Announcing a name change for our Fremont Campus! "The Church on 53" will now be called "theChurch Fremont"! 

“And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal Commandment. The second is like it and is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other Commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (AMPC)

One of the most profound questions about life is Psalm 8:4 (TPT) – “…why would you bother with puny, mortal man or be infatuated with Adam’s sons?”

Why is God so vested in man?
What is our value to Him?

Our created life – spirit, soul, body – must receive God’s uncreated life to equip us to function as spiritual beings. We each must pursue, search out, experience the depth of our own nature, what the possibilities of our life are.

The wise man Socrates said – “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

His student, Plato, said – “There is an art of living and the living is excellent only when the self is prepared in all the depths and dimensions of its being.”

His “uncreated life” within us releases a power that causes us to “live beyond ourselves.”

From the moment of our new birth, His Spirit begins the process of bringing our spirit, soul and body, our mind, will and emotions, our heart, our entire being into effective cooperation with His Kingdom purposes. That power is within us yet beyond us, and its source is God Himself.

“…for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” Philippians 2:13 (AMPC)

Once we become aligned with His Kingdom purposes, the degree to which we invest our total being mostly depends upon our initiative. The harmonization of our spirit, soul and body, mind, will and emotions, our heart into His Kingdom service will not be done for us – we must aggressively pursue His Kingdom and His righteousness.

 “So then, refuse to answer its (sins) call to surrender your body as a tool for wickedness. Instead, passionately answer God’s call to keep yielding your body to Him as one who has now experienced resurrection life! You live now for His pleasure, ready to be used for His noble purpose.” Romans 6:13 (TPT)

God will weaponize our body as an instrument of righteousness.

Peter shows us how to live beyond ourselves in spite of ourselves. Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His upcoming suffering and death on the cross. He shared His heart with them and told them that when it started, they would desert Him and run away. Peter insisted that he would not, even if all the others did. Jesus replied that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster would crow.

 “Peter replied, ‘I absolutely will never deny You, even if I have to die with You!’ And all the others said the same thing.” Matthew 26:35 (TPT)

They all left the upper room where they had eaten the Last Supper and went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus asked them to “watch with Me” – to stay awake and be with Him – but they soon fell asleep.

Luke 22:45 says they were “sleeping with grief.”

Jesus came and found them and said, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” Matthew 26:41 (AMPC).

They were not totally aligned in their spirit and body with His Kingdom purposes.

When the Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter arose with his sword and chopped a soldier’s ear off.

“…Then all the disciples deserted Him and, fleeing, escaped.” Matthew 26:56 (AMPC)

Verse 58 (AMPC) – “But Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest’s home; he even went inside and sat with the guards to see the end.”

There on three separate occasions he was accused of being one of Jesus’ followers. Each time he denied it and the third time used profanity.

“Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not even know the Man! And at that moment a rooster crowed.” Verse 74

“And Peter remembered Jesus’ words, when He had said, ‘Before a single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” Verse 75

But God was not done with Peter yet! His purpose would not be hindered by Peter’s betrayal. He knew Peter was a rock – “Petros.”

Peter watched Jesus suffer and die and encountered the risen Christ in John 21:17, 19, 22 –
Jesus renewed His commission to Peter – “…feed My Sheep.” “…follow Me!” “…you follow Me!”

Ten days Peter waited in the upper room with the others until the Holy Spirit came and baptized them. The hand that had reached for the sword to kill, the legs that ran away, the mouth that forgot its confession that Jesus is the Messiah and denied any relationship with Him, cursing to prove it, now were “all in” to His Kingdom purpose.

With the Holy Spirit empowering his hands, feet and mouth, Peter “standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice…” – Acts 2:14.

Three thousand souls came to Christ. Signs, wonders and miracles were performed by Peter and the Apostles. Day by day, from house to house, they proclaimed Jesus, and the Lord added to their community those being saved. (Acts 2:41-47)

Peter is now a “rock,” living in dynamic interaction with God and His Kingdom purposes.

To “live beyond yourself” – you are to love the Lord Yahweh, your God, with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, with every thought that is within you and with all your strength.

Discussion Questions:
1. How are we equipped to function as "spiritual beings?"
2. What is Go's life within us called?
3. How does God "weaponize" us for His service?
4. What does the name "Peter" mean?

Prayer:
I love you Lord Yahweh, with every passion of my heart and with all of my energy and strength.  Like Peter, help me to live in dynamic interaction with You and Your Kingdom purposes, so I can live beyond myself.

Next Steps:
Day to day, from place to place, person to person, proclaim Jesus! By leaving "Why Jesus" prayer cards with your information or theChurch's information.  Bring someone to church with you! Sign-up for one of our Small Group Classes beginning Wednesday, February 5th. 

“Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].”  Matthew 10:39 (AMPC)

“[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).”  Ephesians 3:19-21 (AMPC)

This word “beyond” is worthy of our attention as we desire to move beyond our limitations, obstacles to move beyond and into the things God has prepared for those who love Him.

 “This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine— these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.”  I Corinthians 2:9 (TPT)

Paul is quoting Isaiah 64:4 (MSG) – “Since before time began no one has ever imagined, no ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for those who wait for Him.”

It is not a mediocre, average, mere existence life to which He calls us. He commands us to “lose our life for the sake of His Kingdom.”

You will only discover “true life” when you stop pursuing I – pursue the Creator, the Author, the Sustainer, the Provider of life and you will discover the life as He designed for you.

