Life in the Grove

If there is going to be confusion in the church, it is very likely to be centered on the Holy Spirit. Mention, for example, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and people run off in all directions. If you are looking to start a good old church fight (perhaps good isn’t the best word) then start into a discussion on what it takes to be filled with the Spirit. Fireworks to rival July 4th!

This Sunday we will take a closer look at the truth about God’s Holy Spirit. We will listen to the teaching of our Lord to His disciples concerning the Holy Spirit and His activity. Take a look at John 14:15-31; 15:26, 27; 16:5-15. Right there in the Upper Room, Jesus calmed the hearts of his disciples in part with news about the Holy Spirit, Another Comforter.

Next, take a look at the foundational statement of our church doctrine from our Web site:

About the Holy Spirit- We believe the Holy Spirit is the teacher, encourager, and enabler of every believer. We serve using spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit provides for strengthening others.

Everything depends on the Holy Spirit working in our lives. The health of our relationships, the Christ-likeness of our character, and the effectiveness of our ministry rest on the power of God’s Spirit. Ultimately, the reputation of our Lord is impacted by how well we, His followers, allow His Spirit to work in us.

Come Sunday morning prepared to worship in song, prayer, communion and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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If  you have paid attention to politics at all in the last year you have heard the term “hope” thrown around a lot regarding our now 44th president.  It is the basis of his platform that he ran on.  It seems that the world and specifically our country is crying out for hope, and for a change to the way things are. People want someone to believe in, someone that can help them with their struggles and fears.  Yet I can’t help but think that this hope is completely misplaced.  It isn’t because President Obama is a Democrat or that I don’t believe in his policy.  For that we will wait and see.  The reason for my disbelief continues to roll around in my head as  a line from a great hymn.  “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.”

Whatever your political affiliation have you placed your hopes or fears on mortal man, or on the government, or on a political party?  Hope placed anywhere other than on Jesus is foolish.  President Obama does not bring hope, nor does he bring despair, for he has been placed in power by God. No, my hope is based on Him who saved me.  

Psalm 18:2 
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. 
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

How do we take advantage of the current environment of hope?  Do we seize it to talk about true Hope, lasting Hope?

Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all?how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Be convinced, like Paul, from where your hope comes.

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Have you been to the new church web site lately? I’m thankful for all the hard work that went into this update. I’m thankful for all those who keep it going.

Try the Discovering tab next time you are there. Go to the Statement of Faith link. When you do, you will read ten statements that capture the essence of Christian Theology. Take a quick look right now, noting especially what we believe about Jesus.

Okay, to improve the odds that you will actually get to that statement, let me just include it in this email. What we believe about Jesus…
“We believe in Jesus Christ, born of the virgin whose name was Mary. The Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. He rose bodily from the dead. We believe that all who trust only Jesus for forgiveness of sin are reborn and permanently indwelt by His Holy Spirit. Such people are called to submit to Jesus Christ and to be His true disciples and witnesses.”

When is the last time you actually thought about what you believe concerning Jesus? Perhaps it was when your faith was challenged at work or school. Maybe it was during a time of personal discouragement and testing.

It is helpful to review from time to time our theology, what we really believe.

Behind all the words of our statement of faith is a conviction that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God among us, as the name Emanuel suggests.

Now do yourself a favor. Grab your Bible and a cup of Coffee or your favorite beverage, and read the first chapter of John’s Gospel. Focus on the majesty of the incarnate Word of God who came into His own creation to save us all.

The Newsboys included the song In Wonder on their album Go. This song, which will be a special on Sunday, reminds us of the majesty of Jesus.

So much wonder carved in Your coral seas… So much wonder shaded by ancient trees… I consider all Your hands have made… ev’ry newborn’s eyes ev’ry new sunrise… No power can tame Your presence… No light can match Your radiance…
Such a wonder orderin’ time and tide… Such a wonder bridgin’ that great divide… I consider all that you had , all You gave… all that You endured… from this rebel world…What a wondrous cross You chose to bear… What a wonder You would even care!
Let all creation sing in wonder ev’ry sea, ev’ry creature, ev’ry star…Let ev’ry rock cry out. Let ev’ry knee bow down. You opened up my eyes to wonder what a vision, what a wonder you are…

Catch the vision and come prepared to worship our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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There is no more encouraging chapter in the Bible than Romans, chapter 8. Encouragement embraces us from the opening promise of no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus to the closing declaration that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is not pie-in-the-sky theology, but rock-solid truth that enables us to endure in hard times, knowing that God is up to good in our lives.

Endurance can sometimes seem like Mission Impossible. Frankly, your mission (this week) should you decide to accept it, begins with reading Romans 8 as if you’ve never read it before. We need this truth.

We have a wonderful gift from God to enjoy this Sunday morning. Roger Williams, Executive Director of Mount Hermon Christian Camps and Conference Center will be our guest for Sunday morning worship. Roger is an excellent teacher and expositor of God’s Word. The powerful truths of Scripture will come alive for you.

Mount Hermon has been a place of ministry and rest for many in our congregation. I’m so thankful for the opportunity for Roger to come once again to minister to us here. It has been over 10 years since he has been to CGCC. Will you take a moment to pray right now, for Roger as he prepares to speak and for this church family as we prepare our hearts to hear God’s truth.

See you on Sunday!

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Dr. J.I. Packer, in his profound book, Knowing God, detailed five foundational truths that guide our desire to know God.

1. God has spoken to man, and the Bible is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto salvation.
2. God is Lord and King over His world; He rules all things for His own glory, displaying His perfections in all that He does, in order that men and angels may worship and adore Him.
3. God is Savior, active in sovereign love through the Lord Jesus Christ to rescue believers from the guilt and power of sin, to adopt them as His sons, and to bless them accordingly.
4. God is Triune; there are within the Godhead three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; and the work of salvation is one in which all three act together, the Father purposing redemption, the Son securing it, and the Spirit applying it.
5. Godliness means responding to God’s revelation in trust and obedience, faith and worship, prayer and praise, submission and service. Life must be seen and lived in the light of God’s Word. This and nothing else is true religion.

You may or may not agree with me when I say this, but I’ll say it anyway. The biggest mystery is found in number 4. There is something about trying to get my arms around the Trinity (i.e. God is one in essence, three in person) that puts my gray matter on overload. I’ve long since passed any struggle of believing it. I know it is true based on my own study of Scripture. There is just something challenging about seeing one God as three persons, and three persons as one God.

Our temptation is to accept and ignore. We are willing to hold the truth with limited understanding, because that is the only way we can hold the truth. Often we stop with that confession when there is so much to explore.

This Sunday we will consider some of the practical implications stemming from the Biblical teaching about the trinity. It’s part of our quest to know God and enjoy Him forever. God wants us to know Him as Father, Son and Spirit. Why? What difference does it make?

Here are some Scriptures to look over as you prepare for worship:
Deut 6:5,6; Isa 45:5,6; Luke 3:21,22; Matt 28:18-20
Acts 17:24,25; Eph 4:4-7; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

See what you can discover concerning the inner workings between Father, Son and Spirit.

See you on Sunday morning ready to worship!

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