Process

I Peter 5:8-9
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Standing Firm In the Midst of Satanic Attack-

Everyone faces problems and little battles in life over dominion. Whether it is over dominion of worldviews, dominion of land, dominion of space and time, dominion and dominion. In light of this, Satan and his kingdom looks to destroy the kingdom of God. So what does Peter want: He tells the Church
Don’t Lower Your Guard. Be sober and alert and aware of the warfare that is going on. It is a battle over kingdoms. Be alert and watchful ready for the enemy.
Don’t Feed the Lion. Do not feed the lion with sin, deceit, disobedience and breaking the law of God. Do not stray away from the path of righteousness and obedience to the Word. Proactively fight against sin and Satan.
Let Christ and Our Brother Fight Your Battles. Resist the Devil and Sin and fight the Battle knowing the outcome is found in Christ and his Victorious Throne. Have faith in this victory. Persecution is happening to all under the banner of Christ. Fellow brothers in other countries, as well as here in America, are facing fierce persecution. Stand firm in Christ and His Victory.

Peace!

I didn’t have a pen to write my little notes but I do have some observations.

First, it was great to be a church since the 2 previous Sabbaths were filled with unplanned events which needed to be dealt with.

Second, it was time for communion which I needed.

Observation:

I hate that some in the church take communion as a joke- as only a memory of some event in the past.

The lack of reverance, holiness and awe drive me up the wall.

Something out of the ordinary, Jake (my pastor) doing a little shimmy to that song, “Don’t worry…be happy!”

Preaching today was okay. Jakes drew upon topic of anxiety which is something all people go through.

I learned and felt that I too put so much effort to work my future, make my plans and becoming to anxious of the future without trusting in our Sovereign Lord. So much effort and control in my hands and that is what I want. To have control and power over my destiny. To know the direction and the next step without any surprises. Hence, becoming an autonomous being and self-worshipped idol.

Forgive my autonomy and lack of trust Lord. I put my life and future in your hands.

17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a]

Concept of Newness. found in the judgement of God’s family is a concept of God making things new. Jesus as recreating all things and bringing the kingdom of God here on earth- this starting with the Church.

Judgment begins with the Church. Through suffering, the Church is being purified and redeemed and this refinement process is a process of newness.

Outcome of the Ungodly. This should motivate the church to bring newness to those outside of it. Newness comes first to the Church and should motivate us to reach those who are ungodly. The church needs to seek the lost and ungodly, like the prodigal son story waiting for the ungodly to enter the kingdom.

Peter is telling the Church that judgement will begin with us first, the process of newness and redemption.

Suffering for Being a Christian

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Snippet:
Christian suffering. It is only in the Christian Worldview that suffering makes sense. The glory of God and His Spirit rests upon the church during times of suffering. But the church must remember to suffer doing right and not for sinful acts and behavior.
Making Sense of Suffering. Part of the blessings in Christ is suffering. Suffering is not a strange part of redemptive history, but part of it. We must avoid strange views of God during our suffering, avoid strange views of our world, and strange view of ourselves during suffering.
Suffering as a Christian. Part of doing God’s Will and doing what is right is entrusting our sould and life to another. This will come with suffering. We must rejoice in suffering and part of the brotherhood/sisterhood in Christ is the unifying factor of suffering. The Spirit uses suffering to unify and work in the body of Christ, His church.

As the early church faced suffering and Peter seen how those within the covenant community were suffering he reminded them of their Creator and the good acts. Let this not be a surprise when you are persecuted for doing good!

Okay, here is the deal: I am going to try to post sunday sermon snippets from Orangewood Presbyterian Church, most probably from Jeff Jakes’ sermons.
I will attempt to make them quick, direct and to the point. HAHHAHAHAHHA

Hope others will enjoy it or at least find them amusing