Point of Grace Online Worship - April 18, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 4.18.21 Sermon Notes – Living the NEW Life – Part 3- Easter 2021

The Resurrection means Jesus got a New Life and invites to join Him – to Live the NEW Life!

Romans 6 “… just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

This NEW Resurrection Life frees us from the life strangling grip of death and fear!

Can I have NEW Life living with old life thinking?

Romans 8 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you

Our “flesh” for Paul is our “sinful nature”. At its core is “The Self”, “The Exalted Self” who is self-centered, insists on self-rule and is self-ish.

Romans 85 Those who live according to the Self have their minds set on what the Self desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the Self is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the Self is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the Self but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … … If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

NEW Life Living

- Soak up the Resurrected Jesus and His Holy Spirit Join the I BELONG CHALLENGE at www.pog.church

- Say “YES” to the Spirit’s leading –every time- and say “NO” when Your self tries to take over!  

- Enjoy life giving things and give some life away! Tell somebody how the Risen Jesus has shown up this week?  

This Week’s Prayer Father in Heaven thank you for loving me so much that You gave Your Son Jesus to die for me and rise again. Thank you for the wonderful provision you give me each and every day which sustains me physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually. I praise You! I do not want any of Your blessings in my life to go unnoticed or un-received. I pray the eyes of my heart see all Your goodness to me. Jesus I receive You as my New Life my holiness and my strength. You are victorious over sin, death and the devil and I claim Your victory as my victory this day. I praise you that through Your cross and empty tomb You made it possible for the Holy Spirit to come and take up residence in me. I receive Your Spirit Jesus to live in me forever. Holy Spirit, I love You I worship You, I trust You, I yield every dimension of my spirit, soul and body, heart, mind and will to You and You alone to be filled with You, to walk in step with You in all things. Spirit I receive You now as my counselor, comforter my strength and my guide – I honor You as my sovereign leader and ask You to pilot of my mind through all that is in store for me today. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit, restore my union with the Father and the Son throughout the moments of this day, lead me in all truth, anoint me for my life and walk and calling. Lead me deeper into Jesus today.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit I will declare Your praises today as I live the meaningful life You so graciously intend for me to live. Amen

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Romans 8:1-2, 5-8 Tue – Romans 8:9-12 Wed – Galatians 5:16-23 Thu – Romans 8:15-18 Fri – Romans 8:26-28 Sat - John 14:15-18

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading. “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Waking The Dead” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - April 11, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 4.11.21 Sermon Notes – Living the NEW Life – Part 2- Easter 2021

The Resurrection of Jesus changes things! He got a New Life and invites to share in it – to Live the NEW Life! How?

The Resurrection frees humanity from the life strangling grip of death and fear! What are you afraid of?

John 20 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

It is so important to Jesus for His disciples to “get it”- to believe and act like – He’s alive! He relentlessly pursues them … and us!

His vision is that we benefit personally from all He accomplished and become passionate allies in the world!

Fear and Doubt – The Toll It Takes

Doubt gets between me and Jesus! It distances me from the one who has the answer to my fears.

There is a temptation to “settle” on life with crippling doubt instead of healing and growing through it! Satan wants me to doubt my beliefs and believe my doubts.

What does Jesus bring to us so we can lead doubt-less lives!

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Where should my effort go in dealing with doubt and fear? Am I embracing the Peace Giver or am I embracing the fear generator?

NEW Life Living

 Soak up the Resurrected Jesus – Join the I BELONG CHALLENGE at www.pog.church

 Do a life giving thing! Refrain from “death dealing” things! Jesus, is this life giving?  

 Give some life away! Tell somebody how the Risen Jesus has shown up this week?  

This Week’s Prayer Father in Heaven, thank you for your deep and abiding love for me and for all people. Thank you for Your gracious provision in all areas of my life. You are a good, good Father. I renounce the enemy’s lies that seek to create doubt in Your goodness to me. I receive You now as my Father in heaven who loves me very much.

Jesus I sincerely receive all the work and triumph of Your cross, death, blood and sacrifice for me through which I am atoned for and ransomed by your blood. I now receive your complete and total forgiveness of all my sins and I take my place in your kingdom as a child of God who is completely reconciled to my Father in heaven.

