Point of Grace Online Worship - February 16, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 2.16.25 Sermon Notes – “Show Up to Armor Up – And Pray Against Evil…”

Ephesians 6 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. As Beloved Sons/Daughters we have been given an unbelievable seat from which we pray!

Ephesians 2

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  

Some Words that Matter as we Pray with Authority “in Jesus name”.

- proclaiming and declaring what is true over ourselves and others

- I confess (sin, weakness, reality)

- I receive (forgiveness, truth, grace)

- I renounce … (sin, evil’s lies, demonic claims and strongholds, agreements with untruth)  

Matthew 6:9-13

This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name …

Your kingdom come…

Your will be done…

 … on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  

More Words that Matter as we Pray with Authority “in Jesus name”.

I now bring the Kingdom of God,

the authority rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ,

the fullness of the work of Christ, His Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension

against satan and against his kingdom

against every force, presence of evil coming against me, my family, my kingdom and domain today

I bind, banish and cut them off from me and mine in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen

www.wildatheart.org/prayer

“Moving Mountains – Praying with Passion, Confidence and Authority” by John Eldridge

A Bedtime Prayer (Enforcing the Kingdom of God Against Evil)

My dear Lord Jesus, I come to you now to be restored in you, to be renewed in you, to take refuge in you. I honor you as my sovereign Lord, and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you. I give you my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover myself with your blood, and I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and lead this time of prayer.

I proclaim the kingdom of God and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ over my home and all things in it. [If you live in an apartment, use “apartment.” If you have only a room under your authority in someone else’s home, use “my room.” If you share a room, use “my bunk” or “my side of the room.”] I consecrate and sanctify my home and everything in it to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the Kingdom of God. I bring the cross, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home tonight—through every object and furnishing, bed and bedding, all media and icons, all books and magazines, movies and music, toys and games, through the atmosphere in every room, throughout the ceilings, walls, floors, and all places in them, from the land beneath to the roof above and all around this home tonight.

I take my place in the cross, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. I now bring the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ against Satan and his kingdom. I bring the cross, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ against every foul and unclean spirit—every ruler, power, authority, and spiritual force of wickedness [you might need to get specific: “Including all spirits of fear, death, torment, accusation,” etc. You know what’s been attacking you. It has more power if you name them specifically.] I command every foul and unclean spirit bound and banished from my home and from my household, with every backup and replacement, every weapon and device, in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.

I now bring the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ—his cross, resurrection, and ascension—against every foul power, witchcraft, and black art. I cut them off in the name of the Lord. No weapon forged against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). I bring the cross and blood of Jesus Christ against every form of hex, vex, and incantation; against every spell,

ritual, vow, dedication, and sacrifice; against every word, judgment, and curse. I command them broken and bound from my home this night in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I now bring the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fullness of the work of Christ between me and all people—their spirit, soul, and body, their sin, warfare, and corruption. [It may help to name those people now—extended family, folks you have been ministering to, anyone you know is judging you.] I send every human spirit bound back to their body; I command all of their sin, warfare, and corruption bound back to the work of Christ in their life, and I forbid it to transfer to me.

I summon the angels of the Lord Jesus Christ and instruct them to build a shield of protection around me and my home (Hebrews 1:14). I ask your Holy Spirit to fill my home with your presence, with the peace of God and the love of Christ. I ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me this night. I now call forth and command the Kingdom of God and the authority, rule, and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home and throughout my household, all through the hours of this night and through the new day, in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his name.

Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 9, 2025

Point of Grace Worship        2.09.25     Sermon Notes – “Show Up to Armor Up”     

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 

As Beloved Sons/Daughters we have been given an unbelievable seat from which we pray!

