SUNNY THOUGHTS FROM SUNSET by Rev. Vance Drum 6-8

We were blessed to witness the baptism of Cody Bledsoe at Sunset on Sunday.  May Cody be blessed with long life in Jesus.

Nathan Rodriguez of Felders Chapel sang two beautiful songs for us on Sunday.  Thank you Nathan, and God bless you.

 Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, and the Sunset pastor brought a message, “Powerful Pentecost,” in our “Raised with Christ” series.  The text was from Colossians 1:28-29:  “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

Luke had written about Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would come, in Acts 1:8:  “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses….”

The word went forth, people began to be delivered from the power of the evil one into God’s loving kingdom on the day of Pentecost.  God’s work has never, and will never, stop until Jesus returns at the end of the age in power and great glory.

The pastor made three points:  (1) Proclaiming Christ; (2) Perfect in Christ; (3) Powerfully Working Christ.

(1) Proclaiming Christ.  Paul had just written about “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” then, V28:  “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom….”  The message of the early Christians was not that of a religion but a relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

They proclaimed Christ.  He is the one who is our hope. He is the one who opens the way to blessing in this life, and heaven’s gates in the next.  The apostle said we “admonish and teach everyone with all wisdom.”

The way of Christ is not the way of the world’s wisdom. Christ leads us in God’s wisdom, which is opposed to the world’s wisdom, since God said, “My thoughts are higher than your thoughts, and my ways than your ways.”

I once talked with a man who was sitting in his house.  His house was a 6×9 prison cell, and all his earthly goods were around him, and they could all fit in a red mesh tow sack.  He said, “I followed the way of the underworld for 40 years, and all the wisdom of this world has got me only what you see right here.  I’m ready to try something new.”  He became a Christian, and God began to bless him.

Admonish means encourage and urge to continue our Christian walk, and not quit.  Teaching means we learn of God’s ways as the Holy Spirit teaches us — through his word and God’s teachers.  We sit at Jesus’ feet and learn of him.  It is a blessing.

(2) Perfect in Christ.  V28:  “So that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”  In our earthly walk — our experience — we are less than perfect.  We “aim for perfection” (2 Corinthians 13:11), but sometimes we make mistakes, even as Christians.

But God is merciful, and (Romans 8:1), “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” whose aim is to serve God.  We are presented perfect in Christ because we are forgiven when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, by faith in what he did for us.  Praise the Lord.

(3) Powerfully Working Christ.  V29:  “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”  Today Jesus is powerfully working in his people.  Note:  “His energy, which so powerfully works in me.” We do not work in our own strength. We work in the supernatural strength of God the Holy Spirit.

 Isaiah 40:31:  “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will mount up on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

Sometimes we face trials, tribulations and temptations. God the Holy Spirit powerfully works in us to navigate uncertain waters, and gives divine aid to overcome. God’s people are blessed with vision and power.

“The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.  He has remembered his love and his faithfulness….”

May the salvation of the Lord be with you and in your house today — our prayer for you from your friends at Sunset Christian Church.