as ourselves.  (1Pet 1:2; James 2:14-26; 1Jo 3:17)

1Corinthians 12:1- 13:4

1Corinthians 12:1-3 Who, what, is, the body?  Those with the Spirit, who proclaim and see and treat Jesus as Lord. (Ps 45:6-7; John 13:13-14; Heb 1)

1Cor 12:4-6 How is the body assembled?  In the image and likeness of the Godhead as They are assembled: 1 God made up of 3 unique and distinct Persons working in harmony, by honor and mutual submission, with one mind, spirit, and purpose - and this for the common good - His and ours. Remember, God commands us to do the very things He does, and works in us to do them. (Ep 5:15-21; Phi 1:6; 2:1-16; Ro 12:16; 1Co 1:10; Pe 3:8)

1Cor 12:7-11 Just like God, we too are assembled together as 1 body with many unique and distinct parts working together in harmony, by honor and mutual submission, with one mind, spirit, and purpose - and this for the common good - God’s and one another’s.

1Cor 12:12-20 How we reflect God’s divine and loving community - image and likeness - each of us being a wonderfully unique and distinct part of the body, arranged just as God would have it, to do the very things He is creating us each to be together within the body that He is assembling to reflect His glory and goodness. (Ep 2:8-10;4:1-16; 1Pe 2:4-5, 9-10) 

1Cor 12:21-26 blessed mutuality - seeing and treating one another with respect and honor, value and significance, esteeming one another, even as better than self - each one as essential.  Again, just like God acts toward Himself, so we are to act toward one another. 

1Cor 12:27-30 this is the order of the body for God’s glory and the body’s good - each acting, serving, humbly for the sake of Christ and His body - one another. (Matt 20:20-28; 23:11-12; Mark 9:30-37; 10:43-44; Luke 22:24-27; Jo 13:12-17)

 1Cor 12:30-13:1, 4 …and here is how the body of Christ functions in the most excellent way - when it loves and esteems one another as (like) God does. (Lev 19:18,34; Jo 13:34; 15:12-13-17; 17:21; Ro 12:10; 13:8,10; 1Jo 2:8-10; 3:14-18,23)

And this is so important…

As in the Trinity, the divine Community, where no One is greater than the other, so it is with us. Just as in God, each one of us is unique and distinct, given places, roles, and responsibilities to accomplish, with gifts given by Him to each one of us, according to His glorious goodness and infinite wisdom, to accomplish the work that He has saved us for, those good works that He’s prepared in advance for us (each and everyone) to do - just as He has made us and is creating us in Christ Jesus, each one, esteemed by God, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified. (Rom 8:29-31; Heb 2)

As Aaron reminded us that we should continue to take into account:

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Some of us are endowed with gifts that will cause us to do much and suffer much for the sake of the Kingdom like Paul. We must be content with this.

Others of us are endowed with gifts that will cause us to live largely unnoticed, quiet lives of faithfulness to God known only by God and those blessed to know us. We must be content with this.

Remember! One is not greater than the other. We are all called, justified, sanctified, and glorified through the Son of God and Man himself - Jesus Christ. We are called to pour ourselves out for God. Let Him decide when and if to raise us up. Do not revere the talented, because he is talented. Revere him because he is faithful. Do not revile the quiet, faithful, background workers because they are not outspoken and loud. Instead, honor both because of their faithfulness to Christ. Do not fixate on your recognition or platform. Instead, glory that God has blessed you, and take joy in the work he has apportioned to you. Whether or not anyone ever knows you’ve done it.

THINK & PRAY: 

What & who has God given to me to steward? What opportunities are available to me?

What would it look like to live as if God was the kind of God who loved to bless faithfulness, who produces growth out of nothing, and who has called us to be faithful and fruitful? What would I do differently?

DO:

Repent of any lethargy or laziness in being faithful to what God has given you. Confess your sin, and accept Christ’s forgiveness. Set aside your guilt and shame and false ideas about yourself so that you can follow Christ faithfully into what he’s calling you to as a Child of God, confident that he is faithful.

After praying through these things and repenting, list out what actions you will take to better invest your time, talents, and resources on behalf of the Kingdom. Not goals. Actions. What changes for you moving forward and why? If you must tell someone, make sure they’re willing to check in on your progress and join you in your efforts to faithfully serve.

