“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His GREAT MERCY He has given us new birth into a LIVING HOPE through THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD…though we HAVE NOT SEEN JESUS (with our own eyes, but we do hear Him “My sheep hear My voice…” (John 10:27)), WE LOVE HIM; and even though we DO NOT SEE HIM NOW, WE BELIEVE IN HIM and are FILLED WITH AN INEXPRESSIBLE AND GLORIOUS JOY, for we are receiving the end result of our faith, THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS.” (1 Peter 1:3-9)
We are born to LONG FOR a relationship with our Creator. Designed in His image, our very being SENSES HIS CALLING OUT TO US. But it’s not until we acknowledge Jesus as our Savior that we come into His presence and KNOW THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE. “Everyone who is of the truth HEARS MY VOICE.” (John 18:37) From the time we first believe, the Holy Spirit rushes into our souls and we are SEALED AND SAVED. We then embark on the life-long journey of sanctification, growing in Christ TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST. “You will SEEK ME and FIND ME when you seek me with ALL YOUR HEART” (Jeremiah 29:13) “Our spiritual maturity determines how quickly we recognize God in the middle of our circumstances, It requires DISCERNMENT, PRAYER, and LISTENING INTENTLY for our SHEPHERD’S VOICE.” “My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
“This is My commandment, that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. Greater love has no one than this, than to LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. NO LONGER DO I CALL YOU SERVANTS, for a servant does not know WHAT HIS MASTER IS DOING; BUT I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I CHOSE YOU and appointed you that YOU SHOULD GO AND BEAR FRUIT, and that your fruit should remain, that WHATEVER YOU ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME HE MAY GIVE YOU. These things I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:12-17)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham