Sermon Title: You Are Welcomed
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In the weeks past, we have been speaking to the biblical significance and necessity of building both our personal altars to the Lord; and as His People – our Corporate Altar unto Him.
Building altars to the Lord – and being fully present to Him there habitually - is vitally necessary as it represents the outward expression of our utter, inner desire to establish a genuine and deep relationship with Him – to know the Heart of our Master.
Altars represent our utter need for God; and our ‘acknowledge in action’ of the world’s utter need for Him.
Both our personal and corporate altars must become the sacred time and place of Praise, Obedience, Worship, Encounter and Rest – where we are given P.O.W.E.R. from the Lord to live with the supernatural courage, faith, resolve, strength and wisdom required to fulfill God’s Call over us to His Holy Ministry and Mission.
In building our altars unto the Lord, we are blessed with the fundamental substance to leave a lasting legacy for our children, and our children’s children.
Your experience at our corporate altar – as a church - is indelibly linked to your individual dedication to your personal altar.
Your dedication in meeting God at your personal altar will result in a far deeper and infinitely revelatory experience at our corporate church altar. Conversely, your dedication and participation to our corporate altar will result in a far richer experience with the Lord at your personal altar.
Our Church building is the corporate altar that our predecessors – in holy faith and obedience - have built unto the Lord.
We are not only beneficiaries of their labour, we are custodians who must labour forth – in like, holy faith and obedience - in fulfilling God’s Kingdom mandate here on earth.
For the Church, Christ’s Kingdom Mandate is found in Luke 9:11; to which, our Lord has commanded us today to manifest:
His Ministry of Hospitality - To build the altar that invites the world to enter and receive His Salvation;
His Ministry of Holiness - To build the altar that consecrates and sanctifies all who comes; and
His Ministry of Healing - To build the altar where His miraculous healing, and restoration happens here on earth - for His glory sake.
THE SEASON OF REVIVAL is upon us!
Believe with us, that at our corporate altar unto God – the altar that bears the address: 2215 Dowler Place - souls will be saved; lives will be transformed; hearts will be mended; the blind will see, the lame will walk – that signs and wonders will be done through us by the Power of God, in the very examples of the Apostles! (Ref: Acts 15:12)
But even as we are envisioning the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, our lives must first be touched and transformed, our spirits must first be encouraged and empowered, our hearts must first be moved and mended, we must experience His healing and holiness ourselves; and we must first utterly realise and receive the absolutely efficacy of Christ’s Salvation over us.
Before we call upon the world to believe in Jesus, we must first believe in Him.
If we want the world to genuinely believe in Him; we must first genuinely believe in Him.
If what we believe is a fake gospel – a gospel where the rewards are of this world, the people whom we influence will be brought to a faith that is fake and misplaced, and will ultimately be lost.
Only the true gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of God’s coming and eternal Kingdom.
And the true gospel tells us that we are all sinners, but saved through our faith in Jesus Christ - who took our place and died on the Cross for the atonement and forgiveness of our sins; and rose from the grave that we may, likewise, live forevermore with Him.
In the weeks past, we have been speaking to walking in our Lord’s steps – learning, following and ministering in His example.
But today, we will be speaking to first receiving His Ministry in our lives.
As we mentioned earlier, one of the key verses that frames our ministry as a church is taken from Luke 9:11, where we are given to understand that Christ “welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.”
The Greek word for ‘welcomed’ used here (gk: apodechomai) is to “gladly accept” and “embrace”.
That our Lord Jesus welcomed and embraced the multitude makes us realise that while we were still unbelieving sinners – while you were still part of the ‘crowd’ - Christ singled you out and embraced you.
So before we endeavor to be welcoming as Christ is welcoming, we must first learn to be welcomed by Christ.
We must first learn to respond to His Welcome; receive His Welcome; and relate to Him in His Welcome and Embrace.
“4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, (the valley of the shadow of death) I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:4-6)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
Throughout Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals to us that Christ - our Shepherd and Saviour - knocks on the doors of our lives; and when we open the doors of our lives fully to Him, it is not we who welcome Him, but He who welcomes us, embraces us and even brings the table, the feast and the blessing of His Presence into our lives.
Remember, we have nothing to offer Christ – but our fullest attention to Him and absolute focus on Him.
Understand this well.
We have nothing to offer; for without Christ, we are nothing – for without Him, our life is sin; and death is our destiny.
When we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death even right now, when we are utterly helpless and hopeless, what do we have to offer Christ?
Only our fullest attention to Him and absolute focus on the fact that His rod and staff does - in fact - comfort us; for where we see His rod (His rebuke, discipline and closed doors) and staff (His guidance, comfort and protection), we know for certain that our Shepherd in right with us.
We have nothing; for our reality is that not only are we helpless, we are surrounded by our enemies.
Even though we are living each day in the presence of our enemies, our Lord Jesus assures us with infinite, divine certainty:
Look at me!
