Security

I am in the middle of a sermon series called truth. Over the month of July we are looking at some deep truths from God’s word. I am doing what God has wired me to do, taking complex things and translating it into “bubba”. It is fun and very challenging. This week I am speaking on security.
I have discovered that Tallahassee is very “religious”. It seems that everyone here has a denominational label of some sort. I have also discovered that folks here are very insecure in their relationship with God. Most are convinced that God loves them only when they are good or they are attending church, giving their money, not doing any major sinning. This insecurity has produced a huge amount of dysfunction. Because God’s love is tied to their behavior then God is “ticked” at them most of the time. This is a lie. (read Romans 8) This lie causes the church to be ineffective. If we are insecure then we are at best tentative. God’s love and salvation is based on His character not your behavior but on your response to Him through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
God wants me secure in Him so I can thrive and become all He wants me to be. Growing up Baptist I was taught once saved always saved but had so many preachers create insecurity in me by trying to get me to respond to an invitation. I often felt like their goal was to get me down the aisle of a church building other than building my life in Christ. Sometimes their teachings created confusion, doubt, and discouragement. In our preaching we must make the path to Christ plain but we must build the security of the believer as well. God has called me to build lives. I want the folks I lead to know Jesus and thrive in Him.
This week I will be teaching on security. Any relationship that is rooted in insecurity is dysfunctional and God is not dysfunctional!