Churches in Lodi

“Big idols in any culture are often being protected by profit. Just as in those days, entire industries are being fueled by the idolatry of our culture. And like Demetrius dressing up his argument in religious zeal, our culture will hide its idols behind ideas like empowerment, bodily autonomy, and success. Our culture may not build silver shrines, but we still worship. Whether it be money or pleasure or success or approval, sexual freedom, power, or comfort, anything we love, trust, or fear, or obey more than God becomes an idol for us.”

“He didn't say, why are you persecuting my friends? Why are you persecuting the church? He says, why are you persecuting me? As if to say that there is a unity between Christ and his people because we're family and we have access to our heavenly Father. The author of Hebrews would explain it like this. It says, Because of this, because of that kind of relationship that you have with Him, let us then approach God's throne with grace and with confidence, the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. We have that kind of access to the Father available anytime, and He longs to hear from His children.”

“And thirdly, do you desire real lasting change in our world when the influence of Christ, where the influence is Christ, is clearly seen and clearly felt by all? Then stop trusting in the methods and the power of this this world. Instead, trust in Christ's power to transform hearts by sharing your faith with others. No matter how chaotic the world appears, the word of the Lord still prevails mightily. Do you believe that? The same Christ who transformed Ephesus is still transforming the world today, and he does so one heart at a time.”

“Notice the irony. If Artemis were truly powerful, why does the crowd feel the need to defend her so desperately? False gods constantly require reinforcement because they cannot sustain themselves. They are fueled by our hearts and our desires. Jesus does not need defending. He doesn't need emotional outrage from us. He reigns whether people acknowledge him or not because his absolute sovereignty cannot be denied.”

“Church, let me ask you something. Do you understand that Christianity is not merely adding Jesus to your life? Do you understand that if you desire change in our world today, we must live in accordance with profession that we make with our lips? Christ came to reign, And when we obey our king, the idols in our lives begin to fall. That's why the gospel feels offensive at times because it confronts the false things that we worship.”

“And today, we've held up this big theological truth that you are a child of God. And you can walk out of this room thinking that with your head and even believing it, or you can see the cross of Jesus Christ and let it change who you are. To walk in victory, to walk with an otherworldly approach, that the one who came from heaven gave his life for you. So, clothe yourself in the clothes that the son or the daughter of the king should wear and it ought to change the way that we live.”

“but think about all of the peace that God has. Think of all of the power, all of the love, all of the compassion, all of the forgiveness, all of the truth, all of the wisdom that is available in the Maker of the heavens and the earth, you are an heir to those things. You are a beneficiary of those things. So why would we not live as sons and daughters and instead continue to live as slaves?”

“That's the stuff that God's kids wear. So, bear with each other, forgive one another. If any of you have a grievance against someone, forgive, as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. And if you want to know what it means to wear the identity of Christ and to be clothed with that, it's those things. And next week, we're going to see those explained once again in Galatians where he talks about the fruits of the spirit that that bring about those very things in our life.”

“) "One day, we will be with God if we trust him in this life. One day, all the hardships, all the pain, all the sorrows, all the enemies' attacks, everything that happens in this valley of the shadow of death, one day will be swallowed up. In the joy of God's presence. And he will lavish upon you, as Ephesians 2 tells us, his kindness for all of eternity. This is such a vast difference from any other religion. Most call you to work in this life. With the hopes of maybe being okay for eternity. What I want you to hear today, what I think the Lord wants you to hear today, and I hope I'm right about this. We'll see if he convicts me later, I don't know. Church, what God calls you to do in this life is to rest in him. That's the only call. Jesus says, come to me, all you labor and are weary. Find your rest. That's what you're called to do. Rest in God. Rest in Christ. That's all we're asked to do. Let that sink in. That's all you're asked to do. Rest. And then think about all that God does for you. He leads you. He protects you. He promises comfort and peace and strength. He guides you through this life. He restores your soul. He fins off your enemies while you rest. He prepares a table for you that you can enjoy. That's just in this life. Then when you get to eternity, He shows up. showers you with his presence and his kindness. He wipes away all of your tears. He gives you perfect and everlasting joy. This is who God is. We wait, God works. It's astonishing. It shouldn't be that way. But that's how good God is."”

“) "What I should be striving. To do in this life. Is to rest in Jesus Christ. A lot of our struggles come from the fact that we strive to work for Jesus Christ. Or we strive to take care of ourselves to protect ourselves. But God says strive to enter my rest. Strive to rest in me. Strive to let me lead you. Strive to let me. Restore your soul. Strive to trust me that I'm fending off your enemies. Strive to trust me that I'm pulling you back from evil that you think might be good from you. Strive to sit at my table and enjoy. That's what we strive. Because verse 6. Is absolutely. True. David says. Surely. Goodness and mercy. Shall follow me all the days of my life. Now, I rarely like to disagree with translations because I'm not. Big enough. Scholar of Hebrew or Greek to really understand myself, but most scholars almost all the scholars agree. that the translation shall follow me is probably not as strong as it could be. It's maybe better to translate this goodness and mercy or loving kindness, steadfast love, shall pursue me all the days of my life."”