WITH GOD, DARKNESS IS BEARABLE

GENESIS 1:2-5 (Par., caps mine)

And the earth was FORMLESS, WASTE and EMPTY, and DARKNESS was on the face of the deep, and the SPIRIT OF GOD WAS HOVERING OVER the face of the waters. And GOD SAID, Let there be light. AND THERE WAS light...And THERE WAS EVENING, AND THEN MORNING--the first day.

A very powerful passage of scripture about creation. We all (or almost all) have read and heard it preached. But there's a couple of things I'd like to highlight in this passage, just to encourage the weary soul.

Firstly, scripture speaks about the earth being without form, dark and a waste (and all the other words you find in different versions, which speak of disorder). Isn't this how we feel sometimes in life? I do. At times it seems like everything about me is spiralling out of control; my life is without form; all my efforts seem like going to waste; I cannot seem to find my way (darkness)... We all have been there a time or two!

But I like the very next portion of that scripture... "...AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD WAS HOVERING OVER..." .... Wow! In all that chaotic state and craze, the Lord was present. He was there the whole time. Even in that situation, God never left His creation. That is awesome. 

...EVEN WHEN THINGS DON'T ADD UP TOGETHER, GOD IS ALWAYS THERE WITH ME AND IN ME... This is really encouraging to know; that even in my worst state, God is always there. So I am never without hope. I'm never out of His sight and away from His guard.

Secondly, right in the midst of all that turmoil, God spoke a word. He said "let there be..." and there was. He made a way; He spoke light into darkness. He restored the vision that was not; He restore hope; HE MADE A WAY. What a loving Father!!!

Number three, scripture says, evening fell and then there was daybreak... This immediately tells us that OUR EVENING IS NEVER HEAR TO STAY. Yes, from time to time we will encounter an evening in our walk with the Lord; but thank God because He assures us that after the evening daybreak comes.. A NEW DAY...A NEW SEASON...A NEW CHAPTER... SOMETHING BETTER!!! Hallelujah!

So, continue trusting god and understand that you are never alone; God is able to speak a word into your life, even in the midst of your turmoil; invest time and study His word, even then; and know that your evening won't last always! EVENING ONLY ALERTS US OF A NEW DAY AHEAD!

YOU WILL MAKE IT!!!

Stay blessed,

Pastor G

ROMANS STUDY #DAY1

Romans 1:1 - 3:20

As many may have heard, in the book of Romans, we learn a lot more about our salvation than most of the other letters in the new testament. 

As a start, we need to understand why this letter was written. The answer is also in the text; in verses 10-12 Paul outlines why he longed to be in the midst of the church in Rome. His reason was TO ESTABLISH THE CHURCH IN THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
This is also why we need to learn this book. It has the fundamentals of our salvation, for our enrichment.

Now,in the first seven verses are Paul introduces himself and the One who sent him, Jesus.

The two words he uses to introduce himself are very important to understand;
BONDSLAVE: one who chooses to be a slave, out of love for their master
APOSTLE: which simply means, the sent one

He introduces Jesus as the Good News, which was prophesied in the old testament. Then, he introduces Him as the Son of God, thereby, validating the Messianic mantle of Christ, and Him as being an equal to God (because the messiah had to be one without sin; one without sin had to be God). I addition, he points out how His resurrection validated (not made; but just put a stamp for the non believer) Jesus as the Son of God.

In verses 8-17, Paul goes into detail concerning the gospel and how we, as the church, should live within the parameters of the gospel.
In v9 talks about praying for one another; this is something that shouldn't be optional amongst Christians. In the same verse, he speaks about serving God wholeheartedly, which validates his status as a BONDSLAVE not a SLAVE. He, then continues to speak about how valid and relevant the gospel (Jesus) is for all mankind (everyone and anyone). He speaks about the power of the gospel that saves all who believe, and not according to social, academic, ethnic, etc status. The gospel is for all; JESUS IS FOR ALL.

The next passage of our reading, up to Romans 3:20 highlights the problem IN THE CHURCH; the problem of people living in sin as a result of PRIDE, HARD-HEARTEDNESS, SELF-ENTITLEMENT, FOOLISHNESS, and the like.

Paul speaks about how the people in Rome knew of God but not God; how they knew the law but lived in contrary to it; how they saw themselves as righteous when they were far from it; how they did not acknowledge God as God with the way they lived, choosing to worship idols (creation) instead of God (Creator); how people thought being part of the church was enough to get them in right standing with God, though living vile lives; how people rebelled against God, willingly (v21)... I can go all day...

DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? Selah

IN SUMMARY
There is a problem in the church, which the church, her rules and regulations offer no solution to.

Stay blessed