"WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW"

"Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.'"  (John 5:19)

This is the unity of the Godhead.  

More songs need to be written, more sermons preached with this theme.  They don't have to just repeat our text over and over, but the underlying theology of today's text needs to permeate Church life, inside and outside of the gatherings.

I assert again and again that if the Church does not live its life in our text, the world will not be able to accurately discern of which "god" we speak.  I come back to Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 8:5, 6, "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and through Whom we live."

The world is asking the same thing of the Church which First Century "seekers" asked Philip, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray what our Lord Jesus prayed, "Father, glorified Thy Name," and You said, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

PSALM NUGGET, OT LESSON, NT LESSON

PSALM NUGGET:

"Those who love Thy Law have great peace, and they have no stumbling block."  (Psalm 119:165, NASB)

OT LESSON:

"Take to heart all the Words I have solemnly declared to you this day....They are not just idle words for you--- they are your life." (Deuteronomy 32, NIV)

NT LESSON:

"But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified.  And their voices began to prevail." (Luke 23:23, NASB)

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

THE MYSTERY OF THE CROSS

"....God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not reckoning their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19)

You hear so often that, "God sent His Son to die on a Cross for our sins."  Or, "God laid all of our sins on Christ."  The theology is misleading.  God Himself was on that Cross. 

What occurred on that Roman Cross is what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 5, "....God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself...."  Our Father and Holy Spirit were not in some far off place watching the event of the Cross, "....God was in Christ...," saving me from my sin, aka, myself.

And now?  God our Father and Holy Spirit are still in Christ...,"---- in me, keeping me, sustaining me, so that in the Living Triune God as, "....my Shepherd; I shall not lack."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are my, "....very present help in trouble.  Therefore...."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2