http://bible.com/events/21464171

Galatians 3:26-29

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

–The church in Galatia was experiencing Jews and Gentiles worshipping on equal footing, which previously represented a significant cultural divide.

-There was opposition, not just coming from outside of the church, but within the church.

-We are all children of God, meaning there should be no barrier. Specifically:

-No cultural barrier (Jew or Gentile)

-No socioeconomic barriers (slave or free)

-No gender barrier (male or female)

-Paul is saying that I am to see Christ in you first. If I see Christ in you first, then how I treat you is a reflection of how I see God.

-We are all one IN CHRIST, meaning we find our identity and calling in Him first.

Jesus deliberately and intentionality sought out the unacceptable and the marginalized in society.

-Matthew 9 – calls a tax collector

-Mark 2 – eats with sinners

-Luke 5 – ministers to lepers

-John 5 – engages the Samaritan woman

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

-The ultimate barrier between us and God that ever existed was sin, and God sent Jesus to eliminate that barrier

-And He has now called us to His ministry of reconciliation

-There’s something all ambassadors do: THEY GO. They leave their home to go to a foreign land.

-Likewise, the implication of your ministry of reconciliation is not that we all huddle within these four walls and wait for folks to come.

-Our ministry of reconciliation is active, not passive. In fact, you cannot reconcile passively.

The bottom line:

We are called to BUILD BRIDGES not BARRIERS.

Building bridges – When you reach across boundaries as Jesus did to build loving relationships

Our response must be personal. Jesus built bridges one person at a time. We must do the same.

http://bible.com/events/19328552

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – some background:

-King Nebuchadnezzar built a statue of gold that was 96 feet tall and 9 feet wide.

-The story doesn’t tell us who the statue represented. Some think it was one of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods or maybe it was a statue of him.

-He demanded that all ranking officials pledge their loyalty to him by worshiping the statue, thus boosting his ego. 

-Nebuchadnezzar had appointed the three Hebrew men over the administration of the province of Babylon as a favor to Daniel. (see Daniel 2)

-Their promotion irritated certain Chaldeans who began looking for a way to get them in trouble.

-The decree was that anyone who didn’t fall down and worship the statue would immediately be thrown into a fiery furnace.

-The Chaldeans were only too happy to point out to Nebuchadnezzar that the three Hebrew men were not bowing down.

Daniel 3:13-30NIV

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,  14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?  15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”  16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual  20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.  22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,  23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.  24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”  25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”  26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,  27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”  30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 

Bottom line: 

NOT SAVED FROM THE FIRE BUT SAVED IN THE FIRE

-It’s not if you experience the fire, but when

-It’s not if you face trials, but when 

-It’s not if you are faced with a moment of decision, a moment of temptation, but when 

-It’s not if you are asked to fall in line with the kingdom of this world, but when

1. The power of God gives you the ability to obey 

-We live in a world where there is a pull towards self, towards living for only what’s in front of me, towards claiming to to be in Christ, but not living a transformed life. 

-Our obedience starts in the small moments right in front of you. 

-If you can’t obey in the moment in front of you, how will you ever be able to stand in the moment of crisis? 

2. The power of God gives you courage as you obey

-No one ever said that a life of faith in Christ wouldn’t require courage – in fact, “be strong and courageous” is one of the most frequent exhortations in Scripture. 

-For many of us, obedience is limited by opposition.

“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.” John 16:33

1 Peter 4:12-13NIV

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 

“Peter is saying that the fiery furnace does not automatically make us better. We must recognize, depend on, speak with, and believe in God while in the fire. God himself says in Isaiah 43 that he will be with us, walking beside us in the fire. Knowing him personally while in our affliction is the key to becoming stronger rather than weaker in it.”

-Timothy Keller

Other Scriptures for further study/reflection:

2 Corinthians 12:9NIV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

John 16:33NIV

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.” 

Matthew 28:20NIV

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Romans 4:20-21NIV

20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 

Isaiah 43:1-2NIV

1 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob,he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze.

http://bible.com/events/18795900

We are introduced to David with this description: “a man after God’s own heart…”(1 Samuel 16:14) 

Perhaps the reason he was described this way is because David was a worshipper.

• • •

2 Samuel 6:12-22NIV

12 Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.  13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.  14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,  15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.  17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.  18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.  19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.  20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”  21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.  22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 

• • •

-The Ark of the Covenant represented the physical manifestation of God here on earth

-David is leading a military contingent returning the Ark of the Covenant back to its home in Jerusalem after it had been captured in war

-David worships “with all his might” 

-This story is not just how David worshipped but also Michal’s reaction to that worship

-This is about worship, showing the heart for God juxtaposed against a heart focused on self

• • •

Worship (David)

-Passionate (“with all his might”)

-Expressive (singing and dancing)

-God-centered (“I will celebrate before the Lord”)

-Concerned with the heart (“It was before the Lord”)

• • •

“Non-Worship” (Michal)

-Passive (“watched from a window”)

-Held back (observing)

-Human-focused (“How the king of Israel has distinguished himself”)

-Concerned with appearances (“as any vulgar fellow would”)

• • •

The bottom line:

The heart of God moves me from observation to participation. 

• • •

John 4:23-24NIV

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 

• • •

Psalms 149:3NIV

3 Let them praise his name with dancingand make music to him with timbrel and harp. 

• • •

Psalms 30:1-12NIV

1 I will exalt you, Lord,for you lifted me out of the depthsand did not let my enemies gloat over me.  2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,and you healed me.  3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;you spared me from going down to the pit.  4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;praise his holy name.  5 For his anger lasts only a moment,but his favor lasts a lifetime;weeping may stay for the night,but rejoicing comes in the morning.  6 When I felt secure, I said,“I will never be shaken.”  7 Lord, when you favored me,you made my royal mountain stand firm;but when you hid your face,I was dismayed.  8 To you, Lord, I called;to the Lord I cried for mercy:  9 “What is gained if I am silenced,if I go down to the pit?Will the dust praise you?Will it proclaim your faithfulness?  10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.”  11 You turned my wailing into dancing;you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,  12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. 

• • •

Psalms 150:1-6NIV

1 Praise the Lord.Praise God in his sanctuary;praise him in his mighty heavens.  2 Praise him for his acts of power;praise him for his surpassing greatness.  3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,praise him with the harp and lyre,  4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,praise him with the strings and pipe,  5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,praise him with resounding cymbals.  6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.Praise the Lord.