He called it “the Abundant Life.” It is ever growing, ever expanding, ever reaching, ever moving beyond where you are and who you have become.

It is life with a capital “L”.
It is life without limits.
It is life filled with hope and energy.
It is life filled with joy.
It is life running over, bursting out, flowing unimpeded to new heights, new achievements, new victories.

You must have inner courage to dare to live a daring, adventurous life. He gave us His life – we must not diminish it, but strive to make it greater, more, abundant, full of adventure and wonder.

The world defines “life” as “the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change until death."

Christ came to give us “zoe” life – the secret to all success and richness in life.  "Zoe life is real, genuine.  It's a life that is active, vigorous, devoted to God.

It comes to us, through us as we continually surrender up our life to Him. This is the uncreated, eternal life of God, the divine life uniquely possessed by God.

Abundant life is our source for wisdom, self-control, spiritual healing, emotional healing, financial healing, relational healing and the total well-being of our life. All the “red letter” teachings of Jesus are principles about how this kind of life works.

Life is inner power to reach and live beyond. Living beings possess an innate power to reach beyond themselves and relate to other things.  In so doing we expand, enlarge our capacity for life.

Those who “give out” are “given to.” To receive love, we must give love. To be increased, we must increase.

As humans, we possess immense power to reach out and use what is beyond us to extend ourselves and our influence.  Philosophy says God has hidden from humans the glory of their own soul, that we might not be overcome with pride.

 “The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!”  Romans 8:19 (TPT)

His glory comes to us by His Word and His Spirit. It enters us, fills us, envelopes us and is then revealed through us to those around us.... But only when we live beyond ourselves.

We can tap into the inexhaustible powers of creation.

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.”  Ephesians 3:20 (TPT)

The realization of God’s unlimited provision for all our needs is dependent upon our willingness to be obedient to His responses.

We are not waiting on Him – He is waiting on us!
When I obey – He imparts.
When I risk – He acts.
He cannot work in a vacuum. He requires the law of effort on our part.
Step up! Step in! Step Out! Live Beyond!

Discussion Questions:
1. Living Beyond is called the "______" life? What is the "Zoe" Life?
2. What is "uncreated" life?
3. How does God's glory come to us?
4. What does God require of us to "live beyond?"

To view our 2020 Covenant click on: bit.ly/2020Covenant

“Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward."  Philippians 3:12-14 (AM PC)

Coming to the end of anything reminds us of this never-ending truth – life goes on.

Someone has well said – the art of “letting go” is the best of all the arts.

The beauty of life taught by the running water of a river is – it only moves forward.

Spain once stamped on her coins the Pillars of Hercules and took as her motto – Ne plus ultra.

Nothing is more detrimental to your faith walk, more unworthy of God, or more draining to your life than being content to abide as you are.

Paul was forever striving to move onward, forward, reaching beyond his grasp. His ruling passion was to be found in Jesus, to know Him more intimately, to grow up into Him, to serve Him, and to be complete in Him. That was His dominant purpose – His aim.
He was driven by the “law of effort,” which says “we must do or we die. We must press on or we perish.”

Our spirit craves spiritual advancement, spiritual activity.

This was Paul’s most dominant goal, purpose in his life.

 “I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (TPT)

Paul is creating a spiritual capacity to fulfill his Heavenly calling. This transformation into His image is so that He can, with our cooperation, activate our divine purpose.

God wove your purpose into your DNA – He caused it, you discover it. Your destiny is determined by you, by your choices, decisions and how you respond to life.

Your potential in His Kingdom and in life is determined by your ability to access His resources. You break free from your past and live beyond your human limitations as you harness the transformational power of His Word and His Spirit.  It is then you lay hold of your God-inspired, purpose-filled vision.

Here is Paul’s formula for breaking free and living beyond yourself:
1. Realize that you have not yet arrived.
Philippians 3:12 (TPT) – “…I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing…”
2. You must run with passion into God’s abundant provision.
Verse 12 – “…so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover.”
3. You must have one focus, your heart fixed on Jesus, your future, your prize.
Verse 14 – “…I forget all of the past…I fasten my heart to the future...reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize…”
4. You must align yourself with His vision of you and for you.
Remember – He is never disappointed in you – but disappointed for you.

Always keep your eyes focused on “who” you are created to be. You have an upward call of God on your life – not a backward call or sideward call.  Refuse to be complacent. Live your purpose with confidence.

You are unique – one-of-a-kind. No one else is like you. Live beyond yourself – tap into His amazing resources.

“Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.”  II Peter 1:3 (TPT)

Discussion Questions:
1. What things from your past are impeding your forward progress?
2. What goal are you focused on in 2020?
3. What is in you, at the deepest part of your life, that you need to discover?
4. What are you willing to "give up" in order to move forward?

Prayer Focus
I pray that as my spirit craves spiritual development, spiritual advancement and spiritual activity, I will break free from my past and take hold of the purpose God has for me and live beyond myself!

Next Steps
Daily align your life-- your choices, decisions, your relationships, your responses to circumstances- to His best for you so that you can live your purpose with confidence! 

“Pilate said to Him, ‘Then You are a King?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say it! [You speak correctly!] For I am a King. [Certainly I am a King!] This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth [who is a friend of the Truth, who belongs to the Truth] hears and listens to My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘What is Truth?’ On saying this he went out to the Jews again and told them, ‘I find no fault in Him.’" - John 18: 37-38 (AMPC)

Christmas is a celebration of Jesus’ birth. He was born in Bethlehem of Judea and was placed in a manger, a trough which was used to feed animals.