Ephesians 2
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  

Some Words that Matter as we Pray with Authority

In the name of Jesus …

… proclaiming and declaring what is true over ourselves and others

… I confess (sin, weakness, reality)

… I receive (forgiveness, truth, grace)

… I renounce … (sin, evil’s lies, demonic claims and strongholds, agreements with untruth) 

Let’s Pray … 

A Prayer for Putting on the Armor of God

My dear Lord Jesus Christ,
I come to You now to be restored in You, to be renewed In You.  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to You – You alone are worthy to receive all glory, honor, thanks and praise.  Today, I renew my allegiance to You as my Savior, Friend, Lord and King and take my place alongside You as a Beloved Son/Daughter of our Heavenly Father.
I love you and thank You for saving me and for the forgiveness of sins through the victory of the cross and resurrection.  Thank You, that You triumphed over all principalities and powers and I stand in that victory today believing that no weapon formed against me can prosper. (Note: Here, you might also want to declare this over your family /friends /church – name them before the Lord)

In the Mighty Name of Jesus, I put on the full armor of God today.

I buckle on the belt of truth.  I believe You are the Truth, Jesus.  I renounce the devil as a liar and surrender to You as Truth and your word as the truth.  I confess I am vulnerable to believing lies from the devil, myself and the world around me. I repent and ask You to purge my mind and heart of all untruths.  You are truth and I am in You. 

I put on the breastplate of righteousness. I am a new creation, and I have received the righteousness of Christ. I renounce all my attempts to prove my self-worth, validate the value of my existence and author my own version of rightness.   Jesus, I receive afresh your righteous sacrifice for me as an unmerited gift – a covering of value, worth and righteousness found only in You which protects my vulnerable heart as a breastplate.  Therefore, no claim can be made against me this day.   

I put on the shoes of the gospel of peace. By faith I stand, firm-footed, in Your ‘Calvary-love’ that forgives my sins and grants me perfect peace with God. I walk forward today in confidence ready to join You, Jesus, in Your Mission to share this good news with others. 

I put on the Helmet of Salvation.  Renew my mind afresh. I confess my thinking can be deceived.  I renounce the mental influences of my own sinfulness, the enemy’s deceptions and the world’s perspectives and declare my mind set apart for You, Holy Spirit to govern. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and a sound mind.  I entrust my mind to You.  

I lift up the shield of faith to resist the fiery darts of the enemy. My faith is in You and You alone—I trust in Your Pardon, Your Promises, Your Power, Your Presence! Help me to stay close, locking shields with my fellow soldiers in Your family of faith. Anoint me with Your Holy Spirit. Soak my heart, my mind and my life in the living water of Your faith-building Word. I turn from every fear, anxiety and doubt as I lift up the Shield of Faith to declare, “I trust You Jesus… help me trust You more.” 

I take up the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. Jesus, You said “the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” Holy Spirit, bring to my memory and to my mouth specific Scriptures, and help me to wield Your powerful Word skillfully against every scheme and attack of the enemy. When it comes to Your Word, I will soak it in, store it up, speak it forth, pray it over, and sing it out—trusting in Your promise that “the words I have spoken to you are Spirit and Life.” 

In the victory of Jesus I advance today knowing that the weapons of my warfare are not human, but mighty in God to pull down strongholds, to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought captive making it obedient to Christ.
In Jesus name, I break the strongholds of Satan formed against me today, and choose to make Godly decisions this day, by the grace of God.  I rejoice in You today, Jesus; may Your joy be my strength as Your grace and mercy follow my life.     

Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - February 2, 2025

Sunday, February 2, 2024

“The Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit”

Rev. Mike Coppersmith

A True Story…

Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with great fury, because He knows that his time is short.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

SHOW UP AND ARMOR UP!

Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth bucked around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

DECEIVE— Belt of His Truth

DISCOURAGE—Breastplate of His Righteousness

DISTRESS—Shoes of His Peace

DISTRACT—Helmet of His Salvation

DOUBT—Shield of His Faith

DIVERT—Sword of His Spirit

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

THE SHIELD OF FAITH

1 John 5:4 This is the victory that overcomes the world: our faith.

What is Faith?

