{"id":5408,"date":"2015-01-12T09:52:12","date_gmt":"2015-01-12T13:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=5408"},"modified":"2015-02-07T22:41:28","modified_gmt":"2015-02-08T02:41:28","slug":"mens-fellowship-strives-to-treasure-jesus-in-2015-11015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=5408","title":{"rendered":"Mens Fellowship Strives to Treasure Jesus in 2015 (1\/10\/15)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chris<\/a>

Chris Johnson<\/p><\/div>\n

The United Methodist Men’s Fellowship held our monthly gathering on Saturday January 10.\u00a0 Yep- it was a cold and early morning at 7:30 AM, but the warm coffee and fellowship is always a great thing.<\/p>\n

Our guest speaker was Chris Johnson, a missionary who has a heart for the people in Mexico who don’t know Christ. Chris and His wife Michele have been planting churches in Mexico, but are currently “home” in New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Chris’ theme was “Treasuring Jesus in 2015.”\u00a0 How easily do we get trapped up in the day to day demands of life and get distracted from the fact that God constantly- minute by minute- supplies our needs?\u00a0 How can we become constantly aware that we are God’s hands and feet in the moment where we find ourselves?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Paul Treasured the Gospel with His Life…<\/span><\/h3>\n

We started out by looking at Paul’s example in Philippians 1:19-26<\/a>…<\/p>\n

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for I know that through your prayers and God\u2019s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.<\/span><\/span> \u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.<\/span> \u00a0 <\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.<\/span> \u00a0 <\/sup>If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!<\/span> \u00a0 <\/sup>I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;<\/span> \u00a0 <\/sup>but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,<\/span> \u00a0 <\/sup>so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. <\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

Paul is so in love with his Savior that he’s living full-out for Him.\u00a0 He’s in prison.\u00a0 He’s facing trial, and most likely, he’s going to be executed.\u00a0 But he’s not worried.\u00a0 Instead we see a man who’s confident; full of faith and of a desire to be with Jesus.\u00a0 In a way, he prefers that his trial ends in death so that he can be even closer to Jesus.\u00a0 And yet, he knows that by living he can continue to glorify God on earth.<\/p>\n

Can we treasure Jesus and live in His service with the same passion?<\/p>\n

Paul was motivated to treasure Jesus because he had an encounter with Jesus.\u00a0 Paul was “zapped” on the road to Damascus.\u00a0 The bright light of God’s Son totally changed his life and priorities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Treasure the Gospel…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Paul was focused on the Gospel… and the Gospel is Jesus.\u00a0 Ephesians 2:1-10<\/a> reminds us that we are saved by grace; that we are made alive by Jesus the Christ.<\/p>\n

That’s Good News!\u00a0 Jesus is the Gospel, and Paul treasured the Gospel.<\/p>\n

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Ephesians 2:1-10<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, \u00a0 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.<\/p>\n

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.<\/p>\n

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, \u00a0 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions\u2014it is by grace you have been saved.\u00a0 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,\u00a0 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith\u2014and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God\u2014 \u00a0 not by works, so that no one can boast. \u00a0 For we are God\u2019s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Set Your Heart on Things Above…<\/span><\/h3>\n

In Colossians 3:1-4<\/a>, Paul reminds us to set our thoughts on things above…<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. \u00a0 <\/sup>Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.<\/span> \u00a0 <\/sup>For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.<\/span> \u00a0 <\/sup>When Christ, who is your\u00a0<\/sup> life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

But how do we do that?\u00a0 What are some habits that we can develop in order to keep our focus on “things above?” \n\t\t\t

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