Show up

So last week, I talked about truth and how, as Believers in Christ, you know, we must guard our hearts and Minds from all the lies that the enemy tries to tell us by filling them with God's truth. The truth that we find in scripture, you know, and I said we have to be intentional about replacing the lies that the enemy loves to tell us. With the truth from God. And I also talked about how one of those core truths that we need to remember is that we are made in God's image and because of that very fact, we have a certain value in worse simply because we know that we are made in God's image and that should help us to feel that value in that works but that can be tough if we listen to those lies, So, we need to fill ourselves with the truth of scripture this week is, we talked about show up? I think it's a good song to follow last week's because it talks about our constant need for God to make himself known to us. Our constant need to feel his presence to be able to sense his presence, especially in the midst of the ordinary. You know sometimes it's in the middle of our daily routine where it's most easy for us to forget that God is always with us that God dwells among us that he dwells within us children of God.

Quote, the author of the song, Rachel Purcell, she said God has shown up for me when I had no idea what to do, how to pick myself up or even when I didn't want to get out of bet. She continued saying sometimes you write something you think you're writing for other people only to later realize that you we're the one that needed it. You know, I can relate to that. I remember a mentor of mine when I was going through Seminary said, that the good preachers are the ones who do the best job of telling their own story of talking about their own walk with God. And that's often how I feel when I'm up here, preaching, I'm preaching things to you, but I'm often preaching to myself as well. So, some wakeside and thinking, I hope they got as much out of that as I did, or at least that, there was something for them because it's something I needed to hear. since we dig into the versus behind the song this week, I want us all to be thinking about ways that God has shown up for us. or maybe there's a way we need him to show up for us and we're praying that way and just I hope these verses encourage you in that. The first verse is Romans 8:28, and I found a translation the voice. It's a little different wording, but I like the way that it doesn't since we are confident that God can orchestrate, everything to work towards something, good and beautiful. When we love him and accept his invitation to live, according to his plan. You know, the more common way, that we know that versus, you know, that God works all things for the good of those who love him. But I like how it talks about, God orchestrating things, and making things to work out, according to his plan and I also like the thing clue that important part of that we must accept his invitation. For any of that to be possible.

Cuz, you know, this verses to reassure us that God works all circumstances, even difficult ones.

For the benefit of those who love him and who are seeking to follow his plan for their life, that emphasizes that God is in control. And he has the ability to bring about good from situations that seem completely negative. He can still bring good out of it.

The next verse is Ephesians 2:4 and 5, it says, but because of his great love for us, God who is rich in Mercy made us alive with Christ. Even when we were dead in transgressions, It Is by Grace, you have been saved.

You know, these two verses highlight God's abundant love and mercy that he has free cheapest. And how that abundant love and mercy is what? Lead God to offer us the free gift of Salvation, to put it out there and even though we might be spiritually dead, but we are spiritually dead when were separated from him in our transgressions. But even though he still makes the offer to us, he gives us that opportunity. He extends that invitation that the previous versus talked about We have to realize that God is always the one who initiates the conversation. It's on his own initiative that he reaches out to us in love and extends that offer of salvation. And we have to accept it. And when we do it opens up a whole other world of things. Opens up, one of my favorite verses, next flip Ian's Chapter 4, verses 6 and 7. Do not be anxious about anything. Turn every situation by prayer. And petition with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding. Will guard your hearts and Minds in Christ. Jesus.

That's a hard one for us. Sometimes it's easy to worry, it's easy to doubt. But this passage encourages Believers to replace anxiety with prayer.

You know, instead of worrying about it, pray about it. Instead of, you know, just being upset at the situation, you're in. Praise God, give him Thanksgiving for the things he has done. And for the what, you know that he can do,

you know, this passage instructs us to present our request to God in every situation. That can be difficult. Again it takes a little bit of humility on our part to present it to him cuz sometimes we don't want to, cuz well, that's too small. I don't want to bother bother god with it or well, that was my fault so it's not his problem. You know, God doesn't care about that. He just wants you to come to him with what you need even though he already knows exactly what you need. You need to approach the throne of grace, in that way, asking for what you need. And when you do We're told In this passage that the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding. Will fill your heart, it will guard your heart and your mind from that doubt from that worried, as I've said other weeks leading up to this, that's one of the favorite tools of the enemy to put those doubts in there to put that worry in their shame, those things he uses all those things. To make you wonder why God would offer that to you.

Sno to go back a little bit on that verse, you know, I love the do not be anxious about anything.

