Let us know by Sunday May 10 (this Sunday) if you are planning on going with us on our canoe/kayak outing on Saturday May 16. It promises to be an exciting event! Tom needs to make reservations. thanks.
Friday June 5 -- 10:00pm-2:00am we will be leading the Worship Encounter in the Prayer Chapel at Evangel (Minors Lane). Praise, worship, prayer, the Word, and food/fellowship following.
"Bait of Satan" devotional:
Read pages 95-108 and pages 220-222 "The Rock of Offense"
Consider this: "Love is the bottom line in our relationship with the Lord--not love of principles or teachings, but love for the Person of Jesus Christ." (Bevere)
Read I Peter 2:6-8...watch for the word "believe". In this passage, the words believe and disobedient are represented as opposites. Consider that the word "believe" could be replaced with the word "obedient". John 3:16 says; "...that whoever believes in Jesus should not perish but have everlasting life". If we are only required to believe that Jesus existed and died on the cross to be in good standing with God, then what about the demons who believe? James 2:19 says "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe---and tremble!"
Consider these questions for yourself:
For me, faith is ____?
For me, obedience is ____?
If I say I believe and do not obey, then _____?
Do you believe that the main element of believing is obedience? If it is, then we could read scripture this way: "Therefore, to you who obey, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." (ref. I Peter. 2:6-8)
Remember: It is not difficult to obey when you know the character and love of the one to whom you are submitting. If your love for Christ is not strong and sure, then you are susceptible to OFFENSE and to STUMBLING.
Because of obedience to Christ, we suffer in the flesh since we do not fulfill the desires of men. Don't you believe that Jesus suffered His greatest opposition from the religious leaders in His day?! Religious people put their own parameters around the way God operates. When we are led by the Spirit, we will offend "religious" people just as Christ did.
Paul wote this: "The fact that the cross is the only way to salvation offends people, but that is the truth, and there's no way I'm going to preach anything else!" (ref. Gal. 5:11)
WE CANNOT COMPROMISE TRUTH IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM BEING OFFENDED...JESUS DIDN'T!
In the Source group this week, we will discuss how:
*Jesus offended the Pharisees
*Jesus offended those in his hometown
*Jesus offended His own family members
*Jesus offended His own staff
*Jesus offended some of His closest friends
*Jesus offended John the Baptist
Looking forward to seeing you soon....
Growing in Christ together,
Becky
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