“Take heart! I have overcome the world! Remain in my rest… have peace! (Ref: John 16:33);
Look at the table I am preparing for you in the presence of your enemies!
Look at me while I anoint your head with oil; vindicating you, and giving you victory over your enemies – in their presence! (Ref: Psalm 23:4-5)
Don’t look at your enemies… look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me as I pour into your cup till it overflows!
There is much more where that came from.
More courage, more faith, more wisdom, more strength, more power, more life!
Just look at me!
Pay attention to me! Keep your focus on me!”
Turn around and look! You are not chasing goodness and love; goodness and love are chasing you! Child, you can’t get away from my goodness and love even if you tried!
Look around you!
You are dwelling in my house.
You are resting in the shelter of my wings.
You are covered, my child. I’ve got you. I’ve got you!
All you need to do is to pay attention to me – hear my voice; keep your focus on Me – open the door to your life; open your mind, heart, and soul to me – and I will bring into your life all you ever need and then some more.
It will not just be a meal; it will be a banquet that I am bringing to you.
I am here to eat with you. Are you here to eat with me?
I am here. Are you paying attention to me? Are you focused on me?
Are you ready and willing to be welcomed by me?
Look at me!”
Brethren, are you ready to be welcomed by Christ?
Know that in all of life, Christ welcomes you; He embraces you.
To be welcomed by Christ – in every sense – is the gateway into an eternal relationship with God; and this is also the gateway to the foundation of all ministry – to be welcoming as Christ is; living a life that is a constant and consistent invitation to the world, welcoming the unbelievers to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to receive the saving Grace of God through Christ.
As we endeavor to be welcoming as Christ is welcoming, we must first learn to be welcomed by Christ.
To learn to respond to His Welcome; we must ask ourselves when and where in our lives do we especially need to respond to His Welcome.
To learn to receive His Welcome; we must ask ourselves when and where in our lives do we especially need to receive His Welcome; to pay absolute attention to our Lord Jesus and keep our focus wholly on Him.
To learn to relate to Him in His Welcome and in His Embrace, we must first ask ourselves when and where in our lives do we especially need to know that He is right here with us.
Here are seven events of life that are universal to each of us.
This is by no means a comprehensive list; but it is a list that is encompassing of our reality as born-again believers; travellers with Jesus walking through this world that the Psalmist David calls “gay tsal-maw'-veth” – which - in English - is known as “the valley of the shadow of death.”
Here, it is noteworthy that David views this worldly life as a walk through the valley; for in his mind – and rightfully so – there are no hilltop, or much more, mountain-top experiences to be had in this life.
In his mind, the mountaintop experience happens only when we are finally and eternally in the Kingdom of God.
Our lives are lives in the valley. But in the valley, is where Christ welcomes us, and walks with us.
To learn to accept Christ’s welcome releases us from all the unnecessary heartaches and uncertainties of life.
This lesson is key to God’s promised fullness in every Christian’s life.
Learn it well; learn it now.
Seven events of life where we must learn to be welcomed by Christ
Sin and shame
In sin and shame, when you are truly contrite and repentant - you are welcomed by Christ.
It is important that I am very clear about this event.
Yes.
Christ welcomes the unrepentant sinner. (Ref: Romans 5:8)
However with the unrepentant, the door never gets opened (Ref: Revelation 3:20); for the unrepentant is neither willing, ready, nor prepared to receive Christ’s Welcome.
Christ welcomes us while we are still sinners, but only sinners who are genuine in our contrition and repentance before Him become recipients of God’s Salvific Grace and Mercy.
For only the truly repentant are willing, ready and prepared to open our lives to Christ and receive His embrace; and only the truly repentant are genuine about abandoning the ways of the world and embracing the ways of God’s Eternal Kingdom.
And this is how it works; and this is how it must work.
Christ’s death on the Cross is not a frivolous act, but an act that rightfully requires a response.
Christ’s death on the Cross is an act that must be received in utter faith.
People who persists in sin and perseveres in rejecting God’s love, grace and mercy is simply stepping away from Christ’s embrace; defiantly ignoring His knocks on their doors, and callously shutting down the convictions of the Holy Spirit.
In sin and shame, never step away from Christ.
Know that He desires to accept and embrace you.
But to fully receive His embrace, you must know your place.
You must know that you are a sinner in need of His Salvation; to be completely remorseful that you have sinned against Him, resolute in your willingness to turn away from sin, and even more resolute to turn towards Him.
To fully receive His embrace, you must know Christ, you must know and believe in His work on the Cross for the atonement of your sins and the power of His resurrection.
So, even in sin and shame, if you are truly contrite and repentant - know that you are welcomed, gladly accepted, fully forgiven and embraced by Christ.
In sin and shame, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His Embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my sin and shame…
I am truly sorry for my transgressions against You.
I repent of my wicked ways.
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am forgiven and saved by You.”
Anxieties
In your anxieties, know that you are embraced by Christ.
