GREAT TIME WITH GEORGE & PAT

George Jarvis brought a now word for the church which confirms the 'I am who You say I am' word brought by Ben a few weeks ago.  These are a few of my notes....

(Acts 17)  Paul and the early disciples turned the world upside down - so said their enemies who opposed the gospel that they were preaching.  The world needs to know who we are and we need to believe it and speak it out.  Too many Christians talk themselves down but the world needs us to be real.

"For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are." Romans 8:19

The Bible tells us that unequal yoking causes problems.  Then Jesus tells us to take on his yolk which is easy and light.  The inference is that to be yoked to Jesus is to be equally yoked.

"This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus." 1 John 4:17

"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one."  John 17:22

'Glory' in this verse can also be translated 'esteem'.  God's esteem (opinion) of Jesus has been put on us.  God sees us as he sees Jesus and he loves us as he loves Jesus.

"I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:23

"In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.  No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." John 16:26-27

We can come to the Father directly just like Jesus did, he loves us just the same.

"Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered." Mark 11:22

Or it could be rendered - have the faith of God.  In other words see as God sees.  Think about yourself the way that God does.  He wants us to be equally yoked in this venture.

"For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’"  Romans 1:17

Faith is initiated in God but he then puts his faith in us.  The look out in the crow’s nest has a much better perspective on what lies ahead.  We need God's perspective on things.

On two occasions God gives a mandate to man to rule the earth.  Firstly to Adam and Eve but they messed up.  They believed the lie of the enemy instead of putting their confidence in what God had spoken.  The second mandate comes in Matthew 28 & Acts 1.  We receive power when we receive the Holy Spirit.  God has COMPLETE CONFIDENCE in his restored sons and daughters and he would never send us out to do the job without properly equipping us.

God's mandate to rule was not given to the angels.  Some think wrongly that the angels are a higher being than us.  In Revelation John was corrected when he fell on his knees before an angel.

For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son;  today I have become your Father’?

Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’  Hebrews 1:5

Concerning this salvation ...Even angels long to look into these things. 1Peter 10-12

God has chosen us to be as Jesus in the world and has put his faith in us.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  Romans 16:20

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.  Romans 8:11

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father."  John 14:12

Jesus expected greater things from his followers.  He expects us not just to do what he did but go beyond that as we follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  

God really does believe in you!