Charlie Alcock . “A Fresh Perspective” . December 4, 2022
Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV) I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
A Foundation of Trust: We are commanded to trust.
Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
Choosing to Trust: “Jesus may be our savior, but is He Lord of your life?”
A Foundation of Presence: God will never force His presence on you.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
A Foundation of Promise
1.) God promises everlasting life.
John 3:16 (ESV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
2.) God promises that nothing will separate you from him.
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3.) God promises to free us from sin.
John 8:36 (ESV) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
4.) God promises to strengthen you.
Ephesians 3:14-16 (ESV) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
A Foundation of Providence
Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
“All things means all things…God is never out of control.”
A Christian who believes in what is right is not the same as a Christian who is doing what is right.
You can impress someone from a distance, but you can only impact someone up close.
The key to living a Christian life is to keep saying yes to Jesus.
When you have established a foundation in Christ, the spiritual highs you experience will become the life of consistency you seek.