FCWC12: Wednesday Evening

We've been learning about what it means to thrive. We've heard that greenery is what God wants for us, and that we need to control the voices and influences in our lives.

Cory started off the evening with a quote from John Piper:

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? ”

God gives us good gifts, but we need to focus on who gave us these gifts.

We will never truly thrive until Jesus Christ is our hearts GREATEST TREASURE. This means that Jesus needs to be greater than everything including our families, significant others, jobs, popularity, looks, cars, media, dreams, money, school, deaths of family members, pets, possessions, obsessions, and health.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
~Philippians 3 (NIV)

 This verese tells us how we should feel about knowing Jesus. The life that I used to have is nothing compared to Jesus and His awesomeness.

Cory also talked about idols. Idols are anything that crowds into our affections and takes away from Jesus. These are not just gold statues in other countries, they are close and very real. They are things like technology, media, friends, sports, and anything else that takes your attention away from Jesus.

One example from the bible is when King Nebuchadnezzar made an idol and tried to make Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego worship it.

¹ King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide,^[a] and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
~Daniel 3 (NIV)

The thing about idols:

1. They always appeal to our NATURAL DESIRES. The affections of Jesus should be #1 over sports and activities.
2. They are always EASY TO GET TO. People, friends, and gaming are easily accessible.
3. They always OBSTRUCT OUR VIEW of God. The closer you get to an idol, you don't see what's more important on the other side.

We need to manage the idolatry of our hearts. Don't worship boys and girls, technology or other things. They only last while we are here. It's only God when we go to Heaven. That's mroe than enough for us.

Jesus is worth of your heart's greatest affections. Jesus came to see us thrive (John 10:10), and He earned a spot as our heart's greatest treasure. Is He your heart's greatest treasure?

Jesus can forgive you of your past-it doesn't matter what your past is. He gives potential to give purpose to your present and hope to your future.

A lot of times, we hear the message in our heads, but we don't receive it inour hearts. Have you? People will see a change in you when you let your light shine for Jesus.