Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church
You can't live very long without injuring your self. There are physical and mental scars. The scar means the wound is healed so don't look at the scar remembering the pain, remember the grace of God.
Scars can be fuel for your faith when seen in the right light. No one receives victories without being wounded; loss, mistakes, setbacks, etc...
Sure you have a scar but the enemy wasn't able to take you out.
African missionary was in a head on collision and needed a surgery that left a scar across her face and it reminds her that she is lucky to be alive. (When anyone asks about them she has a chance to testify)
Da'Dra had a goiter that was growing and nearing a size that would block her vocal chords. She'd been a worship leader her entire life. She had surgery which left a scar across her neck. She doesn't try to cover it and she doesn't let it remind her of the surgery or the struggle.
Joel tripped after making several mistakes and he couldn't do something he loved. When he sees the scar now he is thankful that he can still walk and run.
We are forgiven so we shouldn't allow scars to make us feel guilty and focus on trying to hide them
for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
Romans 11:29 NIV
Our scars prepare us.
Pastor John's first marriage didn't work out and the people who were supposed to pour oil on his wound condemned him and judged him. Told him his pastoral career was over.
Mama Dodie had polio as a child which gave her a limp.
Jacob had a lot of self inflicted wounds (personal mistakes) but still walked away with a limp.
That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
Genesis 32:22, 24-24, 26, 31 NIV
Jesus was crucified and when he was resurrected, he still had scars.
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:24-29 NIV
Maybe someone needs to touch your scars so that they will be inspired to believe. God didn't show you mercy just for you but to help others.
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher"). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
John 20:16-17 NIV
A scar doesn't happen overnight, it takes time to heal. Like Jesus, we might not be ready for anyone to touch us there
Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,
John 5:8-9 NIV
That mat was like a scar.
Phil Munsey @ Lakewood Church
(Find Your 60)
Comfort Food2 Cor 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
Pizza is the #1 Comfort Food in America but God has comfort food for us.
Your experience becomes comfort food for others. We overcome by the blood of a lamb and come out with a testimony.
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 NIV
Christianity isn't just vertical. In addition to a relationship with God we need to have a relationship with each other...community is not an option.
That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 11:30 NIV
Remembering the body means remembering that we're connected. There's a Jesus in me that needs to meet the Jesus in others.
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