A SPIRIT-GIVEN TRUST IN, AND DEPENDENCE UPON—NOT ONE’S SELF—BUT JESUS CHRIST AND HIS PARDON, PROMISES, PRESENCE AND POWER.

Matthew 9:29 It will be done for you according to your faith.

Three Things to Take Care of Your Shield:

STAY CLOSE

ANOINT

SOAK

Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 6:17 Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

James 4:7 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

“rhema”

A Particular, Specific Portion of God’s Written Word that is Spoken Out

Matthew 4:4,7,10 It is written…

Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword…

When it comes to the Word of God:

SOAK IT IN

STORE IT UP

SPEAK IT FORTH

PRAY IT OVER

SING IT OUT

Ephesians 6:16-17 (TPT) In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the evil one! And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken word of God.

Lord Jesus, By the power of the Holy Spirit, I now align myself with You, answering Your battle call to put on the whole armor of God. Cover and clothe me with Your very Presence. Thank You that You make it possible for me to be strong in You and Your mighty power and to stand against all the evil one would throw at me this day.

You say in Your Word, “Do not be afraid…I am your Shield and your very great Reward.” In Jesus’ Name, I take up the Shield of Faith. My faith is in You and You alone— I trust in Your pardon. I trust in Your promises. I trust in Your Power. I trust in Your Presence!

Help me to stay close to fellow soldiers in Your family of faith.

Anoint me with Your Holy Spirit. Soak my heart, my mind and my life in the living water of Your faith-building Word. I turn from every fear, anxiety and doubt as I lift up the Shield of Faith against every flaming arrow directed at me, my family, my church, my labors, and my possessions. I bind every fearful thought in the name of Jesus, and choose to “walk by faith and not by sight.”

To that end, I take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Jesus, You have said to me “the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” Holy Spirit, bring to my memory and to my mouth specific Scriptures, and help me to wield Your powerful Word skillfully against every scheme and attack of the enemy. When it comes to Your Word, I will soak it in, store it up, speak it forth, pray it over, and sing it out— trusting in Your promise that “the words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life.”

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for equipping me with everything I need to win my battles this day! I praise You that I am protected by You—the Armor of God.

I now claim Your promise to me that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper.”

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray,

Amen!

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 26, 2025

Point of Grace Worship        1.26.25     Sermon Notes – “Show Up to Armor Up”           

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, 
    against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

13 
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
    and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then,
           with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 
           with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 
15 and
           with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
 16 
     
In addition to all this,
           take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 
      
     Take the helmet of salvation and
           the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

We are in a real battle with a real enemy that is real.
            Jesus is the only One that wins against this enemy.
            I am clothed with Christ through faith and get to share in His win.
           As I “show up” to be with Jesus (prayer, word and worship) I “armor up” for the days battle.           

 14 Stand firm then,
           …  with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 
           …  take the helmet of salvation

It is so important to Jesus for us to have “Peace”. 

The truth is “peace” with God through Jesus “unburdens” our life and our living.

Philippians 4
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Soaking in the gospel of “peace” gives us solid footing and agility in battle.

The “burdened” life makes us sluggish, unresponsive and apathetic, lacking zeal and fervor for true life in Jesus.   
Satan tempts us to believe the good news of “peace” is not for us … so that we will lose our footing in the everyday battles.

Isaiah 26:3
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” 

“...take up the helmet of salvation.”

It is “humbling” to believe that our thinking needs … saving, … protecting … rescue!

Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 8:6
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 

Soaking in Jesus as my salvation, rescue and deliverance will, over time, renew my mind about everything.

Jesus, I renounce the devil as the Father of lies and surrender to You as my Truth. 
I confess I am vulnerable to believe lies about You, about me and about how life really works.
I repent of all untruths I have treated as truth and ask You to reveal the lies I have believed that I might renounce them and turn to You as Truth.  I now buckle on You and your Word as my Belt of Truth.