Jesus Himself declared why He was born – John 18:37 (AMPC) –“…For I am a King. This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth.”

At Christmas, the focus is on the manger the swaddling clothes, the baby Jesus.

Jesus did not come to be worshiped as a baby – He was born a King and was born to establish His Kingdom on Earth in the hearts of mankind.

Wise men came seeking Him, to worship Him, bringing Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. No baby gifts – only gifts fit for a king.

Gold is the metal of kings. It acknowledges His right to rule.

Frankincense was used in temple worship. It pointed to Christ as our Great High Priest, whose life was pleasing and acceptable to His Father.

Myrrh was used for embalming. Obviously it related to the prophecies of His death. It was an anointing oil.

The manger was only a brief moment in Jesus’ life. His manger is empty. Jesus came as a king to introduce His Kingdom rule in the hearts of all who would worship Him.

The world He came to was dark, filled with harsh conditions, heavy taxation, hopelessness. He came as our great deliverer to bring us into His Kingdom of light.

Jesus came that truth could fill the Earth – a truth with power to transform lives.

The foundation of His Kingdom is righteousness and the ruling principle of His Kingdom is truth. Righteousness is out greatest weapon. A righteous life is our greatest gift to God. To the righteous God grants favor.

Christ is the truth about life beyond –
-life beyond existence
-life beyond circumstance
-life beyond who and what we are
-life beyond mere humanity.

His truth has the power to liberate us from the bondage of sin, from our woundedness, our broken hearts and broken dreams, to transfer us out of darkness into His marvelous light and transform us into His image.

Knowing His truth will make you free. (John 8:32)

His truth has the power to separate. We are sanctified, (set apart from a profane, carnal use) and rendered holy, consecrated to God. (John 17:17)

His truth investigates. It causes worship to arise from our heart and our worship gives meaning to life, fills us with energy, boldness and joy.

His truth affects how you think about God, who you believe Jesus is, and determines your worth, value and self-esteem.

The glory of His birth is only surpassed by the majesty of His life.

Amid a flood of social media tools to connect us, there prevails among us an inability to sustain deep and enduring, intimate, personal relationships.

His life is our example. He practiced solitude, prayer, sacrificial living, an intimate relationship with His Father, love and service to others.

Why Jesus? Because His birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection and ascension provided us with a nature like His that can draw upon the infinite resources of His Kingdom.

Discussion Questions:
1. My wealth, my worship, and my witness belong to my Lord. Are these your gifts to Him?
2. Can God's purposes by changed by my choices?

Prayer Focus
I pray that this King that was born brings me into His Kingdom and unleashes His power through me to live beyond myself.

Next Steps
1. Show the love of Jesus with everyone you come in contact with this Christmas season.
2. Invite your family and friends to the Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Services, December 24 @ 5pm & 6:30 pm.  

Talk it Over
“Paul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, to the saints (the consecrated people of God) and believing and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace (spiritual favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father.” Colossians 1:1-2 (AMPC)

Grace is such a gentle word – soft, pleasing, comforting and produces great peace. Grace is the spiritual vision God grants to those who dare to continually behold His face as He transforms them into His image.

“And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image…”  II Corinthians 3:18 (AMPC)  

Grace comes by beholding – face to face – God in all His glory. As you behold Him you come to know Him at a deeper, more intimate level. Just as our physical eyes do not reach out to an object, but the light from that object reaches into our eyes, so we cannot reach out to lay hold of grace.

 “But Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord.... Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God ." Genesis 6:8-9 (AMPC)

“Blameless” means “complete” lacking nothing, thoroughly furnished to walk uprightly before God in the midst of a wicked and perverse world.

Grace is a manifestation of God’s nature into my life. It is divine resources freely placed at man’s disposal. It is eternal energy flowing into temporal creatures.

Why Jesus? Because man cannot live as God intends without His grace.

 "Jesus lived among us full of grace and truth."  John 1:14

Grace is received – Romans 1:15 – “It is by Him that we have received grace.”
Grace is a gift – Romans 12:3 – “For by the grace given to me…”
Grace is accessible – Romans 5:2 – “Through Him we have access, by faith into this grace…”
Grace is strength – II Timothy 2:1 – “So you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace that is (to be found only) in Christ Jesus.”
Grace can be increased – II Peter 1:2 – “May grace and peace be multiplied to you…”
Grace is God’s throne – Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace…”
Grace establishes us – Hebrews 13:9 – “…For it is good for the heart to be established and enabled and strengthened by means of grace.”

Peace is a progressive outgrowth of grace. It paves the way for peace. Jesus is the boss of peace and rules over it.

His peace brings wholeness, wellness, to our entire being – spirit, soul and body.
As a result of our relationship with Jesus (who is our peace) we remain calm in the midst of turmoil and strife.

Peace is the harmonized relationship between us and God which has been made available through the cross of Jesus, and the sense of rest and contentment that results from such reconciled relationships.

In Romans 5:1 we have peace with God.
In Colossians 3:15 we have the peace of God.
In Colossians 1:2 we have peace from God.

