The journey

The unknown God

Acts 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ NIV

The Journey

When we were born we all began a journey with God, did you know that? Not only those that have received Christ, but everyone. Christ died for all, right?

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called (gr. Kletos meaning have received the vocation that God has given them, invited and are following) according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called;(invited((all)) those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. NIV

God knows us

How can you foreknow someone?
God is the God of eternity, no time. The God who is in front of you.

God is at work in us

Predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son

Predestined= he know the end before the beginning

I am not talking about the teaching that ALL people are already saved and nothing can change that.

He knew and he moved in front of us to influence us in the right direction. Another choice is always offered.
To be conformed to the likeness of his son

Conformed = made into the same, molded

Many of the things we go through is a forming process, not punishment. Make your bed…

Likeness

The quality or state of being like, a copy

Of his son

The journey is taking us in this direction…to be like Christ

God creates desires in us

He also called, justified, and glorified

Called = speak to as if you already finished

It’s like a code, a plan, a pattern for our lives that we are drawn toward.
It’s intertwined into my makeup, my being. It’s like the blue print of who I am.

Justified = treat as if you were already finished

Since I know you will follow me, I will begin to speak and treat you like it has already happened.
Bless you

Glorified = honor you as if you were already finished

BUT many will not come.

Matthew 22:14 For many are called (gr. kletos), but few are chosen(actually qualify to be picked out). KJV

Acts 17:27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

God leads us step by step

What he reveals to all so they can take the first steps.

Romans 1: 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. NIV

Come to Christ and follow him.

John 12:25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. NIV

The deeper things belong to those that will continue the Journey

1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him (see Ro.8:28)”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. NIV

Like Abraham, if we continue to follow him he will lead us to great steps of faith.

Heb 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God…

The Way of Life

Week 2

Let’s read out text again from last week.

Acts 17:22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ NIV

God leads us step by step

What he reveals to all so they can take the first steps.

Romans 1: 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. NIV

Too often people have been taught that recognition of God and his existence is enough. They admire the beauty of his creation. (I go to the woods and I sit quietly and commune with God…sounds deep, but in reality it is not. ((Like a person instead of going to work in the Mercedes factory saying to his boss “I don’t believe work is necessary, I simply go sit in my Mercedes and admire the craftsmanship.)
He doesn’t want us to simply admire him, he wants us to come to him and follow him.

Come to Christ and follow him. Second steps

Have you ever entered in? You can make that decision now, today if you would like. Enter the gate.

John 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture (a real life). 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. NIV

· Enter the gate and stay on the path, follow him

o where I am, my servant also will be

§ the servant will always know where Christ is.

John 12:25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. NIV

The Third step. The deeper things belong to those that will continue the Journey. Those that have chosen to go deeper through obedience and servant hood.

1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him (see Ro.8:28)”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. NIV

· “No eye has seen, no ear has heard no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

o The sense gates cannot show us the deeper things, the hidden things for those that love him.

· There is a place in God that only the Holy Spirit can take us.

John 14: 15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. NIV

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. NIV

John 16:12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. NIV

Have you received the infilling of the Holy Spirit?

I did when I was saved. YES and NO.

John 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. NIV

Acts 19: 1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. NIV

I baptize with water, but he that comes after me will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matt 3:11

Mark 1:8

Luke 3:16

John 1:33

Acts 1:4-5

Acts 8:14-17

Acts 11:15-17