Jesus, You were perfectly righteous on my behalf and I receive your righteousness as my own. 
I turn now from all my attempts to prove my self-worth, validate the value of my existence and author my own version of righteousness. Instead, I now receive your righteous sacrifice for me as an unmerited gift.
A covering of value, worth and righteousness found only in You which protects my vulnerable heart. 
Jesus, I surrender to You and your Righteousness as a Breastplate of worth, value, identity and validation.

Jesus, You are my peace.  I confess that you gave your life for me so that I have peace with You.
You are so gracious to me …  I rest in Your Peace… we are one!
I am not alone to face any challenge or to carry any burden. 
I give everyone and everything to You!  I receive You as my peace. 
I now unburden my soul saying “I give everyone and everything to you!  I receive You as my peace.”
I now fit my feet with the readiness, agility and zeal that comes from the Gospel of Peace.

Jesus, I confess that my thinking is not perfect.  My thinking needs saving.  I surrender my mind to you and You alone.  Holy Spirit, govern my mind that I might have life and peace.  Protect my thinking from the influences of my own sinfulness, the enemy’s deceptions and the world’s perspectives. 
Holy Spirit, search me and know me and renew my mind conforming it to the mind of Christ.
I take up the helmet of salvation and place salvation over my mind as covering and protection.

Jesus, I take my stand today in You and You alone.  Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 19, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 1.19.25 Sermon Notes – “Showing Up to Armor Up”

The Temptation of Jesus – Luke 4:1-13

… The real battle with a real enemy is real

… Jesus is the only One that wins

… If I can live connected to Jesus, I can win too!

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The battle is real! The enemy is real!

1 Peter 5 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith,

The enemy is an unholy trinity – the devil and his accomplices!

The Devil – the enemy above -Satan – the lying deceiver- accuser – a conscienceless enemy of God and His children

The World – the enemy around - collective humanities values, initiatives, institutions and culture formulated without God in the center– a godless endeavor

The Sinful Self – the enemy within – every person is born estranged from God – our natural default is to trust “self” over God for life

The enemy is so effective because he has “power” but only “illegitimate authority”.

We don’t have enough power or authority on our own to fight him. We win when we come clothed in Christ who has “legit” power and authority. That is why we must “Show up to Armor up every day!”

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

In my baptism, God gives me real and effective armor …to wear daily!

Putting on the armor of God is like a parent helping a child get dressed.

The question is … will I be present with Him every day for Him to dress me?

Will I show up to armor up?  

Prayer in His Presence is like the “dressing room” for “armoring up”!

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,

Jesus is the Truth who speaks truth. We need to be belted with truth and the Truth!

“I am the Way the Truth and the Life” John 14

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,

2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God

The end of striving …. True life is not performing to be approved it is the overflowing result of being given approval.

Jesus, I renounce the devil as the Father of lies and surrender to You as my Truth.

I confess I am vulnerable to believe lies about You, about me and about the rights and wrongs of life.

I repent of all untruths I have treated as truth and ask You to reveal the lies I have believed that I might repent and turn to You as Truth. I now buckle on You and your Word as my Belt of Truth.

Jesus, You were perfectly righteous on my behalf and I receive your righteousness as my own.

I turn now from all my attempts to prove my self-worth, validate the value of my existence and author my own version of righteousness.

Instead, I now receive your righteous sacrifice for me as an unmerited gift – a covering of value, worth and righteousness found only in You which protects my vulnerable heart as a breastplate.

Jesus, I surrender to You and your Righteousness as a Breastplate of worth, value, identity, and validation.

Jesus, I take my stand today in You and You alone. Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 12, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 1.12.25 – Sermon Notes – The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

It is helpful to remember the context, “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

What is being communicated to us and Jesus?

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said,

“This is my Son, (identity)

whom I love; (love)

with him I am well pleased.” (approval)

What does this mean for us?

