Imagine tending to your garden, nurturing each plant with gentle care as you water them. Suddenly, a crimp in the hose disrupts the smooth flow of water, creating interruptions and reducing the effectiveness of your efforts. This scenario reflects how certain hindrances in our spiritual lives, like unconfessed sin, doubts, distractions, and actions contrary to God’s Word, can impede the abundant flow of God’s blessings and guidance into our lives, hindering our growth and well-being. It’s crucial to swiftly respond to situations or decisions that raise doubts or contradict God’s principles, much like running to a crimped hose to restore water flow.
The consequences of sin can be far-reaching and damaging, impacting not just our relationship with God but also our spiritual growth and influence. Ignoring sin’s deceitful allure, making excuses, or being ignorant of its effects can lead to spiritual drought and separation from God’s best for us. However, through understanding, repentance, and God’s grace, we can overcome sin’s destructive power and find forgiveness and cleansing in Christ. By actively seeking God’s guidance, aligning our actions with His will, and embracing Christ’s redemption, we can experience spiritual renewal, empowerment, and a restored connection with God’s abundant blessings in every aspect of life.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
1 Corinthians 12:12, “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
Not only is Christ the Christian life, but He is also the reality of the church life.
Apart from Him there is no church.
We must understand that the practice of the church issues from the centrality of Christ.
Christ is our relationship with one another (Col. 3:11).
Because He is in all of us, we are related to each other in Him.
The church comes into our spirit when we receive Christ.
The church is in all of us because the church is Christ.
We recognize Christ!
When we recognize Christ, we recognize the church!
The reality of the church is a Person.
It is not a doctrine.
It is not a way.
It is not a man.
It is Christ Himself.
So wherever Christ is, there is the church.
The best we can do is simply to see it, acknowledge it, receive one another, and say “Amen.”
We receive one another because we have all been received by God (Rom. 14:3).
We have been redeemed by the same blood.
We have the same one Father (Eph. 4:6).
There is only one “Abba,” one Father, and He is in all of us (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).
So what do we do?
We say, “We are in the same family!”
This is the church.
It is so simple.
There is something already existing between us.
God put it into us.
It is called the oneness of the Spirit (Eph. 4:3).
We learn to recognize this oneness of the Spirit between us and to keep it in our relationships.
This oneness is so precious because it is made up of the oneness of the Father and the Son.
The oneness between the Father and the Son is now embodied in the Spirit.
Thus, through Christ as the life-giving Spirit entering into us, we have been admitted into Their oneness!
Because of Christ, Their oneness has now become our oneness.
This is the church.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
THURSDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Tom Graham (Sandra’s Husband) – Home
Joe Shelnutt
John McClain’s Mother
Amy Garner
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Andrew Halevi & Daughter
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
David Harrison – Riverside
Deanna Fowler
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Drew
Easton Fielder
Ed Mays
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Faith Burnette
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
James Garner’s Friend
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John Austin
June Cronan’s Sister
Junior Stephens
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Miles Bradshaw
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Ricky Gipson
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Roseleigh Osborn
Sandra Graham
Scott Lanier
Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter
Susan & Alexis Tesone
Susan Mosley
Tom Witcher