Teach Me To TURN!

☕️Coffee W/Jesus☕️

Based on Romans 3:6-8

Oh how deceitful our hearts are!  I can relate to the Jews in Rome who were trying to manipulate scripture to justify their sinful actions.  We swing back and forth in our devotion and faithfulness to God.  We manipulate scripture to justify gratifying our flesh.  We want permission to indulge that which we think will make us happy, but in the end brings spiritual death.  

“If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner”? Romans 3:6

Because God’s Word cannot contradict itself:

“But your iniquities (sin) have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that He will not hear you.”  Isaiah 59:2

Lord, TEACH ME TO TURN!

Teach me to turn away from my sins.

Teach me to turn away from foxes that want to sneak in to my thoughts and whisper lies that lead to death.

Teach me to turn away from any other voice but yours!

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your life, daughter.  Then you won’t do what your sinful nature craves.”—Galatians 5:16

The Purpose Of Our FEELINGS

Feelings are REAL...but that does not necessarily make them TRUE!

Feelings are INDICATORS...They alert you when you’re off and remind you to turn away from how you’re feeling, but more importantly you turn TO God!

Live By FAITH

Based On Romans 3:1-5

”To whom much is given, much is expected.” Luke 12:48

Paul addresses the advantages of being born Jewish...They were entrusted with the Holy Word of God and they had ancestors that modeled for them what it looked like to live it out.  

The gentiles were new to the game and had to play catch up...they did not have the rich history or examples to learn or pull from.  

The DISadvantage of coming from the Jewish culture is that they had been raised to value and set their hope on the law, and now they were being asked to set their hope on FAITH!  (Big Difference)

Law=Rules To Be Obeyed

Faith=Holy Spirit Belief

“Now FAITH is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance of what we do NOT see.”—Hebrews 11:1

For a Jewish person in that day they had to switch gears and go from being the teacher to being the student.  They had  to start all over again.  It was humbling.  I totally see how pride would be a logical response when asked to give up the privilege of having all the answers and to instead being mixed in with the newcomers.  

APPLICATION #1:  Now that you have the privilege and gift to live your life by FAITH are you walking in it?  What big things are you praying about CONFIDENTLY?  What are you hoping for, but cannot see right now?  Are you walking by FAITH or are you walking by what your human mind can conceive.

APPLICATION #2:  Do I have heart that is teachable.  Do I listen and learn from those that God brings into my life...or do I need to share my perspective and opinions.  Teach me to lay down ME and pick up YOU!

Are YOU A True Jew?

Believer...Are you a True Jew?

“A TRUE JEW is one whose heart is right with God, and true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; RATHER, it is a change of heart produced by the Holy Spirit and a person with a changed heart seeks praise FROM God, and not from people.”  Romans 2:29

As Paul is pointing out why gentiles are now entitled to share in the blessing that the Jewish people had claimed as their own He says...

🙌It’s not knowing the law!

🙌It’s not obeying the law!

🙌It’s not the knowledge of God!

NO!  A TRUE JEW is one with a heart that is right with God.  

❤️It is motivated by LOVE for the Father and not by RULES.  

❤️It doesn’t focus on privilege of heritage

❤️It doesn’t focus on knowledge of scripture.

❤️It doesn’t focus on keeping track of the rules.  

INSTEAD, a True Jew recognizes what Jesus Christ did for them on that cross and they gratefully receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and lean on HIS understanding, HIS grace, HIS moving, and HIS direction.  

TRUE JEWS are transformed in their thinking by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.  

The old Jew is caught up in the cycle of death that the law brings—because no man or woman could ever fulfill it in it’s entirety except Christ.   

The reason Christ showed such contempt for the Pharisees (Old Jew) is because they pretty much said...we reject that you have anything to offer us.  

The Old Jews—Pharisees said...

💔We know the rules 

💔We’ve appointed ourselves to oversee them.  (Even though they themselves could not obey them)

“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of HIS MERCY.  He saved us through the washing and REBIRTH and RENEWAL by the Holy Spirit.” —Titus 3:5

All whose hearts are right with God are TRUE JEWS-That is, part of GOD’S family...

“The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.” — Galatians 3:7

Lord, I am so thankful that you have adopted me.  I have the privilege of being your very own.  I was not born with this privilege, but because of your great mercy you have extended it to me and I RECEIVE it, RELISH it, and RESPOND with a heart of gratitude.

Are You Works Based Or Do You Bear Fruit

☕️Coffee With Jesus☕️

Based on Romans 2:12-16

“For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God.  It is OBEYING the law that makes us right in His sight.” —Romans 2:13

As I dig into the rich history of Romans and look at the church in Rome I see an interesting movement and shifting taking place.  

