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Sunday 27 March 2016

'EASTER SUNDAY - 2016'

Rev. Brent Russett
By Rev. Brent Russett
Pastor of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in Ottawa:
http://www.sunnysidechurchottawa.com/   

_______________________________________________________
PODCAST LINK to CFRA broadcast - Sunday, March 27th, 2016:
____________________________________________

'Easter Sunday - 2016'

Good morning. And welcome to good news in the morning. Happy Easter – He has risen – He has risen indeed. And a special welcome to those of you who are making your way to Parliament Hill right now to celebrate an Easter Morning Service, with the church in the city.

 My name is Brent Russett. I am the Senior Pastor at Sunnyside Wesleyan Church. It is my pleasure to talk about Jesus on this Easter Sunday morning.

            This is a special morning. It is the morning of the greatest celebration on the Christian Calendar. It is the morning where we celebrate life. Resurrected life. The life of Jesus.

            This morning’s program has been sponsored by Wills Transfer. Wills Transfer is a full service logistics and warehousing company serving eastern Ontario and western Quebec since 1945. A special thanks to Terry Wills. Thanks for partnering with Goodnews Christian Ministries on this Easter Sunday morning.

            I love Easter. I love the tradition. The tradition of getting together with Lynda’s family on the Saturday. The tradition of the annual Easter egg hunt. The tradition of the Sunday sunrise service. The tradition of an Easter Monday meal.

            I am sure that many of you have traditions around Easter. It used to be that it was tradition for women to wear new hats on Easter Sunday morning. It used to be a tradition to sport new clothes on Easter.

            In addition to tradition, for those of us who are Christians, there is obviously something sacred about the weekend. On Friday, we remembered the death of our Lord on the cross.

            And Easter Sunday morning. We gather to remember the event that changed the world. Jesus rose from the dead. If Christ had not been raised from the dead, the Christian faith would never have been born. The world would have been very different.

            We gather here today to celebrate that which our faith is based on, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. But I have come to understand the resurrection much more personally.

            You see, the resurrection is not just a historical event, although it is that. The resurrection is not just Jesus keeping his word, although it is that. The resurrection is not just a proof of Jesus divinity, although it is that. The resurrection is not just a validation of our faith, although it is that. The resurrection is something that you and I are called to join in with. The resurrection is personal.

            It is easy to let this weekend go by and understand it historically. Jesus was crucified on a cross, and he was raised to life and his resurrection was attested to by hundreds of people.

            It is easy to let this weekend go by and understand it theologically. Jesus died and paid the penalty for our sin, and he rose to life showing that he had conquered evil and sin and death.

            It is easy to let this weekend go by…. but fail to understand it personally. That is true of those who have never personally received Jesus into their lives. It is also true for those who have lost the wonder of the cross. Sometimes in hearing the story repeatedly the power of the resurrection becomes muted for us.

            But today I want to help you make the resurrection personal again.

            The reason I want to do that is because when the resurrection becomes profoundly personal – it changes how you see yourself – it give you a new identity. When the resurrection becomes profoundly personal it moves you to a whole new level of faith. It changes the way your pray, it changes what you trust God for, it changes the way you live. When the resurrection becomes profoundly personal it changes the way you worship – it brings the presence and power of God to bear on everyday life. So my prayer for you today is that the resurrection would become personal again for you today.
*****
            Before I can draw you a personal picture though, I need to sketch out for you the big picture.

            The big picture is this, people were made in the image of God. We were made to reflect the character of God. Being made in the image of God meant that we lived in harmony with God. It also meant that we lived in harmony with ourselves. Being made in the image of God, and seeing others as being made in the image of God meant that we lived in harmony with each other. It also meant that we lived in harmony with the world around us.

            But because of the choices that we as humans made, because we decided to disobey God, because we decided to go our own way not God’s way, because we decided to sin the image of God in us was profoundly shattered.

            Unable to reflect God the way were created to, Our relationship with God was broken. On the day that sin entered into the world, something within us died. Our spiritual natures which before had been as real as our physical bodies, became like a wisp of smoke that we catch glimpses of only occasionally, and we wonder if it is really there. Our physical bodies started the process of death.

