Grace inspired

Grace inspired

Lionel Lim

Empty I am 

Before God 

My accomplishments mean naught to Him

My strength insufficient in struggle 

My wisdom limited and finite

Renewed peace

God's grace is

Knowing He sees me through

By His strength and wisdom

As I learn to trust Him

Knowing not the final outcome

But knowing God is good 

No matter what

He desires us good things

As pained the journey may be

Hope of everlasting joy and comfort 

Knowing the Savior waiting

End of rocky dusty road

Arms outstretched

Longing words to hear

"Well done, good and faithful servant"

Eternal Perspective: Our Family, Friends, and Neig

Eternal Perspective: Our Family, Friends, and Neighbors  

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 

Pastor Miles

November 22, 2014

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ NIV)

Fix your eyes not on the temporary (what we see), but focus our eyes on the eternal (what is unseen), that is on Jesus.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭16-21‬ NIV)

1. Because we have an eternal perspective, we see people differently now.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭16-17‬ NIV)

We no longer see people as the world does.

The world sees people as just commodities and expendable. 

From a Christian worldview, every person has value.

Every person has the possibility of a new life (in Christ).

2. We have a different ministry to people now.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭18-19‬ NIV)

God gave us a way to be reconciled back to Him.

He has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us.

It is an honor to be entrusted with this message.

3. We are now Christ's ambassadors to the people around us.

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭20-21‬ NIV)

We have the privilege of being called to share the good news with others.

God took our sin and laid it on His own Son, so that He could give us His righteousness - justification - so that we can go back into relationship with Him.

As a result we are now His ambassadors.

Memorize:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ NIV)

Eternal Perspective: Our Motives

Eternal Perspective: Our Motives 

2 Corinthians 5:11-15

Pastor Miles

November 16, 2014

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ NIV)

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭11-15‬ NIV)

1. Because we have an eternal perspective we try to persuade others.

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬a NIV)

Persuade others:

- to follow Christ

- to come to the Christmas concert

2. God knows our hearts, even if other people think we are "out of our minds."

What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 

(2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬b-13 NIV)

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 

(‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭1-5‬ NIV)

3. We are motivated by the love of Christ.

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 

(‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭14-15‬ NIV)

Why does Christ's love compel us?

He died for all.

He gave up His rights and His life for all of us.

We have also given up our rights.

We've been bought with a price.

We now live for Him out of gratitude.

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

(‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17-19‬ NIV)

We love in response to His incredible love.

What are we doing to share His love to those we come into contact with?

Pray. Invest. Invite.

Eternal Perspective: Our Goals

Eternal Perspective: Our Goals

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Pastor Miles

November 9, 2014

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ NIV)

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭6-10‬ NIV)

1. Our confidence doesn't come from seeing, because we walk by faith.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭6-7‬ NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1-2‬ NIV)

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: "He could not be found, because God had taken him away." For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

...

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

...

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

...

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,

...

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭4-8, 11, 13, 17, 20-27‬ NIV)

2. Our one true ambition is to please God.

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭8-9‬ NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ NIV)

and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, (‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ NIV)

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. (‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ NIV)

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ NIV)

http://crupressgreen.com/the-audience-of-one/

Most of us, whether we are aware of it or not, do things with an eye to the approval of some audience or other. The question is not whether we have an audience but which audience we have.

...

A life lived listening to the decisive call of God is a life lived before one audience that trumps all others – the Audience of One.

...

Christ-centered heroism does not need to be noticed or publicized. The greatest deeds are done before the Audience of One, and that is enough. Those who are seen and sung by the Audience of One can afford to be careless about lesser audiences.

...

Do you wish to be inner-directed rather than other- directed and truly make one audience decisive, the Audience of One? Listen to Jesus of Nazareth; answer his call.

3. We know that we are accountable to God for what we do in this life.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ NIV)

Getting into heaven is not a reward for doing good works, but in heaven lies our rewards for doing good works.

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭12-15‬ NIV)

The foundation is Jesus Christ.

We build on that foundation good works.

The quality of those works will be tested with fire.

If our works survive the test we will be rewarded. If not we will still be saved.

Therefore in light of eternity how are we to live now?

We should be living in the light of that coming day, which is living by faith and not by sight.

We need to live our lives before the Audience of One.

Eternal Perspective: Our Lives

Eternal Perspective: Our Lives

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Pastor Miles

November 2, 2014

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ NIV)

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭1-5‬ NIV)

1. We live in a temporary home, but we have an eternal home that awaits us.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ NIV)

2. We long for the transformation of this broken world and our broken lives.

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭2-4‬ NIV)

We are burdened by our mortality and our fallenness.

So we long for a better place.

It's like living in a motel when we know that we have a home out there.

Paul reminds us that this is all temporary and that we are broken on the inside.

Once in a while we catch a glimpse of what eternity looks like which makes us long for life as it's supposed to be.

We long for the transformation of this world and our broken lives.

Where are our eyes focused on? Is it here and now, or is it on the unseen, what God has made us for?

3. We have a guarantee from God to remind us of what is to come.

Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ NIV)

A pledge from God to us via the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us.

This is the down payment from God that marks us as belonging to God.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

...

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 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.

...

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

...

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 

(‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭5-6, 10-11, 14, 16‬ NIV)

Are we seeing our friends, families and colleagues with an eternal perspective?

Will we see them in heaven?

Have we lost our heart for the lost?

Pray that we will see others as God does.

Do we have enough margin in our lives?

Next steps: read 2 Corinthians 5

Lionel