“And God’s peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7 (AMPC)

“We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; we are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed.” II Corinthians 4:8-9 (AMPC)

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you see yourself as God see you?
2. Do you feel peace above you, within you, and around you?
3. What is the depth of intimacy you have in Jesus in order to have that same measure of His peace in your life?

Prayer Focus
That God's divine defense will be around me as I am surrounded by the pressure of everyday life and that His peace will protect me.

Next Steps
1) Handout the "Why Jesus? The Question of the Season" invite cards, share it on social media platforms and invite your friends.
2) Invite your family to the Christmas Services Saturday, December 21st @ 6pm & Sunday, December 22nd, @ 9 & 11am, and Christmas Eve, December 24th @ 5pm & 6:30 pm.

TALK IT OVER NOTES
It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

Why Jesus?

“And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.” Philippians 3:9 (AMPC)

“For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].” Colossians 2:9-10 (AMPC)

The answer is to know God and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord through the power of His Word and His Spirit.

Once you become aware that the main business you are created for is to know God, most of life’s challenges become stepping stones to know Him better.

When you know that you know Him you experience great peace and contentment.

“To be found in Him”, “to be complete in Him” causes our minds to be possessed with full assurance that this relationship guarantees God’s favor now and forever.

 “Don’t let the wise brag of their wisdom. Don’t let heroes brag of their exploits. Don’t let the rich brag of their riches. If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. " Jeremiah 9:23 (MSG)

He must occupy the place of absolute supremacy and sovereignty. He must become the master of your life.  He wants to be completely received and fully welcomed.

This is life’s greatest priority: to be “found” in Him.

Life is filled with challenged, crises, suffering and death. We go through deep valleys, dry spells, dreams, die, our aspirations are hindered, rejection, pain and trials. We experience the “fellowship of His sufferings.”

But resurrection power always follows suffering and death. What is resurrected is greater always than what died.

Every crisis, challenge, trial you face is a God-given opportunity to rediscover Christ’s resurrection power in a bold new way. Every painful encounter we have bears the fingerprints of Jesus. In all of our life experiences He is always working for our good.

Five powerful words:
To be found in Him…
That I may know Him…
You are complete in Him…

And “you” who are loved and chosen by God, redeemed by His blood, justified and sanctified by His grace, born of His Spirit, robed in His righteousness, clothed with the garments of praise are now “complete” in Him.

When we are found in Him, we know Him, we are complete in Him, His presence fills every fiber of our being – mind, will, heart, emotions, spirit.

It is then we become bold in our spiritual journey. It means “presence of mind,” “freedom of speech,” “outspokenness to the point of bluntness.”

We must live as though we are complete in Him, full, lacking nothing. Every faculty of our being must continually be filled with Him who completes us. We must be found in Him totally surrendered.

Discussion Questions:
1. What exactly am I here for?
2. What should be the aim, goal, purpose of my life?
3. What is my path to fullness, wholeness?

Prayer Focus
That I may be found in Him totally surrendered and that I will know God and His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord through the power of His Word and his Spirit.

Next Steps
Take the "Why Jesus? the Question of the Season" invite cards and invite people to attend a weekend in December.  Attend all-church prayer this Wednesday 6-7 pm. 

TALK IT OVER
It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

Why Jesus?

“[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]. That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”  Philippians 3:10-13 (AMPC)

One of life’s great challenges is the difference between knowing about something or someone and actually knowing some thing or someone.

Knowing requires an experiential, personal, intimate, relationship with a thing or someone.

“We saw Him with our very own eyes. We gazed upon Him and heard Him speak. Our hands actually touched Him, the One who was from the beginning, the Living Expression of God.”  I John 1:1 (TPT)

The word for “touch” is poetic. It comes from a sensory verb meaning “to pluck the strings of an instrument.” It can also be translated “to feel.” It is as though John is saying, “We have plucked the chords of His being and felt what motivated Him, His melody within.”

“This Life-Giver was made visible and we have seen Him. We testify to this truth: the eternal Life-Giver lived face-to-face with the Father and has now dawned upon us.”  I John 1:2 (TPT)

John is defining what it means to “know Him.” Here is the difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

God revealed Himself to Job in a way he has never known Him.

When you are willing to surrender your will to His will and declare, “Oh God, You are my God…”(Psalm 63:1) then and only then will you come to know Him. The difference is total surrender. Surrender comes before intimacy.

Knowing about God is information. Knowing God is transformation.

The goal of every believer should be to know Christ in an experiential or relational sense.

Paul is speaking of an intimate, personal relationship with Christ. His desire is to come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection (which it exerts over believers)… He wanted to “gain Christ, to be found in Christ.”

His resurrection brought about the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower us, enlighten us, motivate us, lead us and enable us to experience His sufferings and to be conformable to His death. His resurrection power is for us here and now so we can endure sufferings of this present life.

Resurrections power surges through us as we confront the sufferings of this life.

Discussion Questions:
1. Are you like Paul, desiring righteousness from god through your faith in Christ?
2. How do I have righteousness?  Are you striving to have a covenant relationship with Christ?
3. Are you willing to make His story your story, to experience His resurrection power by being filled with the Holy Spirit?  Are you a candidate?

Prayer Focus
To know Jesus, we must connect with the sorrow and suffering of the world and bring his power and love to those who are hurting, wounded and and afflicted.  Pray that you will learn His story, live His story, and share His love.

Next Steps
Release his resurrection power to those around you as Jesus holds you and you hold Him.  Use this resurrection  power to give out "Why Jesus?" invite cards this week and be in the moment in your surroundings to know those who need Jesus' love.