Galatians 3 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

“I will never get tired of hearing the Father’s words at Jesus baptism. They are words of identity, affection and approval. They reveal Jesus as the True Son and the Beloved. LOVE is the essence of God’s character and the fragrance of the Trinitarian community. When we are baptized into the Trinitarian name we are enfolded in this community of love. Love is the greatest need of our beings and LOVE is what we get from the Father in our baptism. The identity of the “Beloved Son in whom the Father is well-pleased” is the approval we get in our baptism. We are clothed with Christ in Baptism. This is the gift we are given. God is revealing all of this to us so we will look nowhere else for identity, love and approval. Jesus is where we get all this. WOW! Daily renewal in this IDENTITY as “Beloved Son/Daughter” is a non-negotiable priority for the life of the Jesus follower because Jesus following is living the “life of the Beloved.” So let me say it again, “We look nowhere else for identity, love and approval….. Jesus is where we get all this. WOW!“ No wonder we need ample time in His presence everyday.”

In baptism I am “clothed with Christ” so that “in Christ” these same declarations are over me.

We get identity as forgiven, loved, approved and Spirit-filled children of God.

It is all a gift because of Jesus!

This all sounds nice but …….. we daily wake up in a world at war. What is being attacked?

Matthew 4: 1-3 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God….”

Our identity in Christ is always under attack from the devil, the world and our sinful nature.

“Daily renewal in this IDENTITY as “Beloved Son/Daughter” is a non-negotiable priority for the life of the Jesus follower because Jesus following is living the “life of the Beloved.” So let me say it again, “We look nowhere else for identity, love and approval….. Jesus is where we get all this. WOW!“ No wonder we need ample time in His presence everyday.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me from before you made the world. You are my true Father— I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you, Father, to be one with you as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love for me by sending Jesus. I receive him and all his life and all his work which you ordained for me. Thank you for forgiving me my sins, granting me his righteousness, making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, and anointing me with your love and your Spirit and your favor. I receive it all with thanks and give it total claim to my life I now proclaim this truth, “I am a lavishly Loved child of my Father in heaven.”

So today I get to live the Life of the Beloved. Amen

Point of Grace Online Worship - January 5, 2025

Sermon Notes – 1.5.25 – “Jesus – the One for me to see!” – Epiphany

Epiphany  - to “shine light on”, “to spotlight”, “to reveal”

Am I looking where God is shining?

In the story of the Magi, in Matthew 2, God shines multiple spotlights on 
“Jesus, as the One for me to see!”

                     Spotlight 1 - The Magi

                     Spotlight 2 - Old Testament Connections

                     Spotlight 3 - King Herod

Matthew 2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The Magi – the most unlikely targets of God’s work in Jesus!  It would have been an epiphany for Matthew’s readers to think that God was at work in Jesus for people like “Magi from the East”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

The Old Testament Connections highlighted by Matthew (four in this chapter alone) are like “epiphany’s” to the 1st century reader.  “Oh, wow, I see!”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

King Herod stands in stark contrast to King Jesus…..
        One is powerful with the power of men…
               the other powerless but in the hands of God! 

         One threatened by a baby to the point of atrocity …          
                the other worshiped by the unlikely recipients of God’s epiphany!

What about me? 

As I look forward to the unfolding days of 2025 where is God shining His light for me to see?
Will I look where His light is shining?

Is my life threatened by Jesus or
is my life worship of Jesus: the One I truly need to see?

Point of Grace Online Worship - December 29, 2024

Point of Grace – 12.29.24  -   Seeing Jesus After Christmas - Sermon Notes

“Sir, We want to see Jesus?”

Luke 2
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”, 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When we see Jesus for who He truly is
and see ourselves being with Jesus in the dailiness of life
a “saving” of ourselves happens that brings us more fully alive!

A Prayer to See Jesus Each Day

Holy Spirit,
“Help me see Jesus for all He is
so I might be with Jesus
in every way today!”