breath of life: live life

Breath of life

prophecy

goes into valley with dry bones

God tells him that the dead bones can come alive again

God instructs prophet to speak truth to the bones

the bones begin to come back to life just as God said

think life - knowing that God and His Word hold the truth and life

speak life - there is power in our words

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

LIVE LIFE

1 Thessalonians 5:5–10 NLT

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

1 Thes 5:5-

we are the children of God

let us live life children of God

If you were part of a royal family

would you live in the slums?

would you participate in activities or dress in a way that was not representing who you are? beneath your means and class?

What if your biological parents were both professional athletes and were build like body builders?

mom lifting weights & dad lifting her

wouldn’t it be strange if you were a little runty and scrawny and tripped over your own feet?

it wouldn’t seem right would it?

As Children of God

our Father is the King of kings and Lord of lords

He made everything from nothing

He has no rival - none that compares to His strength and power

He is holy and perfect in all of His ways

The bible says that were were made in His image and likeness

BUT

DOES YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE HIS?

Jesus didn’t fly off the handle in a temper tantrum when He didn’t get His way

He wasn’t out getting smashed over the weekend to help Him cope with the stress of being the Savior of the World

He wasn’t giving into temptation or making excuses for doing so

He lived by the Word of God

AND NOW

He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit so that we (as children of God) may live life as Jesus did!

that’s why 1 Thes says ESV

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 ESV

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

1 Thes 5:

So our daily activity should come from our new identity

Let us live life like we are children of God

That sounds good but how?

Know that you are not a lone ranger

there is power in Christian community

YOU ARE THE AVERAGE OF THE FIVE PEOPLE THAT YOU SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH...

so the easiest way to change your life is to change your friends

don’t look for people who are like you

look for those who you want to live like

have you ever noticed that we behave differently when we are around different groups of people?

my attitude changes

when I am around faith filled friends it is easier to have an attitude of faith

my posture changes

when I am with people who are living the abundant life then I have more confidence

The desires you feel pulling in the wrong direction are not who you really are // You died remember

remember

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

living a new life means doing the opposite of what we feel

PROBLEM: many of us are passions slave

Michael Phelps

Bob Bowman- “One thing that separates Michael from other swimmers, is that if they don’t feel good they don’t swim good. That’s not the way it is for Michael. Michael performs no matter what he is feeling. He has practiced it for a long time.”

Phelps said - “For 5 years, 1998-2003, we did not believe in days off. I had one because of a snowstorm, two more due to the removal of wisdom teeth. Christmas? see you at the pool. Thanksgiving? pool. Birthdays? pool. Sponsor obligations? work them out around practice time.

swims good even when he doesn’t feel good

same is true spiritually

the bible isn’t telling us what to feel

it tells us what to do

don’t do what you feel is right

love when you don’t feel like it

Proverbs 25:28 The Message

A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

Pay attention to your feelings but don’t let them run your life

Your daily activity should come from your new identitiy

I’M NOT ASKING YOU TO PRETEND THAT YOU ARE SOMEONE THAT YOU ARE NOT… I’M ASKING YOU TO ACT LIKE GOD SAYS THAT YOU ARE!