Today, we are going to take a posture of peace
by keeping first love first.
Posture is a short, audible fist bump
to remind you God is with you in everything.
Together, we're going to be emboldened
to take a daily posture of perfect peace.
Earlier this week, in episode 92,
I shared Jesus's prayer for all believers
that we find in John chapter 17.
In that episode, we started reading in verse 20,
and today, I want to read more of that prayer from verse 24.
So in John 17, verse 24, Jesus prays,
Father, I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am and to see my glory,
the glory you have given me
because you loved me before the creation of the world.
In the beginning of scripture, in the book of Genesis,
we see in the garden the enemy
separating people from first love.
Now, what is first love?
Maybe you're familiar with that term
because you've read Revelation chapter two.
First love is the love of the father
to his beloved son, Jesus.
It's the first love that existed before creation
between the father and Jesus, and in Christ,
you and I now have a sacred intimacy
of sharing in that first love experience.
Let that sink in.
This is what it means to be alive in God.
Think of it this way.
As the father and Jesus delight in each other,
as they delight in their love for one another,
we are included in the delightful relationship they share.
And it's in the secret place where we engage
in this beautiful, delightful, intimate fellowship with God.
And remember, it's because of Jesus,
because of Jesus's perfect performance,
because of Jesus's finished work,
the secret place, the dwelling place of God's presence
is now within you.
It is where the spirit of Christ lives in you.
It is where the oneness and unity of the father,
son, and Holy Spirit engage you
in the victorious life of fullness.
Now, we live in a world that believes
it is the self-achievement of performance
that is the real source of power, and they chase after it.
I mean, self-empowerment is some of the most popular content
out there in the world today.
But we are people of the kingdom,
so we know the truth and the truth has set us free.
The truth is that it is intimacy with God
that is the real source of power.
I have said it many times, maybe you've heard me say this
on some of my past episodes, you are not powerless,
not in any circumstance, not in any global crisis,
not in any national unrest, you are never without power
because you are never without access to the source of power
which is intimacy with God.
We must keep this first love first.
Now, I mentioned Revelation 2.
In Revelation 2, we see the church in Ephesus
is performing really well.
They are doing a very good job in the external effect
of their ministry to other people,
but it came at the expense of their first love relationship
and that was a source of grief to God.
Look, it's no secret, we live in a world that needs power.
We live in a world that needs ministry.
There are people in real need facing real pain.
Above all of that, you are first a worshiper
and a true worshiper knows that intimacy with God
is non-negotiable.
Our prime ministry is to the Lord.
When he is our first love, our capacity to move in power
is hugely increased and from our place of intimacy with God,
overflows genuine, lasting love and service to other people,
but it is never the other way around.
The other way around only causes heartbreak and burnout
and eventually hopelessness.
We do not perform to gain a close relationship with our God.
We do not perform to gain his presence in our lives.
We do not perform for power.
Jesus performed a perfect.
finished work, and he gifted us his victory.
He gifted us access to his first love with the Father.
So now, his presence is always with us,
never leaving us, never forsaking us,
and by engaging with his presence,
by keeping intimacy with him, our priority,
we receive power.
Do you wanna change the world?
Do you wanna make a difference?
Keep first love first.
The promise of perfect peace is found in Isaiah 26.3.
In Hebrew, it is shalom, shalom, meaning complete wholeness,
nothing missing, nothing broken.
This is who you are in Jesus because of Jesus.
You are a living testimony of Jesus's ultimate win
with every step you take today,
you're putting Jesus's victory on display
and Satan's defeat on replay.