EMMAUS SCHOOL OF BIBLICAL STUDIES

Choices stink sometimes you just dont know….

… i think that what Paul said over and over in many differnt ways is that we all have a choice to make everyday even as believers… the choice of slavery n freedom, Spirit n flesh, Law n faith, etc…

 as i move back home, i have been set free from legalism. Just as the jews were set free from the law, i am set free in Christ. i grew up and matured to be bitter against southern Christianity, but this book has taught me that its not the church, but its the choice of legalism in the church. If i turn ear to those around criticizing, as Paul says, than Christ is made nothing. if we are justified by law then Christ death was a waste! i hope that hits you as hard as it hit me. i am not to boast in anything outward, but in new creations thru Christ.

i feel that as i return home, i have such a greater appreciation and understanding of my position and Christ sacrifice for me. As i die to the slavery of legalism i become alive in servanthood of my family of faith. As i go back to share the truth and revelation that ESBE has brought to me, i will have to choose to die to law, performance, appearances- die to law and be made alive in the grace that God promised to me 430 years before he ever gave law, that my position in secure. i have been declared righteous as a pardon… just because God said so.

its easy to read Galations and think wow Paul is slamming the church, but more than that he is slamming the cult that diverges and enforces the need to contribute to what has already been made perfect in Christ.

ill be honest… Acts was soooo hard for me. i dont know why, but it didnt feel relevant so much and i know that sounds silly but let me tell you that God made it real. i was in a coffee shop and it happen to open mike night.. iwas like weeee! but about 3 people in there was a “slam poet” and the last half of his poem was the most blasphemous rage aginst Christ and God i had ever heard!. i was in total shock and i thought about saying something, but i was so nervous and that it when it hit me… i felt like God said… I bet Acts would mean something to you if you got up on that stage and spoke boldly for me. it hit me that the people in Acts prayed for boldness because they were scared, and i was scared to get infront of Asheville hippies, well educated scarp sword vocabulary that could rip me up and spit me out in a matter of 2 sentences. well… i am going to write a poem and present it next thursday night.. i am going to get up there in front of them and not judge them or be angry but let them know how sad i am for them because i hear their hurt and pain, but they are regecting the only source of healing and that is believe in Christ. it broke my heart… to hear them cry out in anger at God and Christ who sunday school had taught them he was and then they got in the real world and that world said BLAME GOD HATE GOD.. so they did.. well… i will speak with boldness the gosple of Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to pour out on all those who hear, just like Peter, John, Phillip, and Paul, and all those who stood and had faith beofr God that he would act miraculously on behalf of their faith. with that being said, i wanted to share my last build……. for all you non ESBSers out there it wont make since but here it goes…
…. i noticed Paul. Examine – he addressed the angry crowd in Hebrew. Interpretation – Why? to touch their core, to bring them back to the heart. He used intimacy to communicate because besides all, they were blood. They were Family. He used hebrew to say more than he was saying… Timless Truth – Presentation of truth can be more powerful that what you are actually trying to say more powerful than the truth. like Christ.. the way he presented the truth said more than just saying it. Maybe that is why in Mark he didnt use words to preface, it was the presentation that was more powerful thanthe words.. Specific Application – whyat does my preface say? sometimes its sad that i am so blessed and so free and say so little.

Wow i am continually amazed at the truth being revealed in my life!…. i think that the biggest impact this book had on me, is that time after time, Christ pursued the “1″ and left the “99″. It has just tought me how much God really does pay attention to the individual. Sometimes, in my new adult life, i just feel so lost in the crowd whether its at a big new church in Charlotte, or even just in the South Park Mall. The jews were so mad at Jesus because he consistantly left them (99) and went out for the lost (1). He ate with sinners, the roman tax collectors, the individual time after time like Zacheuss! GOd is so big and his plate is so full, but the individual is really what matters to him. And even in reponse, the Kingdom of God rejoices over one!…. i know so many people that GOd is chasing hard after including myslef. He is in pursuit of them. Sometimes i feel like they need me in there life to help shine the light and speak truth, but God revealed to me that he totally has it under control. i can chill out and just let him do his thing! i am just so greatful that God chose to pursue me. He sought me out too. I was part of his agenda, and he knows me by name.