Every time we engage with the Word of God we should come with an expectation for transformation because we have been given everything we need to do what it says to do. This is such good news because it means we never have to stay stuck, confused, discouraged, or disempowered.
Transcript
Today, we are going to take a “Posture of Peace” by agreeing with what I’m calling, “Not so Obvious Promises”.
Posture is a short, audible fist bump to remind you God is with you and everything. Together, we’re going to be emboldened to take a daily Posture of perfect peace.
In 2 Peter 1:3-4, it says, “His divine power, ‘it’s talking about Jesus here.’ “His divine power has granted to us all things, and I double circled all things.’ All things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him, Who called us to His own glory and excellence by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises. So that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature. Having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desires”.
The word of God is alive and active. And every time we open this Book we should come with an expectation for transformation because we have been given everything we need to do what it says to do. And this is such good news because it means we never have to stay stuck or confused or discouraged or disempowered. Now in episode 147, we talked about the promises of God. They are all yes in Christ and the “Amen” to those promises is spoken by us. So our awesome role in the process of promises, is to agree with the promises. Is to say amen and to believe what God says is true. And you know, sometimes the promises of God are obvious in His Word, like this promise that I just read from 2 Peter. The promise that, because of Jesus, His divine power, we have been given everything we need for a godly life. And we, because of His promises to us, can now be partakers, partners, participants in the divine nature. Just think about the implications of that promise. We have everything we need to live the life. We are invited to live in Scripture. You know, sometimes the promises are obvious. Like I pointed out, and sometimes those promises are not so obvious.
What do I mean by that? Well, let’s go to Romans chapter 12, and I’m gonna be reading a chunk of Scripture. I’m gonna read verses 9 through 21. So assume the Posture lean back, relax and soak in this truth while I read it. And what I would like for you to do is to receive it as though it is a promise. Okay. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality, bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse, rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another, do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath for it is written, ‘it is Mine to avenge, I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”.
Now, maybe you’ve read this in the past or heard this in the past. And maybe it sounded to you like a correction or a command or even a condemnation. Maybe it just sounded to you like some kind of ideal, but really out of reach. However, this is an invitation to the life that is now possible because of who Christ is in you. Romans 12 and passages like it, our promise, saying this is possible.
This is your reality. This is who you are. This is who you have been empowered to be. It is not out of reach. Don’t say I can’t do it. Don’t say it’s impossible. Don’t read a passage like that and think, “Man, I’ve fallen short. I’m never going to hit that mark”. No, embrace the promise, agree with it. Agree with the work that Christ has done in you and the work He’s going to do through you. This is a promise for transformed relationships, transformed communities, transformed culture. The promise today over you is that you will not be overcome by evil, but you will overcome evil with good. So read Romans 12 today, as a promise, agree with it. You have been given everything you need to live in the reality of that promise because of Christ in you, this is who you are. This is how you love. This is the life you live.