Post on 01-Jan-2016
The easiest road is…The easiest road is…
The Faith?The Faith?Not being Christian?Not being Christian?
The most free road is…The most free road is…
The Faith?The Faith?Not being Christian?Not being Christian?
You are You are notnotWhat they say about youWhat they say about youYour qualificationsYour qualificationsYour successes or failuresYour successes or failuresWhat you've doneWhat you've doneWhat's been done to youWhat's been done to you
You are in ChristYou are in Christ
His son or daughterHis son or daughterAccepted and loved Accepted and loved right nowright now
Sets you freeSets you free
……accepted in the belovedaccepted in the beloved- Eph. 1:6- Eph. 1:6
You're not laboring You're not laboring For acceptanceFor acceptance
You're living You're living fromfrom acceptance acceptance
You are in ChristYou are in Christ
His son or daughterHis son or daughterAccepted and loved Accepted and loved right nowright now
With a call on your lifeWith a call on your life
By this we may know that we By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he are in him: whoever says he abides in him abides in him oughtought to walk in to walk in the same way in which he the same way in which he walkedwalked- 1 John 2:5-6 - 1 John 2:5-6
Be like JesusBe like Jesus
……whoever says he abides in him whoever says he abides in him oughtought to walk in the same to walk in the same way in which he walkedway in which he walked
And we know that for those who And we know that for those who love God all things work love God all things work
together for good, for those who together for good, for those who are called according are called according
to his purposeto his purpose
For those whom he foreknew For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be he also predestined to be conformed to the conformed to the image of his Sonimage of his Son- Rom. 8:29-30- Rom. 8:29-30
All of the Christian lifeAll of the Christian lifeIs simply being moldedIs simply being moldedAnd shaped into the imageAnd shaped into the image
Of our SaviorOf our SaviorFrom the Inside OutFrom the Inside Out
We are set freeWe are set freeTo follow our To follow our deeper desiresdeeper desires
And find purpose and joy in And find purpose and joy in Being like JesusBeing like Jesus
We are set freeWe are set freeFromFrom seeking justice seeking justice On our own behalfOn our own behalf
We are set freeWe are set freeFromFrom seeking justice seeking justice On our own behalfOn our own behalf
So that So that we can seek justicewe can seek justiceFor those who can'tFor those who can't
Why shouldn't I seek justiceWhy shouldn't I seek justiceFor myself For myself
When I've been wronged?When I've been wronged?
““You have heard that it was said, You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, for a tooth.’ But I say to you,
Do not resist the one Do not resist the one who is evilwho is evil
Hurt me and I'll hurt you backHurt me and I'll hurt you backDo me wrong- I'll do you wrongDo me wrong- I'll do you wrong
Treat me right, I will you as wellTreat me right, I will you as well
But if anyone slaps you on the But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as wellhim have your cloak as well
And if anyone forces you to go And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him one mile, go with him
two milestwo miles
They are They are invitinginviting me meTo fightTo fight
Kill your prideKill your prideAnd serve them And serve them like Jesuslike Jesus
They are They are insulting insulting and humiliating and humiliating meme
Kill your prideKill your prideAnd serve them And serve them like Jesuslike Jesus
InjusticesInjustices
- I don't respond in kind- I don't respond in kind- I don't satisfy ego- I don't satisfy ego- I suffer the loss of things- I suffer the loss of things- I give up time and effort- I give up time and effort
……so thatso that you may be sons of you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on For he makes his sun rise on
the evil and on the good, and the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and sends rain on the just and
on the unjust…on the unjust…
It is to a man's It is to a man's glorygloryTo overlook an offenseTo overlook an offense- Prov. 19:11- Prov. 19:11
Reflects our CreatorReflects our Creator
Tell me what offends youTell me what offends youAnd I'll tell you where youAnd I'll tell you where you
Have an opportunity to growHave an opportunity to growIn the FaithIn the Faith
You therefore must be You therefore must be perfect,perfect, as your heavenly Father is as your heavenly Father is
perfectperfect- Matthew 5- Matthew 5
In your actions, show by In your actions, show by Complete love whose you areComplete love whose you are
Yeah, but then they'll Yeah, but then they'll Get away with it!Get away with it!
Hang on, Sparky- we'll get thereHang on, Sparky- we'll get there
Who I follow and…Who I follow and…What it saysWhat it says
About my ChristAbout my Christ
To a watching worldTo a watching world
I say this to your shame. Can it I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a you wise enough to settle a dispute between the dispute between the brothers…brothers…
……but brother goes to law but brother goes to law against brother, and that before against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another all with one another is already a is already a
defeat for youdefeat for you
Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?Why not rather be defrauded?- 1 Corinthians 6:5-7- 1 Corinthians 6:5-7
Which is better?Which is better?To get my way- and possiblyTo get my way- and possibly
Defame the Lord I follow?Defame the Lord I follow?
Or to follow Jesus and Or to follow Jesus and Lose my rights, but glorify my King?Lose my rights, but glorify my King?
Quit asking whereQuit asking whereThe line isThe line is
It's not just about ChristiansIt's not just about ChristiansSuing ChristiansSuing ChristiansIt's about It's about glorifyingglorifying our Christ our Christ
I'll take it to our Supervisor!I'll take it to our Supervisor!
I'll sue you for everythingI'll sue you for everythingYou got!You got!
