Don't Let COVID Steal Your Dreams
How much power have we given to COVID to keep us from doing the things we know God has called us to do? I don’t want to beat you up, I want to encourage you to consider moving forward. Don’t neglect your gift, use it to serve, and find a way to use it now.
“Use whatever gift you have received to serve.” This reminds me of Moses. God called him, and Moses tried to disqualify himself multiple times. When he started to become open to following God, he asked God how he was supposed to accomplish what God was asking him to do. God said, let’s start with what’s in your hands.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
How much power have we given to COVID to keep us from doing the things we know God has called us to do? I don’t want to beat you up, I want to encourage you to consider moving forward. Don’t neglect your gift, use it to serve, and find a way to use it now.
“Use whatever gift you have received to serve.” This reminds me of Moses. God called him, and Moses tried to disqualify himself multiple times. When he started to become open to following God, he asked God how he was supposed to accomplish what God was asking him to do. God said, let’s start with what’s in your hands.
As you know, Moses had a shepherd’s staff in his hands, and God glorified himself through it. He wants to do the same through whatever is in your hands.
Many of you have passions, callings, and dreams that are on hold because of COVID-19. I have spoken with many people who seem to be waiting on following God until COVID blows over. I always ask them why they’re waiting on COVID. The answer usually has something to do with not knowing what is acceptable. Most people want to be respectful of others, but our response has rendered us ineffective for the Kingdom.
I understand not wanting to cross other people’s boundaries, but you can’t allow the way the world responds to this virus to keep you from following God’s calling on your life. Life goes on, your call remains, it may be time to consider how you can move forward. Don’t let COVID steal your dreams. Quit waiting to do those things you know God has called you to do.
I encourage you to watch the video above and follow along as I read through this passage from 1 Peter.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
What a powerful and holy assignment we carry, we speak for God, and we do so in His power. God will give you the strength to do those things you want to do but don’t know how to do. That strength is His grace in your inner man. This weekend I begin a new series on God’s grace. I want to focus on how you can lean into His grace and increase the capacity of your heart to experience His supernatural strength in every aspect of your life.
Join me on Facebook or YouTube, Sunday mornings at 10 am EST.
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God Wants to Save People, Not Reject Them.
God wants to save people, He is not looking for a reason to reject people. He is not looking for a reason to reject you. He did everything He could to remove the things He had against you in the sacrifice of Christ, to make life with Him secure by faith rather than works.
BUT
He does seem to give us a warning in Hebrews. I’ll cut to the chase, the warning is; don’t reject Jesus and go back to Old Covenant sacrifices. Yes, that’s the “willful sin” the author of Hebrews warns about, rejecting Jesus and trusting in the blood of goats and bulls rather than Christ.
Now, you don’t have a temple to take your goat to, but you do have your dead works that you think make you clean again with God (more on this in the sermon). Jesus’ lifeblood cleanses you, and God’s circumcision of your old nature makes you new. That alone is your righteousness and your removal of sin.
God wants to save people, He is not looking for a reason to reject people. He is not looking for a reason to reject you. He did everything He could to remove the things He had against you in the sacrifice of Christ, to make life with Him secure by faith rather than works.
BUT
He does seem to give us a warning in Hebrews. I’ll cut to the chase, the warning is; don’t reject Jesus and go back to Old Covenant sacrifices. Yes, that’s the “willful sin” the author of Hebrews warns about, rejecting Jesus and trusting in the blood of goats and bulls rather than Christ.
Now, you don’t have a temple to take your goat to, but you do have your dead works that you think make you clean again with God (more on this in the sermon). Jesus’ lifeblood cleanses you, and God’s circumcision of your old nature makes you new. That alone is your righteousness and your removal of sin.
Can You Lose Your Salvation?
I recommend watching the sermon above for a much more detailed explanation, but the short answer is this; you didn’t earn your salvation through works, you can’t lose it through works. And it’s not your works that keep you saved. The lifeblood of Jesus and His finished work on the cross save you and keep you saved. Period, end of story.
But some passages need to be addressed, such as Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
What do we do with this passage? We put it in the proper context.
