Cypress Church

This family sense that God has called us to, is like an interdependent team where we mutually submit to each other while responding to authority. This mutual submission is not possible without the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. To assure we are open to the Holy Spirit’s development of mutual submission, we are challenged in Ephesians 5:15-6:9 to; Be Wise, Be Filled, and Practice Mutual Submission.

The grim reality is we have been beaten, worn, abused, damaged, wrecked by our sin-caustic world, a relentless enemy, and the destructive bend of our soul. We have been used and for some even feel discarded, purposeless and left for dead… for we are spiritually dead to the rejuvenating, renovating power of God. BUT GOD has chosen to save us providing for us life anew. Ephesians 2:1-10 gives us Three Realities of being Repurposed into God’s Family; we were Wreaked by Sin, yet Restored with Christ, and Repurposed for God to get active and be part of His amazing family.

Life is full of difficulty and fears (like what 9/11 brought our world), yet we can run to the help and hope of God and His family. For we are blessed by our good Father as Ephesians 1:3-14 says, giving us three realities of God’s blessings; A Blessed life from God, A Delightful Life In Christ, and A Secure Life with the Holy Spirit.

God has given us His Spirit, the Holy Spirit to behold to guide us into the thriving life He created us to live (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 139: John 10:10). But how do we take in His guidance, His coaching. John 16:13-15 give us four truths that require four actions; He will Guide – So Surrender, He will Speak – So Listen, He will Declare – So Pay Attention, He will Glorify Jesus – So Embrace Jesus.

To behold God changes us (2 Corinthians 3:18) and to behold the jealousy of God reveals the depth of His character and unearths the true affections of our soul. Jealous meaning the wanting of what is due, not the human idea of envy or to covet. God is Jealous, Deserving of Glory unearthing our affections in what we value, therefore God is Jealous, Worthy of our Worship. God is Jealous, Deserving of Love unearthing our affections in what we cherish, therefore God is Jealous, Worthy of Obedience.

God is called Father all throughout Scripture, helping us get an image how to relate to such an awesome yet intangible being. God is not a distant deity or a fickle father, God is the best dad ever! God is our approachable Father. In Psalm 103 we are given three moving truths to grasp our approachable God; He is for us so we are to nestle into His loving arms, He protects us so we are to run to His cover, and He worthy of praise so we are to worship Him. Will you?

The Way(s) of Trust: Control Matters. At the root of our control issues is trusting in ourselves vs. trusting in God. When we trust in our own strength to establish ourselves, we end up being burnt out, withered, and lonely. However, when we put our trust in the Lord, we experience life-giving and deeply rooted faith! Life would convince us to trust in our own ideas, but God wants us to live out our trust in Him for the best possible future!