NJ - I Am The Way 24th Sept
The Righteousness of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsWith all the options available to mankind via technology, the one true Way has never changed or beeen improved upon. This way is perfect, available and eternal!
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Jesus Said, "I Am The Way."
Jesus Said, "I Am The Way."
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Jesus Said, "I Am The Way."
Jesus Said, "I Am The Way."
Scripture:
Scripture:
Scripture:
Summary: God has a dream for your life! God has a plan for your life and mine. A perfect plan that brings honour and Glory to Him and blessing to us.
Summary: God has a dream for your life! God has a plan for your life and mine. A perfect plan that brings honour and Glory to Him and blessing to us.
We are continuing in our theme ‘The Righteousness of Christ’ and today we are focusing on the truth that God has a Plan for your life. His plan for our life is achievable through the righteousness of Christ.
Summary: With all the options available to mankind via technology, the one true Way has never changed or been improved upon. This way is perfect, available and eternal!
Summary: With all the options available to mankind via technology, the one true Way has never changed or been improved upon. This way is perfect, available and eternal!
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY…!”
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. 2Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Bible tells us that God, the Creator of the universe, knows you and wants to have a relationship with you. God has a plan for our life, a perfect plan that brings honour and Glory to Him and blessing to us.
God has a plan for our life, a perfect plan that brings honour and Glory to Him and blessing to us.
Introduction.
One of the greatest things Jesus ever said was in response to a question of a doubting man.
Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, was a man who would never say that he understood when in reality, he did not understand. He was far too honest and far too much in earnest to be satisfied with something that was not too clear to him. Thomas had to be sure.
God has a plan for your life and mine.
Jesus had said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas responded by saying: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
A perfect plan that brings honour and Glory to Him and blessing to us.
In Jesus’ answer, He took the three basic ideas of the Jewish religion, and made the amazing claim that in Him, all three found their full realisation and their full expression,
I think it’s true to say every parent has a dream/plan for their child.
If you are a parent you have a dream for your children.
Moses.
32 “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.
) “So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”
Isaiah.
A dream that perhaps began before they were born.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
If you are not a parent, the truth is your parents probably had a dream for you before you were born.
David.
If you are not a parent, the truth is your parents probably had a dream for you before you were born.
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
“Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.”
Jesus’ use of the word way is important because as everyone knows, the word way suggests two points, from and to. The way of which Christ spoke leads from sin to salvation, from death to life, from darkness to light, from earth to Heaven. We know from other Scriptural references that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, the Yea and the Amen.
I’m not sure if mums dream more than dads.
I’m not sure if mums dream more than dads.
Or if dads dream more than mums.
When someone asks for directions, it is because he does not know the way. If someone provides instructions, that may help, but if someone says “follow me and I will lead you there,” it is much better. This is what Jesus does for us. He does not only give us advice and directions and counsel, but He takes us by the hand and leads us; He walks with us; He strengthens us and guides us and directs us personally every day. He does not tell us about the way, He is the WAY!
Or if dads dream more than mums.
Or maybe we both dream as much as each other.
An African-American preacher by the name of S. M. Lockridge, wrote one of the most beautiful tributes to Christ Jesus that I have ever read outside the Bible. He entitled it, “That’s My King.” Among other things that he said, were these words about Christ as the Way. He said, “Christ is the Doorway of Deliverance, the Roadway to Righteousness, the Highway to Holiness, the Pathway to Peace and the Gateway to Glory.” I would like to borrow this outline and follow it as we examine the Scriptures concerning CHRIST as the WAY.
Or maybe we both dream as much as each other.
The late Dr. S. M. Lockridge, a pastor from San Diego, California
said these words in a sermon in Detroit in 1976:
My King was born King. The Bible says He's a Seven Way King. He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King. He's the King of Israel - that's a National King. He's the King of righteousness. He's the King of the ages. He's the King of Heaven. He's the King of glory. He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords. Now that's my King.
Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.
He's enduringly strong. He's entirely sincere. He's eternally steadfast. He's immortally graceful. He's imperially powerful. He's impartially merciful. That's my King. He's God's Son. He's the sinner's saviour. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He's honest. He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's supreme. He's pre-eminent. He's the grandest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion. That's my King.