If you fully accept this reality that Christ is embracing you – that in Him, we lack nothing (Ref: Psalm 23:1) - all of life’s anxieties would become prayers that you would intuitively bring before the Lord.
Our Lord Jesus commands us, “Do not worry… your heavenly Father knows that you need them. … … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Ref: Matthew 6:25-34)
The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Worry and anxiety have no part in the Christian’s life.
Our real lack is never the things that we need or want, but faith in the reality of God’s Kingdom.
Every perceived lack must point us to the fullness that will be attained only in God’s eternal Kingdom through Christ.
Every perceived lack in this world must serve to deepen our need for the Lord and increase our desire for the coming of God’s Kingdom.
All we truly need and want can only be found in Christ.
In the certainty of His coming Kingdom, we worry needlessly.
Stop worrying. Now.
God knows our needs.
His Peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and His Coming Kingdom; if only we receive His embrace.
In your anxieties, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my anxieties…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
In You, I lack nothing!
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for You provide for my every need;
I find rest in You; and I am lifted up by You.”
Disappointments
In your disappointments, know that you are embraced by Christ.
You may be disappointed with the injustices of the world, the foolishness of governments, the broken systems, the stubbornness and wickedness of the world; but the simple knowledge that Christ is with you at this very moment would empower you with the deeper, more far-reaching and more lasting perspective that would give you hope in God’s ultimate redemption of all Creation – when His Kingdom completely overtakes the old, broken and wicked order that we live in today.
To be disappointed with the world is wicked; because at the root is found the belief that we can somehow redeem and save ourselves.
We cannot.
Disappointment with the world can only give way to greater devotion to God, and seeking first His Kingdom - for only our Lord Jesus Christ has completely satisfied the absolute condition of our redemption.
Our Lord Jesus is so completely uncompromising with each of us because He knows that every life that is not based on our complete faithfulness to Himself will result in ultimate death.
Our Lord never placed His faith in anyone, nor did He place His confidence in human systems; yet He remained welcoming to us, embracing each who draws close to Him.
Because Christ's confidence was found wholly in the Heavenly Father's Salvific plan through Him, throughout His life and crucifixion, He was never disappointed; and ever hopeful that we can be saved.
If we place our trust on anything human, not only will we be disappointed, we will despair.
Never be disappointed; place all your hope in Christ.
Look only to Him; and know that He is Your God.
In your disappointments, know that you are welcomed By Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my disappointments…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
I place my hope, and life, wholly in Your Hands.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
For You alone are my Hope;
I am defended, delivered, vindicated and saved by You.”
Grief
In your grief, know that you are embraced by Christ.
What is grief?
Grief is a form of enduring love for those who are no longer with us.
Healthy Grief, then, must translate and extend this enduring love, to those who are still with us.
To this, it is so important to know that Christ welcomes and embraces us in our moments and seasons of grief.
Open your heart to Him; let Him fill the gaps and emptiness in your heart – for only He can do so.
When you are grieving, receive Him, and let Him embrace you.
God will not take away your grief, because He will not take away your ability to love; but what he will do is to give you the assurance, courage and strength to transform your grief into love for those who remain, and transform your grief into hope in His Perfect Will and in His Kingdom.
In your struggles, know that Christ welcomes you; He is fully present to you; His hands are constantly stretched out to hold you, to help you, to embrace you and to fill you.
Receive Him.
Live in His strength; live in His love.
In your grief, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my grief…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
Thank You for Your enduring love in my life.
Fill me; and lead me to love more deeply.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am comforted and loved by You.”
Struggles
In your struggles, know that Christ welcomes you.
Christ is fully present to you; for He is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
His hands are constantly stretched out - to hold you, to help you, to embrace you.
Our Lord reassures us in John 16:33:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
With regards to the powers of sin and darkness, we are further assured that:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:13-14)
Step away from everything; and follow Christ’s steps.
The moment you rid yourself of idolatry, you rid yourself of all struggles.
We struggle only because we need to choose between God and ourselves.
Every struggle is found in that choice.
Our Lord Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
The moment we are resolute in always choosing God, our struggles cease.
The Apostle Paul exhorted us:
“Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
If we belong to the church to which the gates of hades will not overcome (Ref: Matthew 16:18); if we truly belong to God who has given us “the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:57) – we will humble ourselves “under God’s mighty hand” (1 Peter 5:6) and resolve to live in His Peace and Rest.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome every power of this dark world; nothing is beyond Him, and nothing escapes Him.
Receive Him; live in His Peace, live in His Strength; live in His Victory!
In your struggles, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my struggles…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me. You have overcome the world!
You are my Peace; You are my Perspective;
You are my Strength; You are my Victory!
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am helped, empowered and protected by You”
Sickness
In sickness, know that Christ welcomes you.
He is fully present to you. Find rest in Christ alone!
The fact that He is alive give us complete faith in His promises of healing, and hope in His Power of Resurrection in us.
Listen carefully.
As long as you are conscious, you have the ability to pray, and draw close to Jesus.
