What's in a Name?
"Life in Christ"....what does Life in Christ mean anyway?
"Life in Christ"....what does Life in Christ mean anyway?
As we sat and talked it out over some Mexican food one afternoon in 2009, searching for a common agreement in our ideas about what our ministry should be called, Robert and I finally came to this phrase, "Life in Christ". Our discussion that day was based on all the right intentions, both of us wanting to live for Him and wanting to share our mutual faith with others. Our conclusion, based on scripture was that our lives should be a reflection of not who we are in our own good will and power, rather who we are as believers with Christ leading us in and through our lives.
(Galations 2:20)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(Eph. 3:3-13/whole chapter)
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
Well, that should be the goal of every true Christian, right? I still maintain that's true. So, with great excitement we hurried home and began working on this website. We set up a new e-mail and bought the domain name for "Life in Christ Outreach" and worked for hours on putting the pages together. Then as soon as it was all ready, Rob sent it out to all his e-mail contacts and facebooker friends! Isn't this typically how people go about promoting their new ideas? But...there may have been a problem that we didn't yet recognize, even in all of our sincerity.
Over the last two-n-a half years the name, "Life in Christ", has become more real to us than when we first tried to embrace it. So, this website is no longer a tool to attempt to promote "our" anything! And though we really weren't trying to take credit for God's work commonly called, the ministry, the problem is deep inside there was still that desire to become credible to men -that is to say, "see, we have finally been given a ministry so it proves that God is working through us!" Trying to gain your identity and approval of people through the outward appearance of an established ministry is, bluntly, using God and His gifts for selfish reasons. Many people do this unknowingly, just like we did.
So, with that revelation painfully staring us in the face, it was time to re-evaluate. It has been more like a gradual understanding that we are learning to practice daily. I'm glad He hasn't allowed us to "build a house in vain", as scripture talks about. Psalm 127:1 (NIV) 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
1 Corinthians 3:7-15 (NIV)
7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Our works will be tried by fire in the end. If they are done In and by His power, being that HE is the only sure foundation, we will be rewarded. Everything else we do "for" or "about" Him will be burned up. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV) 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Who wants to "do" the work of ministry, trying to make a big vision come to pass and to establish a reputation for himself, only to find that it was all out of self motivation and then...have to sit in His presence and watch it all go up in smoke? How embarrassing that will be on that day. And some will even say, "but Lord, didn't we cast out demons in your name...".
It's not about having a ministry. It IS about Him. So, I don't want to keep rambling on about Heavenly things I barely grasp, only to say, Robert and I have come to realize God leads us all daily to treat others with kindness. He may even lead us to give someone a word of encouragement or to pray for them. It might be simply to walk in integrity behind closed doors when our outward expressions of Godly appearance aren't in the spot light. Oh how we all love to wear His anointing and Glory when He's moving in His gifts through us. Again, we should not use His anointing for proof of our status or identity. Beware if a man thinks he is something, he is nothing. (Romans 12:3)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Anyway, God has shown us that we have missed so many opportunities that He has put right in front of us every day to "do" the work of His ministry. The big vision isn't a huge ministry anymore. It's choosing to yield to His leading and be obedient in those things He asks us to do one assignment at a time. In this, we will truly live Life in Christ.
(Galations 2:20)
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
(Eph. 3:3-13/whole chapter)
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
Well, that should be the goal of every true Christian, right? I still maintain that's true. So, with great excitement we hurried home and began working on this website. We set up a new e-mail and bought the domain name for "Life in Christ Outreach" and worked for hours on putting the pages together. Then as soon as it was all ready, Rob sent it out to all his e-mail contacts and facebooker friends! Isn't this typically how people go about promoting their new ideas? But...there may have been a problem that we didn't yet recognize, even in all of our sincerity.
Over the last two-n-a half years the name, "Life in Christ", has become more real to us than when we first tried to embrace it. So, this website is no longer a tool to attempt to promote "our" anything! And though we really weren't trying to take credit for God's work commonly called, the ministry, the problem is deep inside there was still that desire to become credible to men -that is to say, "see, we have finally been given a ministry so it proves that God is working through us!" Trying to gain your identity and approval of people through the outward appearance of an established ministry is, bluntly, using God and His gifts for selfish reasons. Many people do this unknowingly, just like we did.