            Our relationship with ourselves was broken. Now instead of living in harmony with ourselves, we often have this conflict between our heads and our hearts. We hide ourselves from ourselves and we have trouble seeing ourselves clearly. Insecurity and grappling for significance are a way of life.

            Our relationship with others was broken. We have this desire to love and be loved and yet we hide ourselves from each other. We live with shame and guilt and fear. We wonder if people knew who we really were, if they would love us or reject us. And when our brokenness collides with other peoples brokenness, sparks fly and the hurt goes deep.

            Our relationship with the world around us was broken. When God gave people dominion over the earth, there was no such thing as greed, or power for power’s sake. As God is good we reflected his goodness. But as a result of sin and the curse, work became hard and many seemed to go to war with their environment.


**********
            But here is the story of Jesus. Jesus came to restore the image of God in us. He did that by making away on the cross so that the sin and evil and the death that shattered the image of God, was dealt with. In doing that he made a way that we could walk in relationship with God. In doing that God by his Holy Spirit could breathe new life into us, into our spirit. In doing that he could start the work of bringing us into harmony with ourselves.

            In doing that he could start the work of bringing us into harmony with others. For that same Spirit that brought us life placed God’s love in our hearts. Love becomes the basis for living in relationship with others.

            In doing that we can start to walk in harmony with the world around us. We don’t have live out greed or oppressive power, but we can live out of a heart that cares for the world like God does.

            The process of image restoration begins the moment we give our lives to Jesus. When we recognized that our sin has shattered our relationship with God and his image within us, and when we trust the work that Jesus did on the cross to defeat sin and evil and death, when we give our lives to Christ – God starts the work of image restoration.

            There may be some of you listening today who have never given your life to Jesus. Easter Sunday recognizes that Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus is who he says he is. I would encourage you even while we listen to some music  to pray a prayer something like, Lord Jesus come into my life, forgive me of my sins, restore your image in me, I give my life to you, and I plan to follow you. A prayer like that prayed in faith starts God’s work within you.
*****
Easter Song – 2nd Chapter of Acts 2:27

            I know that many of you, have prayed a to receive Jesus into your heart. The Bible says you have been born again. A spiritual birth.  You have trusted Jesus with your life. You have invited him into your life.

            For those of you who have done that I want to talk about why the resurrection is really personal to you.

            I don’t know about you but sometimes I think that the process of God restoring his image in me is going rather slowly. I know that God is full of love, but I know I only have some love. I know that God is full of grace, but I am only somewhat gracious. I know that God is truly good, but my goodness quotient could be added to. I know that God is fully righteous, I know that I am not.

            There is so much that needs to be done in my so that I can truly reflect God, so that I can truly bear his image. I have a relationship with God, but it could be stronger. I live in harmony with myself sometimes, and then other times I am anxious or insecure or afraid. When that happens I am not living in harmony with myself.

            I am sure that most of you can relate.

            I am at harmony with people sometimes, and other times not. I am at harmony with the world sometimes and other times I am not.

            The process of image restoration seems to be slow. Do you ever feel that way.
*******
            I will tell you what trips me up in all this. When I think of image restoration I think of it kind of like restoring a house. If I can pull together the right materials, and if I can learn the right techniques then I can restore the house. And if I am restoring the image, if I can pull together the right set of rules, and the right understanding of life, and then apply that to my life, I will be a more loving person, and I will be better at relationships, and I will have a better relationship with God too. There is a whole self help industry that has sprung up around this.

            Now I am all for using the power of our choices to make life better. But the reality is that restoring the image of God in us is a whole lot more like restoring health to someone who’s heart has flatlined. It is more like resurrection of those parts of us that were dead. Dead to a relationship with God. Dead to love. Dead to peace. Dead to Joy. Dead to authentic relationship. Those things need to be resurrected in us.