There is healing in His Presence.
Stop looking at the sickness, turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Stop paying attention on the sickness, pay attention to Jesus.
Stop focusing on the sickness, focus on Jesus!
Focus on His welcome; focus on His embrace; focus on His love for you.
“Live by faith and not by sight!” (2 Cor 5:7)
Even as you get treatment for your sickness, live fully - each day - with Jesus, and for Jesus!
Do not worry about what tomorrow may bring; it is as needless as it is unknowable.
God alone knows; and He alone will prepare and strengthen you – come what may.
In fact, get into the habit and mindset that each day could potentially be our last.
From today on, live for Christ, and live with Christ every moment of our lives – in sickness and health; and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness – a splendidly achievable feat regardless of our physical, mental and emotional state!
All it takes – to live for Christ, and to live with Him each and every day - is obedience to the heart and will of our Master.
Know His heart, and your Master will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant… come and share in my happiness.” (Matthew 25:21-23)
In sickness, know that Christ welcomes you.
He is fully present to you. His healing is upon you. He’s got you.
Believe in Him; believe in His Salvation; believe in His healing!
In your sickness, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in sickness…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am healed by You.
By Your Power, I will live by faith; and not by sight!
In Your Name, I know that I am healed!”
Death
In death, know that Christ welcomes you.
Especially in death, know that He is fully present to you; and that He’s got you.
One of man’s greatest fear is uncertainty – to go into the unknown.
If you profess Christ to be Your Lord and Saviour, know that in death – especially in death - Jesus our Shepherd is right by your side.
Christ alone is “the resurrection and the life!” (John 11:25)
We can hold on to Him in death, as we do in life.
Do you know how gracious God is to us?
He knows our innate fear of uncertainty and death; and that is why He grants us the opportunity to practice holding on to Him every night.
What do you think about when you are lying on your bed at night preparing to enter sleep?
Stop thinking about anything; start praying till you sleep – in the spiritual discipline of holding on to Jesus; one that will bode well for you in life, and in death, passing from this world into His Holy Presence.
Don’t just get into the habit of praying before you sleep, pray till you sleep.
This will prove to be one of your most important daily spiritual disciplines.
As you prepare to enter sleep; hold on to Christ. Pray to Him, talk to Him; learn to accept and receive His welcome.
Invite the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and reveal the sins that harbor in your heart.
Be open to the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He leads you to contrition and repentance.
Come before God to ask for His forgiveness.
Receive the Spirit’s Power to turn to Christ and live wholly in Him; free from the bondages of sin.
Pray till you sleep; practice holding on tightly to Jesus.
Ask Him anything; ask Him everything.
Bring everything that concerns you before the Lord; cast all your cares upon Him.
No time to pray?
The moments before you sleep at night is the perfect time to pray – during which, you have absolutely no excuse not to pray!
Not many of us realize that when we sleep, even an average person would stop breathing a few of times in the course of the night.
In every sense, we are plunged into the deathly kind of uncertainty that presents us with the divine opportunity to hold on to Jesus.
As you lie on your bed at night, hold on to Jesus; for that day will come, when our life on earth will come to an end.
I am not being prophetic about it; it is our reality.
But when that eventuality actually comes round, are you prepared?
Don’t get into the habit of praying before you sleep; get into the habit of praying till you sleep.
Hold on to Jesus; for He is holding on to you.
In death, know that Christ welcomes you.
He is fully present to you. He’s got you.
If you know how to hold on to Him in life, I guarantee you that – in the likely event of the first death - you will know how to hold on to Him till you see Him face to face.
Faith in Christ destroys all fear; especially the fear of death.
In death, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in death…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me. Your Hand reaches out to me.
I receive and return Your embrace, Lord Jesus;
for I will be resurrected to live with You forever in Your Glorious and Perfect Kingdom”
In all of life – especially our moments in the darkest valley; in sin and shame, anxieties, disappointments, grief, struggles, sickness and death - Christ welcomes and embraces you.
Give Him your fullest attention and absolute focus; keep your eyes solely on Christ.
If you are truly Christ’s disciple - receive His welcome; conscientiously respond to Him in prayer; and in utter faith and gratitude, return His embrace.
Daily endeavor to be welcoming as Christ is welcoming, but not before first learning to be welcomed by Christ.
Look at Jesus! Keep your eyes on Him!
Hold on tightly to Him as He holds on tightly to you.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You for welcoming me into Your Life and into Your Kingdom.
Holy Spirit, empower me each day to return Christ’s embrace; and to do so even more when I am faced with sin and shame, anxieties, disappointments, grief, struggles, sickness and even death.
Grant me the courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to be welcomed by my Saviour; to fully receive Him – that I may be absolutely focused upon Him and completely attentive to Him.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In the weeks past, we have been speaking to the biblical significance and necessity of building both our personal altars to the Lord; and as His People – our Corporate Altar unto Him.
