Pastor Wrinkles: He Completes Me Pt. 7

 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Col. 2:10

As we complete our study of Colossians Chapter 2:6-10 today let me encourage you to review any of the lessons you may have missed here

http://wp.me/p39vIx-IQ Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt 1

http://wp.me/p39vIx-IU Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt. 2

http://wp.me/p39vIx-J8 Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt. 3

http://wp.me/p39vIx-Ju  Written Sermon He Completes Me Pt. 4

http://wp.me/p39vIx-K4 Written Sermon He Completes Me Pt. 5

http://wp.me/p39vIx-Ko Written sermon He Completes Me Pt. 6

As we have studied, the Scripture indicates that we are complete in our salvation, our sanctification and our supernatural strength all because of Jesus’ work in our lives; But just because we have salvation, sanctification and supernatural strength in all their fullness does not mean we experience them. The world, the flesh and the devil are constantly working  to cause us to deny these spiritual realities. If we listen to the Father of Lies and believe that we are not complete through Christ, it does not matter if we ARE complete in Him we will never experience it because we will never walk in that freedom.  Sadly, this is the experience of many Christians.

Some say “I know Scripture says I am complete in my salvation but I don’t feel saved. So I don’t walk saved. I  go to the altar every week because I am afraid I might not have it or I may have lost it.”

Others say, “I know I am complete in my sanctification but temptation feels so powerful; So I give in to it.”

Still more say “I know I am complete in supernatural strength for ministry but I feel too weak to accomplish the work of ministry that God has set before me.”

It is not about our feelings. It is about the fact that God has told us we are saved. We are sanctified. We are strong. Now we must call ourselves what God says we are, NOT what we feel we are.

Today you are hearing the Scriptural truth and that is God’s voice. He is telling you to move forward in believing you are saved, in believing you are sanctified, in believing you are strong for the supernatural work of ministry.

The book of Hebrews warns us, “the Holy Spirit says,

“Today when you hear his voice,
8     don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled,
when they tested me in the wilderness.
9 There your ancestors tested and tried my patience,
even though they saw my miracles for forty years.
10 So I was angry with them, and I said,
‘Their hearts always turn away from me.
They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 So in my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”[e]

12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters.[f] Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God…God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.[a] 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest.” Hebrews 3:7-13,4:1-3

Dear friend may you be blessed to enter this rest and this completion in Christ- JE

Scars, Trees, and Zip Lines…Musings on Easter

I loved this.

Faithinflipflops's avatarAlong the Way

Before our first service on Easter Sunday, Bill, a dear friend of mine, a wonderful man of God, whom I deeply respect, asked to speak to me. He had something he wanted to give me. I was talking to Bob at the time. Bob was like a 2nd dad to me growing up. Bill wanted Bob to stay as he presented me with the gift.

Before I committed my life to Christ at the age of 15, I spent a lot of time at Bob’s house. His daughter was my best friend. Their home was a source of stability and strength for me growing up…a respite from the craziness that was my life. They lived the street over from me. They took me wherever they went as a family. Often they took me with them to their good friend’s house (Bill and Dot). They would play cards while the kids…

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Pastor Wrinkles: The Lenten Journey Pt. 8

I’m on my way to Waldosboro ME today to help my brother-in-law out as he recuperates from surgery. The spiritual journey becomes physical. I wonder what I will learn while I am away. God has something in mind because His Spirit is calling me deeper into the fast.

Here are today’s questions regarding spiritual health. They deal with our heart for service.

On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 meaning I am just beginning and 5 meaning I am well-developed in this area)…

Does my way of life expresses my unique God-given design?

How open am I to  be used by God for ministry that complements my spiritual giftings, my heart, my abilities, my personality and my experiences in life? Am I even praying for such a ministry to present itself?

Am I serving in regular ministry?

How am I assuming responsibility for or facilitating a group discussion?

Am I discovering new ways to develop myself for ministry to the body?

How can I better serve God and others?

These are probing questions.  I think for most of us the question is not are we doing something for the church (most of us are blogging as a ministry to the body of Christ and a mission to the world) but is there anything that needs to change for us to fully enter into that place of ministry that fits us like a glove. In my personal coaching sessions my coach is constantly asking questions that help me to see what I am doing that is facilitating ministry and what I am doing that is nothing more than a distraction.

One final question to ponder today.  What can you change with God’s help to make you a better servant to God’s people?