It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

"Why Jesus?"

"[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His suffering as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]." Philippians 3:10 (AMPC)

"My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you. " Galations 4:19 (AMPC)

Often in life we are conscious of desires and we set goals to achieve them. In this process of living life, feeding our desires and energetically striving to reach our goals we face one of the most dangerous forms of human error – forgetting, losing sight of, what we are striving to achieve.

Life and its challenges have a way of getting us sidetracked, losing clarity of focus or even worse – broken focus. This can be especially true of our Christian experience.

The goal, the aim, the purpose of the Christian life is simply to know Jesus as Christ and Lord and to become one with Him.

A triumphant Christian life is only possible in union with Him.

His message to every sinner is – “Come unto Me.”
His message to every believer is – “Abide in Me.”

 "But the one who joins himself to the Lord is mingled into one spirit with Him." I Corinthians 6:17 (TPT)

“Joins” means “to unite, to knit or weld together, to join together, to make two into one.”

Every increase is spiritual life, spiritual growth, spiritual strength, spiritual effectiveness and spiritual service to the Lord is dependent on a greater measure of the knowledge of Christ.

"Eternal life means to know and experience You as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son whom You have sent. " John 17:3 (TPT)

Eternal life is more than extended, endless life, timelessness. There is nothing in human language to define the scriptural meaning of eternal life. Eternal life is a quality, a nature, God’s divine uncreated life that flows into our being when we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord.

Every word of God, truth of God, law of God that your hear, receive and live brings into your life an increase of energy and vitality.

This infusion of “eternality” into our mortal human beings lifts us up out of our circumstances and instill within us hope – confident expectation of good.

You always need to increase your knowledge of Christ since life is intended to mean a “growing” knowledge of Him as Lord within us. Life is increased by knowledge which is transformed into spiritual energy. The word “know” indicates the most intimate knowledge of another person. It is personal, intimate, experiential.

"For our spiritual wealth is in Him, like hidden treasure waiting to be discovered—Heaven’s wisdom and endless riches of revelation knowledge. " Colossians 2:3 (TPT)

Discussion Questions:
1. Paul had three great desire for his life in Christ- that he might know Him, that he might gain him, that he might be found in Him.  Can you say this about your spiritual life?

2. How can you progressively come to know Him in the fullness of His being?

3. How can you be "found", placed in Him, secure, and at peace?

Prayer Focus
Pray that as His Holy Spirit will impart and implant some new fragment of spiritual apprehension of Christ, that you will be conscious of divine energy which lifts you to another level of power and authority, to a higher spiritual ground.

Next Steps
To "know" Him requires obedience.  Give out "Why Jesus" invite cards and plan on being at theChurch Saturday, November 23 @ 9am to help distribute the Saturate Toledo door hangers.

It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

"Why Jesus?"

"For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!"
Luke 2:11 (AMPC)

"Therefore let the whole house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (the Messiah)—this Jesus Whom you crucified. "
Acts 2:36 (AMPC)

How is it that a human being living is a sin-cursed, diseased world could ever know the possibility of a life without lack?

Perhaps it would surprise you to know that we, on our human nature, are perfectly designed, equipped to rule the Earth for good, to enjoy the good life.

You are the only one who can decide what your soul is worth.

You and I are put here to live a “make a difference life.”

He, God wants us to know Him, and to receive from Him eternal life here and now.

"Eternal life means to know and experience you as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son whom you have sent. "  John 17:3 (TPT)

Luke tells us the angel gave Jesus three titles at His birth:  a Savior, the Promised Messiah, and the Sovereign Lord of Men and Angels.

His title, Lord, is also an expression of His rights over creation and mankind.

Literally, He is Lord over all – everything, the owner.

"And what is God’s “living message”? It is the revelation of faith for salvation, which is the message that we preach. For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will experience salvation. " Romans 10:9 (TPT)

The name signifies a call to action. We are to totally surrender our Earthly lives to His Lordship, His ownership, as He manifests His uncontested power in our lives.

You only receive power from Him to the degree that you submit to His Lordship.

The deeper the surrender, the more power you receive. The greater the submission, the more power of God you manifest in your life.

"But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition]. But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord… " I Peter 3:14-15 (AMPC)

He is Lord over all whether we acknowledge it or not.

Discussion Questions:  
1. Have you acknowledged as your Lord His position of supreme authority and HIs concern and passion as you submit to and live under His control?

2. Is Jesus Lord over everything in your life, which enables you to breath and to think, and to eat, and to plan your life?

3. What are the things and who are the people you will have to surrender to His Lordship?

4. How will you live like He is Lord of all to you so peace can floor your heart?

Prayer Focus
Pray that as you embrace His Lordship, Jesus will consume you by His love, peace, power and presence.

Next Steps
Since God is Lord over you and everything, honor Him by coming @ Wednesday @ 6pm to pack door hangers and on Saturday @ 9am to canvas Maumee. Continue to give out "Why Jesus" invite cards.

It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

"Why Jesus?"

“He said to them, ‘But who do you [yourselves] say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” Matthew 16:15-16 (AMPC)

Imagine being so consumed by a truth that your whole life is totally and completely transformed.

This truth, realized and experienced, would cause unspeakable power, ability, capability, favor, wisdom and knowledge to flood your life.