A Living Faith: The Function of Faith is Fruitfulness | Matthew 25:14-30, James 2:14-26, Galatians 6:1-10

Read: Matthew 25:14-30

• The first challenge this verse presents us works against our very idea of what it means to be a person in the 21st century. This verse tells us a few things:

  • We aren’t the master in charge of our lives.

  • Our resources (time, talent, treasure, jobs, families, etc) aren’t ours. 

  • There is an expectation of a return on God’s investment.

    • But God is the kind of God who can gather where he hasn’t scattered.

    • God desires to see his Kingdom spread and will work to ensure our faithfulness if fruitful. We cannot fail so long as we pursue faithfulness.
      
      

• The second challenge this verse presents us with is that some of us are more talented and capable than others and God expects a proportionate response to our capabilities. 

  • The Apostle Paul was a well-known, talented, intelligent, multi-national, theological heavyweight. Many of us can list out several of his deeds.

    • But who can tell me what the Apostle Philip did?

      • His main ministry act was bringing Nathaniel (another Apostle) to Jesus.

      • We can make some assumptions about what Philp did with his life, based on his role as an Apostle but ALL of his work post-resurrection is known only to those he ministered to and God himself.

  • What does this mean?

    • Some of us are endowed with gifts that will cause us to do much and suffer much for the sake of the Kingdom like Paul. We must be content with this.

    • Others of us are endowed with gifts that will cause us to live largely unnoticed, quiet lives of faithfulness to God known only by God and those blessed to know us. We must be content with this.
      
      

  • Remember! One is not greater than the other. We are all called, justified, sanctified, and glorified through the Son of God and Man himself - Jesus Christ. We are called to pour ourselves out for God. Let Him decide when and if to raise us up. Do not revere the talented, because he is talented. Revere him because he is faithful. Do not revile the quiet, faithful, background workers because they are not outspoken and loud. Instead, honor both because of their faithfulness to Christ. Do not fixate on your recognition or platform. Instead, glory that God has blessed you, and take joy in the work he has apportioned to you. Whether or not anyone ever knows you’ve done it.

Think & Pray: 

• What & who has God given to me to steward? What opportunities are available to me?

• What would it look like to live as if God was the kind of God who loved to bless faithfulness, who produces growth out of nothing, and who has called us to be faithful and fruitful? What would I do differently?

Do:

• Repent of any lethargy or laziness in being faithful to what God has given you. Confess your sin, and accept Christ’s forgiveness. Set aside your guilt and shame and false ideas about yourself so that you can follow Christ faithfully into what he’s calling you to as a Child of God, confident that he is faithful.
  
  

• After praying through these things and repenting, list out what actions you will take to better invest your time, talents, and resources on behalf of the Kingdom. Not goals. Actions. What changes for you moving forward and why? If you must tell someone, make sure they’re willing to check in on your progress and join you in your efforts to faithfully serve.

Read: James 2:14-26

• Genuine Faith is Fruitful. Ja 2:14-17
  
  

• Motion =/= Faithfulness.

  • It is possible to be doing very much that seems to be good, but is motivated by something other than faith in Christ. Even to do what God calls good, but not out of an overflow of communion with him. “You have faith; I have deeds.” Ja 2:18
    
    

• Rahab teaches us that small faithful acts, are not unseen by God.

  • She’s a prostitute.

  • She encounters the people of God and believes in God.

  • She sneaks out the Israelites who came in to spy before taking over her city.

  • She’s credited as righteous.

  • Faithfulness =/= the amount of action we take, but instead is the fruit of rightly seeing and believing God. The first step to faithful living is seeing God. The next step is living as if you’ve actually seen him.

Think & Pray:

• Have I recently settled into some spiritual coasting?
  
  

• How is my faith working itself out into the world?
  
  

• Pray through the motivations behind your actions. Don’t fall into navel-gazing. Endlessly questioning yourself isn’t a spiritual gift. Simply take some time and prayerfully reflect on your daily/weekly/monthly life and assess what you’re doing in response to spending time with God and what you’re doing out of some other ambition.
  
  

• Grab a spouse, a friend, a mentor or a pastor and ask them for honest feedback on your life. Where might you be blind to some sin that needs tending to or some slack in your walk? Peter tells us that it’s possible to be blinded by our sin, to not even see areas of blindness we possess. We need others to be faithful Christian men and women, teenagers, and children. 

