Christ Our Rebar

Connected with the last two sermons, Pastor Rick shares how Christ is our strength, inviting us to stop struggling; stop escaping.  Instead, surrender, relax, let go and let Him display His strength in the midst of your weakness.  Let Him have control of you and your life and your circumstances and discover what Paul discovered when Christ’s rebar strengthens your concrete. 

Pastor Rick also "translated" 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 into his own words to help us understand it.  Here is his elaboration: 

Christ said, “My graciousness of manner and actions, my benefit, favor, joy, liberality, and pleasure is enough for you.  You don’t need anything else.  I will suffice. Because, my miraculous wonderful mighty violent power is made complete and is accomplished in your feebleness of mind and body amid any of your maladies, frailties, diseases or infirmities, or sicknesses.”  Because Christ said this, with great pleasure I would rather boast about and rejoice in my weakness, frailty, feeble mind and body, that the miraculous mighty power and ability of Christ will tent upon me and abide upon me and rest upon me like the ancient Shekinah glory of God rested upon the tabernacle.  Instead of relying upon my own strength, I will rest in His.”
 

Are we relying on our own strength or resting in His?  Is Christ your rebar?

HE KNOWS

God knows you: precisely whom you are, where you are, what you are, why you are, and how you are.  He understands you and cares about you.  Listen as Pastor Rick passionately shares the wonderful story of Thomas.

"Have you been where Thomas was that night?  A whole lot of other people tell you they have met the risen Christ.  A whole lot of people tell you that it was incredible and spectacular and you should have the same experience.  Have you felt confused by all the voices?  Have you felt that your experiential reality doesn’t match up with others’ reports of the supernatural?  Have you grieved because YOU longed to know Him in the power of His resurrection too – but somehow have missed it?  Have you been frustrated – maybe even angry – that you have been left out of His presence?  Have you determined in the midst of your pain, your loneliness, and your lostness that you WILL NOT BELIEVE?

Ah.  This I believe is part of the why of Thomas’ story.  God knows us and understands us and He wants us to know that He knows and He cares about us even when we struggle with doubt and uncertainty."