Messages of Hope - NF Ministries

Our Hope!

John 15:22-24 Study Notes

The world and those who really thrive in it and are bound by it, hate God and the things of God, because the mere presences of God creates an atmosphere of accountability and a hard line choice and consequence for the things we choose to do and say and the things we opt to not do and say. The mere existence of Jesus was despised because by simply just Him being, created a choice between themselves and their lifestyles and God and our eternal direction. Truth will always make us accountable to our lies, love will always make us on the hook for our hate, and death will always hold us responsible for our life how we decide to live it. Without the standards and foundations of truths of God, man would be able and does, convince himself that the evil and hatred he spews into this world is just and righteous and that living a self serving life is sanctified. If they hated Jesus for His presence for what it created, then the world will hate you and your light and message as well for what it reminds them of, the choice. Truth is still truth, even if it stings, and love without truth isn't real love.

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Beautiful photos to remind us Our God isn't bound by our earthly laws. Trust in him who created it all. Amen...

"The essence of Christian Faith is the tension between Surrendering vs. Choice and Grace vs. Responsibility."

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True freedom isn't the absence of responsibility, it's the freedom to love others and walk the path of sacrifice and service. When given the command to love, it didn't negate our freedom and oppress us to live mechanically, it was an invitation to liberate us to live authentically. Free-will does not abolish obedience, it transforms it. It reconciles love with obedience and freedom to servanthood. We have the choice to love freely, yet our freedom finds purpose in loving others. We are not slaves who are forced to love, we are connected and friends with Christ, who respond to His love with love...

"If you love me, keep my commandments..." (John 14:15)

A person cannot claim to intimately know Christ and hate other Christians, nor can someone claim to know Christ while disregarding His teachings and commands.

There is a direct connection between our behavior and our love for God and the others around us, regardless of what our mouths speak, our behaviors and actions speak with a louder, bolder, and more accurate truth.

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Morning Study Insight - John 12:42-43

"Nevertheless even among the rulers, many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

The praise of man has become an addiction even more so In the age of technology. We choose the empty and quick fading approval of the world over the eternal favor of God. We chase with recklessness and even at times, the destruction of ourselves and our morals, being accepted and liked by people whom we will most likely never meet or know, for a mere instance of satisfaction and acknowledgement. Yet, we run from the One who knows us fully and loves us more than we could ever know.

We run to the fire then scream as it burns us and blame God for not putting it out. The approval of man comes with less accountability for what we are seeking praise for and with more of an ego boost in the now. Yet, in the end we will all stand before an audience of One. One judge, one viewpoint, one standard, one verdict with no chances left to explain, rewind or redo...

Focus on what and who matters. Not to be seen by man but simply to be loved by the only One that matters. If your focus in life is to be seen and accepted you already are, you need only change your audience to know that.

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Status, titles, education, and image in a religious setting only show you know of God, but it can never show or prove you know God, intimately. Intimacy only comes from experience with someone or something. To be intimate with God means you must have experiences with God, not just reading or hearing of experiences with Him. How do you deepen your relationships with spouses, significant others, peers, family, and children? You invest your time and energy into them with the intentions of them doing the same, purely out of love and caring.

How much time have you invested in getting to really know God for yourself and not just threw what the Pastor says on Sunday, or what the devotionals tell you? We make time for what we care about...

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Jesus can see and feel a person's intentions both what we see on the surface as well as it's origins from a person's heart and spirit. We cannot hide our truth from Him, even if we try to mask it from ourselves and others. Truth can never be truly hidden, so why try.

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Me:
I don't feel worthy to call to you. I don't feel worthy for your grace. I am a sinner who constantly turns his back on you. I want to be better but I am too weak in my mind, spirit, and flesh. You deserve better than what I can give. Your worthy for all praise yet I hide from you. I cannot give you all of myself, I can barely toss my crumbs at your feet. I am struggling God to even give you a mustard seed of my being.

God:
I can work with that...

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If you could ask God one thing right now, what would it be?

I was In study this morning and thought of friend who is new in his faith and thought of those who still may be under the weight of the law. Now, that Christ has justified us through His death and resurrection, our righteousness and power come thru faith alone not by our performance anymore. The laws were given as a guardian until Christ came. Now that He came and ratified God's promise to Abraham, we are no longer subjected to the weight of the law but only by God's grace. The law now is simply a mirror we can look at to illuminate the state of our heart and magnify the need for God in our lives if we begin to live apart from Him. Blessing and Peace

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I was reading John 11 today about the resurrection of Lazarus. I was really focused on Mary and Martha who had asked Jesus to come now but Jesus waited. Not because He didn't love them or Lazarus but His timing was to serve a greater purpose and reach many more than just the few in the moment. I thought to myself is it more loving to help an individual in a moment or help many In time? Would the one feel less loved or not as important, to be "put aside" with their pain for the many in due time? Is it selfish to care about your own needs over a crowd in times of trouble and need? If you are sick is it selfish to want healing over another?

Timing is everything to God but so is it to mankind. We both value timing in business, sports, romance, getting a break, etc. By Why is our timing so skewed from God's? Couldn't it be our limited knowledge of things compared to Him who knows all and sees all? Couldn't it be our selfish nature compared to His core being of love and perfection? Could it be our sin compared to His unblemished nature?

How could you tell a dying person to just wait, God has something cooking that will be great for all to see, when there in need now and in pain now? We must have faith in His eyes and not our own limited scope of vision. We must trust in His heart and his ways and not simply what serves us in the moment regardless of what our body and minds are directing us to do.

It's in man's nature to doubt when it comes to the things of God, especially when it comes to the direction and leading of God. We must choose to walk anyways. His path is not the one we would travel if not inspired and led by Him but it is the only path that leads to life, love, peace, and purpose. The only path that leads to the Father's arms.

The story of Lazarus tells us that even when we see death and the end, it's not the end until God says it's the end. If you feel your prayer is dead and unheard, your tears have gone unredeeemed, your battles for change and transformation have been underattack and without backup, your cries for help have been swallowed up and ignored. Know that Jesus is the life and the resurrection. He can bring back, resurrect, heal, and make new whatever He wants when He wants. Take hope that we serve a God of Life...

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Being a Christian doesn't make the pain go away it just helps you accept the scars, it doesn't make you righteous it simply surrounds you with knowledge of God's grace of mercy, it won't save your body but it will save your soul. We are not better people because we claim Christianity and sit in church we are simply sinners saved by grace that admit we need a savior. Don't puff your chest because you go to a building on Sunday's humble yourself to know you are not in control and give it to God.

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Truth