Do:

• Again, make a list of actions you will take over the coming days, weeks, and months to align your life with the reality that God has called you to be fruitful. He has called you to sink your roots deeply into the Wellspring of Life and to take that nourishment and produce fruit of righteousness. Assess where God has you and make a plan trusting God to bless you as he sees fit.

Read: Galatians 6:1-10

Growing weary…

That’s a lot of “doing.” How do we do all that doing without overdoing it?

Hope in Christ.

He who is promised is faithful.

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust can not destroy.

Settle your heart in Christ.

He says “Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.”

Know and be known by your fellow Christians. Open up your home. Open up your life. Let people in. Let God’s people in. Be inconvenienced for their sake. Let them be inconvenienced for your sake.

But then they will see beyond the act I put on at Church, or work, or out in public?!

Exactly.

You who are spiritual or who live by the Spirit, restore them gently but watch yourself unless you’re tempted. Carry each other’s burdens.

In this way you WILL fulfil the law of Christ.

The Christian life is not a solo act.

You will grow weary if you’re doing it alone.

You will fall into sin and temptation and perhaps be blinded by it.

You will forget the rich mercy, grace, and provision of God if you go it alone.

You will miss the trees for the forest, and get caught up in zeal not birthed from Christ if you do not have guardrails in your life. 

• Who are they? 

• What access do they have to your life? 

• Who have you let in?

Perhaps the most important thing you can do today is two-fold.

Believe in Christ & throw yourself into his body.

Will you get hurt? Possibly.
But you’ll get hurt alone as well.

Will you hurt others? Almost certainly.

But no grievance you could cause is greater than the forgiveness made available to you through the Cross of Christ.

Will you have to set aside some personal dreams and visions? Possibly.

But everything offered to Christ is raised to life eternally.

Will you have to fight your flesh to do things God has called you to do for the sake of others? Absolutely.

Will you suffer more? Possibly. Paul certainly did. And yet it was Paul who said:
“And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:17-18

Because of the cross, all of your suffering for the sake of the Kingdom is not wasted. Not one tired night goes unnoticed. All of it will be taken up into the hands of God and used to bring about the eternal Kingdom of God.

Your master has given you talents and gifts. Spend them. Go to bed exhausted and content.

Invest it all because you know he’s the kind of master who reaps where he doesn’t sow.

Pour out your life as you are filled up with the fullness of Christ. Let your life be a fruitful offering to God, an overflow of abiding in Him.

Do not grow weary.

He who has promised is faithful, Hebrews tells us. If you are weary or stuck in sin and alone, open up. Invite others in. If you are satisfied and content, open up your heart and your door and invite others in, humbly and graciously. This is what it means to live a fruitful life. To live as if God formed us, Christ rescued us and the Spirit empowers us. Don’t leave anything on the field and fall into the arms of Christ. He has redeemed us. He is sustaining us. And he will use it all for his glory and our joy forever. Amen?

Fighting the Current

Read

Isaiah 55:6-9 ESV

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Reflect

MAIN IDEA: Rightly understanding God’s heart enables us to swim upstream in a downstream world (to fight the current).

• Defining the Current (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5; Genesis 3:1-8)

• Fighting the Current (Isaiah 55:6-9)

1. Return (Verses 6-7a)

2. Response (Verse 7b)

3. Reason (Verses 8-9)

Respond

Questions For Individual Or Group Study

1. What do you think comes to God's mind when He thinks about you? What do you think He feels when He thinks about you?

2. What lies regarding God’s heart do you need to turn from?

3. What truths regarding God’s heart do you need to turn toward?

4. What will look different in your life as your turn from lies to truth regarding God’s heart?

The mercy of the one who has received mercy… treating others as we have been treated: Mat 18:21-35

The mercy of the one who has received mercy… treating others as we have been treated, loving others as we have been loved, extending mercy to others as it has been extended to us, granting the gift of grace to others as it has been granted to us - forgiveness - the gift, that truly, keeps on giving - if we’re willing to give it…

The Lord’s prayer:

Luke 11:1-4

Matthew 18:21-35

Some things to consider:

Sin – in utter opposition to God, worthy of condemnation – what is it realize the enormity of the debt of which I have been forgiven in Christ?

