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. 

http://bible.com/events/16764194

Esther 4:1-14NIV

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.  2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.  3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.  4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.  5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.  6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate.  7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.  8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.  9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.  10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai,  11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”  12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai,  13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.  14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 

• • •

YOU SEE

The story of Esther is not about the plans and purposes of God hinging on the decision of one girl. It is about the future of that girl hinging on her decision to choose to be a part of the plans and purposes of God.

• • •

“FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS”

There is no assertion why Esther has been appointed queen, but it seems Mordecai is implying that it could be because God is in the details.

• • •

• • •

Romans 8:28NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

• • •

Ephesians 2:10NIV

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

• • •

YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE

Will you say yes to the the call or will you try to avoid it and seek temporary comfort instead?

• • •

Esther 4:15-17NIV

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. 

• • •

Esther’s call to assemble and fast accompanies a similar cry for divine relief.

• • •

Joel 2:12-16NIV

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.  14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.  15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.  16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. 

Add your private notes…

• • •

THE CALL OF GOD:

To trade transient comfort for a transformative cross.

Add your private notes…

• • •

To choose to take up our cross and say YES to God’s call changes us:

-It gives us a purpose

-It gives us hope

-It transforms us

Add your private notes…

• • •

In the end, Esther was obedient. Because she was, the Jews were saved!

What or who is on the other side of your choice today?

http://bible.com/events/15837262

Our most powerful stance is not wanting power. 

Mark 10:35-45

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

3 Observations About This Text 

1. We all want power
   1. Give James and John credit. They had the guts to say what some of us only think: “Lord, we want power! Do whatever we say.”
   2. Instead of power, we can insert the words “control” or “independence”
2. There is never enough power 
   1. Just like most everything else in our lives…we want more 
   2. Beneath it all, we are desperate for significance, influence, authority
3. For Jesus, power is inverted  
   1. Our view of power is centered on control, but the kingdom of God is centered around service (Mark 10:43-45)
   2. Greatness (power) was not reducing others to your service, but reducing yourself to their service 
   3. For Jesus, power is found in dependence, humility, and weakness 

Mark 8:34-35

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and 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 and for the gospel will save it.”

As we come to the end of this series…the question is the same 

-Is He enough for you? 

-Is His power enough for you?

-His way? 

-Can you trust Him enough to believe that you don’t have to scrape and claw for more?

Our most powerful stance is not wanting power. 

Other texts for further study:

2 Peter 1:3-4

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Matthew 23:1-11

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.