            Come with me now to Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1:17–20 (NIV)
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

            Let me break this down for you

Verse 17
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

            It is always a helpful thing to know the one that you are to reflect. But notice how you get to know God. You get to know God as God gives you wisdom and revelation. Revelation is not about our intellectual ability to reason to a vision of God, but our ability to see and accept what God shows us about himself. Wisdom takes what God has shown us about himself, and about who we are and helps us to put that into practice. The purpose is that you can know him better.

Verse 18
 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.


            The hope to which you were called. If you could see what it would mean to have the image of God restored in you, you would know a little of that hope. If you could see what full salvation would mean for your relationship with yourself you would know a little of the hope to which you were called. If you could see what full salvation would mean for you connect to the God of the universe you would know a little about the hope to which you were called. If you could see God’s vision for this world with the image of God being restored in hundreds and thousands and millions and billions you would know a little to the hope to which you were called. If you could see God’s vision for this world as he created it, and how it was to be developed, you would know part of the hope to which you were called.

You were called to have the image of God restored in you. That is the hope to which you are called.

 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

            Paul prays that you would know the riches of your inheritance. As your inheritance you are given eternal life. You are given a place in the Kingdom of God. You are given authority in the kingdom of God. You are given the treasure of the kingdom.

            But it is this next part that I want you to catch.
 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

            Paul is praying that you will know the awesome power of God that is working on behalf of those of us who believe.

            The power to revive us. The power to restore the image of God in us. The power to see our relationship with God thrive, our relationship with ourselves be at peace. Our relationship with others be full of love and grace. Our relationship with the world around us to be what it should be. Out of that relationship comes a power to pray effectively. Out of that relationship comes a power to use our spiritual gifts successfully. Out of that relationship comes to power to live a good life a holy life.

            Catch the rest of the verse.
Ephesians 1:19–20 (NIV)
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

            The power that is working for us who believe, is the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

            Remember I said that the restoration of the image of God in us wasn’t so much like the renovation of house as it was the restoration to health of someone whose heart had flat lined. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work on your behalf to restore God’s image in you. It is at work to bring about the hope to which you were called. It is at work in you.

            Today we are celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. It is amazing how God came in power. But that same power is at work on your behalf.

            In case the Ephesians missed it, and in case you missed it, Paul has another prayer just a few paragraphs on

Ephesians 3:16–20 (NIV)
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

            Did you catch that last verse. He is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine – according to his power that is in us. That is the same power that raised Christ from the dead.

            The work of image restoration is supernatural work. But the power to do that work is in you by the power of the Holy Spirit.

            The can’t will yourself, or work yourself into image restoration. The best you can do is make space for God. Take time to pray, not in a rote way, but in a way where you share your heart with God. Take time to worship God for who he is, and give thanks for what he has done. The power of thanksgiving to God is amazing. Let your mind be renewed as you read the scripture. Read the story of Jesus, and see what Jesus was like.

            When the Holy Spirit shows you what is sinful or what is broken in you, repent. Change your attitude and action so that they align with who God is. That is what repentance is. Repentance is the begin of restoration. It actually becomes an awesome thing, because you learn that this move you closer to God.

            Share the love of God with others. Resist the devil. Draw close to God and he will draw close to you.

            As you do these things the fruit of the Spirit will develop in you and the grace of God will empower you more and more. You will love more, and be more joyful, you will walk in peace
           
            The resurrection is personal because God wants to resurrect his image in you. The only question is, will you make the decisions of faith to trust him to do it, and decisions of space to put yourself in a place to let him do it.
           

Let us pray:

Lord, Thank you for the people who are listening. I ask you on this Easter Sunday Morning, that the resurrection will become personal to them.
I pray, Lord, that the same power that allowed you to rise from the dead; that same power that at work within them will become more and more evident. I’m praying, Lord, that they will co-operate with you, that they will be restored to full health.
I ask this in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

“ If Good News in the Morning has been a factor in your journey of faith, we would love to hear your story. Nothing could encourage us more in this work.  Contact us by e-mail or Twitter via the web site –goodnewsinthemorning.ca

            And thank you for listening this morning.