What has being forgiven of this debt done for me?

How do I view other’s sin?

How do I view other’s sin against me?

How do I treat others according to my view of that sin?

What can I do to change my view of sin – mine and others’, especially if that sin was committed against me?

How can I practice gratefulness to God for His forgiveness?  Am I grateful, or do I lose sight sometimes of God’s mercy toward me?

How can being in more consistent view of that mercy effect how I see and treat others in light of their sin – especially against me?

Who am I treating with contempt, forgetting that I myself have been forgiven of such great a debt?

To whom do I need to show mercy?

Who in my life do I need to forgive?

We ARE our brother's keeper. Genesis 4:1-10

We ARE our brother's keeper. Genesis 4:1-10 

What is a privilege of walking with Jesus and one another?  That we would have those around us who love us enough to safeguard us. It is our great privilege to walk with another in life - at all.  That we would have those in our lives with whom we share our joys and sorrows, our elation and pain, our hopes and dreams, and when those dreams are dashed.  

It is also our privilege to be the one to whom someone would come, or would have come to us - to speak loving truth into each other’s lives, to enrich and guide, to encourage when struggling, and correct when wrong.

We have been granted such a great gift, first in and with a Father who loves us - in forgiveness, instruction, and correction by God’s word and Spirit, to experience the love of a Father who would be willing to bring a moment of pain for a life of peace, even bless:

Hebrews 12:4-13 “...7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children… 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

This is the compassion at the Hand of the Father that comforts us, even, when it doesn’t “feel” when it doesn’t comforting…  

Then, the gift of one another - to extend the love we have mercifully and graciously received - from OUR heavenly Father - to our brothers and sisters: 

Can we, will we, will I remain in view of the privilege of not only receiving our heavenly Father’s comfort - as His loving discipline - but, also see, ourselves, each other, as the instrument through whom this discipline sometimes comes? 

 Will we/I, then, see the times of pain, as an act of loving discipline, and patiently walk through life with my brothers and sisters, lovingly speaking truth and having truth spoken to me? 

 Remembering our own being comforted and provided peace by our Father’s loving discipline, and having His mercy in mind, do I treat others as mercifully and lovingly as I have been treated?

How might we do this?  Being in view of God’s mercy, remain humble in our own estimation.

It is in one’s own sober view of self (Ro 12:3), humbly recognizing one’s own sin, God’s mercy on them in the face of their sin, and the relief and release of their heart’s and mind’s conscience at the forgiveness of their sin, that allows them to love much the One who has forgiven them and those around them who suffer also their sin… 

Luke 7:36-50 “...I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

…they truly mourn and therefore are truly comforted and therefore desire, with compassion, to comfort others:

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

2Cor 1:3-4 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

…and then recognize the incredible privilege of being counted among those to whom someone would dare come to confess their sin and seek aid, to be comforted…

James 5:16 “...and confess your sins to one another and pray for one another…”

 …as you have been graciously and deeply loved, turn toward others with a gracious and deep love… 

1Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

…and having cultivated and demonstrated this attitude, this sober view of self, you become a welcome sight when someone in need, sees you approaching them - with care -  lovingly, and humbly - to walk with them, restoring them when they’ve sinned…

Luke 6:42 “...take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!”

Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

…as one is honest with themself, and humbly recognizes their own sin, they have not ignored or hidden their own sin but have allowed themselves to be examined by the light, to have their sin exposed, and when seen, turned to confess receive the peace of forgiveness.  Now, having seen their own, and having been cleansed, they can see rightly, and love much, as to humbly, carefully, and gently approach another’s sin and render loving aid and walk with them through repentance. 

41“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Galatians 6:1-3, 7-10 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. … 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

What is the good we should not be weary of doing?  

One would be: That we would treat others the way we would want to be treated…

Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Another would be:  That we would forgive others as we have been forgiven…

Matthew 6:12 “...and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”

Let us be careful then to remember God’s mercy, to be in full and regular view of it, and to offer the same to others… Matthew 18:21-35

…having sinned and suffering its consequences,  we all have hope of being forgiven, and of being healed, to be relieved of guilt, shame, and the anxieties that come with sin and its consequences, to let us, loving one another deeply…

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

…to be restored to right relationship with God and others, renewed and strengthened, restored and re-assured of our position in God in Christ. (2Peter 1:1-11; 3:14; Ro 2:4)

Psalm 51

Some follow-up questions:

Do I make a regular practice of exposing my heart to God’s word, to the Spirit in prayer, and to the fellowship of believers, so that my heart might be examined?  If not, what do I need to change to start doing so or to be more consistent?

