Jesus is Greater than your greatest efforts

Me

Resume: telling all the good stuff; interview: what greatest weakness? (Uh…I’m too dependable…?)

Want to look the best I can. I want to be the best I can, so create an ideal picture!

Problem:

“The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application form.”

Look at commands in Bible and think: I’ve got to find ways to do these things. Fruit of the Spirit: how can I be joyful and peaceful? Look at self-help books on the topic, but get tired of it all because I always end up messing it up.

We

You know? We try so hard to be good people. If you are follower of Jesus you understand, we want to please God and live as good person who brings honour to God’s name, but how often do we mess it all up?

Think we hear from God, maybe we do, and so we set off from the mountain having heard from him and start researching “5 best principles for starting an organization” and “10 best leadership traits.”

But where’s God in it all? And why is it all our hard work so often comes to nothing?

Could it be that there is a way to see great success in the good ventures that we undertake?

God

Talk about Hebrews thus far.

pray

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

God’s greatness and raised Jesus from dead.

Jesus: shepherd who perfectly guides his sheep (us) when we believe in him (gospel)

What does writer say? Jesus leads, equips, and works through us!

You

But how often do we actually allow all this to happen?

You have been called to make a difference.

You have job to do. Whatever your profession, hobby, gender, age, place you live: you are called to show Christ’s love and share the good news of Jesus with people who need to hear that great Truth!

You are called to live the way that God designed you to live. It’s going to be different. It’s going to stand out. It’s going to turn heads. It’s going to offend some people, and it’s going to cause others to ask how they can become different too.

You are going to fail.

You’ve experienced it and seen it so many times already. How’s it going trying to have more self-control? More peace? More patience? I don’t know about you, but after a while I’m inclined to get angry that I don’t have more self-control yet!

You can make a difference with Jesus’ help.

Jesus’ death brought us life. To everyone who believes, the Holy Spirit is given to transform us. But God calls every follower of Jesus to continually be filled with the Spirit. Christians are called to be Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, and Spirit-empowered believers in Jesus.

Jesus provides the HS and leads us through him. Jesus gives us what we need to do his will through the HS, and it is the HS of Christ who works in us and enables all we do that pleases God.

Easy to think: well, I’ve got Jesus—now I’ll just run along. We’re like the church of Galatia to whom Paul wrote:

Galatians 3:3 ESV

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Also easy to think: well, HS filled me and gave me these gifts. Now I’m powerful and can work hard and do these great things.

But not like that.

It’s not you who will succeed: it’s the HS within you!

To become pro: have natural talent, have worked hard. You know the game inside and out. Very few people out there are better at what you do than you…but have you seen how many coaches baseball team has? Manager, Assistant Manager, Bench coach, 1st base coach, 3rd base coach, Batting Coach, assistant batting coach, Pitching Coach, bullpen coach, strength & conditioning coach, and more! If a player has bad coaches they won’t do well; won’t win. Why? because no matter how gifted

Doing good in your own strength will eventually fail; doing good with God’s strength will have eternal significance.

eventually: you’re going to run out of steam, you’re going to make mistake, going to give up, burn out, wander outside God’s plan, or give into pride of your own success. Without God: eventually you will fail.

WE

Doing good in our own strength will eventually fail; doing good with God’s strength will have eternal significance.

We’ve all failed so many times. -how many New Years resolutions have we made, and how many are we still keeping? -How often do we confess our sin to God and are right back to doing it a week later?

But what an amazing thought to know 1) even when mess up: you’re already forgiven if you are a believer in Jesus and 2) you’re not in it on own.

Author of Heb: encouraging these Jewish Christians to keep going despite their difficult circumstances because God would get them through it all. He knew, if they tried on own, they’d eventually fail, but with God they would ultimately succeed.

Same for us: how will each of our lives change if we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, lead us, and empower us and then go out in strength of Spirit, with him working through us and directing our actions and words?

Doing good in our own strength will eventually fail; doing good with God’s strength will have eternal significance.

Action Steps:

Thank God for giving you his Holy Spirit who empowers you to do his will.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you resist the temptation to take the credit when you obey God

Consider helping your church in its mission to reach the unchurched and disciple believers to be like Jesus by going to the “Sign Up” tile at ascc.life and volunteering to serve in one or two of our church’s ministries.

Pray