A Change Is Needed
Holiness • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsGod is always faithful to answer the prayers of His people. We cannot expect God to move unless we do our part. Being in agreement with the Word of God is not enough, we must work while there is still yet time to do so.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
God is doing mighty things in the earth!
“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.
Just since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, millions have taken to the internet and have had the Gospel presented to them. Tens of thousands have even clicked an indication of praying the prayer of salvation. God is able to work in the midst of ANY situation because He knows the human heart far better than we ever will.
God is wanting His Church to be prepared to minister in ways possibly considered outside of the box in times past. We need to be ready to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit at any moment of everyday life. Right now, God is equipping His servants that will allow themselves to be prepared for the work of the Kingdom of God.
A Change Is Needed In The Church
A Change Is Needed In The Church
The Church has always been quick to point out the evils and ills of the world they live in. The mass consensus among many believers is that it is readily apparent that somebody hasn’t been raising their children according to biblical standards.
The truth is that there are a great number of problems in this world as we said last week, as a result of sin.
Yet, merely agreeing with the Word of God by acknowledging that things are wrong doesn’t actually fix anything does it?
Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What am I doing in MY life that is supporting or furthering the work of the Gospel of Christ?”
You should, we all should…ask ourselves that question I mean...
Henry Blackaby states in his book Holiness; “I assume as you consider this message that you do have a heart cry for revival. But...
Understand that our nation, our churches, and our family lives need a deep personal encounter with God.
Do we suppose the work of God is done because we come to listen to a message on Sunday?
We know intuitively that cannot possibly be so, yet the actions of many Christians makes the statement that they are only going to listen, not respond. They will not allow themselves to be moved because they “ have heard it all before”, or “that wasn’t for me, I’m good in this area”
Again I would bring to your remembrance beloved, that we have responsibilities to God, to our families, and to each other!
So many are worried about what their call is within the body of Christ but I say to you today, become a consistent servant of the Lord without worry for title, and the Lord will look upon your faithfulness and reveal all in due time!!
When you come face to face with something God is saying, you find that the very next step is that you must respond.
“If this is what God says, then this is what I must do.”
In the book of 2 Kings 22, the Bible records the story of how King Josiah, the great grandson of King Hezekiah, brought sweeping reforms to the people of Judah. His father and grandfather had brought much violence and spiritual darkness to God’s people. God had already sent prophets foretelling destruction and the outpouring of His wrath because they had provoked Him to anger.
I want you to know today that the destruction still came…but not before a mighty revival broke out.
Before the destruction of the Tribulation period comes, we have an opportunity to be the workers in God’s End Time Harvest.
Instead of bringing indictment against anyone in the Church, I want to just point out what the Church’s responsibilities are. You may already be doing these things, but reality says that the majority of people who profess Christian faith cannot be doing them by the mere fact that the works of God would be made manifest if they were...
God didn’t change, revival should have never stopped, healings should never cease, deliverance should happen continually!!!
Beloved, our responsibilities to follow Him in all of our ways cannot be negated.
Some may say, “In light of the state of the Church, why doesn’t God just do what needs to be done to get the revival started?” In other words, why can’t there be a spontaneous move of the Holy Spirit without human involvement?
Heart Change Is Needed
Heart Change Is Needed
I’m talking about among God’s people! We have to stop chasing the blessings of God and start being jealous for the Glory of God!
Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”
And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”
And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,
and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
Moses was closer to God than any other human had been since Adam, God told him in the previous verses “You have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
You have to admit, that the relationship between God and Moses didn’t start out on a good note. Moses was trying everything he could think of to get out of the relationship and go back to what he considered normal.
Once you truly encounter God, nothing else will ever satisfy you.
When we truly encounter God, we stop seeking our own gain and start living to glorify Him.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
What does that mean? How do you go about the task of seeking in this way? What does it look like to seek the glory of God?
Seeking God’s will, plans, and purposes over our own
Obeying God’s commands
Humbling ourselves and raising Him up
The Lord Jesus denied His own life for the plan of salvation mapped out by God. When Jesus did this, He was bringing Glory to the Father.
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
We find precious few believers today that will deny themselves, take up the Cross and follow Him.
When we say Cross, I don’t mean for you to go home and build a Cross to carry around on your back literally everywhere you go. Although that would be pretty impactful...
What Jesus means is to pursue that thing that God is calling you to do to bring Him Glory. Jesus brought His Father Glory in many ways throughout His lifetime, on a daily basis even.
The fact is, it has become increasingly difficult for younger believers to find examples of those that are actively seeking the Glory of God. I mean on a local level, someone they can personally interact with and learn from.
You see, that has always been God’s intention, was for us to learn from one another how to pursue His Glory. There is no greater adventure you will ever find in this life than to pursue the Glory of God.
We have become so introspective and trying to figure ourselves and each other out, when the better pursuit is to live for the Glory of our Creator and King!
In summary, seeking God’s Glory means surrendering to God and seeking His mind and will above our own. It means denying our own plans and passions in order to bring pleasure to God.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Our Actions Must Change
Our Actions Must Change
You may be in complete agreement with every word that I have said today, yet one thing remains.
We cannot simply agree or give mental assent and then do nothing if we are ever going to bring God Glory in reality.
We must take action so that the work that God has done in us can be seen externally. God NEVER meant for us to hide our light for Him, although many do.
We have been given a tremendous responsibility that He has also given us the empowerment to perform by His grace and wisdom.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In summary, seeking God’s Glory means surrendering to God and seeking His mind and will above our own. It means denying our own plans and passions in order to bring pleasure to God.
So what will you say to these things? How will you change because of what you have heard? Which of us has the ability to gauge whether we are doing “enough” to bring God Glory with our lives.
It is not enough to “hope” to bring God Glory, it must absolutely be our passion!