Cypress Church

It stopped Peter in his tracks and even grieved his soul as Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?” Jesus was not looking for yes or no answer, Jesus was looking for Peter to wrestle with the question for loving Jesus causes us to ask life changing questions. Peter grappled with this question and we so to, “Do we love Jesus?” This question brings up other life changing questions like, “How loving Jesus effects belonging, actions, and what I surrender to? The answer will change our life.

Steve Ellis gives us insights from the Bible, and gives us three characteristics of a father that leaves a good legacy.

We are called by Christ to seek a oneness with Him (Father/Son/Spirit) and with each other. This oneness takes a choice to be inclusive. To be inclusive with Christ is to be; Devoted to Jesus, Dedicated to Jesus’ Purposes, Diligent with Jesus’ Calling. As well to be inclusive with Others is to be Devoted to All People, Dedicated to Unity, Diligent for Inclusion. This is God’s desire for Cypress Church and all our branches this next year!

In this beautiful environment of family God has given us moms, woman, and females to impart part of His wisdom. Like Solomon we should honor our moms (1 Kings 2:19) but gain from her insights. Proverbs 1:7-9 helps us see there is a godly wisdom to be discovered in our crazy family, as we engage Family as… A God designed school vs8, Founded on a Reverence of God vs7, Everyone Participating vs8, and Everyone Gains vs9.

To discover the beauty (the amazing enhancing environment of life) in our crazy family, it takes connection and inclusion. From the very onset of the development of interaction with others God gave us key initiatives to get and stay connected and inclusive where we can grow. This teaching is found in the famous ‘Shama’ in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 where God reveals that ‘Active love connects and includes like family. It means we Hear in such away we follow God’s instructions. It is to also choose Love setting Jesus as our highest affections. Lastly to take action and Do the very things that keep us hearing and loving.

Jesus’ resurrection brings Him to a whole new level or reality. There is a choice to either run in fear or embrace Him with faith. The message of Resurrection Sunday, Easter is clear; Jesus Lives, so have faith over fear.

One of the purpose of the Gospel of Mark is to help all of us know who Jesus is, but all to have each of us grapple with Jesus as the King of everything, including us. Through Jesus’ actions of cursing a fig tree and cleansing the temple, Jesus is providing a living parable of the tragedy of fruitless faith; a faith based on the emptiness of actions and appearances. However there is a faith the stands firm. This is a faith in who the Bible teaches Jesus to be, the holy sovereign Lord Jesus, Messiah, the King of everything. This solid faith produces the fruit of power, purpose and peace.

Mark is continuing to press the importance of not just knowing about Jesus, but having a faith in who God says Jesus is, The High Holy King of Everything. The issue is people are not seeing Jesus or following Him. Mark bring out an encounter with a blind man to show what it means to see and follow Jesus.

In Mark’s story of Jesus the challenge is made that Jesus is King/Messiah and we are to live abandoned to Him (Mark 10:17-31). This life of abandonment is to Abandon Values, have Unrestrained Trust in the God of the possible, and to experience Limitless Possibilities. But the choice is ours, we can let go or walk away like this rich young ruler.

The world is deafening, leaving us confused and conflicted, yet Jesus brings clarity as we are open to Him. Mark 7:31-37 gives us three opportunities to be open to Jesus; Live Intentionally with Jesus, Love Individually for Jesus, and Be inclined to Jesus.