Life in The Kingdom

Thank you to so many of you who offered encouraging words to us yesterday, July 5, on our first Lord’s Day with you. We are excited about the ways God will work in us and through us as we serve here with you at Immanuel Baptist. Thank you to the many that have prayed for us over the past months. Please, don’t stop now.

As we think back to yesterday, I hope if you are a follower of Jesus you will reflect on what Christ has done for you. Like we talked about, Peter was never able to get over the love God extended to him through sending Christ to become the atoning sacrifice for him. I hope we won’t be able to get over that either. If you are not a follower of Jesus, I hope you will reflect on the goodness and mercy that we discussed yesterday. His grace and forgiveness is available to you now.

Friends, God has not called us to a faith that features an encounter here on Earth and then resumes upon our arrival in the New Creation. No, God has begun a work in us that should redefine who we are as individuals, families, a congregation and citizens. This leads us to some examining questions -- How far does your faith impact your life? How many every day decisions are shaped by the fact that you are a part of the Kingdom of Heaven? Does your life reflect this truth on a consistent basis?

We are excited about the opportunity God has given to serve you and serve with you here at Immanuel Baptist as we dig deeper into these questions and pray that our love for Christ will increase.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (ESV)

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

⁶ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.