Red Letters: Built In The Shadows - Pastor Josiah Elias

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRdx9z40juM

Spirit-filled worship, faith-meeting-the-water baptisms, and Daniel fast-ending communion were just the beginning of the service. Pastor Josiah hoped that the Daniel fast gave us tools for walking with God. Communion, on the other hand, reminds us of His death and resurrection. It also reminds us of His love for you. He is for you. He sees you.

From Pastor Josiah’s favorite verses that described the Last Supper, he read,”For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself.” 1 Corinthians 11:23 (NLT) He noted the importance of Paul “passing on” what he received from the Lord. That is what we can and should do-pass on to others what the Lord has given to each of us. It is our story, and we get to share it.

“On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took

some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke

it in pieces and said, ’This is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, he took the

cup of wine after supper, saying, ’This cup is the new covenant

between God and his people-an agreement confirmed with my

blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are

announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.’” 

1 Corinthians 11:23b-26 (NLT)

Jesus’ blood washed away our sins, and we are clothed with Jesus’ blood and righteousness. When we sang,”We need the blood. We plead the blood,” we declared that fact.

Then Pastor Ashley Elias read 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter and reminded us that love equals blood. He gave His life’s blood so that we could have life everlasting. Ashley thanked the Lord for His Son’s precious blood, and she thanked Jesus “for being our High Priest. Thank you for interceding for us.” His love lasts forever. “Blood=love; love=blood.”

Pastor Greg also shared what the Lord laid on his heart. “A lot of you desire to level up. It does not mean climbing higher but drawing closer. It is not about doing things. The Lord says to  surrender in this hour.” He reminded us that the “deeper you go with God the more you release.” He extended that point and said,”Draw closer. Release that thing. ‘I paid the price for it as well.’” Pastor Greg admonished us to let go of any hurt, pain, rejection, exclusion and to give it to the Lord who paid for it all. “It will cost you to level up. The return on the investment is eternal. The Lord wants your heart. Give it to the Lord.”

The Lord coordinated this service together through the worship, baptisms, communion, Pastor Ashley sharing, Pastor Greg admonishing us, and Pastor Josiah preaching the Word.

FC’s mission is to culture like Christ, and the vision is Jesus. The last time Pastor Josiah spoke he explained the braiding done with faith, persistence and prayer of the woman.  This week the passage from Matthew was the basis of the sermon entitled  “Built in the Shadows.” A person asked Jesus,

”’Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life.’

‘Why ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is

only One who is good.’” 1 Matthew 19:16-17 (NLT)

The biblical standard for good is God, but the human standard for good is not the same. We would better understand the kingdom if we look to the who and not the what so much.  You might need healing. We know the Healer; you might need things. We know the Provider. You might need saving; we know the Savior. Instead of seeking the what, seek the Who! It is not enough to only know His name. The demons know His name. But is He your Lord and Savior? What is your relationship with Jesus Christ?

Returning to Matthew 19, Jesus told the man to keep the commandments, and Jesus explained, “You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 19;18b-19 (NLT)  This answer was a rabbinical one; these were the horizontally focused commandments on how to treat people.  The young man was religious and pious. He felt that he was obedient to those commandments, and he might have been, but these were not the essential ones. Sometimes what’s not said speaks the loudest.

Jesus went deeper. “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21 (NLT)  “perfect-Grk. Teleios-finished, complete, brought to its end.” That command was too much for the young man because “he had many possessions.” Matthew 19:22b (NLT) Or did the possessions have him? Did he honor his possessions more than God, the Who? His issue wasn’t luxury-it was lordship. Let the metric of what the Lord labels success to be your metric. The world says to achieve, own more, have more, do more, be more The Lord says,

”Come to me all you who are weary and heavy ladened and 

I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your

souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

(NIV)

It is about surrender to Him. Our metric of success needs to match His metric of success. In contrast this rich, young ruler was a slave to things! What a sad story. What an opportunity he missed. Could he have been in the boat when Peter walked on water? Could he have seen the blind see and the lame walk?  He settled for lesser gods like possessions! 

Are we settling for lesser gods like possessions, careers, families as our lord, or are we surrendering our heart, time, talent, testimony, and treasures to Jesus Christ? Let’s sweep out anything that distracts us from our Lord, anything that takes so much of our attention that we put Jesus Christ on a second tier, for the more we have, the more we can be entangled. A verse that has given me perspective is Matthew 6:33. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (NLT) If I put Him first, then everything else will fall in place. I will not live a trouble free-life, but Jesus as my Lord and Savior, He is all I need.

Jesus continued that the rich would have trouble getting into heaven at which the “disciples were astounded. ‘Then who in the world can be saved?’ they asked.

Jesus looked at them intently and said,’ Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’” Matthew 19:25-26 ((NLT)

Peter then asked what would they receive since they gave everything up. “Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes.”  Matthew 19:28 (NLT) Also He added,”But many who are the greatest now will be the least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” Matthew 19:30 (NLT) We are part of an upside down kingdom. Our Lord who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey is King of the heavens. Hallelujah!

The Paramount Point is In the kingdom, those who stoop the lowest stand the tallest.  Think of when Jesus shocked His disciples as He bent down to wash their feet at the Last Supper. He is the ultimate servant leader. May we take note of His servant-leadership and seek to serve so that we can be salt and light in this dark world.

Calendar:

1/30/26-Ed Moore and Bernie Moore’s celebration of their lives at 12:00pm at FC. Please bring finger food for the reception which will greatly bless Vicki Sneed, Bonnie Hernandez and Tom Carlyon and their families. The reception is immediately following the service in the lobby.

2/20/26-LB potluck, worship, and speaker Felipe Villa, who is Pastor Michel’s grandfather, and he might play his trumpet for us! What a treat!

Blessings,

Larry and Annette