Life Is In The Mix and God is Faithful

Text Passage: 1 John 5:18-21 (NIV) ¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. ¹⁹ We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. ²⁰ We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true–even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. ²¹ Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

• Through the Spirit, we’re given a nature that resists sin and longs for God’s glory.
• Christ protects us; the evil one cannot reclaim what belongs to Him.
• The world’s values run on a corrupted system under the evil one’s control, but we are now children of God.
• Christ came to give us understanding, so we may know the true God, and Jesus is eternal life, just as affirmed in John 17:3.
• Therefore, guard your heart from idolatry: anything that competes with God as your source of significance, happiness, or security.

We were born into a world that “lies under the control of the evil one.”

• This world isn’t neutral; It has an agenda. It actively influences values, desires, and behaviors in ways that pull people away from God. Or tries to stifle our influence. It’s an indoctrinating prison camp, cleverly disguised as a playground.
• It is a deception so deep and pervasive that only divine power can expose it and rescue people from it.
• Jesus came to expose the lies and set the captives free. We sit here today as freed captives only by the grace and power of Christ.
• Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9:2 has been fulfilled in us: “The people living in darkness have seen a great light.”

Jesus said, “but be of good cheer—I have overcome the world.”  

• His victory is our victory.
• Because of His victory we are united with Him forever.
• Because He has overcome the world, victory is not our goal – it’s our starting point. We are freed people who have become adopted sons and daughters of the Most High and who are growing in awareness day by day that we are no longer prisoners, and the war has already been won.

1 John tells us: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” And again: “This is the victory that has overcome the world – even our faith.” Not just faith in general, but faith in Him. We don’t have to have it all figured out.  We don’t need the map.  We don’t need the plan.

Our Life is in The Mix

A visiting pastor once sat at a men’s breakfast in rural farm country. An older gentleman in bib overalls stood to pray, and began with a curious confession: “Lord, I hate buttermilk.” Murmurs flickered across the room. “Lord, I hate lard,” he added. “And Lord, you know I don’t much care for raw white flour.” By now, people were shifting uneasily. But then came the turn: “But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So when life gets hard, when we don’t understand what you’re doing, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits.”

• That is our redeemed lives in this world. Not everything tastes sweet going in. But God knows what He’s making. Regardless of the ingredients, He’s promised, it’s gonna be good.  Even the ones the evil one throws in the bowl.

So where are we going? Into the world to set captives free.

• When Jesus said, “Follow me,” He wasn’t just inviting us on a scenic walk. He is leading us into a new reality. A whole new paradigm of life and living.  A whole new way of thinking and processing life.

Action Steps

1. Guard Against Idolatry

• Idolatry is sgnificance, security, happiness sourced anywhere but in Christ.
• As the moon reflects the sun but as not light of its own so all the glories of earth reflect the Creator. When we believe this we worship the Creator, not the creation.

2. Celebrate Christ as the Source of True Life

• Don’t settle for counterfeit spirituality or borrowed glory.
• Anchor your understanding and security in Jesus, who is eternal life—not just the messenger of it.

3. Embrace the “Mix” with Faith

• Trust that God uses all ingredients—including the ones tossed in by the evil one—for your good.
• Surrender the recipe of the day to the Master Baker.