Endurance, patience, joy, gladness, would provoke you to live with a sense of gratitude, thankfulness and generosity bringing influence and blessing to you and to others.

Actually, all this and much more is readily available to anyone who is willing to simply surrender their life totally, completely to Christ.

You can be targeted by God to receive His anointing.

“I’ve written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they’re no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ’s anointing, no less! You don’t need any of their so-called teaching. Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to
know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.” 
I John 2:26-27 (MSG)

This anointing brings life, illumination, wisdom, fruit and power from the indwelling Christ.

 "But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth]…" I John 2:20 (AMPC)

Christ, Messiah literally means the Anointed One and His anointed.

To what and for what are we anointed?His anointing equips us, empowers us to live a Christian life.

Our Christian life is an “outflow” of Christ in you – the manifesting of His uncreated life, the radiating of God’s own energy within and through our fallen, human vessels.

Christ is your shepherd, your advocate, your mediator, your conqueror, your lion, your lamb, your sacrifice, your manna, your living water, your food, your dwelling place, your Sabbath, your jubilee, your feast, your aroma, your anchor, your wisdom, your peace, your comfort, your healer, your joy, your glory, your power, your strength, your wealth, your victory,
your redeemer, your prophet, your priest, your king, your teacher, your guide, your deliverer, your prince, your captain, your vision, your beloved, your way, your truth, your life, your author, your finisher, your beginning, your end, your now, your eternity.

We are to be of Christ, through Christ and for Christ. He is our pursuit, our passion and our pleasure.  He is Christ in you, the Hope of (realizing the) glory.

You and I are to proclaim Christ, to make Him known by public declaration. We are to “admonish” – to impart understanding. Literally, to educate toward correction.
We are to teach, instruct. The goal – to present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete) in Christ.

Discussion Questions:
1. Who is Jesus Christ to you?

2. Are you proclaiming Christ and making him known to those you come in contact with?

3. Are you present yourself mature (full grown, fully initiated, complete) in Christ?

4. Have you prepared yourself to receive His anointing?

Prayer Focus:
Pray that you will have His anointing to equip and empower you to live a Christian life.

Next Steps: 
Use His anointing to proclaim Christ this week by handing out the "Why Jesus?" invite cards and praying the salvation prayer with someone.

Attend first Wednesday prayer at 6pm at theChurch so we can pray together for God to make Himself known to our region.

It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

"Why Jesus?" The answer to that question could change everything about your life.

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us].”  -Isaiah 7:14 (AMPC)

The most profound announcement in the history of mankind was given more than 2,700 years ago by a prophet named Isaiah. That announcement affects every person who ever lives on this Earth.

It is powerful, personal, perpetual, and transforming to all who experience its truth.

“A virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” – literally, with us is God.

God with us – with us God shall be. Nothing anyone could ever hear exceeds the transforming power of His name.

God comes to us in Jesus – Immanuel – making His abode within us, declaring our body as His Temple. God thus becomes closer to us than we are to ourselves.

He came to implant and to impart His life into human flesh. His intent was and is to become the center of our life – to live through us the life He designed us for.

God, in the form of Jesus, became a human.  He was then deformed by becoming sin for us, so that by His deformation we might experience transformation into the very image of God Himself.

God, the Divine, became God in human skin – living, dying, and rising.

He emptied Himself of the rightful exercise of His privileges and powers as God to experience all that we would in the flesh. Likewise, we are to empty ourselves – of our wants, our dreams, our agendas – in order to be re-born, transformed, to everlasting life.

God’s version of “self-control” is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Since He dwells within us, we are to live our lives as an offering to Him.  As I respond to His Will and live by the power of His indwelling life, the world around me sees Him in my living.

 “And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth of godliness…” I Timothy 3:16 (AMPC)

 “…Train yourself toward godliness, [keeping yourself spiritually fit].  For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.” I Timothy 4:7-8 (AMPC)

Godliness is the result of God with us – Immanuel.  It is God’s capacity to reproduce Himself in you.

Discussion Questions:
1. What is Christ doing through me?  How is He doing it?
2. How are you training yourself toward Godliness?
3. Are you asking God to inhabit you and live through you?
4. What song or sound is He permitted to create with your life?  

Prayer Focus
Pray that you will be spiritual fit, your body and your life, as you give yourself to God.  Ask Him to inhabit you, dwell in you, and live through you.

Next Steps
Read the Bible daily.  Pray daily by calling out to God in prayer. Receive boldness form the Holy Spirit to share your faith with others.  Plant seeds by giving out the "Why Jesus?" invite cards.

It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

"Why Jesus? " The answer to that question could change everything about your life.

"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 [of Eternity], Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6 (AMPC)

Is your life filled with wise counsel, wonder, amazement, a conquering spirit, confidence in your future, and a prevailing sense of wholeness?

Is there a sense of awe, wonder, and power along with wise counsel and knowledge guiding, sustaining you?

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Each of these express "Who" Jesus has come to Earth to become in your life. 

“Wonderful Counselor” – A miracle, a wonder, a marvel, things that are unusual, beyond human capability. It awakens astonishment within man. The word "wonder" is from the Hebrew word "secret."

“Counselor” means a supernatural counselor or one giving supernatural counsel. It conveys the meaning of an advocate, a guide, a plan.

"The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, the Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God." Isaiah 11:2 (MSG)

As our “Wonderful Counselor” He makes the plans. As our “Mighty God” He makes the plans work. He, Jesus, wants to provide you with direction, meaning and purpose for your life. 

