Dancing in the Rain

The Cross, an emblem of our Salvation

On His holy Cross, a mighty battle was fought.

All the dark forces of sin, inspired by the demonic spirit of apostasy, hastened to crucify the Son of the Living God and the Lord of Glory. 

• Redemption is at the heart of our faith.
• Cross was the symbol of public humiliation, before Christ…
• There is no other symbol or emblem that is glorified and worshiped as Cross…
• It is a symbol that not only represent Christ dying… but also our salvation

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1 Corinthians 1: 17 – 19 

¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

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Mosaic Covenant - God’s narrative of His purpose and will for His people!

God’s narrative of His purpose and will for His people...

This is one of the powerful messages on God's covenant - that i truly enjoyed preaching. 

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10: 12 - 15... 

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.  You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.

 

Abrahamic Covenant - I will bless those who bless you!

Genesis 12: 1 – 4

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

Adamic Covenant - Genesis 3:15

Genesis 3:15 says... 

And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

 

Why is this important – Everything that God establishes in the word is to redeem us to Himself.  

• The word of God becomes personal, the relationship with God is personal.
• God didn’t save us – so we can go to heaven, He saved us - so we can have relationship with Him.

Sword of the Spirit!

The sword that Paul refers to here is:  Machaira, which is varied in length between 6 – 18 inches long. It was a common sword carried by the Roman Soldiers, in a hand-to-hand combat.  It is a principal weapon.

It is the same weapon used by Peter, the night of Jesus being arrested, that he used and cut of the soldiers ears.

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Paul says, “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

This is the defense and the offense.  This is the only tool, the spirit uses.

• Graphae – The writings, the scripture in the written form.   When it talks about the sword of the spirit, it is not talking about Graphae…
  
  John 1:1 says, In the beginning was the word.  
  
  
• Logas: It is the message (logic) of the book… the content is clarified to you, when we speak about it during the sermon.   You get the understanding of the word.
  
  
• Rhema word of God, is the usage or the declaration or the utterance of the word…  It is revelation.

Know your Enemy!

If Paul, speaks to us today – he will say the exact same thing… Draw your strength from the Lord!  We need to be mentally strong, when facing the tough situations in life.   There are so many wimpy Christians out – and we are not one of them.

We are not talking about a phony Macho’ism… We need to be the strong mom, strong dad, strong husband and strong wife… That’s what Bible is talking about.

Helmet of Salvation

How does your mind work?  For you or against you?

Do we have healthy or unhealthy thinking patterns?   Helmet of salvation is about our thinking pattern.  

John 16:33,  I have overcome the world.

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Choose your helmet:

Brain is the control center by the body, and so is the mind for the soul.   In other words, Mind is the spiritual expression of the brain.

Soul governs the body.  If my body to go right, then the brain must tell that.  If I want my soul to go right – then the mind need to that.

Brain/Mind needs to be protected and governed by the helmet. 

Armor of the Lord (Part 1)

Paul was tied to a Roman soldier everyday and every time, when he saw that – he must have been inspired to see, how God protects us, by making everything available to you and me.

Average roman soldier – 70 – 80 lbs,   backpack about 60lbs.  – in all together,  it is about 120lbs. 

• That’s why Paul starts to say, we need to have power to carry this much of weight.
• The contest can be brutal….
  
  

Take unto you (again), the full armor of God…   Take it in the way you took it once…

Be Strong in the Lord!

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Breaking the Strongholds!

From time to time, in our life, that we will go through the battles… intensity may vary – but the battle is real.   

Marriage could be in a rocky place? Or your business? Or disagreement with your children -  but the enemy is causing some headache?

• If you are facing a battle, that is bigger than you – then, this message is for you…
• There is someone in the line – who is fighting and fighting… but not seeing the victory – and asking God, what am I missing? Then, this message is for you…

This morning, we will meditate on what shall we do – when the battle intensifies?