Jesus, I also receive all the work and triumph of Your resurrection. I receive Your Resurrection Life as my new life to live every day. I renounce all lies of the enemy tempting me to doubt whether the full benefits of Your life, death and resurrection apply to me. I now receive all the blessings and benefits you paid so dearly for me to have.

I confess, God, at times I am all too ready to agree with the lies about Your goodness, love and truth. I have coddled doubt in my mind and heart about You and Your intentions toward me as well as doubt about me, who You say I am and what my true worth and value is according to Your truth. I repent of believing untruth and receive Your complete and total forgiveness.

Holy Spirit, I receive You as the very presence of living God in me, my counselor, comforter, strength and guide. I honor You as my sovereign and yield every dimension, category or part of my life totally and completely to You. Fill me afresh Holy Spirit, anoint me for my life today, my walk today and my calling. Lead me deeper and deeper into union with the Father and the Son --- closing the gap created by fear and doubt.

I love being loved and rescued by You Jesus and I will enjoy this day as a child of the Living God. Amen.

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – John 20:19-25 Tue – John 14:23-27 Wed – John 20:26-31 Thu – Matthew 14:25-33 Fri – 1 Samuel 17:41-47 Sat - Psalm 27:7-14

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading. “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Waking The Dead” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace - Easter Sunday Worship, April 4, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 4.4.21 Sermon Notes – Living the NEW Life – Easter 2021

The Resurrection of Jesus changed everything!

He got a New Life and invited them to share in it – to Live the NEW Life!

Matthew 28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

- The Resurrection frees humanity from the life strangling grip of death and fear! What are you afraid of?

- The angel invites the women into this New Life! Notice his gentle yet authoritative way! He gives them something to do …… a faith step consistent with NEW LIFE living!

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.

- His Resurrection became their Resurrection to NEW Life (life on the other side of death). John 11 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 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 Romans 6 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

- Jesus attacks their fear before fear attacks them.

Resurrectionless, old life living looks like this!

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

NEW Life Living

- Soak up the Resurrected Jesus – Join the I BELONG CHALLENGE at www.pog.church

- Do what is life giving! Jesus, is this life giving?

- Give some life away! Tell somebody how the Risen Jesus has shown up this week?

This Week’s Prayer: Jesus, I love You! I worship You! I trust You! I give myself over to You today in my heart’s search for life. Restore me in You! Renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

Jesus, I sincerely receive you as my Life, and I receive all the work and triumph in your resurrection, through which you have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one. Death has no power over you, nor does any foul thing. And I have been raised with you to a new life, to live your life—dead to sin and alive to God.

I take my place now in your resurrection and in your life, and surrender my life to you to live your life. I am saved by your life. I reign in life through your life. I receive your hope, love, faith, joy, your goodness, trueness, wisdom, power, and strength. Apply to me all the work and triumph in your resurrection; I receive it with thanks and I give it total claim to my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind, and will.

I bring the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my family, my household, over all my kingdom and domain. I bring the resurrection and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit which may come against me and mine this day.

Jesus, please help me see and seize every opportunity to choose “living life” over “dealing death” this week. I am so excited that you called me to be a Life giver, giving away Life to all around me in creative and simple ways. Thank you Jesus for giving me New Life through Your Resurrection from the dead!

Amen.

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Tue – Matthew 28:1-7 Wed – Matthew 28:8-15 Thu – John 11:21-26 Fri – Ephesians 2:4-10 Sat - Psalm 16-5-11

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading. “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Waking The Dead” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace - Good Friday Worship, April 2, 2021

Point of Grace - Maundy Thursday Worship, April 1, 2021

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 28, 2021

Point of Grace Worship         3.28.21     Sermon Notes – Expectations for a Savior – Palm Sunday 2021

Through the layers of Palm Sunday, Matthew is setting up a challenge for his readers to ask the question themselves:
“Who is Jesus and what do I expect from Him?”

Matthew 19

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Son of David?

                   “‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.                                                            - 2 Samuel 7

God’s savior was going to be from the house and line of David. To accept the title “Son of David” was to accept the role of savior.

The blind men know exactly who Jesus is.

 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Why a donkey?

