God alone has the authority and power to speak into existence something from nothing.  Romans chapter five teaches us He “calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”  We can declare His promises over our lives because He has already spoken them into existence.

In our relationship with God, we project upon Him the failures and inadequacies of our natural fathers.  If our father was aloof or absent, we may see God as disinterested in our lives.  If our father was abusive, verbally or physically, we may see God as judgmental and impatient.  In contrast, the Bible teaches us that our heavenly Father loves and values us because we are His children.  And unlike man, He does not change His mind!

The followers of Christ who gathered with Him just before His ascension were expecting Him to restore Israel as a kingdom and deliver them from the tyranny of the Roman government.  Their expectations were quickly shattered when Jesus told them it was not their place to know the Father’s timing.  God’s reality was so much larger; He planned to change the world!

In 1 Peter 3:8-12, the Apostle Peter provides us with four principles we can apply to our lives, which will result in a fulfilling life as a believer. In this week’s message, we look at the principle “Flee from sin and pursue peace.”  In order to flee from sin we must first understand the temptation we face is custom tailored for us and is a direct result of our personality, environment, experiences, and past sins.  Secondly, we must recognize sin is a process and not a spontaneous act.