“Imperfect People Progressing in Our Purpose”
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
“Imperfect People Progressing in Our Purpose” used to be printed on the front of every bulletin.
The reason it was printed on the front of every bulletin is because life is a gift and should not be wasted.
WE can be engaged in the right activity for the wrong reason.
after I preached my sermon on Wednesday night my helpmate was concerned that some of the things I say come off as cliche. If God gives you a helpmate you should probably listen to what she says. let her be the help she was called to be.
in taking what she said to heart I thought preaching through our slogan would be the best way to achieve my assignment.
1. Imperfect People. (How many of us know that’s all of us?)
1. Imperfect People. (How many of us know that’s all of us?)
Romans 3:10 (NKJV)
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
We know that before we come to Christ we have to realize that we are sinners.
The world (both inside and outside of the Church) struggles with this truth. We want to think we are good people, and you probably are compared to me; but when we compare ourselves to Jesus we fall short we are sinners.
16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
We have times as Christians that we struggle and fall.
Right now I am teaching Sunday School, we are going through the purple book and the members of the class will tell you that I don’t tolerate the Christian Cliche. ( that's why it hurt so much when Pastor D said my stuff was becoming cliche in the ears of the people.) ‘
The christian life is at times a struggle!
if you have fallen into rebellion Just repent.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. As a people we are called to progress.
2. As a people we are called to progress.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Notice that the Apostle Paul (who wrote 2/3ds of the New Testament) says “NOT that I have already obtained or am perfected.”
our beloved Apostle knows that he is nowhere near the person of Christ, what does he do>
He Presses on!
He Presses on!
to press 2A to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal. 2B to pursue (in a hostile manner).James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995).
To Press, not like a button. but like an obstetrical that is in your way.
its a verb its something we have to do.
this is something spiritual, i can’t let the distractions of this world get in my way!
to press on means to keep applying the effort needed to overcome the obstetrical.
to exert the effort to climb the mountain! don’t give up! climb a little higher, its not a sprint, its a Marathon!
He Pressed on to lay a hold of Christ, Who also laid hold if Him.
He Pressed on to lay a hold of Christ, Who also laid hold if Him.
Who here can say Christ has laid hold of them?
Who here can say Christ has laid hold of them?
if He has… who is willing to press on?
if He has… who is willing to press on?
What did the Apostle do next?
What did the Apostle do next?
Forgetting those things that are behind...
Forgetting those things that are behind...
We may need to make some amends to make.
but after that I can not get where i am going dwelling on yesterdays failures.
Reaching forward to the things that are ahead...
Reaching forward to the things that are ahead...
The Devil wants you thinking about what is behind because he doesn't want you to get a glimpse of what is ahead.
There are things ahead for you!
These things are not things you earn. these are blessings that he has for you, all you need to do is be obedient to God and He will give you things you could not imagine .
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus!
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus!
The call us upward!
you have been called upward!
3. We achieve this new life by walking in our purpose.
3. We achieve this new life by walking in our purpose.
The Lord created you with gifts.
The Lord created you with gifts.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
God would not call us to work and not build us to do work.
you are gifted to work.
17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
He gifted you from birth to do what he called you to do.
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.