If you want to prosper, build your life upon the counsel of righteousness. Nothing brings His favor like a righteous life.

“Mighty God” means “strong one” or “the powerful, valiant, warrior.” “Mighty” actually means “God-hero.”

His power is unlimited.
He has the power of accomplishment.
He fights for those who live in total obedience to Him.

“Everlasting Father” meaning forever a Father. Jesus functions as a Father to His children – protects them, nurtures them, has compassion for them. He is loving, tender, an all-wise instructor, trainer, and provider.

“Prince of Peace” means He is the Prince of prosperity, the Giver of all blessings.

“Peace” means “safe, well, happy, welfare, health, completeness, harmony, fulfillment.”

Discussion Starters
1. Do you know God? (or do you know about Him?)
2. Do you know Jesus, His Son? (personally, intimately?)
3. Do you know the meaning of Jesus' name?

Prayer Focus
Pray that you will truly know and understand who Jesus is so that you can truly know who you are and that He will provide you with direction, meaning and purpose for your life.

Next Steps
Walk your neighborhood and give out the "Why Jesus" invite cards, share Jesus with everyone you come in contact with this week. 

It’s a question that demands answers. Why Jesus?

He wrote nothing.  He owned nothing.  His entire life was invested in His message, which He left in lives- not in books.  That message was simple, yet profound, powerful, and life transforming.  On one of His trips, He came into Galilee and announces:  “All the preliminaries have been takes care of, and the rule of God is now accessible to everyone.  Review your plans for living and base your life on this remarkable new opportunity.” That opportunity?  A life built on Him and His teaching.  Living at the ultimate level.  The question is:  When was the last time you felt your life was at its peak?

Why Jesus?  The answer to that question could change everything about your life.

“He said to them, ‘But who do you [yourselves] say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” Matthew 16:15-16 (AMPC)

“Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called the Christ. (the Messiah, the Anointed)” Matthew 1:16 (AMPC)

In order to become your ultimate self, you must answer the ultimate question – “Who do you say Jesus is?”

Perhaps the major disease of the church today is – J.D.D. – Jesus Deficit Disorder

Jesus is the center and circumference of the Christian faith, the Christian life.Just as the sun is the center of our solar system, Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of God’s universe and of our lives. His name was given to Him by God His Father.

“But the angel reassured her, saying, ‘Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus.’”  Luke 1:30-31 (TPT)

God actively cares about and actively goes about rescuing lost souls. When I believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, He is actively reaching out through me to rescue wounded, hurting, lost souls. Jesus “saves.” The word means “to save, heal, make whole, deliver, make alive.”

His name pulls us into a joyous partnership of healing and being healed.  He resurrects, gives life, creates, perfects and will one day consummate in and unto Himself all things.

He begins, redeems, uplifts, perfects, and concludes life.

Jesus is the gravitational pull that brings everything together and gives it meaning. He gives value to life.

His answer to the broken, sin-sick, hurting, wounded world was, is and always will be giving us Jesus.

When our focus is on Jesus Christ – loving Him, worshiping Him, serving Him, and sharing Him – He brings all things together in Himself.

Our first and foremost task is to know Him.  As our knowledge of Him increases, we become more like Him, experience more of Him and thus His Kingdom power is manifested through us to our world.

God’s Word is a person – Jesus Christ.

Christ is the only thing that they Holy Spirit reveals.

He has come to reveal, to glorify, to magnify, to unveil, to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.

He takes what is true of Christ and makes it real and alive in the lives of God’s people.

“For God is satisfied to have all his fullness dwelling in Christ.” Colossians 1:19 (TPT)

That means the fullness of God’s plan for your life and the full image of God being restored to our hearts.

If He is Heaven’s passion and occupation, shouldn’t He be yours?

Discussion Questions:
1. “Who do you say Jesus is?” “Who” is Jesus to you?
2. What is the answer to our broken, sin-sick, hurting, wounded world?
3. What should be our passion and occupation?  Are you occupying your world?
4. Do you know people who have J.D.D.- Jesus Deficit Disorder?

Prayer Focus:
Pray that your focus is on Jesus Christ- loving Him, worshiping Him, serving Him, and sharing Him.

Next Steps:
Invite someone to church and pray with someone this week!

theChurch Talk It Over Notes September 28-29, 2019

DAY ONE:  Read  Psalm 8:3-6 (AMPC)  “When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.”

Man. Mankind. Humans. Homo Sapiens. That is how we refer to the human species, the human race.

At this moment, there are seven billion plus people on Planet Earth.

Seems like a lot until you consider there are more galaxies (100 billion plus) each with a hundred billion plus stars, than people.

There may be as many planets as stars – ten billion trillion.

How vast the universe yet God is “mindful” of man and “visits” man.

“Mindful” comes from a Hebrew word meaning “remember.”

“Visits” comes from a Hebrew word which means “to attend to”, t”to observe.”

David is reflecting perhaps on Moses’ revelation from God in Genesis 1:26 (AMPC) - God said, “Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness…”

Man can only know his greatness, his ultimate self, in relationship to God.

Man is made a “little lower than God.”

DAY TWO: We are created in His image and His likeness to represent Him in this world, reflecting His character, while living in an intimate, personal, relationship with Him.

That is our earthly vocation.

The God who makes Himself known makes us know ourselves in Him.

When He reveals Himself, He reveals us at the same time.