            This program is on the air by the grace of God and donations of many faithful people. I especially want to thank Wills Transfer, the logistics and warehouse company and Terry Wills for sponsoring todays program.

  If you can help financially we would really appreciate it. You can make a cheque payable to Good News Christian Ministries,  and send it to Box 184 , Rideau Ferry , On. K0G  1W0.

            You can also give by going to our website. Good News in the morning.ca

May you know   Jesus Christ personally and profoundly.  May the Holy Spirit reside deep within your heart .  And may the heavenly Father surround you with His constant and abiding and accompanying love

            We are going to go out listening to a choir sing this great…

By Rev. Brent Russett
Pastor of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in Ottawa:
_______________________________________________________ 
PODCAST LINK to the CFRA broadcast:

Sunday 20 March 2016

'PALM SUNDAY - THE TRUEST STORY EVER TOLD'

Rev. Brent Russett
By Rev. Brent Russett
Pastor of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in Ottawa:
http://www.sunnysidechurchottawa.com/   

_______________________________________________________
PODCAST LINK to CFRA broadcast - Sunday, March 20th, 2016:
____________________________________________

'Palm Sunday - The Truest Story Ever Told'


Good morning. And welcome to good news in the morning.  My name is Brent Russett. I am the Senior Pastor at Sunnyside Wesleyan Church here in Ottawa. It is my pleasure to look at some of life’s challenges, and then bring you some good news in the morning.

            I am glad that you tuned your dial to CFRA. I want you to know that you can also find Good News in the morning on the internet at Goodnewsinthemorning.ca. There you can keep up to date with what is happening around Good News Christian Ministries.

            This morning’s program has been sponsored by Wills Transfer. Wills Transfer is a full service logistics and warehousing company serving eastern Ontario and western Quebec since 1945. A special thanks to Terry Wills. Thanks for partnering with Goodnews Christian Ministries on this Palm Sunday.

            A happy Palm Sunday to all of you. Palm Sunday, for those of you who don’t know, is the Sunday before Easter, when the Christian Church celebrates, Jesus riding into Jerusalem as a king, with crowds worshipping him. Of course, five days later they crucified him. But today we get to join in with the celebration of the worship of Jesus.
******
            I love a good story. That is why I love a good movie. That is why I love to read a good novel. I think I have learned more about theology from reading stories than I have learned from theological text books. My favorite form of theology is when someone writes a good allegory.

            Now some of you are writers. You know how to craft a good story. Some of you are great story tellers.

            I grew up in a family of story tellers. Often in the summer time, my extended family would sit around a campfire and tell stories about days gone by. Stories were how community history was kept alive.

            Now stories can be true, in that they actual happened. They can be true in the sense that they never happened but they point to truth about life. Allegories fall into that category. Stories can be fiction in a way that they are neither true nor point to truth.

            This morning I want to tell you the truest story ever told. Not only is it true in the sense that it happened, it also points to a truth beyond the story.
*****
            There are some of you are wondering why should I care? Well the reality is that all of us base our life on a story. Science tells us a story about how the world works. And in many ways it tells a good, true story, if somewhat incomplete. It often tells  a story of how the world works, but it doesn’t tell us why the world works – which makes the story either meaningless or unsatisfactory.

            Many of you base your life on the stories you parents told you. They told you that money was important and that education was important. They told you a story about people of how you can or can’t trust them. Some of you were told the story that you would never grow up and amount to anything.  As we grow up we all have to figure out how true those stories are, or whether they are true at all. But the story you believe, shapes your life.

            The story that impacts your life the most is the story that you tell yourself about yourself. Sure that story is informed by other people but it is the story you believe about yourself. Some of the stories that you tell yourself is that you are a failure or that you are a success. You tell yourself about how valuable you are, or how you feel worthless. If you want to get a clear picture of the story you tell yourself, watch your own thinking when things go wrong.