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Why Palms?

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

By flipping over the tables Jesus made room for those who needed him.

The flow of the temple stopped. People were prevented from the old way of connection with God, and yet in the presence of Jesus they found God himself.

15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Blind men vs. the Pharisees

Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted,

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts,

“Hosanna to the Son of David,” 

they were indignant.

 Matthew presents us with a challenge:

Am I going to be like the Pharisees

OR

am I going to be like the blind men? 

Every time God chooses to reform His church there are tables that need to be flipped to make room for the new ways God wants to work.

I don’t want to miss what God is doing because I am too focused
on overturned tables.

Matthew is subtly challenging our ideas of what we need to be saved from.

“What Palm am I waving?”  

Afterthoughts for 2021 - Thursday @ 7

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week.
The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon –  Matthew 20:29-33
Tue –   Matthew 21:1-5
Wed – Isaiah 52: 7-15
Thu –  Matthew 26:26-30
Fri –   Matthew 27:45-51
Sat  - Psalm 30:1-5

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!  I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.  Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you. 

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved. 

Helps:   Join the “I BELONG” Challenge 
Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab.  After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading.
“Sermon Resources” for this week from Pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

 The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

 “Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 21, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 3.21.21 Sermon Notes – Letters from Jesus – Lent 2021

The encouragements and admonishments build throughout the seven letters with “forsaking your first love” as the foundational threat to faith and faithfulness.

The answer is always “Repent!” – Surrender to the truth as revealed by Jesus and “love your first love first…”

The final two letters contain some of the greatest affirmations (Philadelphia) but also the most severe admonishments (Laodicea) while delivering to us in 2021 some of the richest application.

In both Jesus speaks of “doors”! Doors He opens for us to go through … and doors we open for Him to come in!

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

As if Jesus is saying, “Church, seize the doors of opportunity especially when you feel shut down-dejected!

Keep moving forward in truth (“you have kept my word”) and mission (“you have not denied my name”) through the open door I place before you!

I am working. Stay faithful to my truth and mission!

Take heart! You belong to Me! You belong in my Love! You belong in my house!”

What you don’t want to do is settle for “apathetic mediocrity”!

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

As if Jesus is saying, “Apathy is a subtle and quiet destroyer of zeal, of life, of hope, of joy and of faith …!

When you become wealthy in the things of this world you are vulnerable to a “blindness setting in”. So you do not see that you have given up true riches, clean clothes, shameless presence, healing so you see and seize life.

So, out of love I “knock”! If you hear my penetrating voice -“open” and I will come in. You don’t have to fix yourself or recreate yourself or clean up yourself. Your job is to allow Me in … into broken places, wounded places, rebellious places, places you think are fine... So I can intimately bring life into all of you!

Jesus

 Places open “kingdom” doors before us so we can go through

Knocks on closed “heart” doors so He can come in!  

He truly wants us to live fully alive … to “Love our First Love First”!

This Week’s Prayer Jesus, I love You! I worship You! I trust You! I give myself over to You today in my heart’s search for life. Restore me in You! Renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.

I thank and praise You for placing before me the open door of opportunity in Your kingdom. I now enter that door by faith surrendering myself completely to You – my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will. I now receive all the belonging that comes with being in Your kingdom. I Belong to You, I Belong to Your Church and I Belong to Your Mission.

I ask You to give me eyes to see the open door of opportunity for Your Mission to advance, this day, through me and my church. I truly want to join You in Your mission today. I deeply desire to walk with people who are far from You on their journey closer to You. Use me Jesus. But I confess… much of the time I don’t want to or am indifferent. Jolt my indifference out of complacency so I can see and seize every opportunity you give me to be a witness for you. Lead me in the part of the I Belong Challenge to pray for, invite and bring someone to the Alpha Course this year. I want to Jesus … and when I don’t want to… help me want to want to.

Jesus, Your Word in Revelation 3:16 convicts me of apathy and lukewarm-ness towards You, Your Church and Your mission which sometimes creeps in. I repent! Search me, know me and reveal any apathy and complacency so that I might be open to Your presence there, in me, to heal and make whole. I thank You for loving me so much that You knock on my heart’s door. I desperately need Your healing hand in every crack and crevice of my soul. Come in Jesus. I place my whole self and my whole story in Your presence for healing, wholeness, redemption and resurrection. I am a new creation in You and I surrender to Your ongoing transformation of Me!