Apostasy was indicated by a single word; these added clauses describe the depth of the fall, whilst they explain the futility of all effort towards recovering the fallen. Both the writer and his readers knew well what was involved in "falling away" in such a case as this. To go back to Judaism implied an acceptance of all that Jews had said and done against the Son of God, a return to the bitter hate cherished by the falling nation against the Crucified, a repetition in spirit of all that Pharisees had done, and without the palliation of ignorance; for the highest evidence for Christianity--that of true and deep Christian experience--had been given to them. Again, the words used clearly describe a continuing state. Not the punishment for a past act, but the hopelessness of an existing state, is brought before us here. It is therefore of those who, with a distinct conviction of the divine mission of Jesus, have deliberately joined His foes, unite in denouncing Him as a "deceiver" (Matthew 27:63), rejoice in His shame, and thus "for themselves crucify a second time the Son of God," that the writer says, "It is impossible to renew them again unto repentance."
from Ellicott’s Commentary
The author of Hebrews is speaking to a persecuted church. Some of them were wary of the persecution and questioned the true identity of Jesus. Many of them chose to reject Jesus and resume animal sacrifice for the atoning of their sin. Imagine that you go to God will a dead goat and say, “this is my righteousness. I reject the blood of Jesus and choose to bring you the blood of this goat as my righteousness.” Doing that is like unjustly crucifying the Lord again.
That’s the warning in Hebrews 6 and 10. Continue trusting in Jesus rather than rejecting him and going back to Old Covenant sacrifices. It’s actually straightforward to understand, but some preachers love to scare people out of sin, so they misinterpret what’s being said.
Please watch the full sermon for much more on this topic.
We Are More Than Forgiven, We Are Co-Heirs with Christ.
Have you ever received an inheritance? Have you taken the time to draft a will for your children? The process requires great detail. You have to list every asset and decide who it goes to. You can place age stipulations or other guidelines if you so choose. Or you can simply pass down all that you have without restriction. God did this. Through inheritance, he gave you everything.
God handcrafted a will for you that is full of great and precious promises. In Christ, God predetermined what He would leave you in His last will and testament. His inheritance makes for a glorious afterlife, but it has benefits now too.
“Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
The New Covenant is not a new set of rules to follow, it’s the last will and testament of God. It’s what He predetermined to leave His heirs upon death. Notice the inheritance language in this passage.
Hebrews 9:15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.
God’s Last Will and Testament
Have you ever received an inheritance? Have you taken the time to draft a will for your children? The process requires great detail. You have to list every asset and decide who it goes to. You can place age stipulations or other guidelines if you so choose. Or you can simply pass down all that you have without restriction. God did this. Through inheritance, he gave you everything.
God handcrafted a will for you that is full of great and precious promises. In Christ, God predetermined what He would leave you in His last will and testament. His inheritance makes for a glorious afterlife, but it has benefits now too.
Physical Healing
The simple answer is this, you inherited everything Christ inherited, as a co-heir. I have covered what we have in the New Covenant (God’s last will and testament) in my last 5 articles, so I won’t take the time to list all that Jesus accomplished for you again. This week I want to focus on two specific aspects of your inheritance.
1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.
You are more than forgiven, you have received great and precious promises from God, which includes healing.
Some say Peter is referring to spiritual or emotional healing, but Jesus paid for your sins in His physical body, not just in his spirit or emotions. He endured physical disease so you could have health. He endured the effects of sin in his body, so you could be free from the death of disease.
Jesus secured that promise for you and God gave it to you in his will. No if’s, and’s or but’s about it, God left you physical healing in His will.
Financial Prosperity
2 Corinthians 8: 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
God left you all of His wealth. It is His good pleasure to give you His kingdom. That has been His plan from the beginning, as evidenced in His promise to Abraham. God told Abraham that He would bless him and make him great. He promised that He would bless his offspring so they would be a blessing to all nations. Part of this blessing is incredible wealth.
God has blessed you with great wealth, he made sure of it in his will to you, which Jesus secured in His death. You can choose to believe that God wants you rich in spirit, or rich in your relationships, as some people claim this passage is teaching. But God wants you financially rich too. Your father wants you to be so extravagantly blessed so you can be a blessing to all nations, thus fulfilling his original promise to Abraham.
I won’t take the time to cover why you haven’t received the health or financial blessing God left you in Christ, I’ll simply end by saying it’s yours now. Repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus. Change your mind and trust that there is nothing but GOOD NEWS for those who are citizens of Heaven and children of God through Christ.
Jesus Our Substitute, He Died for you and as you.
