Participating in the Life of Jesus Christ Now Participating in the Life of Jesus Christ Now! Part 5 Personal stories that point to Jesus as present and involved in our lives. 1 John 1-5 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has (is having now) for us. 1 John 4:16a (NIV84) 2

Take John up on his invitation! 1 John 1:3-4 (NIV84) 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our (and your) joy complete.

Our personal stories are whipped cream on top of Biblical truths we find in God’s Word. 4

John 4:10 (NIV84) 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Objective: increase our alertness to God’s activity in our personal lives record the stories incorporate into our natural conversations John 4:9-10 (NIV84) 4:9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 4:10 … He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins … because He loved us.

1 John 4:13-17 (NIV84) 4:13 We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 4:17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him.

The fact that God is having love for us now. 1 John 4:16a (NIV84) 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. “has” Present tense = time reference = NOW Active voice = God is the subject Doing the Acting Indicative mood = stating a FACT The fact that God is having love for us now.

What difference does that make to you that God is having love for YOU right now?

Who orchestrates things like this? 1. When a carefully planned vacation itinerary gets enlivened by surprise connections. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV84) 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

As we make our plans and offer them to our Lord, ultimately He controls our schedule.

James 4:13–15 (NIV84) 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Who orchestrates things like this? 2. How was it that I had the privilege of hearing my 99 year old mother quote 5 chapters from the Psalms Sunday afternoon just after she awoke from her afternoon nap?

Psalm 19:14 (The Living Bible) Psalm 19:14 (The Living Bible) 14 May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to You, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps 32

Who orchestrates things like this? 3. What to make of two young men spending a night in jail together? This was a God-orchestrated meeting to be encouraged and to be an encouragement so these two friends of our family could meet and find an unexpected encouragement in an unlikely place.

Their only link of commonality while sitting in jail together was Christ as their Lord. Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV84) 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 25:4-7 (NIV84) 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; 5 guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. 6 Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord.

Who orchestrates things like this? 4. When a mother’s personal resolve to not drink alcohol was uniquely tested and surprisingly reinforced by her middle school son’s recommendation.

8 BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR: 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

I knew that this message was for my eyes to see! BE SOBER, I knew that this message was for my eyes to see!

1 John 4:16a (NIV84) 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has (is right now having) for us.

Who orchestrates things like this? 5. The evening when a grandson spilt blackberries on our living room carpet. 1 John 1:9 (NIV84) 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

When God forgives the sins we confess, He cleans up more of our life than we expect.

God loves to help us find lost things to illustrate how He loves even more to find lost people!

Luke 15:8–10 (NIV84) 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

1. How are you presently experiencing God’s love?

2. How have you experienced God’s love recently?

3. Can you write a note to yourself as a reminder of your personal stories of how you have experienced God’s love?

4. Would you be willing to share a story or two with someone else?

5. Can you see how these stories are a significant part of your testimony of God’s work in your life and could bring encouragement to others?

1. How are you presently experiencing God’s love? 2. How have you experienced God’s love recently? 3. Can you write a note to yourself as a reminder of your personal stories of how you have experienced God’s love? 4. Would you be willing to share a story or two with someone else? 5. Can you see how these stories are a significant part of your testimony of God’s work in your life and could bring encouragement to others?

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