Are You Progressing Spiritually?
Notes
Transcript
2 Peter 3:17–18 “17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:17–18 “17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
I. So, we must give ourselves to Jesus and Believe in Him.
I. So, we must give ourselves to Jesus and Believe in Him.
John 3:16–17 “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16–17 “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Explain that someone told you about Jesus, someone invited you to church or to pray or during a tough time they came and brought you and your family food, money, gas, mowed your lawn, bought you groceries, well you get it. Someone showed you what the love of Jesus does and then over a period of time, you came to know Jesus. AMEN?????
Explain that someone told you about Jesus, someone invited you to church or to pray or during a tough time they came and brought you and your family food, money, gas, mowed your lawn, bought you groceries, well you get it. Someone showed you what the love of Jesus does and then over a period of time, you came to know Jesus. AMEN?????
III
A.Then after that, we begin our what our heart calls us to do. We begin our spiritual journey by faith. We ask questions, we start wanting to hang out with others with faith, you have questions, you want to do all the studies, devotionals, reading you can, almost a burnout comes because we have not been taught to be with God, we have not been taught or shown to be quiet with Jesus. We begin to run,,,run,,,run,,,
A.Then after that, we begin our what our heart calls us to do. We begin our spiritual journey by faith. We ask questions, we start wanting to hang out with others with faith, you have questions, you want to do all the studies, devotionals, reading you can, almost a burnout comes because we have not been taught to be with God, we have not been taught or shown to be quiet with Jesus. We begin to run,,,run,,,run,,,
B. Next, When we repent of our sins and believe in Christ, we receive forgiveness.Forgiveness of Jesus brings a new life. Our friends, amusements, desires, ambitions, and hopes for the future become new.
B. Next, When we repent of our sins and believe in Christ, we receive forgiveness.Forgiveness of Jesus brings a new life. Our friends, amusements, desires, ambitions, and hopes for the future become new.
When we repent of our sins and believe in Christ, we receive forgiveness.II. Belong to Christ.
When we repent of our sins and believe in Christ, we receive forgiveness.II. Belong to Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17–18 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:17–18 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
Romans 12:1–2 “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.”
Romans 12:1–2 “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.”
A. We are a “keep score or scorecard, 1ST, I won, ” kind of society aren’t we? Spiritual progress involves total commitment. We do stuff but When we surrender all to God, we are cleansed and filled with His love:
A. We are a “keep score or scorecard, 1ST, I won, ” kind of society aren’t we? Spiritual progress involves total commitment. We do stuff but When we surrender all to God, we are cleansed and filled with His love:
We read in: 1 John 1:7–8 “7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
We read in: 1 John 1:7–8 “7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
B. The Holy Spirit makes us pure and gives us peace and power, enabling us to persevere in trials and share Christ with others. Just this past week, I was in conversation with a family asking only for the family and loved ones have peace through Jesus because of a death.
B. The Holy Spirit makes us pure and gives us peace and power, enabling us to persevere in trials and share Christ with others. Just this past week, I was in conversation with a family asking only for the family and loved ones have peace through Jesus because of a death.
Acts 1:8–9 “8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”
Acts 1:8–9 “8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”
III. We must be putting ourselves in the position to daily Be Used by Christ but are we?
III. We must be putting ourselves in the position to daily Be Used by Christ but are we?
1 Corinthians 3:9–10 “9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 3:9–10 “9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
A. The Christian life is not stationary. We are either going forward or backward. Many fail to make progress because they lack concern.
A. The Christian life is not stationary. We are either going forward or backward. Many fail to make progress because they lack concern.
B. Doing God’s work brings spiritual growth. Helping the less fortunate, visiting the sick, and witnessing to the lost encourages progress (Eph. 4:32).
B. Doing God’s work brings spiritual growth. Helping the less fortunate, visiting the sick, and witnessing to the lost encourages progress (Eph. 4:32).
IV. Become Like Christ
IV. Become Like Christ
1 John 3:2–3 “2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
1 John 3:2–3 “2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
A. We should seek to be more like Christ. Imitating His love, compassion, and understanding brings maturity and growth. Jesus wants us to play nice, talk nice, wave nice, work nice. This pleases Jesus doesn't it?
A. We should seek to be more like Christ. Imitating His love, compassion, and understanding brings maturity and growth. Jesus wants us to play nice, talk nice, wave nice, work nice. This pleases Jesus doesn't it?
B. Progress precedes promotion to our heavenly home. There we shall be like the Lord, and we shall live with Him forever.
B. Progress precedes promotion to our heavenly home. There we shall be like the Lord, and we shall live with Him forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 “17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 “17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Amen Please stand and turn to page 334, and sing SWEET, SWEET, SPIRIT. ALL VERSES.
Amen Please stand and turn to page 334, and sing SWEET, SWEET, SPIRIT. ALL VERSES.