It was only possible for the disciples to live lives as Jesus was directing when they were abiding in his love. After Christ had revealed his glory. And the reality that most of us sitting here this morning have been sitting in the same shoes of these men. We may not have seen quite the quantity of healings or numbers of demonic strongholds broken but He has revealed who he is to us and has poured out his love upon us.
Just as Dave was speaking about abiding in the vine as such a central point of everything. Everything comes from that place of abiding. Focusing on the root. We need to focus on the love of Christ and how we live our lives will be a natural response to this love. We need to soak ourselves in this love and our lives will be changed. It won't be a question of how do I take up my cross, you will without thinking be taking up your cross. This will shape every decision you make.
You may be in a place this morning where you would say to me, "but the disciples saw a lot of stuff, they had no doubt they had seen countless things happen as they personally laid hands of people. Surly its different for them? Surely they were just more convinced? Or surely they were just more excited? I can understand that response in their case." They were men who stepped out in faith. And as they stepped out they saw revelation after revelation of Christ's love and power. Why aren't we seeing that kind of break-through, or that same intensity of revelation of power in our lives today? I'd say its because we don't step out. Or if we do step out we don't step out enough. The disciples went out with one mission. To reveal the power and love of Christ by healing and casting out the demonic. What is our mission? To make money or be popular? You try and enjoy ourselves as much as possible? Just to be a good friend? Do we ever go out for a day with one mission, to reveal the power of Christ? Have we ever gone out for an hour with only that mission in mind? Well we are going to, and we are going to do it often and we will see the miraculous happen in our campuses and on our high streets. It may not happen the first time, it may not happen the second. But it will happen. You know why? Because we have that same commission as the disciples had. We have that same power and authority given to us.
If we are not careful Christianity becomes nothing more than caring about our own ‘spiritual growth’ and it becomes more and more about how we are feeling or how we are doing. This is radically different from what we see in these passages. We read nothing about the disciple’s thoughts or feelings about going, they simply went and walked straight into revelation.
Effects of Love
2 Corinthians 5 v14-15 says this:
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
You won't realize the true value and magnitude of the cross without realizing the implications and penalty of our sin. The penalty of this sin has been paid for all those who trust in him. What Jesus did on the cross frees you from the outcome of hell that we all deserve. He died that 'those might live no longer live for themselves but for him'. Not out of sorting out their lives to in a way that we may be worthy or considered holy but our life response comes as a direct response to what has already been done for us. This is the ultimate act of love. As we focus on this love, the love that Christ showed us on cross our natural response to take up our cross and deny ourselves. As a response, not a request.
Our attitude of Response
We need to people who constantly are reminding ourselves of this love. To constantly be reminding ourselves of the love shown at the cross. Constantly reminding ourselves that the price has already been paid. Jesus is not just requesting that we may live a certain way but he wants us to enjoy his love and his grace and he wants to enjoy our natural response to this love with our lives. When we come to situations at uni and at work where it just feels to difficult to make the right choice, or do the right thing. Where it is just so easy to live how others around us are living, We need to be a people to soak ourselves in the love and his power. The revelation of love power is the thing that will equip us, not our own strength. When we focus on that love, on that power then the outcome is a natural response. One that effects every part of us. 26: 41 says 'the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Sometimes is know we want to do the right thing and the spirit is willing but our body is weak and just doesn’t want to. We want to give in to our selfish desires. The flesh is weak, it is harder to do the right thing. In these moments our actions need to be a direct response to his love for us. Not because of a request but because of a response.
Looking Back: Advent Candles
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(Author: Noel Piper)
Advent Candles probably are the most common Advent symbolism of looking back
to the days of waiting for the Messiah God had promised...
2 hours ago