            When stuff goes wrong, some people will tell themselves the story that they are a failure. Others will tell themselves the story that it is everyone else’s fault. Some will chalk it up to being human, and be gracious with themselves. Some will think the world is out to get them, or they are cursed. Some will tell themselves that they are stupid. But everyone tells themselves a story.

            If you could see the story that you tell yourself clearly, and if you could ask the question, is it true, that would probably take you a long piece towards wholeness.

            But underneath your story, there is a deeper, truer story going on. The more the story that you tell yourself agrees with this story, the truer the story that you tell yourself will be. The more authentic your life will be.

            Before we go any further we are going to listen to one of the old old hymns of the church –

MUSIC – Tell me the story of Jesus – It is sung by Wesley Phipps 4:26

            So let me tell you the truest story ever told. The story of Jesus It starts like all good stories do, at the beginning.

John 1 NIV
 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

            It becomes apparent in about 15 verses that the Word that John is talking about is Jesus. The story starts with Jesus. He was with God in the beginning. In fact he was God.

            Everything that you see was created by him, absolutely everything. He set the all of creation into motion. He wove and is woven into the very fabric of creation.

            But  more than this, in him was life. This is not only the life that makes your dog playful, or your cat moody,  or that makes you breathe – there is a deeper truer understanding of life.

            This is the kind of life that causes us to not only survive, but it is the kind of life that causes us to be fully alive. It is the kind of life you feel when you are full of love. It is the kind of life you glimpse when you are playing and totally engrossed in the enjoyment of it all. This is the life that is truly life.

            Jesus is life. And that life is the light of humanity. And whether or not you know God – you have a sense what real life is. (Unless you have really been formed by violence, and hatred.) The reality is though, that this sense of life get warped in all of us, because we live in a
 warped and broken world. In fact we live in a dark world.

            This world is not what it was created to be. It was created to be full of life, but death entered the world. It was created to be full of light but darkness has entered the world.

            But because this world was so dark, the one who said I am the light of the world, came into this world. He came to shine light in this world. He is the light. This light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.  For that matter the darkness couldn’t really figure out what light was

            So on one dark night the one who created the world came into the world. You know the story as Christmas. But remember when he came into this world he was heralded by angels. When the creator of the world enters the world, when light enters a dark place it as momentous events.

Luke 2:8–14 (NIV)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

1“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


            The creator of the world came into the world - for God so loved the world – but it was an occasion for the created to worship. Worship is always a good response of the creation to its creator.

            Well most of you know of about the life of Christ. Jesus. Matthew tells us what his main message was.

Matthew 4:17 (NIV)
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Jesus himself quoted from Isaiah, and told us what the kingdom of God was all about.

Luke 4:18–19 (NIV)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19         to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

            That is what light coming into darkness looks like. It means good news. God has come to humanity so that humanity can now get to God.

            It is the proclamation of freedom. Those of us who had been imprisoned in darkness, who had been bound by sin, now have the door of the prison opened, and we are told we can go free.

            To those of us who are blind. We cannot know or see the truth. Our sight is being healed.

            For those who are oppressed, Jesus came to set us free. Those whom the Son set free are free indeed.

            He came to proclaim God’s favor. God loves you. God is on your side.

            And people saw it in the ministry of Jesus. They especially saw it in the teaching and in the miracles.

            So is it any wonder that the crowd that first Palm Sunday, that crowd that had seen Lazarus raised from the dead. That crowd that had heard the message of Jesus started to echo heaven.

The angels shouted 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

            The crowd shouted.
Luke 19:38 (NIV)
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” 
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

            That is what worship is. Worship is stating what is true in heaven to be true on earth. Worship echoes on earth what is true in heaven.

            When we say God you are faithful and good and true and kind and loving. We are echoing what is true in heaven. That is worship.

            But it goes further than that. There were religious leaders in the crowd. They heard people worshiping Jesus. They thought, this is not right. They did not get who was in front of them. They did not understand that the creator of the world had stepped into the world. So

Luke 19:39–40 (NIV)
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

            Was that hyperbole. Was Jesus exaggerating? I don’t think so.