God forbid that his NameGod forbid that his NameBe blasphemed Be blasphemed
Among unbelieversAmong unbelievers
By the actionsBy the actionsOf those who claim to followOf those who claim to follow
Because believers aren't willingBecause believers aren't willing
To deny self, carry a crossTo deny self, carry a crossAnd follow JesusAnd follow Jesus
Who I follow…Who I follow…What it saysWhat it saysAbout my Christ and…About my Christ and…Who I trustWho I trustAnd what I can becomeAnd what I can become
Repay no one evil for evil, but Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is give thought to do what is
honorable in the sight of all.honorable in the sight of all. If If possible, so far as it depends on possible, so far as it depends on
you, live peaceably with allyou, live peaceably with all
Beloved, Beloved, nevernever avenge avenge yourselves, but leave it to the yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, wrath of God, for it is written, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”says the Lord”
To the contrary, “if your enemy To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is is hungry, feed him; if he is
thirsty, give him something to thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will drink; for by so doing you will
heap burning coals on his head”heap burning coals on his head”
Do not be overcome by evil,Do not be overcome by evil, but but overcome evil with goodovercome evil with good- Romans 12:17-21- Romans 12:17-21
- God - God willwill repay repay
Do not be overcome by evil,Do not be overcome by evil, but but overcome evil with goodovercome evil with good- Romans 12:17-21- Romans 12:17-21
- I can become the thing I hate- I can become the thing I hate
We are set freeWe are set freeFrom seeking justice From seeking justice On our own behalfOn our own behalf
But…I've been done wrong!But…I've been done wrong!And I want And I want justice!justice!
With the measure you useWith the measure you useIt will be measured to you- JesusIt will be measured to you- Jesus
Justice: I pay for my sinsJustice: I pay for my sins
Grace: Jesus recues meGrace: Jesus recues meBy suffering injustice By suffering injustice For my sinFor my sin
This is freedom:This is freedom:I don't have to beI don't have to be
Judge and ruler of the UniverseJudge and ruler of the UniverseIFIF I trust that God is… I trust that God is…
We are set freeWe are set freeFrom seeking justice From seeking justice On our own behalfOn our own behalf
So that So that we can seek justicewe can seek justiceFor those who can'tFor those who can't
Throughout scriptureThroughout scriptureThere's an expectation from GodThere's an expectation from GodThat his people would careThat his people would care
For those who are oppressedFor those who are oppressedAnd in great needAnd in great need
Behold, this was the guilt of your Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her sister Sodom: she and her
daughters had pride, excess of daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease,food, and prosperous ease, but but did not aiddid not aid the poor and needy the poor and needy
Ezekiel 16:49Ezekiel 16:49
They were haughty and did They were haughty and did an an abominationabomination before me. So I before me. So I removed them, when I saw itremoved them, when I saw itEzekiel 16:49-50Ezekiel 16:49-50
God's expectation isGod's expectation isThat in abundanceThat in abundance
His people would feel the callHis people would feel the callTo supply for the needyTo supply for the needy
And fight for the oppressedAnd fight for the oppressed
Nehemiah 5Nehemiah 5All work grinds to a haltAll work grinds to a halt
Until "rights" are given upUntil "rights" are given upFor the sake of needsFor the sake of needs
...be doers of the word, and not ...be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving hearers only, deceiving
yourselves...yourselves...
Religion that is pure and Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself and to keep oneself unstainedunstained from the world- James 1from the world- James 1
……learn to do good; seek justice,learn to do good; seek justice,correct oppression; bring justice correct oppression; bring justice
to the fatherless, plead to the fatherless, plead the widow’s causethe widow’s cause
- Isaiah 1:17- Isaiah 1:17Reason together…Scarlet sins…Reason together…Scarlet sins…
We are set free from seeking We are set free from seeking Justice on our own behalfJustice on our own behalf
So that So that we can seek justice for-we can seek justice for-Give grace to- those in needGive grace to- those in need
I was hungry and thirsty…you I was hungry and thirsty…you didn't help medidn't help me
Get a job like the rest of us!Get a job like the rest of us!
I was a stranger and you I was a stranger and you left me homelessleft me homeless
It's your own fault…It's your own fault…
I was naked and sickI was naked and sickAnd you never helpedAnd you never helped
I don't want to be around that…I don't want to be around that…
I was in jail…you didn't visit meI was in jail…you didn't visit me
Serves you right!Serves you right!
All of those things All of those things couldcould be true be true
……as you did not do it to one of as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did the least of these, you did not do it to not do it to meme- Matthew 25- Matthew 25
We are set free from…We are set free from…
So that we can be set free to… So that we can be set free to…
Because we are calledBecause we are calledTo be like ChristTo be like Christ
And that's what our Christ didAnd that's what our Christ did
We seek justice forWe seek justice forWe give grace toWe give grace to
Like our Jesus doesLike our Jesus does
"God, because you've "God, because you've Forgiven meForgiven me
I forgive and let go- nowI forgive and let go- nowCrucify my ego daily Crucify my ego daily So I won't be easily offended"So I won't be easily offended"
"God, if you show me"God, if you show meI'll do itI'll do it
Nothing held backNothing held backJustice, grace, the least of these"Justice, grace, the least of these"
We are built on graceWe are built on graceBecause this is not our churchBecause this is not our church
It belongs to the OneIt belongs to the OneWho died for itWho died for it
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