REACHES

 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Regeneration 

Exclusively 

Arranged

Causing

Heartfelt

Extravagant 

Service 

    What is the good work God has begun within us? He has planned our lives. He has called us into a relationship with Himself. He has targeted the population of this world for reconciliation and promised us regeneration and eternal life. The good work that God designed for us is to share the reality of salvation with others.

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    We have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Our salvation has not been for ourselves but it is an example to others. We experience the benefit and the blessings, but the goal is to let the whole world know the glory of the Lord.

““Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.” Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God! Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places. Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!””  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    From the moment we are exposed to the knowledge of God, we are exclusively called to learn and grow in the Spirit. We are equipped by the Holy Spirit and led by Him. We are born in the spirit when we acknowledge our need for a Savior and accept His free gift.

“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” … Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭3:3, 5-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Our membership in the family of God does not mean we are in an exclusive club. We did not pay the membership fee ourselves. Everything was arranged by God. His plan reached us while we were still wandering lost and alone in our sin. Now that we have been included into the family, we reach out to others with the same love and acceptance we received from the Holy Spirit.

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    Salvation from sin is only available through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our experience of being drawn to Christ causes us to become living stones in the household and family of God. This life changing knowledge and relationship builds and grows in us as we learn to serve God and use the spiritual gifts we have been given.

“You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

        The power of the Holy Spirit at work in the church, at work both in and through us causes heartfelt transformation at every level of our existence. Physical, emotional, and spiritual changes occur in us and others as God’s Word performs His good work.

“He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭107:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    There are examples of heartfelt extravagant acts of worship and service throughout the Bible. They are meant to inspire and encourage us to our own acts of extravagant service. Our acts of service reach far beyond our lives. Our extravagant service touches each successive generation.

“Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:44-46‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    We carry the message of hope, forgiveness, and love to a lost and dying world. That message gives life because it comes directly from the Life Giver, God Himself. That message will reach every generation through our faithful extravagant service.

“I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. … Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22:25-27, 30-31‬ ‭NLT