We are the people ofGod
We need to remind ourselves sometimes where we are going and who we are so that we stay on track. So that we don’t wander off in the wrong direction
· We are God’s people (God)
God is many things but just for our understanding today let’s use these three things.
o Love
§ God is Love
1 Jn 4:7-8 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
o Hope
Ro 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
o Faith
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
· We belong to God in our hearts and our bodies
o Why? Because we have entered into a relationship with him through Jesus and the New Covenant. Our salvation is based on our agreeing to be followers of Christ and receive the eternal life that he offers us through the blood of Jesus.
- We are people of the Kingdom
- He is our King, not our president, we didn’t elect him, but he elected us. He chose us.
- We will live for him
- Did you make that agreement or did you just say the words?
· We are people of the Word (Gospel)
1 Pe 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- Give our attention to the word
- Live the word Jas 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
- Teach and preach the Word
- We are people of the Spirit
Jn 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Jn 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
There is a Spiritual world around us.
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Holy Spirit
Ac 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Filled with the Spirit, Walk in the Spirit, Led by the spirit, Worship in Spirit, Pray in the Spirit, Win our battles in the spirit, Operate the Gifts of the spirit,
Jesus was and is our example to follow
Matthew 4: 19 He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishermen of people!” 20 So at once they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus was a servant
John 13: 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right because that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you must also wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand these things, how blessed you are if you put them into practice!
Jesus loved people
John 13: 34 I am giving you a new commandment to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
John 15: 12 “This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus loved Mercy
Matthew 18: 33 shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’
Jesus did not belong to this world
John 17: 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, for they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
Hebrews 11: 13 All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth. 14 For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.