The Word, Repentance & Grace
Last Sunday was the conclusion of our Messy Spirituality series. As we considered what a robust Christian Spirituality looks like, we are beckoned into living in such a way that our authentic transformation can become real-time change.
Watch Last Sunday’s Sermon “A Robust Christian Spirituality” from our Messy Spirituality series.
When the multi-spiritualities around us beckon and allure with the authority of the “self”…
They’re offering “self-actualization,” “self-discovery,” and various forms of discovering the “divine within.”
But in Christian Spirituality, the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit, are the external authority on God’s nature and our own nature.
When we see God clearly we see ourselves clearly, too.
This revelation isn’t from within, it’s from without (outside of us).
And yet as we trust the Word, God the Holy Spirit comes within to work all that revelation out through us.
Rather than our experience setting the standard for our lives, the Word reveals the standard and then beckons us into experience.
Anyone who has hit the wall will understand this. Whether through sin, suffering, or other experience, we long for Someone outside of us, a truth to speak into us, a living word to free us (Heb 4:12-13).
Also, our continued repentance is key for Christian Spirituality.
As opposed to other spiritualities that affirm you to death, Christian Spirituality, in Jesus, puts to death our life independent from God, and raises us into the affirmative embrace of our Father.
Through Jesus we are invited into the changing of our mind-sets. A mind set is where we “set” our minds.
Because of Jesus we can experience release from ideological and psychological strongholds (Col 2:13-15).
In our mess, we can step into the simple and pure grace of Jesus.
He’ll lead us into God’s throne room, to receive His love (Heb 4:14-16).
We can bask and soak in His Love.
What would it be like just to sit with Him?
To let your mind unwind with Him?
To let your heart settle into the peace that passes understanding? (Phil 4:6-7).
Let Him guard your heart and mind, that’s His job.
You just rest.
Be with Him,
It’s here we experience how our living relationship with God is the center of Christian Spirituality.
The fact that Jesus would die on the cross shows how unutterably valuable you are to Him.
Our Father planned on your life, including your spiritual life.
He intentionally included you in the sacrifice of Jesus, so you could be filled with His Spirit.
And gifted you the faith to come to His love, being washed clean.
He gives you a relationship with Him, and nothing in-between.
For us, there is no thing that will separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus. “Neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39)
We have a special gift this Sunday to hear from our very own Janet Vanderhoof, who will take us into some practical insights on continuing to listen to Jesus amid our Messy Spirituality. Let’s bless her as she leads us closer to Jesus!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Dave