Message: "God's Resolution for His People" by Nate Lepulu

I can't help but think of this and praise God for the Christmas story and what we spent all of December talking about. God with us, Emmanuel. That God would send Jesus to come on this earth to live a sinless life and die on a cross taking our place because of our sin just so we could be a part of this family that He is choosing us to be a part of. God's choosing us for a family. [00:09:12] (35 seconds)  #EmmanuelGodWithUs

``Like when we're going back to that example, the Lord is up here on the stage and He's looking around the room and He points to you and He says, I choose you. To which you would respond, Lord, for what? Lord, what do you choose me for? Is this for a job? Is this for a team, a group project? To which the Lord responds, I choose you to be a part of my family. I want you to be my son. I want you to be my daughter. [00:09:46] (30 seconds)  #ChosenForFamily

Priesthood meaning we represent Jesus and we belong to Him and we reflect Him to others. And so I think it's only natural to then ponder and think over, do I represent Jesus in the workplace? Do I represent Him at home or online? Do I represent the King with that person I don't agree with politically? Who do you represent in your day-to-day? And does your life reflect Christ? [00:11:50] (33 seconds)  #ReflectChristDaily

And He was rejected because He was different from what the Pharisees were looking for and what the Jews wanted at the time. They simply wanted a military leader and somebody to help them overthrow Rome. And Jesus came to them. He's telling them, I didn't come to do this. This was not my mission. I came to free humanity of their sin to bring light into darkness. And He was set apart to do this task. And He calls us to do the same. [00:12:42] (30 seconds)  #SetApartForMission

We're to look different and to be different from the world. So when the world says, you know, cut that person off and move them on. No, we pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. When the world says, follow your feelings, we are to deny our flesh, pick up our cross, and follow our King. And when the world says, your value comes from attention, success, or relationships, no, we rest in the fact that we are already chosen and beloved by God. We got everything we need with Him. [00:13:29] (38 seconds)  #LiveCounterCulture

What I love about this is, if you can see every description in the identity statement, none of it is singular. All of it is corporate. So He doesn't just say, you are a chosen brother in Christ or you are a chosen son or daughter. He's saying, no, you are a chosen race, a chosen family. You're not just a royal priest going out in the world. No, you are part of a priesthood. And you're not just a citizen in God's kingdom, but rather you are a holy nation. [00:14:27] (34 seconds)  #ChosenTogether

So what that means is it's not just praising God with our words, although that is an example. It's not just preaching the gospel, although that's an example. But it's living out His light and character in everyday life so that others can see God's character. So when somebody hurts you and you respond with mercy, man, it throws people off when they see that. And God's mercy is made known. [00:18:26] (29 seconds)  #LiveOutHisLight

And God showed us this grace and gift of eternal life to those who put their trust in Jesus. Not by striving or earning for your identity because that's what the world is saying. It's saying if you just go to if you just go to church if you just pray a certain amount of prayers if you just if you just read your Bible this much times then I'll be God's child. He's saying no it's the work has already been paid simply by faith and trusting in what Jesus has already done for you and your identity comes from Him and nothing else. [00:20:25] (36 seconds)  #SavedByGrace