Do I make a regular practice to keep in view God’s mercy toward me AND others?

• Where was I when I met Jesus?

• Who was it that loved me and was patient enough with me to share Jesus with me?   What was their attitude toward me?  

• What do I need to do to remember God’s grace and mercy on me?

• What brothers and sisters in my life need me to show them

Do I have 2 or 3 close believing friends with whom I can share and confess and expose my sins to so that I might not hide my sin or shrink in guilt and shame and be gently restored?

Do I have a few in my life who love me enough to come to me when they see me struggling with sin and gently confront and restore me?

Are there those in my life, with whom I walk, who if I see in sin and mourn for them, that I would go to them and gently confront and restore?

“...blessed are those who mourn… they will be comforted…” and ready and equipped to “comfort those in trouble…” Matthew 5:4; 2Corinthians 1:2

“...blessed are those who mourn… they will be comforted…” and ready and equipped to “comfort those in trouble…”  Matthew 5:4; 2Corinthians 1:2

What do we mourn?  Our sin and its consequences. When we humbly recognize our sin and confess it to God and others, we are acknowledging our need for God and others - that we cannot do this alone.  In our mourning, in our having brought grief to those who love us, we seek forgiveness and restoration - healing.  It is in the confessing and the forgiving that we find our comfort and are healed of our guilt and shame, our anxious thoughts, and our remorse for having hurt those we love.  

The great privilege of being the extension of God’s loving mercy. (Luke 6:36; Mat 5:44-48; Rom 12:14-21). What is perhaps most astonishing, is it is at the acknowledging and the confessing of our own sin, that we actually become one who another can approach when they have sinned and are seeking comfort and healing - it is when we have a right and humble view of self, that we become one to whom another can come and confess and be healed. 

What do we mourn?  Other’s sin and its consequences.  Having experienced our own brokenness and sin, the mercy we have received from God by His love softens our hearts toward others who suffer the same pain - this should shape our attitude toward sin and one another - and compel us to develop a life and environment, a safe space, that promotes confession, forgiveness, and restoration - the healing salve of forgiveness - for all we encounter. 

How we view ourselves and our sin will go a long way in telling us how we will see and view another and their sin - and whether they will feel safe coming to us for help.  It is a spirit of humility that will ensure one’s ability, to be honest with God, self, and others, and then will allow others to come to you for the comfort they need.

Luke 18:9-14

On the other hand, self-righteousness, and pride, before God and people, make a person who is self-deceived, believing they are something they are not and doing so at their own peril (Pr 16:18-19).  If we do not see ourselves as having sinned, not mourning our sin,  we will go neither to God nor another, because we do not see our need to - we have shown that we actually do not love God much (John 13), and in turn, we are not likely to have an attitude or countenance that would allow another to come to us - because we see little need for forgiveness, we have little capacity to love. 

It is in one’s own sober view of self (Ro 12:3), recognizing one’s own sin, God’s mercy on them in the face of their sin, and the relief and release of their heart’s and mind’s conscience at the forgiveness of their sin, that allows them to love much the One who has forgiven them and those around them who suffer also their sin… 

Luke 7:36-50 “...I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

…they truly mourn and therefore are truly comforted and therefore desire compassionately to comfort others:

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

2Cor 1:3-4 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

…and then be counted among those to whom someone would dare come to confess their sin and seek aid…

1Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

James 5:16 “...and confess your sins to one another and pray for one another…”

…or would be a welcome sight when they see one in need and making an approach…

Luke 6:42 “...take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

…as one sees their own sin, being honest with oneself, humbly recognizing their own sin, they are not blind to their own sin but have allowed themselves to be examined by the light, to have their sin exposed, and confess their sin and receive the peace of forgiveness, they now, having seen their own, and having cleansed themselves from their own sin, can see rightly, and love much, as to humbly, carefully, and gently approach the other’s sin and render loving aid and walk with them through repentance. 