Building altars to the Lord – and being fully present to Him there habitually - is vitally necessary as it represents the outward expression of our utter, inner desire to establish a genuine and deep relationship with Him – to know the Heart of our Master.
Altars represent our utter need for God; and our ‘acknowledge in action’ of the world’s utter need for Him.
Both our personal and corporate altars must become the sacred time and place of Praise, Obedience, Worship, Encounter and Rest – where we are given P.O.W.E.R. from the Lord to live with the supernatural courage, faith, resolve, strength and wisdom required to fulfill God’s Call over us to His Holy Ministry and Mission.
In building our altars unto the Lord, we are blessed with the fundamental substance to leave a lasting legacy for our children, and our children’s children.
Your experience at our corporate altar – as a church - is indelibly linked to your individual dedication to your personal altar.
Your dedication in meeting God at your personal altar will result in a far deeper and infinitely revelatory experience at our corporate church altar. Conversely, your dedication and participation to our corporate altar will result in a far richer experience with the Lord at your personal altar.
Our Church building is the corporate altar that our predecessors – in holy faith and obedience - have built unto the Lord.
We are not only beneficiaries of their labour, we are custodians who must labour forth – in like, holy faith and obedience - in fulfilling God’s Kingdom mandate here on earth.
For the Church, Christ’s Kingdom Mandate is found in Luke 9:11; to which, our Lord has commanded us today to manifest:
His Ministry of Hospitality - To build the altar that invites the world to enter and receive His Salvation;
His Ministry of Holiness - To build the altar that consecrates and sanctifies all who comes; and
His Ministry of Healing - To build the altar where His miraculous healing, and restoration happens here on earth - for His glory sake.
THE SEASON OF REVIVAL is upon us!
Believe with us, that at our corporate altar unto God – the altar that bears the address: 2215 Dowler Place - souls will be saved; lives will be transformed; hearts will be mended; the blind will see, the lame will walk – that signs and wonders will be done through us by the Power of God, in the very examples of the Apostles! (Ref: Acts 15:12)
But even as we are envisioning the mighty work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, our lives must first be touched and transformed, our spirits must first be encouraged and empowered, our hearts must first be moved and mended, we must experience His healing and holiness ourselves; and we must first utterly realise and receive the absolutely efficacy of Christ’s Salvation over us.
Before we call upon the world to believe in Jesus, we must first believe in Him.
If we want the world to genuinely believe in Him; we must first genuinely believe in Him.
If what we believe is a fake gospel – a gospel where the rewards are of this world, the people whom we influence will be brought to a faith that is fake and misplaced, and will ultimately be lost.
Only the true gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of God’s coming and eternal Kingdom.
And the true gospel tells us that we are all sinners, but saved through our faith in Jesus Christ - who took our place and died on the Cross for the atonement and forgiveness of our sins; and rose from the grave that we may, likewise, live forevermore with Him.
In the weeks past, we have been speaking to walking in our Lord’s steps – learning, following and ministering in His example.
But today, we will be speaking to first receiving His Ministry in our lives.
As we mentioned earlier, one of the key verses that frames our ministry as a church is taken from Luke 9:11, where we are given to understand that Christ “welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.”
The Greek word for ‘welcomed’ used here (gk: apodechomai) is to “gladly accept” and “embrace”.
That our Lord Jesus welcomed and embraced the multitude makes us realise that while we were still unbelieving sinners – while you were still part of the ‘crowd’ - Christ singled you out and embraced you.
So before we endeavor to be welcoming as Christ is welcoming, we must first learn to be welcomed by Christ.
We must first learn to respond to His Welcome; receive His Welcome; and relate to Him in His Welcome and Embrace.
“4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, (the valley of the shadow of death) I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:4-6)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
Throughout Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals to us that Christ - our Shepherd and Saviour - knocks on the doors of our lives; and when we open the doors of our lives fully to Him, it is not we who welcome Him, but He who welcomes us, embraces us and even brings the table, the feast and the blessing of His Presence into our lives.
Remember, we have nothing to offer Christ – but our fullest attention to Him and absolute focus on Him.
Understand this well.
We have nothing to offer; for without Christ, we are nothing – for without Him, our life is sin; and death is our destiny.
When we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death even right now, when we are utterly helpless and hopeless, what do we have to offer Christ?
Only our fullest attention to Him and absolute focus on the fact that His rod and staff does - in fact - comfort us; for where we see His rod (His rebuke, discipline and closed doors) and staff (His guidance, comfort and protection), we know for certain that our Shepherd in right with us.
We have nothing; for our reality is that not only are we helpless, we are surrounded by our enemies.
Even though we are living each day in the presence of our enemies, our Lord Jesus assures us with infinite, divine certainty:
Look at me!
“Take heart! I have overcome the world! Remain in my rest… have peace! (Ref: John 16:33);
Look at the table I am preparing for you in the presence of your enemies!
Look at me while I anoint your head with oil; vindicating you, and giving you victory over your enemies – in their presence! (Ref: Psalm 23:4-5)
Don’t look at your enemies… look at me!
