Live Strong

18 Jun Live Strong

Welcome to Tuesday…ok…Tuesday afternoon, and what a gorgeous one it has been!

I love the cold nights that move us into chilly & sunny afternoons. Australia…or at least Wagga…has a great winter! (Remember…I’ve shovelled snow and dealt with ice storms…I love winter here!)

Anyway…as I look at the calendar there’s not a ton of news to share so let’s do that & then look at something that hit me while I was reading Ephesians this week…

1. Zoom Bible Study Catch-up (we’ll look at Jeremiah 38:1-13 from Sunday)

Friday 21st June 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting  —  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83006349720  — Meeting ID: 830 0634 9720 — If you haven’t joined in before…this is a great week to do so.

2. This Sunday we’re noting the 11^th Anniversary of Living Water’s formal planting as a networked Lutheran church. Remember we’re part of both the CrossLink Christian Network here in Australia & Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ whose international headquarters are in the US. We’ll be taking some time to explore Nicodemus in worship as part of our Living Courageously I’m going to ask you 3 questions…What do you think are the big obstacles to people coming to faith in Jesus?… How do you try to overcome the “obstacles” people have between themselves & Jesus?… What is one question you wish Jesus could answer right now in your life?  This would be a great week to invite a friend or family member who doesn’t usually find themselves in worship…would be great to get their responses to those questions!
3. Living Water Night out for Dinner – Tuesday, 25^th June, 6:00 p.m. @ The Union Hotel. We need to “sign up” with some personal details because the Union is still practicing some of the old COVID contact tracing protocols…nothing onerous just an exercise in caution for them. But do sign up! The more the merrier…and yes, bring a friend!
4. Equip Women 2024 – Hope for the Weary: Revelation 1-5 is on this Saturday the 22^nd @ Wagga Baptist Church. You’re free to sign up at the door for the $20 registration fee. Might want to ring them for details & tell them you’re coming if you haven’t yet signed up.

I think that’s about it for things to remember…unless of course I forgot something…BUT…Ephesians.

I was reading the last bit of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus this week…got to a familiar part of Ephesians 6…verses 10-11: “Finally: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so you will be able to stand firm against all the devil’s schemes.”  What follows is the listing of each piece of that armour and what it accomplishes in our lives when it is worn & fully utilized.

That was when it hit me…Strength is a chosen set of behaviours based on what God in Christ has already provided for us. Strength is a choice that is already yours to live now.

I shared that with the men I share that sort of thing with & then I shared it with my daughters & talked about it some with Leonie. I’m not sure I’ve thought about “strength” that way before; as a gift I already possess because of what Christ has done for me. I don’t have to work myself into a position of strength. I don’t have to wait for some extra dose of the Holy Spirit before I am strong. You & I “in Christ” already have at our disposal, truth, righteousness, the peace of the gospel, faith, salvation, God’s word, and prayer. None of those are denied us or are waiting until some perfect moment to be delivered to us. In Christ we are clothed by him in his strength & strengthening gifts. Strength is a chosen set of behaviours based on what God in Christ has already provided for us. Strength is a choice that is already yours to live now.

The opposite is also true…I can live weakly. I can abandon the “wearing” of any of those gifts…leave them wrapped up out of sight & out of mind & out of daily use and choose weakness. I can choose to live as if I possess nothing when the Ephesians (and we) have already been assured they possess, “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” (Eph 1:3) I can live as a victim of circumstance or situation, people or conditions…or I can live my life as “more than a conquerors through Christ who loved us.” (Rom 8:37) I know which I prefer, how about you?

So…this week…live strong. Not because you are something big & mighty, but because Christ has defeated sin, death & evil & granted you a share not only in that victory but especially in his standing in relationship with the Father. Live strong because Christ lives in you by his Spirit & gives you all you need to stand firm against the devil’s evil schemes & against every challenge you face.

See you Sunday where we celebrate 11 years of Christ’s strength poured out through Living Water. Did I mention that’s a great day to bring a friend?

John