            Jesus said, if the people were to be silent then praise would happen by an extraordinary means. It is interesting to note, that in a few short days from now, when Jesus was hung on the cross, and the disciples were silenced that the earth did quake and rocks were split apart.

            You see when the one who knitted together the fabric of the world comes into the world, the world is most true to itself when it echoes heaven. The structure of the world is made to reflect heaven.

            If worship didn’t happen, if the people would not echo heaven the earth itself would have to.

            So what does that have to do with you. Well quite a bit. Worship happens when the story on earth reflects the story in heaven. Worship happens when the story you tell yourself reflects the story that is told about you heaven.

            Remember Jesus mission.

             Matthew 4:17 (NIV)
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

            Repentance needs to happen when your story doesn’t match the one that heaven wants to tell about you. Now for those of you who have yet to become followers of Jesus, that is the first place that your story needs to match.

            Jesus died for you. You have to receive what Jesus did for you. Jesus rose from the grave with new life. Jesus wants to pour his new life into you.

            Fort those of you who are follows of Christ – I want to ask you this question. Is the story that you tell yourself the same as the story told about you in heaven?

Ephesians 1:3–8 (NIV)
 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship  through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

Do you hear what heaven says about you.
What Heaven says.
You have every spiritual blessing in Christ
You were chosen
You are loved
You are adopted into the family of God
You are redeemed and forgiven
God’s grace, God’s favour is lavished upon you.

Is that the story that you tell yourself? That is the story that echo’s heaven. That is the truest story ever told. This is what God says is true about you. This is your identity. This is who you are. Will you own your story?

Lets go on

Ephesians 2:1–7 (NIV)
 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,…. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.


This is what is said about you in heaven.
God loves you  in a great way he is rich in mercy.
He made you alive
He raised you up with Christ.
You are now seated in with Christ in the heavenly realms.

You are God’s masterpiece (handiwork)
You are created anew in Christ


            Remember this is what the one who created the world says about you. The creator of the world came into the world to do what he did so this would be true about you. He who wove the fabric of the universe declares this to be true about you.

            Remember the world is most true when it echoes heaven. Your story is most true when it echoes heaven. How does what you tell yourself about, line up to what God says about you?

            I have two kids. Sometimes when they were growing up something would happen and I would be told two versions of the event. Ethan would tell me one thing and Amy would tell me another thing.

            What I had was two competing stories. As a parent you have to try and figure out what is going on. You have to try to figure out what is true.

            Some of you have two have two stories in front of you. There is the story you tell yourself about yourself and the story that God tells you about you.

            You are the one who is going to have to figure out which story you are going to believe. If you believe the story you have been telling yourself and it is different than God’s story – you will find worship harder. You will be going against how you are made. You will find yourself carrying attitudes and behaviours that hinder you rather than help you.

            But if you will learn to believe the story that God says about you, you will stand in the middle of trouble. You will be strengthened in the middle of trouble. You will be most truly you, and most fully alive.

            We all base our lives on a story. So what story will you tell yourself about yourself. The story that you believe will determine how you live

Let’s pray:

Lord, I pray that each person who is listening to me will match the story of their life with your story. I ask this in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

 If Good News in the Morning has been a factor in your journey of faith, we would love to hear your story. Nothing could encourage us more in this work.  Contact us by e-mail or Twitter via the web site –goodnewsinthemorning.ca

            And Thank you for listening this morning.

            This program is on the air by the grace of God and donations of many faithful people. I especially want to thank Wills Transfer, the logistics and warehouse company and Terry Wills for sponsoring todays program.

  If you can help financially we would really appreciate it. You can make a cheque payable to Good News Christian Ministries,  and send it to Box 184 , Rideau Ferry , On. K0G  1W0.

            You can also give by going to our website. Good News in the morning.ca

May you know   Jesus Christ personally and profoundly.  May the Holy Spirit reside deep within your heart.  And may the heavenly Father surround you with His constant and abiding and accompanying love

MUSIC The Cross has said it all Matt Redman 3:54


By Rev. Brent Russett
Pastor of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in Ottawa:
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