Sunday Words of Encouragement July 21, 2013

We had a good Sunday School message with an exploration to find the True Mount Sinai. The point being that every archealogical discovery that is consistent with the Bible is one more evidence of the Truth of God's Word!

Our service atmosphere was particularly sweet and Pastor's message was titled: God’s Glory in Us.

The scripture tells us that we are complete in Him.  Colossians 2:9-10.  But when we look at our actions we might question: “If I am righteous, why are my actions unrighteous?” This is not a new dilemma as Apostle Paul wrote of the same questions and struggles in Romans 7:15-18.
Another way to ask the Question might be “If I am complete in God why do I still need work?”

Pastor compared our spiritual righteousness to a holy marriage. In a legal marriage there are loop holes that allow one or other, or both, to break the bond. In a spiritual marriage the two are directed to "become one" and that makes the bond much more difficult to break. We are to have such a oneness with the Holy Spirit.

When we accept God we do so by belief and faith, accepting that Christ shed His blood to cover our sins. But our bodies are still flesh and sin in our bodies still has possession or control. It takes a lot of power to conquer the flesh (and sin) that is our nature from birth. We really do not have that power without the help of the Holy Spirit – God living in us – bonded to us. We are bonded by belief and faith to the triune God but our transformation from fleshly being to spiritual being is a work in progress.  Hopefully we walk and grow with God which helps our struggling earthly desires to grow toward righteousness.  We are being transformed – changed – by glory on glory...step by step.  2 Corinthians 3:18.

We are on a journey and must continually seek God’s help through prayer for righteousness and deliverance rather than just giving in to the flesh or our sin. Are we allowing the world to direct our behaviors rather than Spirit? We need to reflect the Spirit of God in us rather than the world around us. The Key is being under the Spirit-- yielding.

Fortunately, even at the early stages of our belief and faith, once we accept the sacrificial gift of Christ’s death, God sees only the blood covering of Jesus and no longer sees us in sin. Colossians 2:13-14.

I could not find this song with lyrics on a video
but the words fit today’s message and these images are lovely.
I Stand in Awe...Let me be changed....

A Verse for Today:
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Thank you God for seeing righteousness in me; for allowing Your Glory to grow in me. Please let me be changed by Your presence!