Jesus didn’t just die for you, He died as you. He died in your place. He became like you so you could become like Him. He became your sin so you could be righteous. He was diseased so you would be well. He was punished so you could be free. He was rejected so you could be accepted.
Read along with me through these passages. This sermon is more of a meditative walk through Isaish 52:13 through 54:10.
Here is one of my favorite set of promises from this section of scripture. Notice how God defines Himself; your husband, the Lord of Hosts, your redeemer, the God of the earth, the Lord who has mercy. We must allow God to define who He is and how He wants to operate in our lives. In this selection of scripture, He makes Himself more than our Lord, He describes a very personal and intimate relationship. He is our husband, He is the one who has mercy on us.
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. but He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
Jesus didn’t just die for you, He died as you. He died in your place. He became like you so you could become like Him. He became your sin so you could be righteous. He was diseased so you would be well. He was punished so you could be free. He was rejected so you could be accepted.
Read along with me through these passages. This sermon is more of a meditative walk through Isaish 52:13 through 54:10.
Here is one of my favorite set of promises from this section of scripture. Notice how God defines Himself; your husband, the Lord of Hosts, your redeemer, the God of the earth, the Lord who has mercy. We must allow God to define who He is and how He wants to operate in our lives. In this selection of scripture, He makes Himself more than our Lord, He describes a very personal and intimate relationship. He is our husband, He is the one who has mercy on us.
Yes, He is the Lord of Hosts, which denotes His powerful authority, but He uses that reference to illustrate how He exercises His authority in our lives. He loves us, He wants to take care of us in the context of relationship. He wants us to be free from our past. He wants to be kind to us. He not only wants to, He swears to. This is a big deal. God swears to be kind to you, to no longer be angry with you.
Why? Because of what the Messiah accomplished in the previous chapter. He was your substitute, making you clean and holy before Him. Forever sealed in His new covenant of promise.
Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. 6 For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused,” says your God. 7 “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. 8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. 9 “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. 10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
I pray you allow your self-image to be defined by God’s perspective of you. I pray you reshape your self-worth in light of how your husband cherishes you. I pray you find rest in the finished work of Jesus. And I pray that you live open and free with the Lord, no longer afraid of Him. You can trust Him, He went through great lengths to be in your life.
God Removed Your diseased Sinful human Nature and washed you clean with the blood of jesus
God performed spiritual surgery in you when you placed your faith in Christ. When you believe in Christ for salvation and the forgiveness of sins, He goes to work. Here’s the procedure you undergo to become born again:
You placed your faith in Christ.
God removes your heart of stone.
He removes the “body of the sins of the flesh.”
He washes you clean with the blood of Christ (This step makes you holy)
He then gives you a new heart.
Next, He places His Spirit in you, joining Himself to you forever.
This makes you acceptable to Him because of His finished work in you. You cannot improve on His work, and you cannot invalidate His work. It’s His work.
You come off His operating table as a new creature, that is now His child, and a co-heir with Jesus, fully equipped with the authority He shares with you, to go into the world doing the works He did and making disciples of all nations.
All of this is possible because God made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ”
God performed spiritual surgery in you when you placed your faith in Christ. When you believe in Christ for salvation and the forgiveness of sins, He goes to work. Here’s the procedure you undergo to become born again:
You place your faith in Christ.
God removes your heart of stone.
He removes the “body of the sins of the flesh.”
He washes you clean with the blood of Christ (This step makes you holy).
He gives you a new heart (that wants to obey).
He places His Spirit in you, joining Himself to you forever.
This makes you acceptable to Him. You cannot improve on this work, and you cannot invalidate this work. It’s His work.
You come off His operating table as a new creature, a child of God, and a co-heir with Jesus, fully equipped with His authority, to go into the world doing the works He did and making disciples of all nations.
All of this is possible because God made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21
I want to highlight “step 3.”
The “circumcision of the body of the sins of the flesh” is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of the Gospel, yet I believe it to be one of the most important. It seems to be missed by most Christians. If you do not understand what happened in this spiritual circumcision, you will believe that you are still a sinner by nature. Or you might believe that you have two natures. Both of which are incorrect.
The result of the circumcision God performs in you leaves you with one nature, a nature that is no longer opposed to God or prone to sin. This procedure removes your guilt of breaking God’s commands. And the removal of your mere human nature makes you the kind of being that can live in the fullness of God’s illuminated presence forever. You truly are a new creation.