Look at me!
Look at me as I pour into your cup till it overflows!
There is much more where that came from.
More courage, more faith, more wisdom, more strength, more power, more life!
Just look at me!
Pay attention to me! Keep your focus on me!”
Turn around and look! You are not chasing goodness and love; goodness and love are chasing you! Child, you can’t get away from my goodness and love even if you tried!
Look around you!
You are dwelling in my house.
You are resting in the shelter of my wings.
You are covered, my child. I’ve got you. I’ve got you!
All you need to do is to pay attention to me – hear my voice; keep your focus on Me – open the door to your life; open your mind, heart, and soul to me – and I will bring into your life all you ever need and then some more.
It will not just be a meal; it will be a banquet that I am bringing to you.
I am here to eat with you. Are you here to eat with me?
I am here. Are you paying attention to me? Are you focused on me?
Are you ready and willing to be welcomed by me?
Look at me!”
Brethren, are you ready to be welcomed by Christ?
Know that in all of life, Christ welcomes you; He embraces you.
To be welcomed by Christ – in every sense – is the gateway into an eternal relationship with God; and this is also the gateway to the foundation of all ministry – to be welcoming as Christ is; living a life that is a constant and consistent invitation to the world, welcoming the unbelievers to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to receive the saving Grace of God through Christ.
As we endeavor to be welcoming as Christ is welcoming, we must first learn to be welcomed by Christ.
To learn to respond to His Welcome; we must ask ourselves when and where in our lives do we especially need to respond to His Welcome.
To learn to receive His Welcome; we must ask ourselves when and where in our lives do we especially need to receive His Welcome; to pay absolute attention to our Lord Jesus and keep our focus wholly on Him.
To learn to relate to Him in His Welcome and in His Embrace, we must first ask ourselves when and where in our lives do we especially need to know that He is right here with us.
Here are seven events of life that are universal to each of us.
This is by no means a comprehensive list; but it is a list that is encompassing of our reality as born-again believers; travellers with Jesus walking through this world that the Psalmist David calls “gay tsal-maw'-veth” – which - in English - is known as “the valley of the shadow of death.”
Here, it is noteworthy that David views this worldly life as a walk through the valley; for in his mind – and rightfully so – there are no hilltop, or much more, mountain-top experiences to be had in this life.
In his mind, the mountaintop experience happens only when we are finally and eternally in the Kingdom of God.
Our lives are lives in the valley. But in the valley, is where Christ welcomes us, and walks with us.
To learn to accept Christ’s welcome releases us from all the unnecessary heartaches and uncertainties of life.
This lesson is key to God’s promised fullness in every Christian’s life.
Learn it well; learn it now.
Seven events of life where we must learn to be welcomed by Christ
- Sin and shame;
- Anxieties;
- Disappointments;
- Grief;
- Struggles;
- Sickness; and
- Death.
Sin and shame
In sin and shame, when you are truly contrite and repentant - you are welcomed by Christ.
It is important that I am very clear about this event.
Yes.
Christ welcomes the unrepentant sinner. (Ref: Romans 5:8)
However with the unrepentant, the door never gets opened (Ref: Revelation 3:20); for the unrepentant is neither willing, ready, nor prepared to receive Christ’s Welcome.
Christ welcomes us while we are still sinners, but only sinners who are genuine in our contrition and repentance before Him become recipients of God’s Salvific Grace and Mercy.
For only the truly repentant are willing, ready and prepared to open our lives to Christ and receive His embrace; and only the truly repentant are genuine about abandoning the ways of the world and embracing the ways of God’s Eternal Kingdom.
And this is how it works; and this is how it must work.
Christ’s death on the Cross is not a frivolous act, but an act that rightfully requires a response.
Christ’s death on the Cross is an act that must be received in utter faith.
People who persists in sin and perseveres in rejecting God’s love, grace and mercy is simply stepping away from Christ’s embrace; defiantly ignoring His knocks on their doors, and callously shutting down the convictions of the Holy Spirit.
In sin and shame, never step away from Christ.
Know that He desires to accept and embrace you.
But to fully receive His embrace, you must know your place.
You must know that you are a sinner in need of His Salvation; to be completely remorseful that you have sinned against Him, resolute in your willingness to turn away from sin, and even more resolute to turn towards Him.
To fully receive His embrace, you must know Christ, you must know and believe in His work on the Cross for the atonement of your sins and the power of His resurrection.
So, even in sin and shame, if you are truly contrite and repentant - know that you are welcomed, gladly accepted, fully forgiven and embraced by Christ.
In sin and shame, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His Embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my sin and shame…
I am truly sorry for my transgressions against You.
I repent of my wicked ways.
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am forgiven and saved by You.”
Anxieties
In your anxieties, know that you are embraced by Christ.
If you fully accept this reality that Christ is embracing you – that in Him, we lack nothing (Ref: Psalm 23:1) - all of life’s anxieties would become prayers that you would intuitively bring before the Lord.
