EveryManComplete Podcast Jeff

If we have been crucified with Christ and we are a new creation, what is that supposed to look like? If we are in the process of being transformed into the image of Christ, what is that supposed to look like? I'm not sure we are looking into that spiritual mirror of our lives, and asking the right questions. There is so much more that happened on that day of our salvation than our names being written in the Book of Life! God didn't save us so that He may create a better version of ourselves. He is in the process of transforming us and preparing us for our entry into His glorious Kingdom. He is transforming us from one stage of glory to another! This is not an idle or casual process that we are involved in with our Heavenly Father! But when we gravitate to the comfortable and convenient, we will see very little transformation and miss out on what the Lord is desiring to do in us, and through us! Open up the gospel and join me in discovering the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!

2023 Is coming to a close, and as we look back on where we have come from this past year, what have we experienced of God's purpose and activity in our lives? Have we been too busy just managing our everyday lives to have noticed what God had planned and prepared for us? One of the major questions Christians ask themselves over and over again, is what is God's will for my life? As the new year approaches, and we make our New Year's Resolution, is God's will for our lives even a consideration? Are we willing to pay the price and make the necessary sacrifices to discover His will for our lives? We can only experience God's glory as we live within the middle of God's will! Jesus said, "I can only do what I see the Father doing." This coming New Year, make it your resolution, your conviction, and your commitment to be in the middle of God's will! God's will for your lives is your sanctification! To be set apart for His glory! To humble yourself that He might through the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit transform you into a vessel of honor, useful for what He has already prepared for you!

rel·e·vant
/ˈreləv(ə)nt/
closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
appropriate to the current time, period, or circumstances; of contemporary interest.
"critics may find themselves unable to stay relevant in a changing world"
This is how the world defines "relevant". It gives the appearance of being very open-ended and up for interpretation.
But for those who are followers of Jesus Christ, what is relevant? Is Jesus relevant? Is God's love relevant? Is the gospel relevant? Is God's grace relevant? 
You see, if there is no absolute truth then nothing is relevant. If truth is what you want it to be then you determine what is relevant in your life. But tomorrow when that all changes so does your relevancy!
If the truth sets us free and there is no absolute truth, then freedom is not relevant! If God's grace is no longer sufficient, then God's salvation is no longer relevant!
So, how can we as followers of Jesus Christ remain relevant in a non-relevant world? Let's open up the relevant gospel and find out!

There seems to be even among many Christians the idea that happiness and joy are the same or at least similar. Not!
Happiness is a worldly pursuit that depends upon something happening to make us happy. It requires our circumstances and expectations to be met. How much could go wrong there?! Happiness requires us to be able to control our circumstances and the people around us. Again, not happening! (Pun intended)
Happiness requires our feelings to be the determining factor. The heart is deceitful above all else, right?
Joy on the other hand is based upon our relationship with Jesus Christ! The fruit of the Spirit is love and one of the by-products of that love is Joy! When we rest in His love for us and our love for Him there is Joy! And, the joy of the Lord is our strength! When we lose our joy we are left with the strength and abilities of our own flesh! The mind set on the flesh and our dependence upon that flesh is death! Our flesh cannot save us and our flesh cannot produce Joy!
Join me in this journey through the gospel and discover the abundant life of Joy!

The days we live in seem to be getting darker with each passing day. We attempt to ignore it in order that we might not be overwhelmed by it. In John 3:19 God's word tells us that this is the judgment, that light is come into the world and men loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil. Men fear exposure!
But there is a darkness that we find that belongs to us, and we must not allow it to rule our lives. We don't have to fear exposure, for our God sees all and has provided the grace and freedom for us to deal with our darkness. We must come into the light of His presence. 
Shame, guilt, and fear were never meant for us to carry very long. Sometimes our shame, guilt, and fear have been brought on by those who have hurt us deeply. We've attempted to deal with those painful sins on our own, only to create a deeper darkness with our weak substitutions. 
Sometimes our darkness is of our own making. We've allowed our own sinful choices to become a growing cancer that permeates our body, soul, and spirit. 
Jesus calls us to, Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest, I am gentle and humble in heart!

How would you define faith? Hebrews defines it as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.
But Jesus described people's faith as little faith, no faith, and great faith. None of us can remain on the mountaintop of faith every day, so how would you rate your faith right at this moment? How would you rate it over the last 3 months or year? 
How is our faith impacting our lives, our family's lives, our neighborhoods, where we work and play, and the church we attend? 
There are some Scriptures I would like to share with you today that I hope will take you from where you are in your walk of faith to a place that will allow you to see the glory of God in a way that you have never seen it before!