Paul refers to the same spiritual circumcision in Romans 6.
Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
The body of sin was rendered powerless AND removed from you. Let’s look at the original language for more understanding.
apekdysei tou sōmatos tēs sarkos
This Greek phrase is translated as “removal of the body of flesh.” Some translations read “removal of the body of the sins of the flesh,” depending on the emphasis.
What does this phrase mean?
Apekdysei is pretty self-explanatory, it simply means to remove. It’s also translated as laying aside (as if you’re done with something).
Somatos basically means body, but it’s literal and figurative. For context, we see that the circumcision we’re evaluating is done without hands, meaning it’s spiritual in nature. It’s something God does, who is spirit. So in Colossians 2:11, the context is a spiritual body that is being removed.
Sarx means flesh. Sarx also has two applications, the skin on your body as well as your human nature. In regard to “human nature,” Sarx is defined this way: mere human nature that is opposed to God and prone to sin. Since we’re talking about a spiritual circumcision on a figurative “body,” the conclusion of what is being removed is not the physical flesh but rather the “mere human nature that is opposed to God and prone to sin.”
God removes your mere human nature that is opposed to Him and prone to sin. He removes your sin nature. After this procedure, you no longer have a mere human nature, you have an eternal, spiritual, righteous nature, which is no longer opposed to God and prone to sin. Now that’s GOOD NEWS!!! Will you believe it?!
Couple that with the fact that God gives you a new heart and places His spirit in you. That leaves us with the conclusion that you truly are a new creation. No longer at enmity with God by nature. No longer a sinful creature by nature. No longer a mere human. You are now the righteousness of God in Christ! A child of God! A fully equipped ambassador of Heaven!
NOW REPENT - change the way you think about yourself and believe the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom of God! The GOOD NEWS Gospel that tells you how magnificent you now are as the result of the finished work of Christ in you!
Selah
I pray that you renew your soulish mind to your true spiritual identity. It’s not just something that God credits to you, you truly are a NEW CREATION!! Believe it and live from the power of it!!
Listen to the full sermon above for more on this subject. I will also begin a new series in March 2021 focused on the grace of God, which what God supplies to you, enabling you to live in the power of your new creation identity.
Righteousness is not earned or maintained Through The Law
If you read the Old Testament, especially the Old Covenant Laws, and feel condemned GOOD JOB! You’re taking it seriously. That’s what the Law is supposed to do, condemn you and highlight your sin. Even some of the teachings of Jesus were delivered through the lens of the Law. He did so to point out your inability to keep the Law.
For clarification, there is a difference between the Old Testament and the Old Covenant. All the books of the Old Testament are the inspired Word of God. But the Old Covenant, the agreement between God and the nation of Israel, along with its 600+ rules and laws, have been fulfilled by Jesus, thus rendering the set of laws obsolete.
Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
We’re not throwing out a huge part of God’s Word, we’re simply putting the Law in its proper perspective as affected by the finished work of Jesus. Jesus is the end of the Law for the believer. The Law was made obsolete regarding righteousness for you. Jesus didn’t throw out the Law, he just fulfilled it for you.
If you read the Old Testament, especially the Old Covenant Laws, and feel condemned GOOD JOB! You’re taking it seriously. That’s what the Law is supposed to do, condemn you and highlight your sin. Even some of the teachings of Jesus were delivered through the lens of the Law. He did so to point out your inability to keep the Law.
For clarification, there is a difference between the Old Testament and the Old Covenant. All the books of the Old Testament are the inspired Word of God. But the Old Covenant, the agreement between God and the nation of Israel, along with its 600+ rules and laws, have been fulfilled by Jesus, thus rendering the set of laws obsolete.
Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
We’re not throwing out a huge part of God’s Word, we’re simply putting the Law in its proper perspective as affected by the finished work of Jesus. Jesus is the end of the Law for the believer. The Law was made obsolete regarding righteousness for you. Jesus didn’t throw out the Law, he just fulfilled it for you.
“Romans 1:15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””
You are saved by grace through faith, and you stay saved by grace through faith, not through the Law. You don't start a spiritual journey with God based on the free gift of righteousness and then keep it by your works.
Yes, your salvation will produce good works, but the presence of those works is not the security of your salvation, Jesus is. Don’t let any academic, sola Scriptura minded person cause you to question your salvation based on the level of fruit they think is necessary. The blood of Christ alone secures your eternal redemption.
