 Ever felt like you're living under a heavy cloak of expectations, criticism, or maybe just self-doubt? We’ve all been there. And guess what, so was David – the shepherd boy turned king!
Throwing Off the Old Mask David's story is one of transformation. It’s about taking off that ‘old-self mask’ and embracing the ‘new nature’ that God has for us. Just like many of us, David faced resistance. Remember when he stepped up to challenge Goliath? He was met with skepticism from his own family, doubt from King Saul, and, of course, threats from the giant himself. Yet, David stood his ground. Why? Because he had faith. Not in his physical strength, but in the God who had been with him every step of the way. Faith is a Journey, Not a Sprint We learnt from the sermon that just as salvation is instantaneous, maturity isn’t. It takes effort, time, and a heart willing to cooperate with Jesus. This process, known as sanctification, involves growing, walking, and learning daily. Facing the Giants in Our Lives Who hasn’t dealt with their own “Goliaths” or listened to the negative voices trying to pull them down? Be it criticism from loved ones, the weight of other people's expectations, or the intimidating voices of our challenges, we’ve all faced them. But David's confrontation with Goliath teaches us a vital lesson: with faith and authenticity, we can overcome. David didn’t wear Saul’s armor because it wasn't him. He stuck to what he knew - his sling and his faith in God. So, next time you feel pressured to wear someone else’s “armor”, remember David. Be true to who God made you to be! Finding Time to Listen In the hustle and bustle of life, taking time to be still and connect with God can seem challenging. But here's a small challenge for you – twice a day, take out just two minutes. Close your eyes, open your hands, and just be present with God. Listen. Speak. Connect. The verse from Psalm 46:10 reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God”. Let’s find moments in our day to truly embrace this. In Closing... Life is filled with moments that test our faith and character. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to shed our old selves, our masks, and step into the life God has planned for us – one that is authentic and free. - Adapted from the messages preached at all 3 campuses on 9/24/23.
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Let's chat about something that might seem all too familiar to many of us: having that 'all is well' facade when, underneath, it's a bit of a hot mess. Ever bought a shiny apple that turned out to be rotten inside? That's our topic today - Emotionally Unhealthy Spirituality.
Take King Saul, for instance. A prime example pulled straight from 1 Samuel 15. On the outside, Saul seemed like the poster boy for leadership. However, dive a little deeper and we find a man ruled by ego, pride, vanity, and, surprisingly, fear. Saul's surface actions didn't always align with God's deeper commands. In trying to appease people (or perhaps his own ego), Saul sometimes defied God's exact orders. And when confronted by the Prophet Samuel, Saul did what many of us might do – he tried to spin things to his advantage. The heart of the message can be found in 1 Samuel 15:22-23. It emphasizes that obedience to God's voice is more significant than any sacrifice. That's a zinger! It's not about our outer activities or how religious we look, but how authentic our inner relationship with God is. Contrast Saul with King David. David had his fair share of mistakes, but he was acutely aware of his internal world. He voiced his joys, sorrows, regrets, and praises. David was genuine, both with God and with others. He didn't hide his flaws; he owned them and brought them before God. Now, here's the kicker: it's easy to brush this off as ancient history, but let's get real. There's a mini-Saul in all of us. Today's church often focuses on scripture and knowing about Jesus, but do we truly know ourselves? Our emotional health and spiritual maturity are intertwined, and we can't grow spiritually if we're stunted emotionally. For many, there's a cycle of repetitive 'baby' Christianity, year after year, without diving deeper. Instead of progressing in our faith and understanding, we sometimes just circle the same mountain. In the upcoming weeks, we'll delve into 10 symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. For a teaser, the first three are:
So, as we wrap up, remember: it's not about the religious motions or pretenses. God yearns for us to be like David - raw, real, and after His own heart. Let's aim for that, shall we? 💛 Until next time, stay genuine and keep that heart open! - Adapted from sermons preached across our 3 campuses on 9/17/2023. |
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These are powerful posts adapted from our pastors' weekly sermons. 
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