Our Lord Jesus commands us, “Do not worry… your heavenly Father knows that you need them. … … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Ref: Matthew 6:25-34)
The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Worry and anxiety have no part in the Christian’s life.
Our real lack is never the things that we need or want, but faith in the reality of God’s Kingdom.
Every perceived lack must point us to the fullness that will be attained only in God’s eternal Kingdom through Christ.
Every perceived lack in this world must serve to deepen our need for the Lord and increase our desire for the coming of God’s Kingdom.
All we truly need and want can only be found in Christ.
In the certainty of His coming Kingdom, we worry needlessly.
Stop worrying. Now.
God knows our needs.
His Peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and His Coming Kingdom; if only we receive His embrace.
In your anxieties, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my anxieties…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
In You, I lack nothing!
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for You provide for my every need;
I find rest in You; and I am lifted up by You.”
Disappointments
In your disappointments, know that you are embraced by Christ.
You may be disappointed with the injustices of the world, the foolishness of governments, the broken systems, the stubbornness and wickedness of the world; but the simple knowledge that Christ is with you at this very moment would empower you with the deeper, more far-reaching and more lasting perspective that would give you hope in God’s ultimate redemption of all Creation – when His Kingdom completely overtakes the old, broken and wicked order that we live in today.
To be disappointed with the world is wicked; because at the root is found the belief that we can somehow redeem and save ourselves.
We cannot.
Disappointment with the world can only give way to greater devotion to God, and seeking first His Kingdom - for only our Lord Jesus Christ has completely satisfied the absolute condition of our redemption.
Our Lord Jesus is so completely uncompromising with each of us because He knows that every life that is not based on our complete faithfulness to Himself will result in ultimate death.
Our Lord never placed His faith in anyone, nor did He place His confidence in human systems; yet He remained welcoming to us, embracing each who draws close to Him.
Because Christ's confidence was found wholly in the Heavenly Father's Salvific plan through Him, throughout His life and crucifixion, He was never disappointed; and ever hopeful that we can be saved.
If we place our trust on anything human, not only will we be disappointed, we will despair.
Never be disappointed; place all your hope in Christ.
Look only to Him; and know that He is Your God.
In your disappointments, know that you are welcomed By Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my disappointments…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
I place my hope, and life, wholly in Your Hands.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
For You alone are my Hope;
I am defended, delivered, vindicated and saved by You.”
Grief
In your grief, know that you are embraced by Christ.
What is grief?
Grief is a form of enduring love for those who are no longer with us.
Healthy Grief, then, must translate and extend this enduring love, to those who are still with us.
To this, it is so important to know that Christ welcomes and embraces us in our moments and seasons of grief.
Open your heart to Him; let Him fill the gaps and emptiness in your heart – for only He can do so.
When you are grieving, receive Him, and let Him embrace you.
God will not take away your grief, because He will not take away your ability to love; but what he will do is to give you the assurance, courage and strength to transform your grief into love for those who remain, and transform your grief into hope in His Perfect Will and in His Kingdom.
In your struggles, know that Christ welcomes you; He is fully present to you; His hands are constantly stretched out to hold you, to help you, to embrace you and to fill you.
Receive Him.
Live in His strength; live in His love.
In your grief, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my grief…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
Thank You for Your enduring love in my life.
Fill me; and lead me to love more deeply.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am comforted and loved by You.”
Struggles
In your struggles, know that Christ welcomes you.
Christ is fully present to you; for He is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
His hands are constantly stretched out - to hold you, to help you, to embrace you.
Our Lord reassures us in John 16:33:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
With regards to the powers of sin and darkness, we are further assured that:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:13-14)
Step away from everything; and follow Christ’s steps.
The moment you rid yourself of idolatry, you rid yourself of all struggles.
We struggle only because we need to choose between God and ourselves.
Every struggle is found in that choice.
Our Lord Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
The moment we are resolute in always choosing God, our struggles cease.
The Apostle Paul exhorted us:
“Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
If we belong to the church to which the gates of hades will not overcome (Ref: Matthew 16:18); if we truly belong to God who has given us “the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15:57) – we will humble ourselves “under God’s mighty hand” (1 Peter 5:6) and resolve to live in His Peace and Rest.
Our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome every power of this dark world; nothing is beyond Him, and nothing escapes Him.
Receive Him; live in His Peace, live in His Strength; live in His Victory!
In your struggles, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in my struggles…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me. You have overcome the world!
You are my Peace; You are my Perspective;
You are my Strength; You are my Victory!
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am helped, empowered and protected by You”
Sickness
In sickness, know that Christ welcomes you.
He is fully present to you. Find rest in Christ alone!
The fact that He is alive give us complete faith in His promises of healing, and hope in His Power of Resurrection in us.
Listen carefully.
As long as you are conscious, you have the ability to pray, and draw close to Jesus.
There is healing in His Presence.