You know, directly is looking at our human tendency to worry and stress. About things. And how often are we worried and stressed about things that really aren't worth being that we're eating that stressed about

things that in the end work themselves out and we didn't need to be that stressed, but we are And then sometimes there's the big things that we probably should be more worried and stressed about, but we're not because the world distracts us and puts our focus and other places. But don't be anxious about everything. Anyting. Can you imagine? How much different your life would be if you were anxious about nothing? Absolutely nothing.

Then it goes on to give us the key to that it says, but in every situation by prayer, and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God, To disperse, not only tells you don't worry it provides a solution. You know, instead of dwelling on your anxieties, Believers are encouraged to turn to God through prayer and make specific requests. expressing gratitude, you know, for past Thanks cuz you know, it first, when you read that verse, you can think we'll why am I going to present my problems to God with Thanksgiving? Well, the reason you're doing that is cuz you're coming and that's, you're asking God to help you in this current or future situation. You're worried about You're expressing your thanks for how he has helped you in the past. What God has already done, what you've seen him do. It may not even be things in your life. It could be in someone else's but you've seen God show up. You've seen God do something. You're asking him to do it again and you're thanking him for what he's already done.

And when you do that, the verse goes on the promise. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Yeah, that's the big promise here. By choosing the trusting God through prayer. Believers will experience that peace that surpasses all human understanding.

It protects us. emotionally spiritually when we do that because, you know, instead of always finding ourselves in that state of internal turmoil and worry, We can relax. We can actually have peace in God knowing that yes for going through this situation, yes, we have this problem, but God is going to get us through it. He's been Faithful Before. He'll be faithful again. We know this in, we see this happen. and that is what I love about that Passage

Another verse that she tied to the song was Ephesians 2:10. It says, for we are God's Masterpiece, he has created us Anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

You know, again, it's echoing that fact we talked about last week that we are made in God's image but it's shifting, it a little bit saying that part of the reason we are designed in, God's image is because we were created to do good. Thanks. Each and everyone of us.

You know that same Mentor I talked about it. I just remembered you know, another thing he used to say is that each and every human being on the face of this planet has been uniquely created and gifted in a unique way because there might be a certain task for the kingdom that only you are suited to do.

do everything about that, you know, You might have just thought you're a little weird. I know I am. But it's because he gave me a unique task and maybe I'm the only one that can do that. I don't know. But that is part of what we're seeing here. And, you know, that's the beauty of all this. From the beginning of time, God planned every single one of us that has come into existence. He knew the life, we would live the good days. The bad days. We would have he knew when our life would end, but he also planned everything in between there He created us with a purpose. And the best way, the enemy loves to disrupt that. To get us to waste our time worrying and stressing about things because then were in such a state of turmoil that we can't relax and live the life that God wants us to do.

Like I said, he created us for good works. He prepared those good works in advance so God has a plan and a purpose for each and everyone of us it can be hard to understand that sometimes.

Shelly. one of the ways I heard this in another translation of this verse, if you look at it, It expressed it by saying that we should walk in them when talking about our good works meaning that it is something to be walked out in our daily life. Not just special task special purposes. You know, special, well this is a one-time thing. You know I'm going to have this good day and do this thing. No work traded to do good works on a daily basis. Got one set to be a regular part of Who We Are. A life of service in obedience to God's will is what we should be seeking.

But that can't happen. If The world is shaping who we are, more than God. Romans 12:2 again in the voice translation says, do not allow this world to mold you, and its image instead. Be transformed From the Inside Out by Renewing Your Mind as a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good pleasing and complete.

You know, it shouldn't be something. We have to repeatedly say but you know believer should not simply follow the patterns of the world around them.

You know do you get your ideas about how a good life is lived more from Facebook or Tik-Tok or any social media than you do from God's word? As a believer.

We should realize that the transformation that so many of these scriptures talk about the piece that it talks about. The reason it is. So elusive for us is because we aren't looking in the right place. We need to be digging into God's word. And this verse says that when you do that, when you seek wholeheartedly after God, God is going to shape you, he's going to mold you, he will transform your mind so that you don't have to be. So stressed about all these things. The world tells you to be stressed about God can change the way that you think and he can change the way that you're able to live your daily life.

Philippians 1:6 says being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in, you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

You know, Paul is expressing a confidence that God started a good work.

And he's going to finish the project.

You know, he's trying to tell the Believers in Phillipi that, you know, be faithful, you know, God may not complete this project as quickly as you want him. To let you know, if God's going to change in speed, rather he just flip a switch and change us all at once, right? And we could be that different better version of ourselves, but that's not how the process often works. We often have to go through a lot of things in life, to be shaped and molded into the image of Christ. The whole picture of that ongoing process of sanctification that we talked about, you know, that one big crisis in your life that leads you to accept the gospel truth and to ask Christ into your life and then all the other little things that happen throughout the course of your life to gradually shape, you and mold you into who God created you to be. That is a long hard painful process for most of us in life.

