Every Body Matters - New Message Series

North Shore Church starts a new message series entitled, "Every Body Matters."

The Bible says we are to love the Lord God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Throughout this three week series, we will look at the importance of taking care of our bodies and why physical health matters.

Starting this Sunday, Jerry Mullins will teach us why "Health Matters!"

I hope you will join us and see what God will do through and among us.

Victorious...Knowing your real enemy.

I recently received a newsletter (included below) from Peacemaker ministries and found it to be a helpful reminder to our Victorious Series. We are in a battle and we have an enemy. When it comes to conflict in our lives, it is healthy to remember that our true battle is not against other people, but with a common spiritual enemy. Thanks be to our loving and graceful God, who has prepared us with the Armor of God.

This Sunday, we are looking at "feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Please take a moment to read the Peace Meal newsletter. I think you will find it helpful today (you can even subscribe if you want to receive it yourself). And, if you want more information, you may also want to read, "The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict." It is one of the more powerful books that I have recently read.

Evil Has A Name  "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Satan prefers that we do not recognize his role in our conflicts. As long as we see other people as our only adversaries and focus our attacks on them, we will give no thought to guarding against our most dangerous enemy. Both James and Peter were aware of this danger, and they warn us to actively resist Satan's schemes (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). Paul gives a similar warning, reminding us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12). Food for Thought  "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight." -- C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters Who is your most dangerous enemy? Think about it for a moment. What would you say? Odds are that among both non-Christians and Christians, most of us would answer in terms of flesh and blood; in other words, someone or some group of people. But as Ken reminds us, that's just not the case. Three scriptural authors -- Peter, James and Paul -- all echo the reality that our most dangerous enemy in this life is Satan. There is an enemy out there and we're basically oblivious to his schemes - we're asleep at the wheel. We just keep on blaming each one another, a.k.a., flesh and blood, for everything that's going on. Ken says it well: Satan prefers that we do not recognize his role in our conflicts. If we have any intention of living as peacemakers, it's imperative that we live with an awareness of our most dangerous enemy. Now it is true that most of our struggle comes through flesh and blood, but we've got to be self-controlled and alert, remembering that it's not ultimately against flesh and blood that we battle. The Peacemaker:  A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict Ken Sande describes powerful biblical principles you can use to resolve everything from simple personal offenses to family and marital conflicts, church divisions, business and employment disputes, and complicated lawsuits. Includes practical illustrations and detailed application questions.  For more information or to buy The Peacemaker for $13.50 (bulk options available), visit our online bookstore or call our Resource Center at 800-711-7118. PeaceMeal is a weekly e-publication of Peacemaker Ministries (www.Peacemaker.net). All Rights Reserved. Don't forget to pass the peace! If you found this PeaceMeal helpful, please forward it on to friends. If you'd like to reprintPeaceMeal in your church bulletin or newsletter each week, see the guidelines at www.Peacemaker.net.

Victorious Series...Getting Fitted with the Armor of God

This Sunday, we are looking at the Breastplate of Righteousness, as we continue in our Victorious Series. We are learning how Christians are to be prepared to remain standing in spiritual battle. If you desire to grow deeper during this series, consider memorizing the passage. Having it in your mind and heart helps keep it accessible as you go throughout your day.

There are a number of ways to aid in memorizing Bible passages. A couple tips include: break it down and memorize only a verse each day; print it off and carry it with you; try memorizing every time you have a work break or meal; involve others and do it with a friend, as couples, or as a family. 

Having this passage in your mind will prepare you for the spiritual battle and keep you standing. I am excited to see what God will do through this series. See you Sunday.

Ephesians 6:10-14

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

12 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.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place...

Victorious Series starts this Sunday!

The greatest gift God gives us for victory is a new identity.  Join us for a seven week series, about being Victorious.  We will study Ephesians 6:10-18 to find who you are in Jesus and what armor God gives to His followers.

Self-Control

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” Proverbs 25:28

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

If you are following Jesus, you are a branch and He is the vine. In John 15, Jesus tells His followers, a branch needs to be attached to the vine in order to be healthy and to produce fruit. And, as Jesus’ followers, we will produce spiritual fruit, as we remain in Him. 

Self-Control is one of the fruit that is given to followers of Jesus.

The Spirit of God gives freedom to Believers. Paul writes, “everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial or constructive.” We are free to eat, drink, or do whatever for the glory of God (as long as it is beneficial or constructive). 

We are no longer slaves and controlled by our body, our desires, or the world. Instead, the Spirit of God has given us freedom from those things. And, even though we are free to do what we wish (in God’s will and if it is beneficial), we are still given the fruit to exercise self-control over it. 

The gift of self-control is like a rudder for a boat, a steering wheel for a car or a wall for a city. The boat, car, and city all have freedom, but the guides for their direction help keep them operating to the best of their intended purpose. 

To the Believer, this means we are to exercise self-control or moderation in eating, drinking, sleeping, working, playtime, etc. Whatever the Lord has given you freedom (inside of His Will), you are to provide healthy limits to it, so that you are free to worship God in what He has given you and so that you are currently using those freedoms to help you and others to operate to the best of our intended purposes. 

Your diet, habits, and hobbies are given to you as places of freedom to worship God in what He has given you. However, if you are not finding yourself doing or giving your best for God, then you may need to seek Him to see if there is an area that can help direct you to honor Him with a greater passion and ability. 

Remember, the branches produce fruit when they are attached to the vine. Jesus says, “remain in Me and I will remain in you” and those in Him will produce much fruit.

Gentleness

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

We are looking at the different fruit that are given to Christians as they follow Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit. These spiritual fruit, as outlined in Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, are gifts that God produces in His people. As we trust God and follow Him, the Holy Spirit grows these fruit in our lives. 

Gentleness, or meekness, is a part of those fruit. 

Meekness means to have “strength under control.” A good example would be a strong and powerful horse, which is has been tamed and able to ride. All the strength of the horse is still present, but it is under control. 

To exhibit meekness is not a sign of weakness, or about being taken advantage of by other people. The gift of gentleness is the ability to restrain oneself, for the good of other people. It is caring for others and putting them first, in spite of what we could do. 

Jesus is the ultimate example of being meek. Although He could demonstrate His might in any way, He chose to control and yield it with His humbly towards others. 

As John MacArthur says, meekness in the New Testament is used to describe three attitudes: submissiveness to the will of God, teachableness, and consideration of others. 

Since our human nature goes against each of these attitudes, we need to actively pursue God, so He can grow gentleness in our character.

Faithfulness

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

Being a follower of Jesus Christ has godly benefits, including the fruit produced in your life. The Apostle Paul writes to the Galatian church that those fruit are given to Believers as we walk in the Spirit. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We receive all of the fruit—not just one or some.

Among the fruit is faithfulness. The Greek word used by Paul is the same for “faith.” Faith is a complete confidence or trust in someone or something. Faithfulness demonstrates loyalty and trustworthiness.

There is no better example of faithfulness than God. His care and compassion towards us goes beyond what we deserve. Jeremiah wrote in the book of Laminations that it is God’s great love that kept Israel from being destroyed. He wrote that during a time of extreme pain and difficulty, but he knew that God still had their best in His plan. The same is true for us today.

Life can be challenging at times and we all experience difficult seasons and yet God remains faithful to see us through it and not leave us. Because we know He is there (even though at times it may not feel like it), we can keep going and stay the course. We can keep trusting in God and doing what it right because He is always with us.

The gift of faithfulness is necessary as we do the work that God has put before us. We need the strong foundation of God to trust in to help us stay the course with our spouses, our children, our neighbors, or enemies. As we love, serve, and care for them, there are times when love, service, and care are not returned. However, since we receive our love, service, care, and joy from God, we can remain steadfast in the work He has calls us to.

We will not give up, we will fight the good fight, and we will keep the faith.