Good morning everyone and welcome again to PWOC. You know, I am really honored to be with you ladies, because even though this group is called Protestant Women of the Chapel, we should actually be called just "Women of Christ" because not all of us are Protestant, and not all of us go to the chapel. But we have two things in common - we are all women and we are all of Christ. And this is so important. Right now. Because we see what's going on in our country - in our world - things are changing. I am not going to get into politics here, but we now have a new president - a very unique type pf president. And things are going to start changing. We pray that they change for the better, but sometimes, change - even good change has to go through some growing pains. Often times, for the right changes to be made, there is resistance and ugliness, because after all, Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." So yes, when we start doing things God's way opposition is to be expected. Do not be surprised if the world tries to make everything look like it is falling apart at times when God's will is actually being done. It might just mean that darkness is fighting harder against the light. Sometimes it seems so hard to tell what it wrong and what is right, but we can be confident in what is good and right and true, if we know God's word. His word does not align with what the world says, and you will find it very unpopular to most people. Remember, Jesus had many followers, but He was also doubted and scorned, and ultimately killed. He did not compromise the truth to be liked or to win followers. He faced persecution because He held fast to the truth.
As women of Christ, and women of the chapel, we have the responsibility to know what God's word says, to trust in God alone, and to be a light to our families, to our communities, to our country, to our world. This is not always easy, because light exposes the things that hide in the darkness. Light exposes the lies that so many have believed. The darkness does not like this, and those living in darkness will disagree with you, they may even hate you because you belong to Jesus. But, unlike the darkness, God's light which shines from those who believe in Him can never be extinguished. God's truth does not align with what the world calls truth. When we speak God's truth, His power is with His words. All other untruths are just noise.
So where do we start? How do we love God and obey Him and be a light to the world? Well, first we start with our theme of the year - and make our goal to women who are "not of this world". We are women of Christ, not women of this world. And then we look at what Christ did for us. He loved us without compromise. He gave it all so that we would have eternal life. God so loved the world that He gave His only son - He did not compromise, for He loved the whole world. And Christ tell us to love. He tells us to love without compromise. He tells us to love like He loves us - loving our neighbor as we love ourselves - even loving our enemies. This concept is so unworldly. The world tells us that love is self-serving. That love benefits me. That I can give love as long as I get something in return. That I can love and be loved as long as it doesn't get in the way of my feelings or my personal agenda. The world's idea of love has been twisted and mis-interpreted in so many ways, and this twisted worldly love has, in many ways replaced God in many people's hearts.
Christ's way of love is not of this world. Christ's way of love is unchanging, unfailing, and never compromised. Christ's way of love cannot be manipulated or bought, and it doesn't put self over the well-being of others. Christ's way of love is selfless, willing to sacrifice one's self for another, and can only be practiced by the power of the Holy Spirit because it is not natural. It is supernatural.
For the next couple weeks, we are going to look at what it means to love without compromise. How real love, Christ's love is fearless and sometimes it is painful, but the call we all have on our lives to love God and love others is the very foundation for all that we believe in the Christian faith, and it is why we will one day be able to live forever in Heaven with our Father, and it should be the motivation for us to want others to go there with us. But to do all this, first you have to believe. You have to have faith.
Romans 10:17 says, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."
So we are going to hear the message and then you will all be released to go to your classes.
We are reading 1 John 3 if you have your Bibles.
Read 1 John 3
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this day, thank you for these women. Thank you for the chapel and the freedom we have to gather here and worship you and grow more close to you. Help us to be women who are not of this world, but please make us more like you, able to walk in truth and in light. Make us brave and courageous and able to stand for what you stand for. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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