Stop looking at the sickness, turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Stop paying attention on the sickness, pay attention to Jesus.
Stop focusing on the sickness, focus on Jesus!
Focus on His welcome; focus on His embrace; focus on His love for you.
“Live by faith and not by sight!” (2 Cor 5:7)
Even as you get treatment for your sickness, live fully - each day - with Jesus, and for Jesus!
Do not worry about what tomorrow may bring; it is as needless as it is unknowable.
God alone knows; and He alone will prepare and strengthen you – come what may.
In fact, get into the habit and mindset that each day could potentially be our last.
From today on, live for Christ, and live with Christ every moment of our lives – in sickness and health; and by the Power of the Holy Spirit, seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness – a splendidly achievable feat regardless of our physical, mental and emotional state!
All it takes – to live for Christ, and to live with Him each and every day - is obedience to the heart and will of our Master.
Know His heart, and your Master will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant… come and share in my happiness.” (Matthew 25:21-23)
In sickness, know that Christ welcomes you.
He is fully present to you. His healing is upon you. He’s got you.
Believe in Him; believe in His Salvation; believe in His healing!
In your sickness, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in sickness…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me.
I receive and embrace You, Lord Jesus;
for I am healed by You.
By Your Power, I will live by faith; and not by sight!
In Your Name, I know that I am healed!”
Death
In death, know that Christ welcomes you.
Especially in death, know that He is fully present to you; and that He’s got you.
One of man’s greatest fear is uncertainty – to go into the unknown.
If you profess Christ to be Your Lord and Saviour, know that in death – especially in death - Jesus our Shepherd is right by your side.
Christ alone is “the resurrection and the life!” (John 11:25)
We can hold on to Him in death, as we do in life.
Do you know how gracious God is to us?
He knows our innate fear of uncertainty and death; and that is why He grants us the opportunity to practice holding on to Him every night.
What do you think about when you are lying on your bed at night preparing to enter sleep?
Stop thinking about anything; start praying till you sleep – in the spiritual discipline of holding on to Jesus; one that will bode well for you in life, and in death, passing from this world into His Holy Presence.
Don’t just get into the habit of praying before you sleep, pray till you sleep.
This will prove to be one of your most important daily spiritual disciplines.
As you prepare to enter sleep; hold on to Christ. Pray to Him, talk to Him; learn to accept and receive His welcome.
Invite the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and reveal the sins that harbor in your heart.
Be open to the ministry of the Holy Spirit as He leads you to contrition and repentance.
Come before God to ask for His forgiveness.
Receive the Spirit’s Power to turn to Christ and live wholly in Him; free from the bondages of sin.
Pray till you sleep; practice holding on tightly to Jesus.
Ask Him anything; ask Him everything.
Bring everything that concerns you before the Lord; cast all your cares upon Him.
No time to pray?
The moments before you sleep at night is the perfect time to pray – during which, you have absolutely no excuse not to pray!
Not many of us realize that when we sleep, even an average person would stop breathing a few of times in the course of the night.
In every sense, we are plunged into the deathly kind of uncertainty that presents us with the divine opportunity to hold on to Jesus.
As you lie on your bed at night, hold on to Jesus; for that day will come, when our life on earth will come to an end.
I am not being prophetic about it; it is our reality.
But when that eventuality actually comes round, are you prepared?
Don’t get into the habit of praying before you sleep; get into the habit of praying till you sleep.
Hold on to Jesus; for He is holding on to you.
In death, know that Christ welcomes you.
He is fully present to you. He’s got you.
If you know how to hold on to Him in life, I guarantee you that – in the likely event of the first death - you will know how to hold on to Him till you see Him face to face.
Faith in Christ destroys all fear; especially the fear of death.
In death, know that you are welcomed by Christ – return His embrace.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, in death…
I know that I am welcomed by You;
For You are with me. Your Hand reaches out to me.
I receive and return Your embrace, Lord Jesus;
for I will be resurrected to live with You forever in Your Glorious and Perfect Kingdom”
In all of life – especially our moments in the darkest valley; in sin and shame, anxieties, disappointments, grief, struggles, sickness and death - Christ welcomes and embraces you.
Give Him your fullest attention and absolute focus; keep your eyes solely on Christ.
If you are truly Christ’s disciple - receive His welcome; conscientiously respond to Him in prayer; and in utter faith and gratitude, return His embrace.
Daily endeavor to be welcoming as Christ is welcoming, but not before first learning to be welcomed by Christ.
Look at Jesus! Keep your eyes on Him!
Hold on tightly to Him as He holds on tightly to you.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank You for welcoming me into Your Life and into Your Kingdom.
Holy Spirit, empower me each day to return Christ’s embrace; and to do so even more when I am faced with sin and shame, anxieties, disappointments, grief, struggles, sickness and even death.
Grant me the courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to be welcomed by my Saviour; to fully receive Him – that I may be absolutely focused upon Him and completely attentive to Him.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.