Inked: Marked Moments (Message Series Discussion)

[VFC Site Admin]

In every spiritual journey, there are “marked moments,” those lessons, revelations, and epiphanies that stay with you forever, etched into your soul and spirit. Come learn the truths that can revolutionize your life with Pastor Beth Jones.

In this forum, let's discuss the ways that Inked, has impacted your life or encouraged you in your spiritual journey.

Learn more about the "Inked" Message Series on the VFC website.

[Sabrina Miller]

I love the testmoiny of Brian "Head" Wlash the former member of the band Korn. God changed his life.

[Nathan "Nate" Sachritz]

"Inked 1." Super. Marked with Jesus. Marked with the Word. Not "fundamentalist." Fundamental. But it certainly reminds us that, if we want others to see and ask about our mark, we need to be certain "why" we believe "what" we believe. So we are always "ready to give a defense...for the hope that is in (us)." 1 Pet 3:15

[Nathan "Nate" Sachritz]

The theme verse 2 Cor 3:2-3 and Gal 2:20-21 are what hit me this 2nd week. They took me back to Jeremiah 31. God says that, while He had previously said He would visit the sins of the fathers on the 3rd and 4th generations, here He told Jeremiah that He will make a new covenant where it'll be "every man for himself." But in verse 33 He says, "this is the (new) covenant I will make...I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it..." Just as we are "a letter of Christ...written...with the Spirit...on the tablets of human hearts." What law? The law of Matthew 22 where He says the 1st commandment is the greatest, and the next greatest is to love your neighbor. Verse 40 says "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." Ultimately it is a law of obedience to God. The One who says He doesn't want any to perish.

And, again, it was neat to see how His consistency over time. While 2 Peter 3:9 says He is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance," Ezekiel 33:11 says the Lord "(has) no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." If only I could get my Jewish relatives to actually read the Old Testament that Judaism says it "accepts." At least, to read beyond the 1st five books.

[John Fulton]

Lots of things connected with me from Inked #2 or righteousness consciousness. But it was a connection for an old question that shed the most light on something for me. I knew all the parts, but one statement by Pastor Beth put it together for me, so I can put this issue away. The issue was that God took his wrath out on people in the Old Testament, and allowed them to be punished, but what changed that we no longer suffer from his wrath. I knew Jesus bore our sins, suffered God's wrath for us, knew we are forgiven of our sins, but the lingering issue, was what changed that God no longer takes his wrath out on us today. Very simple answer, I see now. We now live in God's forgiveness and grace, He took it all out on Jesus on the cross, so that we who are in Christ, no longer suffer God's wrath. Thank You Jesus

[Gavin]

Amen!!

[Nathan "Nate" Sachritz]

Week 3 was wonderful again. No surprise there. At our service, Pastor Beth barely got to Favor and Abundance. But she did get there. The teaching on the Holy Spirit was outstanding. I was again encouraged by the combination of Acts 1:8 that "...you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." and John 14:12 where Jesus said that we would do the things He did and even greater things would we do, because He goes to be with the Father. It's challenging and encouraging at the same time. When we did get to Favor and Abundance, PB's reference to being blessed to be a blessing took me to 2 Cor 9:11 which explains that the reason we are enriched in everything is to bring thanksgiving to God. The reason we are blessed is to be a testimony to how good God is. Praise the Lord. To Him be the glory.

Week 4 was a strong reminder of what we need to do. From the get-go. 1 Tim 1:12 says that Christ equips us for our calling because we have been faithful. Our being faithful must come first. Faithful in what? Everything. I was impressed some years ago by Luke 16:12 that, if I want my own...my own whatever: ministry; stuff; whatever...then I need to be faithful to take care of other people's ministries, stuff, etc. And that means even the little things. Like putting things back in the right place at the grocery. Making sure I don't leave water all over the bathroom counter so the guy behind me has a dry place to put something down, or so his tie or jacket doesn't get soaked when he leans over to wash his hands. Little things. it all counts. And Penn Gillette's interview? Whew! How powerful. "How much do you have to hate someone, to not proselytize?" That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

[Bob James]

Jesus said, I am the Way, Truth and Life. 25 years and what He said is still the same. I am the Way, Truth and Life. I am marked forever. Thank You Jesus.

[Nathan "Nate" Sachritz]

Re Faithfulness, I thought this was timely. This quote attributed to Helen Keller was an "aside" in an e-mail I got this week:

"I long to accomplish a great and noble tasks, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker."

[Nathan "Nate" Sachritz]

Rom 12:2. One of my absolute favorites verses. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Not just changing your mind. More an upgrade to your thinking. Mind version 8.7. And, renew-ING. Ongoing. It's not just a 1 time thing.

And then, to be challenged with the issue of grace. What is it that I need grace for? Specifically.

Awesome message. Terrific series.