Man, says God, is My highest revelation, the head and crown of the entire creation.

Made in His image and in His likeness, he was “able not to sin.”

As he was created, he was not yet a “finished product.” He still needed to “grow in the knowledge and wisdom of His Creator.”

Thus the daily discussions in the “cool of the day” in the Garden.

DAY THREE:  After Adam's sin, the image of God was perverted, corrupted, deformed.

That image of God needed to be restored, renewed.

The Holy Spirit’s primary assignment is found in John 16:8-11 (TPT) - And when he comes, he will expose sin and prove that the world is wrong about God’s righteousness and his judgments. “‘Sin,’ because they refuse to believe in who I am. “God’s ‘righteousness,’ because I’m going back to join the Father and you’ll see me no longer. “And ‘judgment’ because the ruler of this dark world has already received his sentence.

The renewal of His image in mankind means that man is now enabled to be properly directed toward God, to function as a loving, worshiping, praying, believing servant of God.

This renewal of His image means we live in responsive obedience to His will and ways.

It means we think God’s thoughts after Him and use our volitional powers to will what He wants us to will.

We thus become more and more like His Son in our words and deeds.

DAY FOUR: God’s preferred answer to “What is man? is “Man is a living, breathing human being who is being recreated in My image and My likeness, a a product of Divine thought, love and power.

Romans 8:29 (MSG) - "God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him."

If you and I would simply accept the significance of the fact that in His secret place God remakes us, restores His image in us and we become our ultimate God-selves.

How it would elevate our perception of “Who I am,” how it would dignify our human life, how it would deliver us from every satanic attack, character assassination, unworthy thought and every ungodly act.

Let us endeavor to become in actuality what and who we are in His thoughts – not only a little lower than Himself, but ever striving, aspiring, growing towards His image and His likeness.

Life draws all of its meaning and value from this truth – God remembers us, He attends to us, He observes us.

As long as there is breath and consciousness within you, He will strive to make you conform to the image of His Son.

theChurch TALK IF OVER NOTES | September 21-22, 2019

DAY ONE: Read Genesis 1:26-27 (AMPC) “God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority of the fish of the sea, the birs of the air, the [tame] beasts, and overall the Earth, and over everything that creeps upon the Earth. ‘So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God.  He created him; male and female.  He created them.  

Read II Corinthians 3:18 (AMPC) And all of us, with unveiled face, [because we] continued to hold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.  
Nothing is more important to mankind than knowing the answer to these two questions-

• Who is man?
• Why is man?

We should also note the most important thing about man is that he is inescapably related to God.
His highest potential and most fulfilling function are realized as he abides in the secret place of the Most High God.

In metaphysics, the word ontology is used to define ultimate being.

Man realized his ultimate being as he sits in God’s presence and is transformed into the image and likeness for which God created him.

Man is dependent on God for His continued existence.

DAY TWO: Nehemiah 9:6 (MSG)- “Blessed be Your glorious name, exalted above all blessing and praise! You’re the once, GOD, You alone; You made the heavens, the heaves of heavens, and all angels; the Earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; You keep them all alive; Heaven’s angels worship you!”

Acts 17:29 (TPT) “It is through Him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said ‘Our lineage comes from Him’”

He created us for Himself.  We function best when we are fully alive in Him- totally surrendered to His will and His ways.

Philippians 2:12-13 (MSG)- What I’m getting at friends ,is that you should simply keep doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience.  Now that I’m separated from you, keep I up.  Better yet, redouble your efforts.  Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is Go’s energy an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure.”

God will help you accomplish the good things you desire to do.

DAY THREE: It is in His Secret Place that restores His image and likeness in us, to us and through us.

Genesis 1:26 (AMPC)- “God said, ‘Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness…’”

“Image” means “to carve or “to cut.”
“Likeness” means to be like.

These two words together tell us that man is a representation of God who is like God in certain respects.

Man, as he came from the hands of His Creator, was whole, complete, had integrity innocence, was holy.

In His creation, man is God’s highest creation - an image-bearer of God.

He was made a little lower than God and placed in dominion over all creation.  When he fell into sin, the image of God was tarnished.  Yet, fallen man still bears God’s image, which is being restored through his faith in Jesus’ atoning work on the Cross.

Hebrews 1:3 (TPT)- “The Son is the dazzling radiance of  God’s splendor, the exact expression of God’s true nature—His mirror image!”

Colossians 1:15 (TPT)- He (Christ) is the divine portrait, the true likeness of the invisible God, and the first-born heir of all creation.

DAY FOUR: II Corinthians 4:4 (TPT)- For their mins have been blinded by the god of this age, leaving them in unbelief.  Their blindness keeps them from seeing the dayspring light of the wonderful news of the glory of Jesus Christ, who I the divine image of God.

What we see and hear in Christ is what God intended for man.

Romans 8:20 (MSG) – “God knew what He was doing from the very beginning.  He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son.

The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored.  We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him.

Just as Christ came to Earth to “mirror” the Father to us, in Him we “mirror” Christ to our world.

II Corinthians 3:18 (TPT) – “We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faced. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.  We are being transfigured into His very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another…”

You are I are to enter into His secret place, sit in His presence (glory) and reflect, like a mirror, who He is in and through us, to the world around us.

There is a great law of life which says – We grow like who and what we live with.

In His secret place, His image and likeness are restored to us. We come like Him and rule in our lives by His presence within us.