Hebrews 4: 15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

We can understand a God who respects our strengths, and wants to use them for His glory, but it’s hard to get head around a God who sympathizes with my weaknesses, and even uses them for His glory.  But Jesus does.  When you are going through a deep issue and  someone tells you, “I understand what you’re going through”, your reaction is “no you don’t¸ how could you?”

But our God does.  He knows your situation, your heart, your mind, your weaknesses.  And He gives you strength, encouragement, and wise counsel.

As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:10,  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

A child was born.  That is Jesus as a human, born to the virgin Mary.  But that’s not all.  A son was given.  That is Jesus as the Son of God, fully divine.  He is a child born human, AND a son born holy.

Do you know Him as the man who died in your place?
​Do you know Him as God, who saved you?

Psalm 42: 1-2  “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul pants for God, for the living God…”

What are you hunting for?  What is it that you seek?  What do you pursue?  Too many are like the little boy out in middle of the woods with a slingshot.  2 men in blaze orange found the boy and asked him, “What are you hunting?”  He said, “Don’t know.  I haven’t seen it yet.”  Unless you know what you are looking for, you will never find it.

Are you seeking God?  Is your heart on fire to know more of Him?  How do you search for God?

Matthew 7:7-8    “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 

That’s a promise.  But we must ask in Jesus’ name.  That doesn’t mean simply ending our prayers with a magic formula “In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”  It means praying in the will of God.  It doesn’t mean we get everything we wish for.  But it does mean that He gives us all we need.

Luke 24:13-24   That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 

Jesus had just risen from the grave.  And He chose to reveal Himself to these two disciples.  We don't know much about these men.  Just that they were disciples.  And that is enough.

Verse 27:  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

But it was only when He broke the bread that their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus.

Verse 32:  They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 

When is the last time your heart burned for Jesus?  Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and to make your heart burn with desire to know Jesus more and more.  It's time to take a walk with Him.

Philippians 2:2    Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

I can hear your thoughts now.  But Pastor, you don’t know that one.  He’s so messed up.  She seems to defy me at every turn.  Talk about a flawed human being!  Oh, but aren’t we all!

 Pastor John Ortberg says, “When we enter relationships with the illusion that people are normal, we resist the truth that they are not. We enter an endless attempt to fix them, control them, or pretend that they are what they are not. One of the great marks of maturity is to accept the fact that everybody comes ‘as is.’”

What’s truly amazing is that Jesus prays that all of us flawed, imperfect people become one.  How can we be one?  By remembering that God loves that other person just as much as He loves me.  By acknowledging that the Holy Spirit is living in him just like He is living in me.  By knowing that we are all being held in God’s hand.

We have a shared identity in Christ.  We have the same mission to share Him with others.  We are called to work together to build the kingdom of God.  We don’t do it for that other person.  And we don’t do it for ourselves.  We keep our eyes on Jesus, and we do it for Him.
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Let’s live our lives knowing that we are one with Jesus and one with the Father, and let us walk in unity with each other.  After all, the way others know that we are followers of Jesus is by our love for one another.

John 16:33   I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus was about to go to the cross.  He told His disciples that their sorrow would turn to joy.  The reason?  He has already overcome the world.  His death and resurrection gave Him victory over sin and the grave.

Jesus has overcome your world, too.  He has already overcome that thing in your life that you struggle with.  Live in His strength, and He will give you the victory you need.

1 Peter 4:10   As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace

Once you realize that you don't own anything, but that God who made you and who lets you use His things, owns everything, you begin to understand that what you are given is to be used to honor and glorify Him.  How do we do that?

1 Peter 4:11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

​All that we are, all that we have, and all that we do are all for His glory.  When we live that way, He rewards us as His children.  Peter concluded this verse by praising God:

To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 8:9   You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

What is the evidence of Jesus in your life?  Do you see the Holy Spirit working in your life?  Do others see Him in you?  Paul wrote in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Do you have the Spirit working in you?  Do you belong to Jesus?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17    For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

​Are You Ready?