So, with that revelation painfully staring us in the face, it was time to re-evaluate. It has been more like a gradual understanding that we are learning to practice daily. I'm glad He hasn't allowed us to "build a house in vain", as scripture talks about. Psalm 127:1 (NIV) 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
1 Corinthians 3:7-15 (NIV)
7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Our works will be tried by fire in the end. If they are done In and by His power, being that HE is the only sure foundation, we will be rewarded. Everything else we do "for" or "about" Him will be burned up. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV) 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Who wants to "do" the work of ministry, trying to make a big vision come to pass and to establish a reputation for himself, only to find that it was all out of self motivation and then...have to sit in His presence and watch it all go up in smoke? How embarrassing that will be on that day. And some will even say, "but Lord, didn't we cast out demons in your name...".
It's not about having a ministry. It IS about Him. So, I don't want to keep rambling on about Heavenly things I barely grasp, only to say, Robert and I have come to realize God leads us all daily to treat others with kindness. He may even lead us to give someone a word of encouragement or to pray for them. It might be simply to walk in integrity behind closed doors when our outward expressions of Godly appearance aren't in the spot light. Oh how we all love to wear His anointing and Glory when He's moving in His gifts through us. Again, we should not use His anointing for proof of our status or identity. Beware if a man thinks he is something, he is nothing. (Romans 12:3)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Anyway, God has shown us that we have missed so many opportunities that He has put right in front of us every day to "do" the work of His ministry. The big vision isn't a huge ministry anymore. It's choosing to yield to His leading and be obedient in those things He asks us to do one assignment at a time. In this, we will truly live Life in Christ.
Robert & Melissa Owen 11/11/09
Thank you for stopping by to check out Life in Christ Outreach, a ministry dedicated to sharing encouragement and renewed hope for life's sometimes tough and winding journey. We welcome you to walk with us on this journey as we learn to live life In Christ, according to the truths of His Word. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Pastor Rob and Melissa
In November 2009, Robert and Melissa celebrated 20 years of marriage and developing in ministry together. It is their desire to share their faith and testimony of how God has mercifully and powerfully healed their once irreparably broken marriage, as well as to inspire you with treasured insights from God’s Word which, when applied to faith, will continue to lead us into a deeper daily walk with Him.
Over the years, Robert and Melissa have participated in several ministry events and have served in ministerial capacities--as associate pastor, music and youth ministers, both in denominational and inter-denominational parts of the Body of Christ. It is their desire to see all the different parts of the Body working together for one common cause; that is, to see Jesus is Lord of us all! Not one is less valuable or one more important to Him, or to us, than the other. We each have a specific and special thing to participate with Him in doing. The building of His kingdom, not our own, is the primary common goal we share regardless of our preferred outward expression of service and worship to Him.
Robert is a gifted preacher and evangelist, having a desire to see the lost won for Christ. Both he and Melissa are comfortable leading worship with vocal and musical instruments, and Melissa plays keyboards having moved in prophetic worship. They have participated with the Lord by moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and have a heart to follow Him in every area of their lives.
Take a moment to look around, get to know more about Pastor Rob and Melissa, and we pray you are encouraged today!
With great joy and expectation...
Pastor Rob and Melissa
In November 2009, Robert and Melissa celebrated 20 years of marriage and developing in ministry together. It is their desire to share their faith and testimony of how God has mercifully and powerfully healed their once irreparably broken marriage, as well as to inspire you with treasured insights from God’s Word which, when applied to faith, will continue to lead us into a deeper daily walk with Him.
Over the years, Robert and Melissa have participated in several ministry events and have served in ministerial capacities--as associate pastor, music and youth ministers, both in denominational and inter-denominational parts of the Body of Christ. It is their desire to see all the different parts of the Body working together for one common cause; that is, to see Jesus is Lord of us all! Not one is less valuable or one more important to Him, or to us, than the other. We each have a specific and special thing to participate with Him in doing. The building of His kingdom, not our own, is the primary common goal we share regardless of our preferred outward expression of service and worship to Him.
Robert is a gifted preacher and evangelist, having a desire to see the lost won for Christ. Both he and Melissa are comfortable leading worship with vocal and musical instruments, and Melissa plays keyboards having moved in prophetic worship. They have participated with the Lord by moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and have a heart to follow Him in every area of their lives.
Take a moment to look around, get to know more about Pastor Rob and Melissa, and we pray you are encouraged today!
With great joy and expectation...