He's the miracle of the age. He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him. He's the only one able to supply all our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged debtors. He delivers the captives. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek. That's my King.
Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King of knowledge. He's the wellspring of wisdom. He's the doorway of deliverance. He's the pathway of peace. He's the roadway of righteousness. He's the highway of holiness. He's the gateway of glory. He's the master of the mighty. He's the captain of the conquerors. He's the head of the heroes. He's the leader of the legislatures. He's the overseer of the overcomers. He's the governor of governors. He's the prince of princes. He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King.
His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you . . . but He's indescribable. That's my King. He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible.
I'm coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some man explain Him. You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hands. You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him. The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree about Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him. That's my King.
He always has been and He always will be. I'm talking about the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor. There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him. You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign. That's my King! That's my King!
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God's power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever. . . And when you get through with all of the ever's, then . . .Amen!
Lets Pray.
What will our baby be like?
What will our baby be like?
I. CHRIST IS THE DOORWAY TO DELIVERANCE.
What will they dream about becoming?
What will they dream about becoming?
In , We have the record of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. Her life had been entangled in several marital affairs, which no doubt left her feeling helpless as far as a better life was concerned.
Then Jesus introduced her to a way of joy that went beyond anything she had ever known.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah
– “From the Lord comes deliverance.”
What will fill their thoughts?
What will fill their thoughts?
“From the Lord comes deliverance.”
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
-“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Will they do well in school?
Will they do well in school?
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
– “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
Will they be athletic or artistic or scientific?
Will they be athletic or artistic or scientific?
“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
Will they get a good job?
Will they get a good job?
– “The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.”
“The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.”
What is the destiny God has for them?
The Samaritan woman was given the Living Water from the well Jesus opened with His words. Her life was changed so much that the people of Samaria were led to conversion. As she lay down to sleep that night, perhaps tears of joy slipped from her cheeks to her pillow. And she kept saying, “thank you, thank you, thank you, Dear God, for loving an outcast.”
God has a dream for His children.
God has a dream for His children.
II. CHRIST IS THE ROADWAY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
God has a destiny for His children.
In , we have the record of Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night with a heart that was empty and a mind that was filled with questions. For years he had tried to be the best man that he could be, and had gained much by way of worldly status and religious respect, but there was something that was missing. Perhaps he thought by his experience that with all he had done, he possessed the fullness of a righteous life.
God has a destiny for His children.
In Jesus’ words to him, he learned that he was living under a delusion.
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
– ““The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land…This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.”
God has a dream and a destiny for you.
God has a dream and a destiny for you.
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land…This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
– “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.”
Sometimes as human parents we can have unrealistic dreams for our children.
Sometimes as human parents we can have unrealistic dreams for our children.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.”
– “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
We may dream of our child being a pilot - that is possible.
We may dream of our child being a pilot - that is possible.
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
An astronaut not so much.
The delusion Nicodemus had lived under began to crack and crumble under the incisive words of Jesus, and through those cracks, the light of truth penetrated the darkness. The light must have broken through and led him to realise that it is not what we do that brings righteousness but is it by what God offers through Christ. After our Lord died on the Cross, it was Nicodemus who made sure His body received a right kind of burial.
An astronaut not so much.
Our heavenly Father has a dream for every one of His children, and God’s dream is to make you like His Son Jesus. says, “you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
III. CHRIST IS THE HIGHWAY TO HOLINESS.
God’s dream for you and I is that we would be perfect. Perfect, that seems to be asking a lot, dreaming a lot, but when we come to know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, when we repent and turn to Christ, God sees us as perfect.
In , Jesus was faced with many of His disciples grumbling about His strong words with which He made clear that He is the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. He had stated that unless a person eats His flesh and drinks His blood, He has no life in himself. He said to them, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”
says, I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
– “The LORD said:…‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
“The LORD said:…‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.”
says, I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
We could never be perfect in our own righteousness. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not just take away your sins. He also gave you His righteousness. God has clothed you and I with the robe of righteousness, which was paid for by Jesus’ blood.
