Gregg's Rest Stop (The Heart-Cry of a Christian)

Published: Mon, 08/18/14

Gregg's Rest Stop

August 18, 2014

Journey in Christ

The Heart-Cry of a Christian

God the Father is revealing intimate and profound truths to me as He continues to walk me through Paul's letters to the Romans and Ephesians. I hope you hear His love for you through the truths from Romans 8:15-16 in this Rest Stop. These two verses are a reminder of how we, as disciples of Christ, are called by God to walk alongside other Christians to encourage and equip them to live and minister as disciples of Christ. We are instruments of the Holy Spirit for reminding brothers and sisters in Christ who they are and whose they are! YOUR HUMAN SPIRIT CRIES OUT For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15) On our pilgrimage with the Lord Jesus Christ, God grows us to know Him more and more deeply as our "Abba, Father," and endearing term for "Daddy." The Holy Spirit is always nurturing us to know God as our Father through our adoption as children into His family. During a particularly difficult period in my life, I was so weak and despairing as I laid down to sleep one night. So much was on my heart and mind. I did not plan to do this, but I spontaneously and passionately said, "Good night Daddy." What peace that step of faith brought! I woke up the next morning saying, "Good morning Daddy," assured that He had faithfully and lovingly watched over me and Joy all night long! I have had other occasions since then when I have experienced fellowship with Christ in what I refer to as "my personal Gethsemanes," difficult times that lead me to cry out in agony to my Father. This past week, the Father showed me from His Word that Jesus, His only begotten Son, indeed cried out "Abba Father" with much agony (even to the point of sweating drops of blood) in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His cross: Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. (Mark 14:36) Because the risen Son of God lives in us through the Holy Spirit, we, too, can experience the same intimate relationship with the Father! THE HOLY SPIRIT LIFTS YOU UP The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:16) Therefore, the Holy Spirit nurtures us to grow in having a keen sense of being children of God, to the point that we will ultimately and more frequently find ourselves spontaneously crying out from deep within our human spirits, "Abba Father!" In addition, according to this following verse (Romans 8:16), as we cry out "Abba Father" from deep within our human spirits, the Holy Spirit comes alongside our spirits to further bear witness and affirm that we are indeed children of God. I recall the first time I said "Good night Daddy" to our Father, a profound sense of peace came over me and I rested well that night. I believe that peace was the Holy Spirit bearing witness with my spirit that I was indeed the Father's child. And I grew that night in more deeply knowing Christ as my peace. My dear friend and mentor John Best notes that the Holy Spirit "bears witness *with* our spirit" and not "to our spirit" that we are children of God. So, whenever we are led to cry out from our spirits to God as our Father, the Holy Spirit comes alongside us to affirm that we are indeed children of God. What a beautiful relationship with the Spirit of God! CLOSING The Puritan theologian Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680) paints a beautiful picture of these truths from Romans 8:15-16 with the following words (my paraphrase): Picture of Romans 8:15: "A father picks up his child and kisses him. This father's action did not make that child his child. The child already called his father 'daddy.' The child already had the assurance of his son-ship within himself. '" Picture of Romans 8:16: "However, the child did not have this assurance like he had it the moment when he was enfolded in the arms of his father and the love of the father was being poured out upon him! This was extra assurance. The child had done nothing. It was all done to him by the father." What a beautiful picture of truth! May this Rest Stop encourage you to realize your re-born, child-like spirit deep within you related to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

About

Biblical discipleship thru

Counseling

Teaching

Training

Gregg Gibbons

Pastoral Director

Michael Chalmers

Training Director

Kellie Boggs

Fellowship Director

Joy Gibbons

Ministry Assistant and women's ministry coordinator

Carole Blyth

Board member and women's ministry coordinator

Paul Crews

Board member and Pastor Mountain Creek Baptist Church

Florence Colby

Board Member and Exec Assistant

at US Endowment of Forestry

Dave Loser

Board Member and Chaplain with Corporate Chaplains of America

Carolyn Kennedy

Staff discipleship counselor

Randy Garrick

Board Advisor and

CFO Engineered Systems Inc.

Dawn McClendon

Board Advisor and

school teacher in Durham NC

Marty Price

Board Advisor and Pastor

Pendleton Street Baptist Church

Journey in Christ website link

Partnership

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:3, 5).

YouTube link below of my ministry commissioning service that included testimonies from several partners, including Bobby Richardson, former 2nd baseman for the NY Yankees.

3-minute discipleship video

Please contact me to learn more about partnering with me.

Ministry News

Teaching

Gregg is teaching at the Haven of Rest mission in Anderson every Monday.

Joy is teaching bi-weekly discipleship Bible studies for employees on-site at a pet kennel this Summer.

Romans study

September 4-6, Gregg teaching a study of Paul's epistle to the Romans (includes 70-page workbook).

Martin Luther said:

"Romans is truly the most important piece of the New Testament. It is the purest gospel."

"It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word, but to occupy himself with it daily, as though it was daily bread for the soul. God grant us the grace to do so."

Please contact Gregg or visit our website for more details.