Category: Once an Addict

Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV)You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

The kingdom of God is about his salvation love, our true freedom in Christ. This freedom is that our hearts can be expanded with God’s love to love and serve others in the power of his love. This is how we are truly human and know who we truly are, and this is the freedom God has won for us through Jesus Christ! This is our hope – God has poured out his love into our hearts through the Spirit. This is our freedom – we can be dedicated to serving and building the lives of others to advance the kingdom of God and his love.

Let’s pray: Father, you have called us into your kingdom love and freedom. Thank you! We praise you! Expand our hearts and pour in your love to overflowing measure so that we may build up your people and love them in your power.

Let’s worship to “Build My Life” (click here)–

-CH

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV) says,¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ was the price paid so that we could know God, his love and forgiveness in real relationship with him. When the blood of Jesus redeemed us there was a complete transfer of ownership and authority of our lives. God rescued us out of the dominion of sin, condemnation, death, separation from God and brought us into the kingdom of his Son. This is our true freedom –our entire being including our bodies belong completely to Jesus. This is God’s amazing grace and we now honor him with our lives and bodies. This is who we are.

Let’s pray: Lord, I confess that I have been trying to live my life as if I owned it. Lord, my life, my being, my body are not my own. They belong to you. Lord, take all I am and use my life for your kingdom.

Let’s worship to “Gracefully Broken” (click here)–

-CH

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV) ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Luke 12:31-32 (NIV) ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. ³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

This is the power of the Gospel –Jesus Christ has conquered sin, conquered the filth and shame of sin, the chains of sin, and the fear and worry that would try to beat us down.

“Jesus calls for a single issue to be a disciple’s major concern: God’s kingdom. God will care for the rest. To “seek (God’s) kingdom” means to live as his representatives…We  must represent him and reflect his righteousness in a world unconcerned about knowing God. That is the constant call of the disciple…” [Darrell Bock, The NIV Application Commentary, p.350.]

We can seek first the kingdom of God without fear because our Father is pleased to give us the kingdom. This is the power of His love!

Let’s pray:  Father, fill us with the power of the Gospel and your love that we may seek first your kingdom. May we embrace your kingdom call with all of our being.

Let’s worship to “Seek First” (click here)–

-CH

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

 ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

God wants us to see His big picture and experience and reap its blessings. God’s big picture is this: It’s about real life and living real life. And real life is about the Kingdom of God and our participation and role in living it, advancing it for His honor.

“…the creator God has unveiled his genuine model for humanity in Jesus the Messiah, and there are certain ways of behaving which just won’t fit. If you want to be a truly, fully human being, those ways of behaving have to be left behind. Coming on board into God’s kingdom while still being that sort of person is a liability both for the person themselves and for everybody else.” [NT Wright, 1 Corinthians, Paul for Everyone, p.67.]

Let’s pray: Father, thank you that you have made us the dwelling place of your Holy Spirit. In your power, please help us to be the witness of your great love and forgiveness as your Kingdom people, so that others may come and see what you have victoriously won through Jesus Christ, the Lord.

Let’s worship to “Hope and Glory” (click here)–

-CH

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

“…God has himself provided the way in which people can leave their past, and indeed their present, behind, and move forward into his future. You can be washed clean, whatever has happened in the past. You can be made one of God’s special people, whatever you are in the present. You can be ‘justified’, declared here and now to be one of God’s true people. And this happens ‘in the name of the Lord, King Jesus, and in the spirit of our God.’…The point is that when you become a member of the Christian family, with baptism as its mark and faith as its inward reality, you receive a new identity, and are launched on to a new lifestyle. [NT Wright, 1 Corinthians, Paul for Everyone, p. 70.]

Something miraculous happened when we came to the Cross of Jesus Christ and responded in faith with “yes!”.  God gave us a new identity and a new way to live!

Let’s pray: Father, empower us with your Spirit and help us to believe and trust afresh in what you have done in us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by your Spirit.

Let’s worship to “Who You Say I Am” (click here)–

-CH