The Call to Deliver

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.  (Galatians 6:1-3)

This passage directs qualified believers to be available to minister restoration to fellow believers who have fallen aside or been trapped or bound by sin.  John 11:44, illustrates this principle of restorativity freeing the bound/trapped/fallen.  Following Lazarus's being raised from the dead, he is still encumbered with his grave clothes...a man with a new lease on life, still needing release from the trappings of the past (the linen strips--grave clothes).

Note that Jesus told His disciples to, "loose him and let him go," entrusting the completion of the miracle He began to the and ministry of those He assigned.  Today, Jesus Christ still entrusts the reborn/forgiven soul to the ministry of caring disciples wherever or whenever bondage's residual to an individuals past threaten his or her growth in the family of God.  In one's new life, forgiveness of all sin is secured instantly through justification by faith in Christ, but additional ministry is often needed to help with breaking old sin patterns.

The Greek word for restore (katartizo) was used to secular Greek for setting broken bones, and in Matt. 4:21 for "mending" nets.

Considering yourself:  See 1 Corinthians 10:12

If we believe we are too spiritually mature to fall, we should beware!  The Bible portrays the sins of past spiritual leaders as a warning to us to remain humble and open to correction.  We each need to reassess our personal walk with God in honesty before Him. Each of us will be held responsible for our actions and attitudes.

Be sober in your self-assessment.  Employ only Jesus' life and the teachings as your standard for judgment not the performance of others.

New Spirit Filled Life Bible

Father, help me not to focus on the mistakes or deeds of the people in contact with me.  Rather, let me have a heart to forgive people and not judge them.   For those who are down, I pray I will encourage and lift them up.  I know that I am what I am, by your grace and your grace alone.  I also pray that my actions will bring honour to you.  Let me be sensitive to your Spirit.  I pray in Jesus name. Amen 

Seven Sacred Pillars

Paul lists seven wonderful truths declaring that each is “one of a kind”. The whole body of our Christian doctrine is embodied in these seven sacred pillars. In each of the supporting scriptural references the subject is always referred to in the singular form.

I. “ONE BODY” signifying one true church.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:15-16 (NKJV)

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 (NKJV)

II. “ONE SPIRIT” refers to the Holy Spirit whom Jesus said that the Father would send.

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NASB)

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16 (NKJV)

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)

III. “ONE HOPE” signifying that outside of Christ there is no hope.

“The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26-27 (NKJV)

IV. “ONE LORD” signifying the preeminence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” Colossians 1:19 (NKJV)

V. “ONE FAITH” signifying one body of truth.

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 1:3 (NKJV)

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:41-42 (NKJV)

VI. “ONE BAPTISM”: the baptism of the believer by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.

 “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV). This scripture clearly sets forth that the Holy Spirit as the One baptizing.

With this thought in mind, consider Galatians 3:26-28.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26-28 (NKJV)

VII. “ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL”

“Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?” Malachi 2:10 (NKJV)
“I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me.” Isaiah 45:5 (NKJV)
“Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” Romans 3:29-30 (NKJV)

Bits & Pieces of Sermon by Kenneth Trent

The Making of God's People

But when all is said and done,
    God’s Temple on the mountain,
Firmly fixed, will dominate all mountains,
    towering above surrounding hills.
People will stream to it
    and many nations set out for it,
Saying, “Come, let’s climb God’s mountain.
    Let’s go to the Temple of Jacob’s God.
He will teach us how to live.
    We’ll know how to live God’s way.”
True teaching will issue from Zion,
    God’s revelation from Jerusalem.
He’ll establish justice in the rabble of nations
    and settle disputes in faraway places.
They’ll trade in their swords for shovels,
    their spears for rakes and hoes.
Nations will quit fighting each other,
    quit learning how to kill one another.
Each man will sit under his own shade tree,
    each woman in safety will tend her own garden.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so,
    and he means what he says.

Meanwhile, all the other people live however they wish,
    picking and choosing their gods.
But we live honoring God,
    and we’re loyal to our God forever and ever.

“On that great day,” God says,
    “I will round up all the hurt and homeless,
    everyone I have bruised or banished.
I will transform the battered into a company of the elite.
    I will make a strong nation out of the long lost,
A showcase exhibit of God’s rule in action,
    as I rule from Mount Zion, from here to eternity.

“And you stragglers around Jerusalem,
    eking out a living in shantytowns:
The glory that once was will be again.
    Jerusalem’s daughter will be the kingdom center.”
(Micah 4:1-8)

<sup>Micah beautifully displays God's deep compassion toward His people.  God is portrayed as a teacher; restorer; shepherd; vindicator; the One who does wonders, forgives, shows compassion and mercy, and brings peace.  Let worship and adoration be your hearts response to God as you meditate on these qualities.  He wants to show Himself to you as all of these things and more.

Ask God to be your teacher so that you will become more sensitive to His ways and be better able to walk in obedience. Understand that we are living in the latter days, and receive today His promises of peace, provision and revelation.  

Refuse to walk in the ways of the ungodly.  Set your heart, mind and will to follow the Lord and to walk in His ways.

Look to and expectantly wait for God.  He will bring light into your darkness.  Where there is sin in your life , ask forgiveness.  Thank Him and praise him for all He has done and will do for you.

Think about and dwell on God's forgiveness, which not only overcomes our iniquities, but cast them to a place where they can never be retrieved.  Respond to God by receiving His forgiveness and freedom.  Then, worship Him with you whole heart.</sup>

~Bits and Pieces of the New Spirit Filled Life Bible