The more I observe people and churches the more I see the trap of religion. Religion is a control mechanism that places people in fear in order to produce a desired reaction. The desired action varies from denomination to denomination but it usually ends up focused around your money. If you fail to comply, there is some type of hell to pay or God will not be pleased with you. There is no doubt that God is displeased with people because of our sin, but I would quote to you the same blessing that Paul quoted in Romans 7:24-25, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
You see, the love of Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection have set me free from the old wretched man that I am. Jesus has not only paid my penalty for sin but has also lived out my righteousness. Jesus Christ is my everything. I don't have to live in fear wondering if God loves me because Jesus is the manifestation of that love. The perfect love of God has cast out all fear (1 John 4:18).
Now that I have a relationship with God and I don't have to worry about all the religious stuff that Jesus has already accomplished, how can I personally please God? The answer is found in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." The way I please God is simply by faith; i.e. to trust him. That's it!!! To know that He is God and I am not. To believe that if I seek him with my whole heart I will find him and he will reward me. The call of God to humanity has been the same since the garden of Eden. God simply says, "Trust Me."
As I was talking with Kim about our new church plant. I was sharing with her my desire to form a group of people that would learn to walk by faith. A people that would take God at His Word. I want to be the church that Jesus looks at and is moved by our faith as he was with the Centurion. So we called the new Church "Reliant." And we made sure that one of our core values is being God Pleasers: by faith we will please God and trust him with our lives.
On Sunday, February 1, 2015 we will begin our Core meetings getting ready for our grand opening in August. I am trusting the Lord for 25 families that are ready to walk by faith and do something amazing for God. We are asking God to give us our first meeting place that will hold us and our children. I know God is going to provide. If you would like to be a part of this new church, please contact me at bill.s@reliantrails.com. I look forward to leading those that come by faith and walk by faith.
You see, the love of Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection have set me free from the old wretched man that I am. Jesus has not only paid my penalty for sin but has also lived out my righteousness. Jesus Christ is my everything. I don't have to live in fear wondering if God loves me because Jesus is the manifestation of that love. The perfect love of God has cast out all fear (1 John 4:18).
Now that I have a relationship with God and I don't have to worry about all the religious stuff that Jesus has already accomplished, how can I personally please God? The answer is found in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." The way I please God is simply by faith; i.e. to trust him. That's it!!! To know that He is God and I am not. To believe that if I seek him with my whole heart I will find him and he will reward me. The call of God to humanity has been the same since the garden of Eden. God simply says, "Trust Me."
As I was talking with Kim about our new church plant. I was sharing with her my desire to form a group of people that would learn to walk by faith. A people that would take God at His Word. I want to be the church that Jesus looks at and is moved by our faith as he was with the Centurion. So we called the new Church "Reliant." And we made sure that one of our core values is being God Pleasers: by faith we will please God and trust him with our lives.
On Sunday, February 1, 2015 we will begin our Core meetings getting ready for our grand opening in August. I am trusting the Lord for 25 families that are ready to walk by faith and do something amazing for God. We are asking God to give us our first meeting place that will hold us and our children. I know God is going to provide. If you would like to be a part of this new church, please contact me at bill.s@reliantrails.com. I look forward to leading those that come by faith and walk by faith.
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