Even Now, Return to Me
Pastor Brian Schafer
January 5, 2024
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Life Lesson: Jesus must become greater, I must become
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Joel is one of 12 Minor Prophets. In his time, the people were guilty of “The Big 3”: (1) They stopped trusting that God would provide. (2) They started worshiping other gods. (3) They stopped helping the poor.
Joel 2:12-14
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing — grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.
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Take your own notes here…
2 Thoughts to Start our 2025:
(1) Return To Me.
(2) Even Now.
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1. “Return” = SHUB (in Hebrew)
So much meaning is packed into this one Hebrew word:
- Return
- Turn around
- Come back home
- The Prodigal Father who is watching and waiting for his lost son.
- Homesickness
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Take your own notes here…
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2. EVEN NOW.
In the Kingdom of God, it’s never too little and it’s never too
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Take your own notes here…
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“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” - John 11:21-22
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How many different combinations are possible with 6 2x4 Lego Bricks?
Answer: 915,103,765!
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So often, we only see what is right in front of us. But in Christ, ALL THINGS are possible!
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Take your own notes here…
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3 Spiritual Disciplines that invite the infilling of the Holy Spirit. (3 Practices that demonstrate that we want Jesus to become greater and us to become less.)
- Scripture. Download the GCN Mobile App and plug into the Daily Bible Reading and Prayer Plan today!
- Prayer. “Prayer is not outlining our agenda to God. Prayer is getting into God’s Presence and saying, ‘God, we need You to ouline Your agenda for us.”
- Fasting. The Invitation: begin this year with fasting. Could be a dietary fast, like the John Wesley Fast, or it could be a fast from all media or social media.