2020 Vision: Living the Life
Vision 2020: Living the Life • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsLiving the Life Christ intended results in wonderful relationships and a depth of fulfillment possible through Him alone
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And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
1 cor 6
Acts 20:
If I were to walk into the airport tomorrow morning and say to the lady at the ticket counter “Yes I would like to by a ticket, she would say ‘sure, where do you need to go?’” If I responded by asking, “I’m not sure…anywhere, I guess. What are my options?” She might not say it out load, but she would be thinking, “Okay, this guy has issues…I might need to call security!”
If I were to walk into the airport tomorrow morning and say to the lady at the ticket counter “Yes I would like to by a ticket, she would say ‘sure, where do you need to go?’” If I responded by asking, “I’m not sure…anywhere, I guess. What are my options?” She might not say it out load, but she would be thinking, “Okay, this guy has issues…I might need to call security!”
If I were to walk into the airport tomorrow morning and say to the lady at the ticket counter “Yes I would like to by a ticket, she would say ‘sure, where do you need to go?’” If I responded by asking, “I’m not sure…anywhere, I guess. What are my options?” She might not say it out load, but she would be thinking, “Okay, this guy has issues…I might need to call security!”
Let’s be honest, how often do we approach the new year with this kind of attitude — no goals, no resolutions (because…why bother), no real excitement about what the future holds. So we plod on into the new year with no expectations…we will just keep digging the same rut we have been digging for a long time.
No way…not if I have anything to say about it. Regardless of what I have to say…God has much to say about how we approach the future.
My challenge for you today is to face 2020 with a vision - thus: “2020 Vision: Living the Life.” Let us not fly headlong into a new year with no real goals or vision - this includes family, finances, work, education, community, church, and personal growth…first and foremost, growth that makes you more like Christ in your thoughts and actions.
Let’s open our eyes and ask God to give us a glimpse of the horizon of 2020 — with infinite possibilities: to see breakthroughs in our families, finances, relationships, emotional traps we face and so much more. In our jobs, let us look to God to enable us to work with more creativity and excellence — with an attitude that draws people to Christ. Most importantly, God will show us, if we seek and ask, breakthroughs in our own relationship with Him — and miracles in the lives of people around us that are floundering in darkness - as they come to know Christ — into the light that He brings to all.
Living the Life Christ intended results in wonderful relationships and a depth of fulfillment possible through Him alone
Interrogatory: How can living the life Christ intended result in wonderful relationships?
When Christ is first in your life, He influences all of your relationships
When Christ is first in your life, He influences all of your relationships
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Corinthians 11
…vision 2020
With Christ first in your life your thoughts and actions honor Him
With Christ first in your life your thoughts and actions honor Him
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
…not for your own pleasure or satisfaction --- gratification
....the old man pushes us to self-gratification
— sinful behaviors that we think nobody knows or cares about…He cares
— selfish decisions that we justify because it is for our kids, our families, etc. sometimes…they are just bad decisions wrapped up in excuses that make us feel better about it.
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
vision 2020...
With Christ first in your life…you are not the person you used to be
With Christ first in your life…you are not the person you used to be
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
If this is true…and it is…does your life show it?
In your thoughts
In your actions
If this is true…it will effect your relationships
Home
Work
Community
Church
Marketplace
People should be able to recognize something different in you…because of the presence of Christ in your life
Application
vision 2020...
As you approach the new year…let your relationship with Christ improve each day
This can be the best year ever because of your growing relationship with Jesus
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Know Him through intimate, daily fellowship with Him
“I can’t imagine going through even one day without my relationship with Jesus.” Is this how you feel?
Have you made Him Lord of your daily life? Do you talk to Him and ask Him to show you His plan…to reveal His will, as you make decisions in life?
Be excited and expectant because you are going into 2020 with Jesus as number one in your life
Make goals for 2020 — prioritize them and dedicate yourself to the Lord to accomplish those things with His help.