But this verse is a promise that God is going to continue to work on you. He's going to bring this process to an end, he's going to make sure that he accomplishes what he set out to do. God does not have ADHD. He will not forget what he's doing. Halfway through, and switch to a different task. He's going to stay focused. He's going to keep going. He's going to keep working at it. We might lose focus. That happens a lot. But he never will. He will keep you on that right path.

In the last versed. 2nd Corinthians 12:9. Reads. He told me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses. So that Christ power May rest on me. You know, this verse emphasizes that God's grace and power. Most evident when Believers acknowledge their own limitations and how much they have to rely on God.

You know, I've often heard people say about a lot of social media that you know, it's mainly people bragging about all the great things in their lives, right? No, posting pictures of the good days. Rarely do you see people post pictures of the bad days and discuss how badly something went or how much they failed or how much do you know, you don't like to do that.

But the truth is, when we as Believers are open and honest and willing to share, hey, I have struggle. That's when God's grace is most evident.

And this verse reminds us of that that God's grace is sufficient. It is sure says that no matter what we face. There's enough Grace to cover it. You're so often when we fail when we mess up we think well. That was a little too much. You know the wells going to run dry on this one. I That's not the truth. That is just another lie. That the enemy is wanting you to believe that God's Grace isn't sufficient. It is it covers everything?

Another important point in this verse is power and weakness. Like I said, you know, God's power is most beautifully and correctly, displayed, when Believers recognize their own weaknesses, And readily share their dependence on him. I think that's especially hard for us. in Western culture where we are taught to be so self-sufficient to never display, weakness to always show strength, It's hard for us to do it's especially hard for us to do the next thing Paul talks about of boasting and weakness.

you know, some people have said, Facebook should be called, brag book but What if we, as Believers started week book? And we talked about how weak we are and how much we need to rely on God and how God's the only one that gives us the strength to do these things.

It'd be a total shift in perspective but that's what this verse is calling for that, as Believers as human beings, we have to shift our perspective from the way the world thinks and what the world identifies. As this is, how you should be. This is how you should live. This is success.

We need to shift our Focus to where our dependence on God becomes our source of strength. We're how weak we are without God is where our source of pride comes from that mission say I couldn't do this on my own but because of Christ, I can't. and when were willing to do that Christ power, Is with us.

you know, we've talked about being made in God's image, in the hell that gives us a certain inherent value is Believers in Christ, but it also means that we have The power of God available to us the power of Christ which looking back on Easter. If we remember that was, what gave Christ the power to overcome sin and the penalty of sin, which is death He defeated sin and death once and for all. And if you truly grasp that and you are at the point in your life, where you can realize, I have no reason to fear even death. Or any of the worst that this world can throw at me. Doesn't it change your perspective on everything? Of. I don't have to be worried about how this is going to go or how that's going to go cuz no matter what God is going to show up. God is going to be there with me. And in the end, my ultimate goal should be the God is glorified. It doesn't matter if I succeed, or if I fail. if God is glorified,

the author of the song wrapped up the interview that I read by saying, I feel like I wrote this song for future me as much as present me. Whatever I've tried to quit or give up God's. Like no, I'm keeping you in this. I feel God has bigger plans for me than I have for myself. You know, that is so true for all of us.

You know, I think we have certain goals in life, we have certain plans for our life.

but let's be honest, most of those plans are Temporary, most of those plans affect our life, affect the world, for a very short. Of time.

When the truth is, God has plans for all of us that impact eternity. Impact, how we spend? Eternity, how others spend eternity? and knowing that, Should fill us with a great sense of value. A great sense of worth. But we have to be looking in the right place for that truth. Please bear with me in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings. You give Lord, we thank you that we are created in your image. Lord help us to feel the value that we all have. As individuals. Lord help us to find. Our strength in our purpose and you.

Start to realize that we are just human that we are going to fail. We are going to mess up at some things but Lord your grace is sufficient to cover those things.

Lord, no matter what it is, your grace is sufficient.

But lord, it's not just when we mess up, it's when we Face other challenges in life.

Are they even for significant health challenges? Your grace is sufficient.

Or for any challenge we face in life, your grace is sufficient.

Lord, I pray that you will help us to remember that each and every day.

And Lord to. Not base our worth, in our value off of what the world defines as success. The Lord to base it off of the fact that we are made in your image. Lord that you will always be there. To support us in to help us. We pray this all in your most holy name. Amen.