Today was a great day as we came together to celebrate Alicia’s baptism. Our message for today centered on baptism and the grace of God that is so beautifully captured in the symbolism of baptism.

Eph 3:17-18 gives us an indication of the nature of God. Christ’s love is wide and long and high and deep. It is wonderful. When Moses saw God, he saw God’s very nature of love and compassion. The whole trinity is grace and embraces grace.

Grace is what God does when we don’t deserve it

God lavishes His grace upon us. He pours it out upon us. We don’t deserve it, but He still lavishes it upon us. His grace is released to all who call upon His name. (Titus 2:11, Rom 3:24)

Symbolism of Baptism
Washing our sins away - 1 Pet 3:21 Baptism reminds us how the shedding of Jesus blood washed away our sin. We are now clean and forgiven.

Equating with Jesus - Rom 6:4 Baptism helps us to identify and associate with what Jesus did on the cross.

Transforming us into new life - 2 Cor 5:16-17 We have gone from death into life. We are a brand new creation, with new life in Jesus. Don’t regard anyone from a worldly point of view. See people differently. Don’t be judgmental or categorising.

When you are a new creation, you also see yours differently. See yourself through God’s eyes. Make sure that you forgive yourself because God has forgiven you.

Have a great week and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! - 2 Pet 3:18

In communion today we were reminded in Col 2:13-15 that the death of Jesus on the cross defeated death, sin and the law and made a public spectacle of the powers and authorities. Death has been defeated so we have the promise of eternal life and Jesus living in us. Jesus defeated sin. He totally removed it. He has removed all the requirements of the law. It’s not about do’s and don’ts any more, it’s a matter of the heart. Every spiritual authority and power that we face in this community today as we try to reach out to them, has been broken, publicly humiliated.

Mike then continued the theme of keeping your heart. It’s all about the heart. It’s not about status or money. When we leave, we need to leave something of God in this world. We need to be something and do something that counts for Jesus Christ. We’ve got to leave something with people and invest in people. Jesus left something for the people. He could have failed - if He didn’t have the possibility of failing, it would not have been a test. Jesus was true to what God called Him to be. He was a human being with passions and frailties just like us.
Just like Jesus, we have the power of choice to sin. We have the choice to sin or the choice to not sin.

We all have the capacity to be something, do something and leave something of lasting value on this planet.

In 2 Sam 23:9-10 we read about Eleazar. He is an example to follow. Men gathered to David which means he had something that was significant. We always want the victory, but there’ll always be philistines.
1. Eleazar stood with his king. The king was a the front, not retreating. In just the same way our love for Jesus is why we stand and submit to Him. He wants us to stand with Him. He can not do what He wants to do unless we stand with Him. In Ps 110:2-3 it says that we shall be volunteers in the day of His power. Today is the day of His power, now is the time of His power and we are filled with His power. We have the power - we need to use it. Eleazar stood with His king because he knew who his king was. Ps 46:10 tells us to be still and know that He is God. Daniel 11:32 says that they who know their God will do exploits. If we know who God is, we will have no trouble healing the sick, seeing the cripples walk. It’s time for us to rise up. Jesus is inside us.

We as Christians need to learn how to fight. God is our provider. He provided for Abraham when he gave him a ram as he was going to sacrifice his son.

2. Eleazar stood his ground. He refused to retreat or back down or give up. The kingdom of heaven is taken by violence. God wants us to fight. We are called to wrestle against powers and principalities. We are called to take out the strong man. Resist the devil and he will flee.

3. Stand with your sword in the hand. Our sword is the bible. We are sons. We are heirs. Don’t allow the enemy to say things to you that influences you.

Hold tight to the Word. Know who God is. Stand and fight. Be a warrior for God.

Have a great week. Continue to seek and search God with all your heart and find out who God is.