Determine NOT to let this life control you — rather, with the help of the Holy Spirit…make decisions and take actions that are right and positive
let this life control you — rather, with the help of the Holy Spirit…make decisions and take actions that are right and positive
Do NOT sit on your hands and wait for God to make your dreams come true or to fulfill His call in your life
Get out and take action
Illustration: Young William Carey, a shoe cobbler from England, wanted to do something more for the missions work in India. He recieved a harsh rebuke from an older person: “Sit down young man: when the Lord gets ready to save the heathen, he will do it without your help.” William Carey thought otherwise and packed up and went to India to tell the unsaved about Jesus.
Be bold and daring…live in such a way that you are forced to trust Jesus! Do what His word say…Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey what He tells you
Start with the basics
Pray daily
Be faithful to daily read and studying God’s’ word
Go to Worship and attend Bible study regularly
Support the ministry of your church with tithe and offerings…give in faith when you are unsure…trust God to meet your needs
Living the Life Christ intended results in wonderful relationships and a depth of fulfillment possible through Him alone
Transitional: How can living the life Christ intends for you to live lead you to greater fulfilment than ever before?
With Christ first in your life, you find deep fulfilment in living life according to His design
With Christ first in your life, you find deep fulfilment in living life according to His design
If you read through the life and writings of Paul it is easy to determine God’s design for His people…how we should live, what the church is, etc.
Great Commission
Making Disciples…an ongoing, living, breathing part of who we are
Abiding in Him
Connected…nourished…bearing fruit
Walking by the power of the Spirit
Making His Word the light that lights our way and keeps us on track
What it means to be the Body of Christ — the Church with Christ as the head…and we being body
If you read through the life and writings of Paul it is easy to determine God’s design for His people…how we should live, what the church is, etc.
One of the churches Paul planted was in Ephesus…in he went to exhort the elders on last time
The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Visions 2020: Living the Life / We will spend 2020 focusing on Christ’s design for living and how that applies to our lives
Visions 2020: Living the Life / We will spend 2020 focusing on Christ’s design for living and how that applies to our lives
Visions 2020: Living the Life / We will spend 2020 focusing on Christ’s design for living and how that applies to our lives
Visions 2020: Living the Life / We will spend 2020 focusing on Christ’s design for living and how that applies to our lives
Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20)
Making Disciples…an ongoing, living, breathing part of who we are
Abiding in Him (John 15)
Connected…nourished…bearing fruit
Walking by the power of the Spirit
Making His Word the light that lights our way and keeps us on track
What it means to be the Body of Christ — the Church with Christ as the head…and we being body
CHALLENGE
Living the Life Christ intended results in wonderful relationships and a depth of fulfillment possible through Him alone
Living the life
Living the life
I pray that God will stir each of us so deeply that we won’t be satisfied with the status quo
I pray that God will convict us of our sins and compromises so that 2020 will be a banner year in our relationship with Him
I pray that God will make Powerhouse a local church family that knows what it means to live the life He has called us to live, as a church and as individuals
What does it look like?
Commitment and determination on the part of our leaders and everyone in the body
A willingness to sacrifice time every single day to grow closer to the Lord
ness to sacrifice time every single day to grow closer to the Lord
ness to sacrifice time every single day to grow closer to the Lord
A willingness to give of ourselves: financially, with our energy and time, with our passion and emotions...
To see lost and hurting folks experience a transforming relationship with Christ
To do whatever it takes to disciple those new followers of Christ
To make sure we are discipling one another through worship, Bible study, Godly Fellowship, and working side by side in the kingdom
Power for Recovery
Bible Studies
Stepping up to minister to our children and youth with excellence and deep love.
Special emphasis
Worship
Sundays and other special occasions
Give a day’s salary to help those less fortunate than us
Convoy of Hope
Back to School Outreach
Community outreach and events to show the love of Jesus in our back yard.
Men’s ministry
Fellowship & accountability, Bible Studies, men’s retreat, outreach to help our church family when they need our help
Women’s ministry
Same as men…using skills and talents to fill the needs God’s places before us to fill.