2 Corinthians 6:1-10 New King James Version
Marks of the Ministry
6 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much [a]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fasting’s; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by [b]sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Mission: To encourage believers to let go of unbiblical traditions, embrace God’s provision in the present moment, and to move forward with urgency, recognizing that “now IS the favorable time” according to God’s timing.
Good day, church family!
Today, we are going to drive square into a ministry that’s both challenging and liberating. We are talking about our leaving behind unbiblical traditions, and instead, embracing God’s abundant provision as God embraces the fruits of our “abundant” provision, moving the Gospel message forward with His urgency.
It’s a message drawn from a powerful verse in 2 Corinthians, chapter 6, verse 2:
“For He says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Have you ever thought about what “now is the favorable time” really means?
It’s about God’s timing, not ours.
It’s about increasing the measure of our resolve, for embracing what God has for us in this very moment, not clinging to the past, worrying about the future.
Christian author, Francis Chan, once said, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
This quote challenges us to finally release unbiblical traditions that may feel comfortable but aren’t leading us any closer to God or furthering His kingdom.
Leaving Behind Unbiblical Traditions
Leaving behind unbiblical traditions involves a thorough examination of our beliefs, practices, and traditions, and a willingness to let go of those that are not rooted in the teachings of the Bible.
This is not to say that all traditions are bad.
On the contrary, many traditions can be beautiful expressions of our faith, as long as they righteously align with the Word of God and lead us closer to Him.
However, unbiblical traditions will often creep into our lives and churches, subtly, not so subtly, leading us far far away from the truth of God’s Word.
These can take many forms, from practices which have been passed down through generations without them being biblically challenged, rigorously questioned, to beliefs that are more influenced by culture than by Scripture.
They can even be worship traditions we do with good intentions, yet lack any biblical basis and can ultimately distract us from our relationship with God.
The danger of these unbiblical traditions lies in their ability to become idols in our lives.
When we hold onto them too tightly, we can end up prioritizing them over our relationship with God. They can become the rose colored lenses through which we were raised to view our faith, rather than the Bible being our only true guide.
This can lead to a badly distorted understanding of God, His will for our lives.
Psalm 139:23-24 New American Standard Bible
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there is any [a]hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
Leaving behind unbiblical traditions requires humility and a willingness to be corrected. It involves coming before God with an open heart, asking Him to reveal any areas where we may be clinging to traditions that are not of Him.
It involves studying the Bible diligently, seeking to more thoroughly grasp, to understand its contextual teachings and meanings, and apply them to our lives.
This process can be divisive, most certainly, uncomfortable and challenging.
It may involve letting go of practices that we have held onto for a long time as “family tradition,” or confronting beliefs that we have never questioned before. Yet, it is a journey that leads unto freedom and a deeper relationship with God.
1 Peter 1:13-16 New American Standard Bible
13 Therefore, [a]prepare your minds for action, [b]keep sober in spirit, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As [c]obedient children, do not [d]be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but [e]like the Holy One who called you, [f]be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
When we discipline ourselves let go of unbiblical traditions, we make room for God to work in new and powerful ways in our lives.
We open ourselves to His leading, we align ourselves more closely with His will.
This can lead to a more vibrant faith, a much deeper understanding of God’s character, and a far more effective testimony and witness to those around us.
Leaving behind unbiblical traditions isn’t about legalism, following set of rules.
It’s about raising the measure of our resolve, pursuing a relationship with God as based on His Word and led by His Spirit. It’s about seeking to honor Him in all that we do, and being willing to let go of anything that hinders that pursuit.
Seize the Moment! Embrace God’s Provision in This Time Period
Embracing God’s provision in this time period is a multifaceted concept that requires us to implicitly trust in God’s sovereignty, acknowledge His goodness, and actively seek His will in our lives.
You probably have heard the ancient saying “Carpe diem.”
It’s a Latin aphorism that can be translated as “Seize the day.”
Sayings with similar meanings can be found in many cultures.
The Bible also tells us about the urgency of making our commitment to God.
The apostle Paul urges us not to delay when it comes to our salvation.
We are privileged to live in an age of grace, when the gospel is proclaimed throughout the world.
That is something to be thankful for.
But it may not be that way forever.
We never know when our life on this earth will end—whether by illness or accident—slowly or suddenly.
But it will definitely end—when we die or when Christ returns.
So I urge you to believe in Jesus, find peace with God today, before it’s too late!
In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….
Praying …..
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 Complete Jewish Bible
3 For everything there is a season,
a right time for every intention under heaven —
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to discard,
7 a time to tear and a time to sew,
a time to keep silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his efforts? 10 I have seen the task God has given humanity to keep us occupied. 11 He has made everything suited to its time; also, he has given human beings an awareness of eternity; but in such a way that they can’t fully comprehend, from beginning to end, the things God does. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them to do than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. 13 Still, the fact that everyone can eat and drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work, is a gift of God. 14 I know that
whatever God does will last forever;
there is nothing to add or subtract from it;
and God has done it so that people will fear him.
15 That which was is here already;
and that which will be has already been,
but God seeks out what people chase after.
17 I said to myself, “The righteous and the wicked God will judge, because there is a right time for every intention and for every action.”
18 Concerning people, I said to myself, “God is testing them, so that they will see that by themselves they are just animals. 19 After all, the same things that happen to people happen to animals, the very same thing — just as the one dies, so does the other. Yes, their breath is the same; so that humans are no better than animals; since nothing matters, anyway. 20 They all go to the same place; they all come from dust, and they all return to dust. 21 Who knows if the spirit of a human being goes upward and the spirit of an animal goes downward into the earth?” 22 So I concluded that there is nothing better for a person to do than take joy in his activities, that that is his allotted portion; for who can enable him to see what will happen after him?
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 