Jesus is your once and forever sacrifice for sin. He is the one that holds your place in God’s everlasting covenant of peace. Rest in his finished work.
Take a look at these passages to make sure your perspective of the Law is correct. As I taught in my series REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, we must have a finished work hermeneutic. Everything we know about God must align with what Christ accomplished through his sinless life, substitutionary work on the cross, sacrificial death, conquering of death and the grave, and his ascension to glory with his own blood. Every belief we have about God's character and will must align with who Jesus showed us God to be.
God doesn’t change, the stories in the Old Testament are true. He gave the Israelites the Law, but we don’t stay there regarding our relationship with God. Jesus changed everything.
Read through these passages and make adjustments in your thinking, repenting along the way, to make sure you believe the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ!!
Romans 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
Matthew 5:17-19 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Galatians 2:16 Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 3:24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Romans 3:20 because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
Romans 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
What stands out to you as you read through these passages? Did you recognize any areas where you are mixing the Old and New Covenants? What do you need to change in your thinking to align with our deliverance from the Law?
Fear God, But Don't be Afraid of Him.
If you’re worried about what God might do to you if you make a mistake, it reveals that you aren’t truly convinced of his love for you. God’s correction and training in your life are not through harsh judgment and pain, it’s through wisdom and guidance.
God is a loving father who will train you in the way you should go. If you fail, simply remember that Jesus was your substitution. Jesus bore the penalty of your sin. Not so you can now get away with it, but so that he could remove God’s wrath from you and relate to you as a child rather than a sinner. God is not mocked, you will reap what you sow, but God is no longer keeping a record of your sin to punish you.
Jesus said this:
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt WORSHIP the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. -Matthew 4:10 KJV
When quoting this passage:
Thou shalt FEAR the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. - Deuteronomy 6:13 KJV
I think we can trust the son of God’s interpretation of scripture. To Jesus, fear didn’t mean “be afraid of,” it meant to honor and respect. Fear is an old English word for revere and respect, it doesn't translate well in our modern vernacular. Worship and love God, but don’t be afraid of him.
“We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first.”
If you’re worried about what God might do to you if you make a mistake, it reveals that you aren’t truly convinced of his love for you. God’s correction and training in your life are not through harsh judgment and pain, it’s through wisdom and guidance.
God is a loving father who will train you in the way you should go. If you fail, simply remember that Jesus was your substitution. Jesus bore the penalty of your sin. Not so you can now get away with it, but so that he could remove God’s wrath from you and relate to you as a child rather than a sinner. God is not mocked, you will reap what you sow, but God is no longer keeping a record of your sin to punish you.
God Loves You
God commands you to love him, but we love him because he first loved us. So in effect, God commands us to respond to his love for us. To put it another way, God commands you to let him love you. How can you be afraid of someone that wants to love you that much?
You probably know that God loves you, but a lot of people don’t. People don’t know that it’s the kindness and mercy of God that draws people to repentance. Too many preachers think they need to scare people with hell and judgment. When in reality, if we would lead with love and tell people about the incredible lengths Jesus went through to show us God’s love, people would more readily receive his love and receive the gift of eternal life.
Christians are often not very good at loving each other, much less our enemies. We often have an angry view of God, thinking he’s just itching to judge someone. No wonder much of the world is turning away from Christianity. We’ve done a poor job of representing the true intentions of God toward people.
The Gospel means GOOD NEWS!! The Greatest news is that God loves us, and we have nothing to fear. Maybe you need to hear this today. But I can promise you this, someone in your life needs to hear about God’s actions in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Not to get them to say a prayer so you can get a salvation notch on your belt, but so they can be set free from fear, guilt, and shame.
Be a carrier of good news. Preach the Gospel. Tell people about God’s love. Your friends and family are starving for it.
Recommended Reading
Your Mindset Determines If You Will Believe The Gospel
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
— Matthew 4:17
When he stepped into his public ministry, he encouraged people to repent and believe the Gospel. We instantly think of sin when we hear the word “repent,” meaning we think repenting is always about confessing our sin. Repenting from sin is important, but that’s not what Jesus was talking about.
Definition of Repent
Repent is the Greek word metanoeō, which is a combination of two words; meta and noeō. Meta means; with, after, behind. It’s a preposition that modifies the verb noeō. Noeō means; to perceive with the mind, to understand, to have understanding, to think upon, heed, ponder, consider.
