A Life of Promise
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 38 - 42 (MSG)
Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”
40He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”
41-42That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
Message: “A Life of Promise.”
The Rogers Principle and Promise
One of the fathers of Psychology is Carl Rogers
Rogers practiced psychology with a core belief in his client - the belief that every person has the inherent ability to get through the challenges they face
The role of the psychologist is to help the client to tap into this inherent ability
As a believer I believe that God gives us what we need to face our challenges in life
I also believe that God looks at us seeing the potential we have to overcome adversities - I also believe that this is the way should look at every person that crosses our life path: see the potential and the possibilities, rather than the mistakes or the negative
I don’t want to bore you with a history lesson about psychology - let’s just allow ourselves to tap into the promise that there is in our lives
Potential - Jesus knew the potential of the disciples
This is the story of Jesus and his disciples
Jesus called them from a life where they were just contempt to live out their lives
The disciples were ordinary people, doing ordinary things, not living with the self belief that they would go on to do great things
But Jesus saw potential in their lives - He saw the promise
What would happen if I were to see more of the potential in my own life - the potential Jesus sees in me?
Early church - acceptance unleashing potential
We have read the story of the early church - three thousand new members signed up in one day!
That was the work of the Holy Spirit that stirred up hearts in a powerful way
I also believe that it was the invitation for everyone to come - no matter who they were and what they had done - that inspired so many to come
Remember they were living in a world of suppression by the Romans and suppression by religious laws
Just see how acceptance opens up new possibilities and unleashes so much potential
What would happen if we could be like this first church? Welcoming people and helping them to realize their promise?
What is keeping you from realizing your promise?
That brings me to the question: what is keeping you from realizing your promise?
Are you listening to the lie of that inner voice that you are not good enough? I can tell you that that is not coming from God
Do you allow yourself to be put off by negativity around you? There’s so many negative voices around us these days, and we tend to listen to the negative rather than the positive
Have you become a master of excuses? Thinking up reasons why things are not possible instead of asking “why not?” - challenging the excuses that you have become so used to dishing up
Are you a victim of circumstances? There will be things happening to you that you have no control over, but you have control over how you respond - you are not a helpless victim of your circumstances!
Invitation - live a life of promise
Realize the promise God sees in you:
Change your life - change the direction your life is going (away from the negative and destructive)
Turn to God - let God be at the centre of your life (Find the balance between body, mind and spirit)
Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - Allow God to give you direction in life
There’s so much potential in your life - so much promise
Go and live a life of promise God gave you!
Comments
Add your comment