Paul speaks to it in noting how the Jewish Christians have everything they need (from the known and physical side of things) to walk closely with the Lord.  They had scripture, tradition, culture, and community...but they were totally MISSING the gift God had given them because instead of it making them closer to God it made the puffed up, arrogant, judgemental. They became hearers of the Word.  They KNEW their Torah, but they were not acting as a people who knew their God.  

On the other hand...here come these gentiles.  They lacked the rich culture, community, and knowledge of scripture and yet they were filled with a hunger to KNOW GOD personally.  

I go back to what God showed me yesterday...Fruit or Works?  

💔WORKS:  Many of the Jews were very works based. (Works is motivated by human effort)  They knew the law, but they didn’t really know their Lord.  

💝FRUIT:  The Gentiles were displays of His glory as their fruit pointed others back to God.  They had nothing to do with fruit blooming...it came out of their relationship with God. 

This morning the Lord is reminding me again and again...quiet times are not about gaining knowledge, but getting to know the ONE WHO IS KNOWLEDGE and wisdom all wrapped up in ONE!

“And this is the message I proclaim.  The day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s SECRET thoughts.” — Romans 2:16

💔WORKS will store up sin in my secret life.  

💔WORKS causes me to perform.  

💔WORKS makes me want to follow rules and check boxes.

💔WORKS leads to DEATH!

💝FRUIT will store up blessing in my secret life.

💝FRUIT causes me to rest, while GOD performs His work through my life

💝FRUIT makes me want to follow the Holy Spirit.

💝FRUIT leads to LIFE!

Lord, I want to know you and not just know about you❤️

God Wants to TRANSFORM your works into FRUIT!

☕️COFFEE WITH JESUS☕️

Based on Romans 2:8-11

That church in Rome sure does remind me of us modern day believers.  I am not saved by works, but I am known by my fruit and the evidence of it in my life.

WORKS IS WHAT “I” DO AND FRUIT IS WHAT “HE” DOES. 

Works happens when I try to obey the rules, but my heart is not really there.  

Fruit is what happens when I sit and soak and let God take over.  

My thinking is revealed by how I consistently live my life...in the spot light and in private.  They should go hand in hand.

Paul’s audience is the christian Church in Rome.  It was predominately made up of gentiles, though there were some Jews.  

He is saying...You who claim to be born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible.  listen Up!  Incorruptible seed cannot be self-seeking, cannot proclaim the truth written in scripture and yet not live it out in your daily life.

Their fruit was causing him to come in and to challenge them, to remind them, to shake them up...and what Paul says to them in this passage is what God says to me this morning.  

Daughter, are you seeking my attention or the attention of man?  Are you promoting ME or are you promoting YOU?  Come to me...let Me fill you up, change your thinking, set your purpose ON ME...surrender yourself TO ME.  Let go of your own plans and ideas and be still in presence and in my Word.

KEEPING ON, DOING GOOD, SEEKING AFTER!

Based on reading Romans 2:5-7:

When we are stubborn, unrepentant, and refuse to turn from our sin, scripture says we store-up WRATH.  

The problem with storing up wrath is that it is often a slow steady drifting away from truth.  It’s through the little daily things I choose NOT to walk in obedience to—things that don’t seem like they’re a big deal.  

As I become desensitized to the little things...the bigger things become less big in my eyes...until I am so dominated with my sinful actions and turned away from truth that my life shows the fruit of being transformed by this world instead of the one to come.  

This actually happened to me early on in my walk.  I fell completely away from that first love.  I was chasing happiness which is temporary, instead of JOY which is Eternal.  My rebellion felt good for a moment, but then morning would come and the happiness had turned into sadness or disillusionment.  

Satan comes to fascinate and then he assassinates.

There’s a better way...

“He will give Eternal Life to those WHO KEEP ON doing good, SEEKING AFTER the Glory and honor and immortality that God offers” Romans 2:7

Friend!  Are you like I was?  Are you chasing after happiness and finding that it doesn’t last?  Are you hoping that finding the right friend, spouse, diet, workout routine, job will make your life complete?  IT NEVER WILL!  

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.  BUT THEY DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, MEDITATING ON IT DAY AND NIGHT.  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”  Psalm 1:1-2

TODAY I must Keep on doing good, seeking after God with all my heart, looking for HIS glory, HIS honor, and HIS immortality.

What Type Of Fruit Am I Bearing?

☕️Coffee with Jesus☕️

Based on Romans 2:1-4

The problem with the Roman Jews is that they wanted to deflect from their own sin and to point at the sins of others.  They looked at the outward behavior and made judgements about the inward heart of their brother or sister.  They did this based on their own finite knowledge which can never measure up against God’s INFINITE all-knowing wisdom.  And one big take-away here is that man could never have the grace and mercy of God who sees beyond today.  

These judging Jews did not want to wait on God.  They wanted to take action right away, but here is what God’s Word says...