Metanoeō or Repent means; to change one's mind, to turn one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins.
So repentance does have to do with turning away from sin but more specifically it is about changing our minds about the beliefs that drive sin. Repentance is when you do a deeper work than just apologizing for a sinful action. It’s when you go into your heart beliefs and make adjustments.
What you believe generates your thoughts. Your thoughts then lead to feelings and emotions. Those feelings and emotions then give way to action. So whether it be anger or adultery, sin is the fruit of your beliefs and what you think on. To repent is to turn away from the thinking that leads to sin. In this passage, Jesus teaches us to change the way we think about God’s kingdom because he’s bringing us good news.
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“From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””
When he stepped into his public ministry, he encouraged people to repent and believe the Gospel. We instantly think of sin when we hear the word “repent,” meaning we think repenting is always about confessing our sin. Repenting from sin is important, but that’s not what Jesus was talking about.
Definition of Repent
Repent is the Greek word metanoeō, which is a combination of two words; meta and noeō. Meta means; with, after, behind. It’s a preposition that modifies the verb noeō. Noeō means; to perceive with the mind, to understand, to have understanding, to think upon, heed, ponder, consider.
Metanoeō or Repent means; to change one's mind, to turn one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins.
So repentance does have to do with turning away from sin but more specifically it is about changing our minds about the beliefs that drive sin. Repentance is when you do a deeper work than just apologizing for a sinful action. It’s when you go into your heart beliefs and make adjustments.
What you believe generates your thoughts. Your thoughts then lead to feelings and emotions. Those feelings and emotions then give way to action. So whether it be anger or adultery, sin is the fruit of your beliefs and what you think on. To repent is to turn away from the thinking that leads to sin. In this passage, Jesus teaches us to change the way we think about God’s kingdom because he’s bringing us good news.
Definition of Gospel
The original word for gospel is euangelion. Euangelion means; glad tidings of the kingdom of God, the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ, good news.
GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS!!! In this case, the good news about the kingdom of God!!
At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was, of course, addressing sinful actions, but he was saying something deeper. He said that we would need to change the way we think about God, and his kingdom, because his kingdom was now here. There wasn’t much good news about the kingdom of God at that time. There wasn’t necessarily bad news, there was just an expectation that God would send his savior and establish his kingdom. That time had come!
Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. 15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
What time was fulfilled?
Isaiah 9:2 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.
Jesus is that light!
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upond his shoulder, and his name shall be callede Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 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.
Jesus began to establish this prophecy in his time.
Matthew 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
The Good News About God’s Kingdom
This was the time the prophets spoke about. The time when God would send his savior. The time when a great light would be seen in the darkness. The time when the government of God’s kingdom would be on the shoulders of his messiah. The time when the kingdom of God begins on earth until all of his enemies are made his footstool, the last one being death.
Jesus was saying you’re going to have to change the way you see God. Jesus introduced us to the concept of God as a loving father. Moses gave us truth, but Jesus gave us grace AND truth. Jesus showed us that God’s motivation toward mankind was love. Jesus displayed the mercy of God. Jesus displayed the heart of God by forgiving people and healing all manner of diseases.
I can imagine in our language, Jesus saying, you’re going to have to change the way you think about God because the time of him dwelling among you is here. God will now be with you forevermore. Walk with me, and I will show you his kingdom. Yes, there is still an end and a final judgment, but God is making himself available in a way you never imagined. He is accessible through the work I will do for you. The Law still applies, but I am the way through which you approach God, and I make you righteous through my blood. My father is good, and he loves you.
So we must change the way we think about God and make sure all of our thoughts about God are in line with who Jesus showed us God really is.
Kingdom vs. Religious Mindsets
True repentance is a mind-renewal journey, the result being transformation continually into the image of Christ. 2020 was a year that presented many obstacles along that journey. You may need to repent from the way 2020 made you think!!
The world is experiencing collective trauma. If we’re not careful we’ll slip into the same hopelessness and fear as the rest of the world. As Christians, we have a secret weapon against gloominess and oppression, we have the joy of the Lord. And we have the Word of God to plant in our minds to help us in every situation. Because his kingdom is in us, we have a never-ending supply of power and hope.
We do not have to adopt the world’s destructive, doom and gloom mindsets, we can have hope in every situation, no matter what, because we have the favor of God in our lives and we have the hope of eternity! This world may get darker, but God’s kingdom is also at hand, getting brighter and brighter!!
