True Freedom

What a glorious sight as we witnessed the release of the surviving Israeli hostages held by Hamas! Much negotiation and many prayers went into the process of finally securing freedom for the survivors. Here was a moment of real freedom from physical bondage. It's ironic in our culture when it comes to defining "freedom." When we hear the word freedom, it is often defined as a lack of all restraints. Freedom is characterized as the ability to do whatever we want without interference or any kind of hinderance. If an individual wants to say ugly things to another person whether face to face or on social media, people do not want to be censored in any way, shape, or form. If someone wants to go speeding down the highway, they don't want to have signs limiting how fast they can travel. The reality is that what we define as freedom is actually bondage. 

A LACK OF LIMITS LEADS TO SLAVERY

If there are no boundaries or limits, we become slaves to whatever we are pursuing. Many will mock Christianity and claim it hinders freedom. They will state that Christians are just a bunch of mindless rule keepers without purpose and the ability to be free to live as they choose. Christians will be likened to mindless zombies blindly following a Being at the expense of their personal freedom. The folly with this argument is a failure to understand who Christ is and what He has accomplished in His resurrection. The kind of freedom Christ offers is eternal. The kind of freedom Christians receive is rooted in a Person not some temporary pleasure. Paul states in Romans 6:15-16, "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (NIV) The unfortunate results of an attitude where restraint is thrown off and an "anything goes" mentality is adopted can be seen in our culture and our world today. People become slaves to the "gods" to which they bow down. (i.e. addictions, social media, sexual immorality, etc.) 

TRUE FREEDOM IN CHRIST

Christ wants us to be free from spiritual bondage. The kind of freedom Christ offers cannot be found in this world. It is a freedom unseen, it is a freedom of the spirit, it is a freedom that is not chaotic but orderly, it is peaceful and not encumbered by the thoughts and attitudes of others but by the release and presence of the Holy Spirit. It is a freedom that doesn't worry about what will happen tomorrow but rests in the knowledge of the One who holds all our tomorrows. Do we want to experience freedom in the true sense of the word? Jesus states in John 8:31-32, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NIV) Let us open the window to freedom in Christ.

Shalom,

Pastor Sheree

His Love Endures Forever

I often point out to others that repetition in the Bible is God's way of emphasizing that we need to pay special attention to what the Spirit is saying to us. So it is, as I was meditating on Psalm 136. In this Psalm we see the repetition of the phrase "His love endures forever." Psalm 136 is what's considered an antiphonal Psalm. In other words the leader would speak a Biblical truth and the congregation would respond with the repetition or echo to the leader's words. We see this type of call and response in some churches today, especially in church traditions that are more liturgical and will use an antiphonal format as a call to worship. It's very easy to overlook this Psalm as we tend to typically get bored with anything that's repetitive. We can look at Psalm 136 and say to ourselves, "Yes I get the point, "His love endures forever." However do we realize how significant these four words are? 

The Power of Enduring Love

No matter what the situation or circumstance, His love endures forever. Are you divorced? (His love endures forever) Are you struggling emotionally or spiritually? (His love endures forever) Have you made some poor choices or decisions in the past? (His love endures forever) The amazing thing about our God is unlike people whose love can come or go based on an individual's expectations of us or our failure to meet their needs, God's love never changes and He never gets exhausted of caring about us or helping us, no matter what the situation or circumstance. Paul makes a significant statement about God's enduring love in Roman 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NIV) Take some time to think about all the ways you have fallen short or the times when you have experienced fear, shame, or guilt. Then, repeat to yourself the antiphonal response of Psalm 136 as a source of encouragement, "HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!" 

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Sheree

Mission Possible

 When I was growing up there was a popular television series entitled, "Mission Impossible." A group of skilled agents were given an assignment from headquarters which was often delivered in a plain envelope containing a cassette tape (yes, that's how old I am) with specific instructions and a picture of the individual that was marked as the "target" that the team was to engage. There was always an uneasy feeling as the stakes were very high in completing the assignment. As a result, the recording on the tape cassette always gave the lead agent an "out" with the words, "Should you choose to accept this assignment.." The instructions also came with a warning that if any of the agents were caught or killed, the secretary would disavow any knowledge of their actions. The final words on the tape informed the leader that, "This tape will self destruct in 5 seconds." The scene ended with a crackling sound and smoke rising from the cassette as it was destroyed. The television series eventually ran its course and ended, however the "Mission Impossible" legacy has continued today in the form of a series of popular movies. The main character in these movies was an agent named Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise. The premise of these movies is the same as the television series, a high stakes assignment is given and must be carried out in order to successfully complete the mission. There was a feeling of tension in the television series as well as the movies as the team of agents navigates how to successfully complete the assignment amidst setbacks and unforeseen circumstances as well as many close calls which at any particular time along the way could have resulted in a negative outcome. Thus, the title "Mission Impossible" was a way of communicating to the audience that the task was not something that under normal circumstances would result in success.

We Have A Mission

Believers and followers of Jesus Christ likewise have been given a mission "should we choose to accept it." The mission is outlined in Matthew 28:18-20. It is often referred to in the Bible as "The Great Commission." It was Jesus's last instructions to His disciples after His resurrection and subsequent ascension into heaven. "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV) I recently learned from a pastor colleague that the word "make" was inserted into the text as a way of trying to attempt a smoother translation from the Greek to English. The original text in the Greek is literally translated simply as the word "disciple." In other words, the task is go and disciple all nations. Matthew does not record any verbal response from the disciples or any objections to Jesus's assignment. In and of itself, the assignment appears daunting, discipling a world full of billions of people. The task on the surface seems like a "mission impossible!" However, I believe the disciples didn't even blink at Jesus's words nor think in their minds, "How are we going to get this done?" 

We Have Been Equipped

Jesus had already outlined how the assignment was going to be completed in the Commission itself. First, Jesus Himself had the authority to give to them to fulfill the task. By virtue of His coming, crucifixion, death, and resurrection, Jesus as Lord and Savior had the right to make such a declaration. Second, He had been teaching them all along in the three years that the disciples had walked with Him, so they were more than equipped and up to the task. Finally, He promised His presence would be with them and everyone who was baptized, taught, and equipped long after they were gone. His presence was in the person of the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 1 shortly before His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.....but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:4,6 NIV) Jesus's promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit came. The same Holy Spirit that filled the disciples has filled believers in Christ through the ages with the power to complete our mission and will continue to do so until as Jesus states, "..the very end of the age." The television series "Mission Impossible" and the subsequent movie legacy presents a challenge to those tasked to carry out the assignment with a scenario that could not provide assurance that all would go smoothly or end well. However, our task as believers is a "mission possible" because of Jesus Christ. In our own strength alone, the assignment is daunting. However, we don't need to be afraid because our mission albeit challenging, will not fail. Our Lord has called us and empowered us to get the job done. We need to be willing to "accept the assignment" and trust in Him. In Jeremiah chapter 32, God gives the prophet a task to buy a field even though the situation for the Israelites is not looking very hopeful. Despite Jeremiah's concerns, the word of the Lord comes to the prophet, "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27 NIV) We as believers know the answer is with God nothing will ever be a "mission impossible."  

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Sheree