– “And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
“And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
In
The Apostle Paul tells us how God uses every circumstance, every up, every down, every relationship, everything we ever go through to make us more like Jesus. God’s dream for you is about, the kind of person you are destined to become, the kind of relationship you will have with Him.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
– “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
The Apostle Paul tells us how God uses every circumstance, every up, every down, every relationship, everything we ever go through to make us more like Jesus. God’s dream for you is about, the kind of person you are destined to become, the kind of relationship you will have with Him.
– “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
God calls each of us to be loving, kind, gentle, holy, God calls us to be people who live out our daily lives with integrity. God is with us every moment of every day. When you are driving your car, you can have a conversation with Him. When you are washing dishes, you can sing praise to Him. When you face a big decision in your life, you can ask your Heavenly Father to lead and to guide. God cares about the detail of your life, He wants to be in an intimate, loving, deep relationship with you.
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
God’s dream for His children, for us, for you, for me, is that we would be spiritually mature. As disciples of Christ, as children of the living God, His dream for us is, He wants us to think like Jesus, to walk like Jesus, to love like Jesus.
After Jesus finished His dynamic words of the Spirit and Life,He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
His dream is that we would be selfless like Jesus.
IV. CHRIST IS THE PATHWAY TO PEACE.
His dream is that we would live a life where our priorities are the same as Jesus.
In , Jesus knew that His disciples were filled with discouragement and that because of at least three things; first, they were discouraged because of the terrible choice Judas had made, to betray the Lord whom they loved, second, because of the fact that they knew Jesus was preparing to depart from them, and they would be as sheep without a shepherd, third, because Peter had been told by Jesus that he would deny and reject Him three times. These men were filled with sorrow, grief and trouble.
Jesus knew their need and He gave to them the most blessed and comforting words they had ever heard.
His dream is that we would use our money and our time just like Jesus would.
– “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
How close is God’s dream to the reality of how you are actually living your life today?
– “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.”
For some people, the way they live their daily lives is far from the dream and plan that God has for them.
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
– “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”
For some people who would say they are Christians, there is very little evidence in their daily lives that they are anything more than Christian in name only. Their words, their actions, their lifestyle, their belief in the truth of the Word of God, is all far from what God expects it to be.
– “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
God’s dream for you and I is that we would be more than people who are called “Christian”, His dream is that we would truly be disciples of Christ. On fire for the Lord, loving Him, loving each other. Proclaiming by our words, our actions and our lifestyles, “I am a child of God. I am loved. I am forgiven. I am set free from the burden of my sin.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
– “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”
“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”
Among other things Jesus said to His disciples at this very difficult time, was that He was going to ask the Father and that God would send a Counsellor to be with the disciples after He left them. The word for Counsellor is paraklete, which means one called alongside to help. This is the gift of the Holy Spirit who is promised to everyone who obeys the Gospel in simple faith. The Scripture informs us that one of the fruits of the Spirit in our lives is Peace.
I am saved.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
In addition, we also learn that “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God’s dream for every child of His, regardless of background, nationality, gender or denomination, God’s dream for every child is to become a disciple a true follower of Christ. That is His dream. That is His plan. That is His will.
V. CHRIST IS THE GATEWAY TO GLORY.
The glory of God is spoken of 296 times in Scripture, and of these, John mentions glory 18 times, more than in any other book in the New Testament. Six of John’s references to glory are in chapter 17, while the other chapters only have no more than two in any one chapter. , the great prayer of our Lord before His death, is the Glory chapter of the New Testament! In this prayer our Lord displays His deep desire for His return to the Glory of His Father and for His disciples to see and to share in His Glory.
In the first 11 chapters of Romans, Paul writes about the work of Christ, the sin of mankind, he covers both basic and deep theology. Paul writes about all God has accomplished and how much God loves people.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
God gives us a very clear summary of what His dream is for your life in Romans chapter 12. First, we need to be in a real relationship with God. Let’s consider again, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.”
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”
“Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”
Then, , Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
– “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’
Our relationship with the world must not be allowed to damage our relationship with God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
– “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Conclusion.
While many in the modern world may say, “there is no God”, we are not to live like there is no God.