Do you perceive God’s kingdom increasing? Or do you only see the darkness growing? The truth is, both are growing, but if all you see is the darkness growing, it’s time to repent and believe the Gospel!!
We need to check our mindsets and make sure our thoughts are in line with God's proclamation of His kingdom's good news. If you’re having trouble seeing His kingdom and finding good news in today’s world, change the way you think and believe that there is good news all around you because God’s kingdom is at hand.
“As he thinks in his heart, so is he…”
We think we are products of our upbringing, society, our education, and our communities. Those are factors, but by and large, we are products of our mindsets, regardless of where they came from.
The way you think shapes your paradigms, perspectives, and points of view. Your mindsets determine the way you live and will influence your choices. There are nuances to the subject of mindsets, such as the beliefs of your heart, self-worth, past experiences, theological persuasion, and a few more, but by and large, your current reality is a direct reflection of your mindsets.
You may have more than one, but in general, the way you think, what you think about, and the way you allow your mindsets to influence you, determine the quality of life you will have and your general outlook on life.
MINDSET: A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations
Are your preconceptions casting a shadow on your view of the world and your future? I wonder if you have any bad theology lingering in your mind that keeps you from believing there is good news all around you? It’s hard to repent sometimes. We’ve been programmed our entire lives to believe the way believe, changing that almost feels wrong at times. Remember, Jesus teaches you to change the way you think and believe the good news about his kingdom.
Identifying Your Mindsets
Let’s look at a few examples of mindsets people have. See if you identify with any of these mindsets, and look for ways you can change the way you think to make sure you’re believing the good news about God’s kingdom. Case by case, life situation by life situation, there is good news regarding God’s kingdom. Your job is to renew your mind and believe that good news.
The fixed mindset
The growth mindset
The fear mindset
The lazy mindset
The envy mindset
The business mindset
The dreamer mindset
The follower mindset
The greed mindset
The gratitude mindset
The confident mindset
The creative mindset
The short-term mindset
The angry mindset
The productive mindset
It’s a helpful exercise to understand yourself by identifying the way you think, that way you can know where you need to repent and believe the good news about God’s kingdom. This list of mindsets is neither right or wrong. This list only serves to help you understand yourself better. You may not know you have certain patterns of thought. Since repentance is a process of changing the way you think, it can be helpful to identify patterns. Let’s look a little deeper.
FIXED MINDSET
Likes safety and stability
Wants to maintain what they have
Doesn't pursue change
Has trouble seeing other people's perspectives
GROWTH MINDSET
Wants to improve
Puts effort toward learning
Acquires new skills
Seeks out new relationships
VICTIM MENTALITY
Blames other people or the world's systems for their problems
Stays stuck in destructive patterns
Justifies holding on to the past
Makes excuses for not taking personal responsibility
Christian Mindsets
Now let’s look at some common Christian mindsets. We think our Christian mindsets are always based on the Bible but that’s not necessarily true. Our Christian mindsets come from what we’ve been taught, how we interpret our life’s circumstances, and our general view of God.
Do you have any of these mindsets? Remember, these lists only serve to help you identify areas where you may not believe the truth about the good news of God’s kingdom. If your beliefs about God and his kingdom are not based on the good news, it’s time to repent.
GOD’S IN CONTROL
Everything that happens is part of God's plan
God isn't causing it but he's allowing it
God could have done something but he chose not to
DOOM AND GLOOM
The world is getting darker
The end is near
The wicked are in control and are prospering
LOST WORLD
We just have to endure until the end
We're all sinners
Judgment is coming soon
VICTORIOUS MINDSET
Jesus has defeated the enemy
Jesus has given us his victory
Jesus is currently reigning through us
Do you see yourself in any of these beliefs? While some of these areas touch on deep theological constructs, I pray it is helpful as you make the journey to repent and believe the Gospel. Changing the way you think is hard, but when you base your beliefs on the good news, you will not go wrong.
We have believed what we believe for a long time. I want this series of articles to help you become rooted and grounded in the good news of God’s kingdom. We’ll continue to look at what Jesus accomplished through his death, burial, and resurrection. I pray you subscribe to my email list and walk with me through this Gospel journey. (subscribe below)
I’ll leave you with a proclamation of a very important aspect of the Gospel of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
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