41“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Galatians 6:1-3, 7-10 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. … 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

…in hopes of being healed, and relieved of guilt, shame, and the anxieties that come with sin and its consequences…

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

…and restored to right relationship with God and others, renewed and strengthened, restored and re-assured of our position in God in Christ. (2Peter 1:1-11; 3:14; Ro 2:4)

Psalm 51

Do I make a regular practice of exposing my heart to God’s word, to the Spirit in prayer, and to the fellowship of believers, that my heart might be examined?  If not, what do I need to change to start doing so or to be more consistent?

Do I have 2 or 3 close believing friends with whom I can share and confess and expose my sins to so that I might not hide my sin or shrink in guilt and shame and be gently restored?

Do I have a few in my life who love me enough to come to me when they see me struggling with sin and gently confront and restore me?

Are there those in my life, with whom I walk, who if I see in sin and mourn for them, that I would go to them and gently confront and restore?

Facade to Fellowship

READ 1 John 1:1-10 (ESV)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

REFLECT

Main Idea: This passage is a call to move from facade to fellowship.

Main verse: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

“Walk in the light”

What does it mean to walk in the light?

Why does it matter that we walk in the light?

What does walking in the light look like?

RESPOND (Self Examination and Application)

Self Examination

What sins are you hiding that you’re too ashamed or afraid to expose?

What impact has hiding your sin had on your relationship with God and others? What impact is wearing a facade having on your spiritual growth?

What would change in your relationship with God and others if you confessed these sins to God and others (using wisdom and discretion)?

Application

Pray Psalm 139 23-23 (ESV) “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!”

First, pray that God would give you wisdom and discernment to find a couple of mature brothers or sisters in Christ to confess your sins to and have pray with you. Then take action to confess the sins you’re hiding to those brothers/sisters. Pray that God would help you be a mature and trustworthy brother/sister in Christ for someone that needs to confess their sins.

Add to brotherly-affection, love: a work in progress: Acts

Add to brother-affection, love: To love one another has always been a work in progress… but, it is the purest demonstration of our being disciples of Jesus, His Body.

Great Commandment - a new command I give you…

Deuteronomy 6:5 & Leviticus 19:18  “5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength….  18“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

Not new, but, ongoing and eternal… Jesus is bringing forward God’s eternal heart and will

Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30,33; Luke 10:27 29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Then, Jesus reframes it… 

John 13:34-35  “34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

…and explains what our loving actually expresses - love for Him and the Father… (Deut 15:7; Prov 14:31; 1John 2:5; 3:17; 4:12,17, 20)

John 14:15, 21,-24; 15:10-14 (1John 2:3; 5:3; 2John 1:6) 14:23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them… 15:10 “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."

Jesus’ commandment to the disciples with regard to now having experienced that love - no longer in theory, but in the flesh.

John 13:1,4,34  “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end, showing them the extend of His love… he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet… a new command I give you: as I have loved you, so you must love one another”

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, but prior to the Spirit’s coming, the disciples clung to one another in fear, trying as they might to love one another - We’re trying, we are… 

Acts 1 gathered in a room, together, grieving, praying, wondering what will become of us.

After Pentecost, the coming of the transforming Holy Spirit, God’s love for us, in us, and His love through us to Him and one another, with our cooperation, we can love as Jesus.

Galatians 5:13-15,22,25 “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh a ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself…15walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…22the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…25since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” 

This love, by the Spirit’s power and their devotion, is first demonstrated in the church. 

Acts 2:42-47 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32-37 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.  36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

The Church and its love were tested by scope, sin, persecution, and, prejudice… not much different than what we experience today.

Acts 5:1-11 the sin of Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 6:1-6 the increased scope of the fledgling church, including the proliferation of Grecian Jews and the stress involved in loving and serving…“In those days the number of disciples was increasing…”  & “...the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” (Lev 19:9; 23:22; Deut 24:19; Ja 2; 1Jo 3:17; Pr 3:27-28)

Acts 7; 11:19  the death of Stephen and the scattering of the church

Acts 10 & 11 Peter’s vision and subsequent visit with Cornelius and his family - entering his house and his having to explain to the other disciples his actions 

Acts 10:28 “Peter said them” ‘You are well aware that it is against our Law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.  But God…”

Acts 11:2-3 “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

…and theological wranglings… 

Acts 11; 17:17-26 (Rom 3; Gal 2&3; Heb 10)

Then Paul, instructing how we sould live, breaks down the Great Commandment in very real terms, expressing both the substance and the essence of the love we are here for one another and how we demonstrate it. 

