Peninsula Vineyard Christian Fellowship Sunday, June 8, 2008

Cunningly Deceived

or

The blinding, deafening, & paralyzing power of untruth

Jesus’ coming meant the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, a kingdom of abundance, reflecting the power and majesty of the Eternal Creator, who is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, . . .” (Ephesians 3:20) Jesus’ finished mission established that: “ . . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Better still: “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!” (Ephesians 1: 4-6, The MESSAGE)

A Hans Christian Anderson tale remake

Truth ’lost’ by deception—Romans 1 : 16-25

Genesis 3:1 John 3 : 19-21 Matthew 5;14 Matthew 13 : 15

Truth affirmed in power—Romans 8; 28-39

vv .28-31— The ’God the Father’ factor

vv. 32—the Jesus factor

vv. 33-39—the ‘in Christ’ factor

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. And all of us have had the veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of he Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, The New Living Translation