Sunday Words of Encouragement July 9, 2023 - "Our Great God"

Our Sunday School lesson continued in James 1:16-18 with the message that Grace is connected to temptation; it is a good and perfect gift. Grace needed for sin. Gods unmerited favor is a higher level than forgiveness and mercy. Christ is the vehicle of that grace. Through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, death is swallowed by triumphant life. Sin, guilt, and death are gone. Romans 5:20-21. God sees us cleansed and as righteous with our final right standing to be revealed in our eternal lives.

We celebrated communion, remembering the sacrifice of Christ through the symbolism of the body (bread) and blood (wine/juice). We also celebrated our Pastor’s first year anniversary.

Pastor’s message was from 1 John 4:1-4, titled “Our Great God”. We are involved in spiritual warfare in this world. We have to test the spirits and teaching of any who present them as speaking for God.

Don't be misled by a charismatic person. Instead, ask if their message brings conviction. Preaching is sometimes a hard word in today’s worldly culture. Revelation 2:20-23. The church of Thyatira was scolded for tolerating the teachings of Jezebel instead of following God. [Note messages to the other churches also talk about false teachings. Revelation 2:2 and 2:14-15.]

Compare the acts and teachings of leaders and preachers to determine if it is consistent with the Biblical true. Does the teaching confess that Jesus is from God. Does it acknowledge our personal relationship with God?

We must discern what is of God. Antichrist has been in the world since the days that Adam and Eve were misled. We each must grow in faith by reading the Word daily.

Don't be deceived. “Feelings” are not reliable for decision making. There is a truth to stand on.
Once a believer has accepted Christ as his or her savior, the God dwells in that believer. ‘Dear children you are from God and have overcome’ the spirits of the world. ‘He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.’ 1 John 4:4.

No weapon formed against you can prosper. Don't compromise. Truth has not changed. Be biblically true rather than culturally correct.  Anchor yourself in the Word, and be in a church that teaches Biblical truth. We become Godly temples and must resist the upside-down teachings of the world.

I like this song for today:

Verses for Today:
1 John 4:1-4 NIV
On Denying the Incarnation
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

God my Father, Christ my Savior, Spirit my Guide, please keep me on your path and protect me from being deceived by the antichrist spirits of the world.