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand slowness.  Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9

With that said, we are going to see that as Christians we do have the responsibility of gently judging the believers around us.  The goal is to get them back to God...but be careful that you yourself do not fall. 

Jon Courson says that we judge the fruit which is what helps to identify true believers, not to judge the heart. (Identification versus Condemnation)

IDENTIFYING THE FRUIT in those around us that publicly claim to be born again believers...

“But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is Love, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (I’m not sure the judging Jews were producing the kind of fruit that keeps in line with Galatians)

So, if I want to be known that I’m FOR GOD by my fruit, what do I need to do?

“Whoever abides in me and I in Him will bear much fruit—for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

I must ABIDE IN HIM!

ELOHIM VERSES YAHWEH...

☕️COFFEE W/JESUS☕️

Based on Romans 1:21-23

The Roman Christ Followers fell away!  They became caught up in their culture of excess and wanting to indulge the flesh.  Man-made idols enticed their hearts and minds because they tried to intellectualize and create a God that fit their image.  They knew Elohim...Creator God, but they did not know Yahweh the personal God.  

This morning I lift up my heart to YOU my God...Yahweh, Jehovah!  Lord, mold me into your image...sanctify those parts of my flesh that want to indulge and hang out with my sinful nature.  Help me to catch foxes (SOS 2:15) and remind me that I have no obligation to my old ways. (Romans 8:12)  Help me to identify those sinful areas in my heart that I keep tending too and instead would you pull them up by their root and plant NEW SEED that hungers after obedience and Holiness.  

You are Glorious, Exalted, Resplendent, Majestic and lifted up!  Your ways our higher than mine...your thoughts are higher than mine...your love endures forever!  Thank you for making me yours!

ROMANS WRAP-UP—WEEK ONE

WEEK ONE MEMORY VERSE:

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, BUT THOSE WHO ARE CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT “THINK” ABOUT THINGS THAT PLEASE THE SPIRIT” — Romans 8:5

DAY ONE

Romans 1:1-7

Daughter, you are a slave...a bondservant of Jesus Christ!  You were CHOSEN and PAID for at a very high price.  

DAY TWO

Romans 1:8-15

Mary, who you associate with shapes what you believe. Choose carefully who you allow to shape and influence your life and make sure that you never get caught up in giving advice...POINT THEM BACK TO ME!

DAY THREE

Romans 1:16-17

Mary, never be ashamed of the Gospel!  This GOOD NEWS is valid and sound and it is all about the POWER OF GOD—completely independent of anything you could ever do. (John 15:5)

DAY FOUR

Romans 1:18-20

 Mary, God will never support your sin, instead He wants to restore you. 

DAY FIVE

Romans 1:23-24

 Mary, turn away from your human inclination and futile man-made knowledge...instead turn to the LIVING GOD...HE IS GLORIOUS, MAJESTIC, EXALTED, AND LIFTED UP ON HIGH!

DAY SIX

Romans 1:24-27

Mary Arnold, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature is urging you to do!  if you follow it...YOU WILL PERISH!  BUT, through the power of the Holy Spirit you can turn away from it!  CHOOSE HIM, not them. (foxes...thoughts, people, situations that lead me away from holiness)

DAY SEVEN

Romans 1:28-32

Precious Sister Who Has walked this walk!

So Mary, do not allow yourself to be dominated by your sinful nature...catch foxes (thoughts) that are trying to sneak in and steal your holy focus.  You are born again and have no obligation to them!  You are not working for a victory...you are working FROM the victory.  Instead, turn to the living God and let your thoughts be controlled by the Holy Spirit, This brings LIFE!

FCC FREEDOM WORKSHOP FINALE’

WOW...What a Finale’

It was such a JOY to close out our final evening with a BANG!  Food, Fun, Fellowship...HOLY SPIRIT❤️

Thank you to all the ladies who cooked, prepared, ran to the store and bought 😉, participated!

Thank you for all your hard work!

I love the FELLOWSHIP that God gives us as we rest in Him.

I’m thankful for these highschool/college students who serve selflessly and who love lavishly!

Thank you to the whole worship team for giving, serving, and spending time modeling what it means to rest and trust in the Lord. 

I think THIS is my favorite activity out of the WHOLE series.  I love when we re-write scripture in the OPPOSITE meaning and then compare it with the truth of God’s Word.  To my right was the sinful nature and to my left was the Holy Spirit led group.  Who are we serving?

It was a JOY this past six weeks to hear God’s Word being personalized, spoken, and prayed.

Beautiful ladies😊

Quick Ladies!  Catch those foxes that want to eat the fruit of your love and your life!

May the JOY of the Lord be your strength!

You have NO obligation what so ever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do!

Seek the Kingdom of God FIRST!

You cannot serve two masters...Choose GOD!

Once you were dead and now you are ALIVE!