Romans 12:3-21

How will we love those among us?

With what gifts and talents might I bless my part of the Body of Christ?

Am I willing to receive the love of others - as sometimes it is hard to be served? (see Jesus and Peter in John 13)

Can I, will I, trust God to do what He promises to do, and in the meantime do what He is asking of me, empowering to do, and love sincerely?

Brotherly Affection: There is a general attitude in our hearts and mind: do not be overwhelmed (by the world): From all, to every, to each

Brotherly Affection: the general attitude of our hearts: do not be overwhelmed

John 3:16-21  16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but (each would) have eternal life…

An affection, an affinity for; a friendly demeanor, a general sense of kindness and benevolence (generosity) toward - all, the whole body - all those with whom I fellowship and worship - leading to a cheerful welcoming and accepting that brings a sense of joy and belonging to all who enter.  (2Pe 1; John 13)

Doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, I come with a willingness to serve as opportunities arise - being available, alert, and aware, to provide an act of kindness to everyone you encounter, anyone who has a need in the moment - direction, help, a smile, a moment of friendly caring.  (Lev 19; 23; Ruth 2)

Taking me from my own interests to (also) the interests of others, we develop an affection for those around me and the willingness, and eagerness, to serve, born out of this growing sincere affection for those with whom you share this common space deepening our affection and moving us to love - each person we serve. (Phil 2)

Deepening affection leads to wanting to serve the body even more profoundly - intentionally, finding a space, a place to share me and my gifts with others, to serve the body with our gifts and talents - to bless and edify those around us to build all up, everyone, as each does its part. (Ro 12; 1Co 12)

All of this leads to expressing our part of the body, displaying a mutual concern for all parts, to everyone, as each has need, further expressing our mutual connection to the head - Jesus - because we are following His lead - dignifying all, everyone, by the touching of each. (Eph 4)

And as we edify others and help them grow we are being affirmed as to our own part in the body and confirming for them, theirs, and we do this, as we express our affection to others, showing the extent of our sincerest loving affection in being generous with our care and service. (Jo 13; Ro 12; 2Cor 9)

This all reminds us of why we are where we are, who we are as a part, and why we are here - for our own encouragement and to encourage those with and for whom we are connected - and with each act of kindness, sharing of affection, we are increasing all of our confidence and assurance and producing in us and among us a spiritual zeal that carries us through these times. (Ro 8;21; Jo 17)

To have and share such affection, to serve the body, is to love Jesus, expressing that love by obeying His loving and life-giving commands, by participating in the building up of the body - all who are a part, everyone, each, loving one another - as Jesus has loved us.  (Jo 12-17; 1Jo 3; 4)

1John 4:19-20 19We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Sometimes we wonder how my presence can make any difference, how one small moment’s gesture, by one small part, can have an impact, how one tiny prayer can carry any power… I am sure that is how the disciples must have felt.  And the boy, what was he thinking, but, here he was, offering what he had, such a small thing in the presence of this large crowd.  This story is the story of God’s economy, not just the way it works, but what is intended by it - that His glory would be seen and that each of everyone, all of us, would sense our part - our belonging - our contribution to the lives of those with whom we share this eternal bond. The truth that this God works through the smallest things to accomplish His most profound works - we are His choosing to accomplish His chosen purpose - and this by His wonderful grace! (Deut 7:7; 1Co 12:12-26)

John 6:1-14; Mark 6:30-44 - “I have compassion for these people” feelings for from the “seat of affections and love”.  Going from all, to everyone, to each… the feeding of the 5,000 - all these people, we don’t have enough food to feed everyone, even if each only had…, …in God’s economy, each one had more than enough, as everyone ate to the full, and all were fed…, …as this one boy, gave everything he had, that everyone would be fed, as all would eat.

And as all ate, every one being fed, each one was satisfied, taken care of, taken into consideration, because in the mass of all these people, every one of them counts, because each one mattered, and matters - to Jesus.  Having a mutual brotherly-affection for the “one anothers” is to imitate – Jesus (John 13)