It is an exciting time to be a Christian! We are living in a world that has not shown more separation from God's will than in MANY years before today. Why is that exciting? The glory of God is manifest so much more obviously in times like this. victories, though harder won in some cases, are larger and more visible to the lost and dying world around us! You have been given abilities and gifts from God. There are people you can reach and things that you can do that NO ONE ELSE can! When you make a decision to turn to God you are not only declaring a victory for the Lord, you are declaring war in your life for the souls that surround you. None of us are perfect but we are all striving for perfection!
At the church in Menlo we come from a 100+ year history of people doing what they knew God wanted to do in their lives. Now, as the third decade of the 21st century gets underway we are striving more than ever to reach for a depth of relationship with God, Jesus and the Spirit that we have yet to achieve! If you want to join us on this amazing adventure of the soul come worship with us!
When Jesus sat down to institute the Lord's Supper he was remembering the ones who had come before and he was beginning something new from the embers of a fire he was just lighting.
2 Timothy 1:3-14 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
There is an ember now glowing in you, one that was in those who came before you, it is a glowing point of faith. Fan it into a flame! Let it consume you and those around you let it catch fire and burn through this world!
Hold fast to what you know and have been taught in the Lord. Jesus came from Heaven to earth to show the way! He did that and the Bread that we partake of is the memorial of that! Remember those who came before.
Jesus knew that the end of his mission on earth was coming and that it was going to be full of pain and heartache. One of his closest friends and followers was going to betray him. He would be beaten, betrayed again and again and tortured and killed in the most gruesome way possible. Why!? To begin that ember burning in you! Faith in the life, death, burial, resurrection and rule of Jesus!
Remember and celebrate those who came before you, those who got that ember of faith burning in you and then FAN THE FLAME OF THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS IN YOU!