Listen to the message

Serious Warnings

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!”

John 8:42-45 NIV

They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV

Set Free?

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 NIV

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,  and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteous-ness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Isaiah 61:1-4 NIV

Dig Deeper

This is a tough but necessary truth: there are two sides to every story. We’re a people who like to simplify – and it does not serve us well. At NSC we have on-going home study groups designed to peer intently into God’s word. We don’t do this to feel more spiritual – we do it so that we might come to know the truth more fully, eagerly anticipating our “setting free” experience. It’s a process, and there’s no substitute for time. Our current study is from a bible study written by Dale and Juanita Ryan. Dale and Juanita write, “Grieving a lost relationship involves coming to terms with our responsibility for the broken relationship. When we start to face the issue of personal responsibility for a broken relationship, it is important to be cautious not to fall into the trap of blame. Blame is always a simplification. This is true whether we are inclined to blame ourselves or the other person. Healing is not possible until we are able to come to the end of blame and become willing to deal with our side of the problem in appropriate ways. The goal is not to figure out who is to blame for how much of the problem. The goal for this part of our recovery is honesty and the personal growth which honesty makes possible.” This week I attended my cousin’s wedding. I spent time with relatives I haven’t seen in a number of years. I learned some amazing things. I realized that these folks had become one-dimensional to me – the product of hearing stories about them, rather than experiencing meaningful relationship with them. I wonder who has become flat in your life – a caricature – rather than a complex, three-dimensional person? I realized this weekend that every time we limit our understanding of others, we diminish ourselves in the process. I know it’s easier to handle stick figures. But unless and until we become willing to see as God sees, we’re in danger of missing the beauty, the gladness, the praise, the splendor – all things God has reserved for us. Restoration is possible. But the foundation must rest in the truth. Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope.

Psalm 130:1-5 NIV

May your hope rest firmly in the Lord. In so doing, may you draw nearer to God’s big dream for you this week.