Free From Evil

We are studying through the letter of 1 John, looking at the theme of ENGAGING fully with God and others. This past weekend we studied one of my favorite verses – 1 John 3:8 “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” What an encouragement to be reminded of the greatness of His power to free us, no matter what the situation.

One person shared “You know, whenever I open a closet door, the darkness doesn’t pour out into the room. The light from the room fills the closet.”

In 1969 Malcolm Muggeridge, a British journalist and the editor of Punch, a satirical magazine, went to Calcutta to make a documentary movie about Mother Teresa for the BBC. She was serving in what appeared to be a very dark place, a hospice for those who were dying. She didn't want to do it, but church leaders finally persuaded her. When she finally agreed, she said, "Let us do something beautiful for God."

When they began filming, a strange thing happened. Even though there was not enough light in the hospice for filming, the finished film was bathed in a particularly beautiful soft light. Muggeridge figured it was the power of love he sensed there. Later, he wrote a book about Mother Teresa and used that phrase, something beautiful for God, as the title. He eventually became a follower of Jesus as a result of that relationship.

The Son of God working through Mother Teresa, opening the closet door where suffering was crammed in and bringing the light. We could all relate to her because of her humility -- she was an ordinary person, just showing extraordinary love.

Let the Son of God bring His light, His mercy and His power into your life. He can and will free you. And let Him use you to bring the light of His love right where you live!

Training to "walk as Jesus did"

Jeff had been exploring relationship with Jesus for several months, and now the words of Jesus were hitting him right where he lived. "I've always been judgmental. Hardly a moment goes by when I'm not judging someone else..." Another guy asked "Why do you do that?" "Well" he said, "it's just a bad habit I've never been able to break. But something has been changing. Now at least 20 times a day I'm aware when it happens, I pray, ask Jesus to forgive me and to help me. I'm still struggling but it is getting better. I really am starting to see people differently..."

1 John 2:6 says "Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived." Message Version

Wow, what a great verse! This probably gives us the most insight into Jesus' last words before He went to heaven "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

To be His follower we are immersed (baptized) into His life - equipped to be an authentic follower of Jesus.

To be judgmental (or whatever the issue) is something we turn from, give to Jesus, we keep giving to Jesus, while we keep getting immersed in the kind of life Jesus lived (which is where transformation happens).

Jesus was always "getting His team onto God's agenda" (and revealing their own). BTW, that's a great definition of leadership (coined by Henry Blackaby).

So if we are going to effectively BE a training center, that means we learn to walk as Jesus walked by hanging out with Him and getting immersed in His life. That means getting onto His agenda and letting go of our own.

Jesus isn't looking for perfect people, and He isn't obsessing over imperfections. He is calling us into this kind of life where we are set free from sin and it's effects, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.

I can't imagine anything more amazing or worth giving your life for!