"In the Midst of the Storm, Jesus Speaks"

Continuation of Mars Hill Church

Rev. Tripp unravels, why we need 'to preach the gospel to ourselves,' as Ann Voskamp says every day.  Why we feel despair so often and it's because of who we listen to the most.  But most importantly, we know Who overcomes it.  I wish this would have been the reason that I named this blog "I am not for me."

"Jesus Isn't After Making Life Easy"

Mars Hill Church has such great resources on youtube, and this might be the pinnacle. 

"We esteem a predictable, easy life more than we esteem the awesome, transforming work of the Redeemer."   Click play to see what it's all about and why Jesus walked on the water. 

Ephesians 1:7-8

           Ann Voskamp constantly emphasizes the need for preaching the Gospel to ourselves every day.  Take this verse with you throughout today, and I will do the same.  Ephesians is a balm for our souls, a beautiful one.   

            "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." Ephesians 1:7-8

Don't Figure Out Your Life, Don't Save Yourself

              We've turned Christianity into a self-help guide.  If we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that we can't save ourselves, why do we spend so much time fortifying our own walls - in the name of our Savior?  We come up with theories, ways to view love or our bodies, life changing trips.  But why?  There's a drive within many of us, forever whispering in our hearts that I have to not let this _____ get to me, I have to come up with a way to deal with what's consuming my life.

              Saving ourselves is hard in two ways: to figure out, and to put into action. 

              There's a simple way to see how sinful humans are inside.  Here it is.  We turn God's 100%  sure solutions into the hardest choices to make.  God never told us to figure out our lives - the magic equation, word that will solve our problems.  Instead, He revealed the greatest mystery, His Son, and even does us the favor of telling us that we cannot fathom Him.  He just says believe Him.  His words are more secure than anything else we will ever know - He created it all.  
              "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave--what can you know?"  Job 11:7-8  "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." John 1:18

               Our Savior never told us to save ourselves.  That foolproof remedy found through sweat and tears?  We cause ourselves more tears when we fail, or when it fails and life is still a mess.  I wonder, what would happen if we remembered the depth of our need for an Immanuel when trying to patch ourselves up, in order to live the next day?  Meanwhile, you have a salvation that renews world.  It's the same solution, every day, for eternity.   

             "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10  "When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"  Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:25-26
             Tonight let's pray to remember our contract, our agreement, to Jesus' salvation and that the Church will proclaim it.  We need it.