Because Jesus is the Doorway, the Roadway, the Highway, the Pathway and the Gateway, every soul has the opportunity to enter this Way, stay in it safely and arrive to where it leads.
Many in the world see God as unimportant, we are meant to live with God at the center of our lives.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
The devil will try his hardest to lure us away from the way in which God expects us to live, we must never let the behavior and customs of this world draw us away from doing what is right in God’s sight.
God expects us to arrange our lives, our relationships, and our priorities around His will, His plan, His purpose, His dream, His Word.
The Word of God must be our guide to life and The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us in our daily walk.
God wants to be in relationship with you, not your religious activity. Yes there is a place for Bible study, yes there is a place for church, yes there is a place for prayer, yes there is a place for all kinds of spiritual things. But we can do all those things and still not be in a living relationship with Him. We can do all those things and still not be living a life surrendered to God.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
If we are born-again disciples of Jesus in whom the Spirit of God lives, then we can not live with one foot walking with God and the other foot walking in the world.
Paul doesn’t say try hard to be a good Christian. Paul does not say, "It is ok to compromise in certain areas." Paul says, “Let God transform you.”
Listen to the words of , “be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
God or the world. God or the devil. God or self.
Do not waiver in your faith, trust God, follow His plan, His purpose, His dream for you, His commandments.
Look at , If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
God loves you and God has a dream for you.
God has told us what it means to live a holy life.
God has told us what it means to be righteousness in His sight.
, Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
God is sovereign and by His grace, His mercy, His compassion in Christ, even though we stumble, even though we fall short, God continues to love us and forgive us.
Can you see yourself the way God sees you? You need to see yourself the way God sees you and experience all He has for you!
You are loved, you are valuable, you are precious, you are forgiven. God made you. You are His child. You are His masterpiece. , For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
You are God’s masterpiece. Accept the gifts, the strengths God has given you. Know what your weaknesses are, know where you experience difficulty, know where you fall short, but know God has a dream for your life, God has a purpose for your life.
Whose purpose are you trying to fulfill in your life?
Your purpose? Your mum or dad’s view of your purpose? The world’s view of your purpose?
Are you willing to fulfil God’s purpose, God’s dream for your life?
Do you know your purpose?
“This is why I’m here. God’s purpose for me is this!” “This is what God enables me to be good at!”
“This is where I need God’s help!”
“This is where God is using me for His glory and honour.”
Why are you in church tonight? Is it because God loves you and you love God?
Fulfilling God’s dream for your life, God’s purpose for your life requires more from you than just turning up for a church service on a Sunday.
It is more than an attitude of, “It’s Sunday morning, it’s Sunday evening, do I have to go to church.”
It is a willingness to surrender to God, to cross the line, to be separate from the values of the world.
It is serving God in love, sincere love, not pretence.
It is hating what is evil and clinging to what is good.
It is honouring God, giving preference to God.
It is sacrificial living and giving to God.
It is a relationship with God who loves you so much.
Why do you read your Bible? When you open God’s Word do you seek His voice speaking to you today?
Do you pray that He will speak into your mind and into your heart?
God wants to encourage you through His Word. God’s wants you to experience His presence.
When did you last experience God’s presence? We do so many things in our daily lives, and there are things we pray about, and we hope God will do something, somehow, someway.
When did you last set aside some quality time to experience God’s presence in your life? When did you last take the time to consider the height and depth and length and breadth of how much God loves you? Have you even noticed how God has demonstrated His love to you today?
My final encouragement this evening is:
Remember God loves you.
Remember God has a plan for you.
Remember God has a dream for you.
Remember God has a destiny for you.
May each of us discover our destiny in Christ.
Amen
COMMUNION:
As we come to our time of communion, we need to remember that all of us fall short of the glory of God.
says, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard
Falling short is more than not being a nice person.
Falling short is more than a few errors in our lives.
The Bible is clear, all have sinned.
All of us fall short of the glory of God, but there’s a solution.
The solution to sin is salvation in Jesus.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
Jesus, fully man, fully God, lived a perfect life, died upon the cross to pay for your sin and rose from the dead and offers a free gift to whosoever would believe and receive it.
, Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
,
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself.
On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.