The Journey
Notes
Transcript
Unveiled Wisdom WK 4
Unveiled Wisdom WK 4
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
—> this is the sending out
—> the journey is beginning
—> love is strengthened by knowledge and discernment
—> Love is the way to knowledge
—> if we love a person we want to know more about them.
—> when you are dating it is a constant berage of questions
—> if we love a subject we read and research everything we can on it.
—> You read blogs, watch Youtube videos, buy magazines, and books, you talk to other people about it.
—> If we love Jesus the same is true.
—> we get to know Jesus more and more by reading the Bible
—> we get to know Jesus more and more by doing things that Jesus would have done.
—> I’m not talking about turning water to wine here
—> But I am talking about meeting people’s needs both spiritually and physically.
—> love sets our standards which are pretty high
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
—> pure —>
—> sunshine —> tested in the light
—> strained —> ran through a sieve sifted out evil until only good is left
—> blameless —> this means we don’t push people away, but draw them into a knowledge of who Jesus Christ is
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
—> high standards produce fruit
—> fruit glorifies God
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
This love that we have. A love that is founded in wisdom and deep understanding. This love that purifies us and draws others into a relationship with Jesus, isn’t for us. These good works and good things that come from this love aren’t for us. They are for the glory of God
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
When we love in this way. Seeking Jesus Christ and serving him. God smiles down and says yes these are my people, these are my children.
We are about to embark on a season in the church year that is a journey to the cross and the grave, and ultimately to resurrection and new life.
This season is known as Lent.
Just like advent it is a season of preparation, it is a time to get ready and focused for the week that our faith is built on.
Wednesday, this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It marks the start of the 6 weeks leading up to Holy Week and Easter.
It is our tradition in the UMC to use Lent as a time of fasting, prayer, and heightened discipleship. This as we have been talking about this morning is our act of love towards Jesus Christ.
Over the next couple of days be thinking of how you will observe this Lenten Season. Will you be a casual participant. Doing nothing out of the normal or will you use it as a time to fall back in love with Jesus. The same Jesus that in 6 weeks is going to the cross for you. The same Jesus that will suffer and die a death that he doesn’t deserve for you. All because he loves you. How will you? How will I? choose to show Jesus love these next 6 weeks.
—> Some ideas
—> Join a Bible Study
—> in person, on line, on your phone
—> fast from something that takes away your time from Jesus, family, and friends
—> TV, Social Media, a solo hobby (car guys), Work
—> fast from certain foods or certain meals
—> deprive yourself of something and each time you crave it let that craving serve as a reminder to pray
—> I would encourage you not to simply fast from something but add something to take its place.
—> fasting from food without prayer and focus on God is just a poor way to diet and not a spiritual discipline.
—> Volunteer or simply do nice things for others. Do things anonymously or in the name of Jesus.
I encourage you to make these next 6 weeks different. We have spent 4 weeks looking at passages on love and finding the wisdom in them. It is now our chance to show what we have learned.