Three Resources for Life

Three Resources Available to You

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On Sunday I could spend only a few minutes indicating three resources Jesus gives to the Christian as support and energy in life.  I promised to sketch them in at least a little more on the blog.  So here they are.

The Spirit and His Word

‘Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ (John 20:21-22)

Jesus gives us his Spirit for the life we are called to live for him – in family and marriage and work place and leisure and church.  The Spirit is mostly given not for comfort in our front rooms but for courage on our frontlines; not so much for experience in our worship but for endurance in our workplace.

A question to ask: Are we giving the Spirit his Sword?  After all ‘the sword of the Spirit…is the Word of God’. (Ephesians 6:17)  Does the Bible saturate our lives in such a way that the Spirit is armed?

The Church and her people

‘And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.’  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

We do not predominately come to church for retreat but are sent from church in advance – to impact our world for Jesus.  Church is our family to encourage, motivate, train and release us, re-deployed and re-energised for our everyday lives of worship.  Our church and its people are there to spur us on and stir us up and strengthen and empower us for life beyond the church.

A question to ask: Are we regularly meeting together and being spurred on for Jesus?  How do you view church – a place to come to; or a place to be launched from?

The leaders and their purpose

‘So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service...’  (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Church leaders are not there to do the mission of the church but to mobilise the church for a multitude of missions.  Church leaders are not there to serve the church but to equip the church for service.  Jesus appoints leaders to the church who are fundamentally Bible-handlers to equip and train the church to live all of life for Jesus.

A question to ask: Are we allowing our church leaders to equip us for life?

So three great resources for life:

·         The Spirit Jesus gives

·         The Family Jesus forms

·         The Leaders Jesus appoints

You are not alone as you live courageously for Jesus in all of life: Jesus has given is the resources we need.  

‘We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.’  (2 Corinthians 5:20)