Jesus, You are my First and Highest Love and I love You now! Fill me afresh with Your Spirit so that I might live today as Your beloved, loving my first love first!

Amen!

How could a group of people living like this change the world?

Afterthoughts for 2021 - Thursday @ 7

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Revelation 3:7-13 Tue – Colossians 4:2-6 Wed – Revelation 3:14-22 Thu – Romans 12:9-16 Fri – Ephesians 5:8-11,15-20 Sat - Psalm 139:1-10

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading. “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge

Point of Grace Online Worship - March 14, 2021

Point of Grace Worship 3.14.21 Sermon Notes – Letters from Jesus – Lent 2021

The encouragements and admonishments build throughout the seven letters with “forsaking your first love” as the foundational threat to faith and faithfulness.

The answer is always “Repent!” – Surrender to the truth as revealed by Jesus and “love your first love first…”

The Fourth and Fifth letters contain “Code Red” warnings from Jesus! He is serious! He wants them to be as concerned about the issues He reveals as He is! He has deep concern for His church – the people and the teaching!

What is behind His fervor?

Thyatira is warned about tolerating falsities and their promoters which taint, actually “gut”, the truth of Jesus!

He warns Sardis of what inevitably results from such a lack of spiritual vigilance – a faith life once known for transforming authenticity now rings hollow.

Put this image here: https://images.app.goo.gl/NnYmsYRPSzoFktvAA

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

How does Jesus affirm the church?

The church is in trouble with Jesus for “tolerating that woman Jezebel”! Who is she?

Jezebel is a problem because “By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” What does this mean?

How do you see Jesus showing up “full of grace and truth”?

What explains such an extreme Jesus response?

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

What does Jesus know? (This time He shares not no words of affirmation!)

What is His “love cry”? Does it sound like the original call to “loving your first love first”?

How do you see Jesus showing up “full of grace and truth”?

Jesus, how are You leading me/us to respond to this word from You?

This Week’s Prayer Jesus, I love You! I worship You! I trust You! I give myself over to You today! You the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE and no one comes to God the Father except through You. I thank and praise You for the passion, fervor and zeal with which you Seek me, Save me and Rescue me each day all while doing battle against evil, the evil one and all his cunning accomplices. All this you do out of love for me, for all people and for Your church. Thank you, Jesus, I love you! I praise you also for being adamant about Truth! You know that You are the only true means of Life now and forever for every person. Your way is the True way. Thank you for being a Warrior for Truth and I surrender to You! I confess honestly Jesus that I struggle at times with understanding and applying Your Truth especially when my own ego gets in the way - when I think I know what is better for me and others than You do. I need You Holy Spirt, the Spirit of Truth to lead me into all Truth. I also confess that I sometimes compromise Your Truth and Your Love in my thoughts, attitudes, convictions, actions and words as well as my moral choices and positions. Sometimes I have held on to sin and sins disregarding Your word to me. (Spend a moment confessing to Jesus specific things He is bringing to mind.) I am so very thankful, in this moment, that I can confidently ask for and authentically receive Your complete and total forgiveness solely based on Your grace towards me in Jesus – who has paid for all my sins. I do that now. Thank you for fighting for me even when I fight against You. Jesus, fill me afresh with Your Spirit so that I might live today, not out of my old sinful self but out of my new self, my new Life in Christ, that is in this moment of truth filled prayer being renewed and restored by Your Spirit. Today I get to trust You and live fully alive, with You as my WAY, my TRUTH and my LIFE! Amen!

How could a group of people living like this change the world?

Afterthoughts for 2021 - Thursday @ 7

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – John 14:1-7 Tue – Revelation 2:18-29 Wed – Revelation 3:1-6 Thu – Revelation 5:9-14 Fri – John 8:31-38, 44-45 Sat - Psalm 119:9-16

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps: Join the “I BELONG” Challenge Go to pog.church and click the “I BELONG CHALLENGE” menu tab. After you sign up you will get a daily email with the daily reading. “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

“Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge