AuthorTerry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ. See his complete bio at trbaughman.com Archives
May 2024
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Becoming One5/12/2024 Becoming One
Jesus to the World! Terry R. Baughman “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:22-23 NKJ). The last evening before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus prayed. It was not like the short sample prayer that He gave the disciples, “Our Father which art in heaven,” but the serious and intense prayer of one who knows His time is short and the betrayer is on his way to the Garden type of prayer. It was a whole chapter in the Gospel of John prayer, and it was recorded in John 17. One of the most important things He prayed for was that His followers might become one! Becoming one is a process, not a one-and-done event. Unity develops and character forms in the process of shared experience, during seasons of close association. It took three and a half years for Jesus to teach His disciples what it means to be a follower of Christ. Even then, His last evening of prayer focused on this crucial fact, they still needed prayer! Christ desire for His people to come into the unity of oneness stems from the very essence of God. He is One, and the greatest testimony of God’s presence in the world is that His followers may also be one in Him. The more we can become one with Christ, the more effectively we will represent Jesus to the world. When we become fragmented, disjointed, or self-serving in our Christianity, we no longer reflect the character of God. We fail to display the oneness of God, or the unity of the faith. Paul wrote about the gifts of ministry which were, “to prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry.” He said, “These grace ministries will function until we all attain oneness into the faith, until we all experience the fullness of what it means to know the Son of God, and finally we become one into a perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and fully developed into the abundance of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12–13 TPT). In another place, Paul said, “We, being many, are one body in Christ” (Romans 12:5 NKJ). Unity was the catalyst of a powerful response. When unity was present the power of God was manifested. On the Day of Pentecost there were about 120 gathered in an upper room. It was noted that, “They were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1 NKJ). The Holy Spirit was poured out with great witness. All were filled with the Spirit, and when they spilled out onto Solomon’s porch many more came from everywhere to see what the commotion was about. After Peter’s sermon about 3,000 more received the Spirit. Not only were the disciples in that group of those who were baptized by the Spirit, but Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other women were in the room and received the Spirit. Jesus’ mother, and every mother has the opportunity to be in unity with Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was promised to “sons and daughters” to prophesy. God’s servants, “both men and women,” were promised the same gift. The prophet said, “I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18 NIV). Not long after Pentecost believers gathered for a prayer meeting. The Scripture said, “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 4:31 NKJ). Powerful things happen when we get together for prayer, and join together in a common faith. God’s Spirit is still being poured out whenever people join together in unity. There was a unified message after Pentecost. They preached faith in Jesus, and declared His death, burial, and resurrection. The way we personally identify with the Gospel message is through repentance, baptism in the name of Jesus, and the sign of the indwelling Spirit when the born-again speak in other tongues. This become the unified message of the early church. Paul declared, “By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body … and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NKJ). Through the Spirit we become one in Christ Jesus! Theme passage: “We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, ‘Turn back to God and be reconciled to him’” (2 Corinthians 5:20 TPT).
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Becoming Weak5/5/2024 Becoming Weak
Jesus to the World! Terry R. Baughman “He answered me, 'My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.’ So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 TPT). In the Scripture we often find expressions that seem to be a paradox, an apparent contradiction that ultimately proves to be true. Statements like, “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant,” or “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11 and Luke 14:11 NKJ). Another prominent paradox is expressed by the Apostle Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJ). Weakness and strength seem to be in opposition; it is one or the other. However, the teaching of Scripture shows another view, that both can be present at the same time. The tension of polar opposites reveal a greater truth, weakness is not the absence of strength, but the source of greater power. In our utter dependence on God we can tap into the miraculous resource of supernatural strength. As we learn to rely on God for our strength, He becomes our sustainer, provider, and the strong foundation upon whom we can build our lives. In a parable of contrast Jesus taught the value of having the right foundation. One man built upon the sand, while another built upon the rock. Both construction projects may have looked pretty much the same from every appearance. However, when the windstorms and torrential rains came and battered the houses, only one survived the storm. Obviously, it was the one build upon the strong rock. Regardless of our careful construction and how much effort goes into assuring its durability, our foundation in Christ is the most critical element to remaining faithful throughout the storms of life. Faith in Jesus and dependence on Him is essential to a victorious Christ-life. The more we recognize our own inability, the more assurance we have that we can stand strong in Him. In Hebrews chapter eleven, we read a long list of people of faith throughout Scripture. Then, the chapter turns and speaks of those who suffered and died. Some seemed to be defeated by the opposition. However, the writer saw them as victorious, even in their struggles. He said, “… Although weak, their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array” (Hebrews 11:24 TPT). There is a powerful source of incredible reserves, “pulling armies from another realm,” available through faith, even at our weakest point. Paul tapped into this great truth. He wrote from his own observation, “So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power” (2 Corinthians 12:10 TPT). A contemporary worship song by Ellysa Smith and UpperRoom reminds us, “It may look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by You!” The more overwhelmed our situation appears to be, the greater the opportunity to see God’s power at work in our lives. How is it possible to celebrate weaknesses and delight in disappointment? It is only possible when we recognize Jesus is our source of strength, and His unlimited power enables even greater victories as the Lord fights the battle in our behalf. When we recognize our limitations we begin to draw strength from the One who knows no limits. When we follow Him in humility and repentance, we will find Jesus to be more than sufficient for every challenge. Perhaps our greatest strength is in our ability to become weak before Him! Theme passage: “We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, ‘Turn back to God and be reconciled to him’” (2 Corinthians 5:20 TPT). |