Update from Pastor Phil – July 15, 2022
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Transcript
Hey Willow Park Church.
We are full in to “The Jesus Code” series now. We are motoring down that highway and already discovering some amazing truths about the reality and the power of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. But of course we’re on this highway and it’s going to take us all the way to the New Testament and all the way to the new creation. Isn’t God amazing? Isn’t His story incredible?
So we remember that the reason we do this is to remind ourselves that God has a purpose and a plan. When we understand the full message of the Bible, we understand that God has a purpose and a plan… not only for us… but also for planet Earth. We remember that the reason we want to understand God’s great message is because we understand the role that Israel played in this great message. That out of Israel came the Son of David. And of course we understand that and we can pray for Israel.
Also when we understand the whole of the message of the Bible, it helps us to read the New Testament, to interpret it, to look at it with clarity and to understand. Because of the early Apostles, of course, clearly, they preached the gospel out of the Old Testament, because the New Testament hadn’t been assembled yet. And they were telling the stories of Jesus, they were preaching the truth of Christ, but they were linking it always the message of the Messiah and to the story of the Old Testament.
We then of course apply it to ourselves. And when we understand the whole message of God, what happens is we start to live holy lives. We want to live differently because we know God has a plan for this world. God had a plan in scripture. Therefore, I better get on the same page with God in my life. So we see a different view of God. We start to understand God in His wonder, in His entirety, in the way that He sees things. It’s absolutely fantastic.
And then of course it affects the way we see the world. In other words, this world, the crisis, the problems, the political upheaval, the wars and rumors of wars, can create that anxiety. Pandemics and famines, wondering what is happening around the globe. And then we can step into fear and we can step into worry. But when we understand God’s great story, it takes away that fear. It takes away that worry, and we know.
And finally, we’re not a people who compromise. We want to keep the scripture and we want to follow and we don’t want to live a compromised life. So often when we think of the covenants, which of course is what we’re looking at, and the story of God, is that we see that they started with that seed there in Eden. And God promised that He would send one who would crush the serpent’s head. And of course, Pastor Glen shared that last week, that God had His plan, that God’s purposes are there. And of course from the seed, would come salvation and one that would crush the very head of evil, crush darkness, crush injustice, crush sin and death. Jesus Christ, you could say, is the crusher. He comes and He crushes all the darkness in the world. So we’ve looked at the fall, and of course we’ve looked at the message of what took place in the garden and what took place there in Genesis. And this coming week we’ll be unpacking, well, what do we do about evil? Because evil exists. And what is God’s plan, ultimately, to deal with evil? And how did God address the power of evil within this world?
So join us in-person, join us online, come and get involved. If you’ve missed some of the series, re-watch them and get involved in this study of understanding the great story of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout scripture, based in scripture. It’s going to be good.
Remember to keep praying for the Ark. We waved goodbye to two busloads that went down for the Junior High week. Pray for blessing, pray for power, pray for salvation. Just pray, pray, pray.
This coming weekend, pray for our church weekend away. It’s going to be fantastic. I’ll be there Friday and Saturday, and will be back at church on Sunday. So pray for the weekend as Pastor Jordan and the team lead that.
And then pray for Senior High camp that will take place on the Monday. And we’re looking forward. Already so many have booked in at the Senior High Camp. May revival come, may lives be changed.
Let’s keep believing. Let’s keep praying. Let me remind you, WillowONE Prayer is continuing through the summer and the next one is on July 31. So, a little bit away. But let’s keep the main thing, the main thing…. seeking the face of God.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine.