A Godly Walk
That's a go to prayer. Frasier's father how we thank you that we truly can gather in your house and worship you and that's why we're here. We're here to lift our hearts up and worship to the Living God who has given us the opportunity to know you for all eternity. So father, may you bless us richly and this time in Jesus precious name. Amen. When we all get to heaven and you know what, we don't have to pack for that. Move that I'm really happy about that. We've been packing for a long time now little bit here and there and there's boxes all over my house and I really don't have to do that again. So when I go to having those boxes are not going with me but I want you guys to go with me when we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be.
Jesus.
Wowie-wow-wow.
When will you be home?
Trusting service.
Wait wait.
Frozen.
When we?
Spider-Man.
A reading this morning is taken from Colossians chapter 3 verses 12 to 14.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness humility, gentleness and patience with each other and forgive one another. If any of you forgive one another, if any of you have a grievance against someone forgive as the Lord forgave you and over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect Unity talking about our walk with Christ, we're going to take a look at that today the Believers walk and that's just a a bit of it. Get into it. Let's go to print.
Our precious father. As we come before you we recognize your power and authority over all things and we know that you understand our request even before they we lay them at your feet but father it is a blessing for us to come before you and I truly give all burdens over to you, knowing that you are the Great and Mighty God and you do walk with all those who truly call upon your name. Father, we do want to remember the people of our community that do not know you. We pray that somehow the message of the Gospel would get to them through the power of your spirit and father, through your couch on our lives that we would sound the gospel, the gift of Salvation to those in need Lord, we do. Pray for also those unspoken request that people have that are not expressed. May you lead guide and Direct in each of those that people would understand your hand in their lives and rejoicing. You, we do pray that you would be with us as we continue to Worship You, lifting up, our voices and song in prayer and father and the following of your word. May you touch us deeply and be active. In this service in Jesus name. Amen.
Alright, spill while so we thought maybe Christmas in July.
Oh, okay.
Clyde's.
I can see the stars.
Echoes, The Grace Of Us.
Because Hope Was Born This Night.
Is the song used to raise a my heart chorus Joy, because I was bored.
Well we are going to be going on to a new series, we're going to be in the book of 2nd Peter and going through that if the series is called Godly walk. And so we're going to be taking a look of those things that help us all closer to him. And remember that if we truly have received, Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior that God has given a goal to our Lots. You and I have a goal that we are asked to follow and truly desire to go. And if we truly say, I love God and my goal is to grow more and more in the character of Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us to be christ-like and as we grow in Surprised then he grows within us and we become greater represent of the kingdom of the Living God, in our lives, God has a plan for lunch. You know? And we all have plans and some of them are Simple. Plan's. You know you know we're going to go up to Portland. So okay. We the plan is we have to go north on Powers highway hit the 52.
According to Easton the 5 North scuse me where in Portland. Okay, so that's a simple plan. There are some plan that are a little more difficult that I call us to a little more to go on. And then there are some plans that are of Greater worth and those are plans that call us to
Down our lives. You know what are we going to do when we're eighteen years old? We're getting out of high school. You know, what's the plan for my life? What is going to happen to me? That will take me into the future. And that's the most difficult one because you don't know the next day. Much less, the next 40, 45 years of your life and so that becomes a difficult plan, but there's another plan that God has set before you. And he knows that future that you hold and that plan is the plan of your life as growth in him. And each of us is responsible for that life's growth And a big question that I think being asked this morning is, how are we doing in Jesus Christ? Because it's more important than any of those other planets. Any of those other goals that you can have in your life? Most important thing is our walk with Christ. Because that will go on, for eternity, this life is going to come to an end. So you don't have to worry so much about this one, but you do have to be concerned with the eternity and God wants us to be grow up or it's him. That's the big hole. And so, let's take a look at that will be taking a look at the first chapter of 2nd Peter. We're going to go through verses 3 through 11 but we're going to take a look real quickly at verses three to four right now. And it says this, his divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life, through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness, your theory is that it's pretty much everything I just said, right in that single sentence that his power a Godly walk, you know, and holding fast to him and Gloria goodness through these. He has given us a very great and precious promise, so that threw them. You may participate in the divine nature, having escaped option of this world caused by evil desires, I hate all of that. It expresses a desire to be more like cracked. You know, this is one of Peter's works and that he's heading towards the end and he's trying to help people that are staying behind understand where they need to go and how they do send, and all of the New Testament, kind of pushes this way, if we go to Romans chapter 8 verse 29, will get the 28 back up here, but for those God, for knew, he also predestined to be warm to give his son. Okay, you get the picture. We need to be like Christ that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. God's desire is that we be Brothers and Sisters in Christ. In other words like Christ. And as we operate together and that's what you're doing this morning, you're here and you're getting to know and understand price a little bit more deeply here. So this, hopefully they growing experience or at least in encouraging experience in our walk with the Living God. But God has made all those Provisions for us as well. You know, you're not in this. Remember it's God's desire. You know, he wants us to be like Christ and so that's the work of the spirit that is in you to get your going. So, back up the Romans 28 by 8:28 and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Okay. So he's working in you. Do you love him? That's what you're called to do. When you said come to him by faith, it's because he's done such a work for you and you realize the importance of that work and so you love him for it. And so as you do that, that love should give us the desire to change and become more like him. His desire for us to be holy can you imagine that he wants each of us to be people that are holy and righteous and living. 1st Peter 1:16, we won't get there this evening or even next week, but it's powerful words taken from the Leviticus really. It says, for it is written, be holy because I'm holy in. Other words us to be like him. He wants us to have lives that are pure righteous and holy and as we continue on in our life whole Is it? We're headed in that direction. Remember Paul in Philippians chapter 3 it where he says, hey that's the prize. And I'm pretty sure, I'm pressing, we'll get back to that here in a little bit. When we do when we do have that desire in our hearts and we're trying to live as he wants us to live and relying upon his power and strength to do it. We are blessed. Way back in Psalm chapter 1 verse 1. It says blessed want is not walking the steps of the wicked or stand in the way of Sinners or take a seat in the company of mockers. In other words, last is the person who truly is going after will and desire for a large and that's just call on each and every one of us. If I'm a Believer, it needs to be, truly a part of my heart and my desire, okay? So now we know where he wants to go, and so let's take a look at what he wants to do to change our lives in the verses 5 through 9. It's for this very reason make every effort to add to your faith. Remember that's the starting point. I come to Jesus Christ through my That's a beginning Point, make every effort to add your faith goodness to goodness knowledge I will need to understand into knowledge self-control the self-control perseverance and perseverance godliness and The Godly list, Chula faction the mutual affection Love. For if I possess these qualities and increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. But do whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. And this is how we fulfill our plan to walk as Christ is called us to walk. And this is a progression that Peter goes through, you know? Sad in script scriptures as we go along, but John wants us to yearn for this happening. In our lives, the desire to walk with him. And as I say that's what is happening this morning and it's what happens throughout the week as we truly want to honor him in our Lots, as we seek Him each morning, you know, we pray to him, we read God's word. We find our direction from him. And even as the day closes app, we continue to seek him. When that is a part of our Lives, we find it. There's a Growing Experience, a drawing closer to him an ability to fend off Satan desires to lead us astray and to follow him. Paul in writing to the Ephesians, he talks about his God's work in our lives in and understanding that God wants us to grow is very important. So if your sprayer Ephesians 1:18, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened that you may know, the hope to which he has called you the riches of his glorious inheritance in holy people. in other words as we seek God, he grows in us, he wants The knowledge of Jesus Christ to be expanded in our lives. And as it is, we learn to follow his lead. We find that the goal of our Li is his goal for our lives and we see that in a number of different passages in scripture, the passenger I'm going to give you up right now is the goal God has for us in terms of the power of the spirit working in us, but it all has its single focus and that is Jesus Christ in the end Iglesias 522 and 3 says but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy peace, patience forbearance. Kindness goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control against such things. There is no law and we see those as the work of the spirit in us and is that Spirit grows and its power. We grow in those different activities but that's not the only I area in scripture where it calls us to live. Those locks, we just saw that in 1st Peter, reread that in Colossians chapter 3, remember at the beginning, God's desire, he calls us to compassion, humility, gentleness, and patience, but all surrounded, by the power of his love in our lives. These are goals. We can see that in Philippians chapter 4 verse 8, where he calls the Philippians to live life that build up character within us. And then Romans chapter 12, it goes through, first of all, the work of the spirit and then it talks about how we ought to walk in this life from verses nine through 20, and how we are to walk in this life. So scripture over and over again, is talking to Believers about continually building up the character of Christ in our lives. How we need to have that going on in our lives. And the call is to keep pressing on. God doesn't want us to retire from the activity of our work. We need pressing on all the way through our lives, all the way through our lives. Again, back to Olympians chapter 3, Paul is writing about this and and he says knowing Christ is the most important thing in their lives. Towards that inverse 12v says not that I've already obtained all this. Okay, here's Paul, one of the great leaders of the face thing. Hey I haven't got there yet, so I'm pressing on. Where is he riding is from? He's writing this from prison. You know, he's suffering in prison for the sake of Christ, but it doesn't stop him from pressing on and getting to know Christ as Lord and savior. He finished his. I'm sorry I've already arrived. I go. But I'm going to take, hold of that with Christ Jesus. Took hold of me in other words, when Jesus Christ because of our Lives, because we committed Our Lives into his hand. When we came to know him as Lord and savior, he took a hold of our lives. And his desire is for you to know him more and more. That's the For him today, to press on to persevere is James says perseverance. Is what we want in our faith walk in this life. You know, and if we don't if we say hey I made the decision, I've come to know the Lord is my savior, you know, it's all good for me now. I guess you could go off and do whatever I want to do. Here's what it says about that attitude 1st. John 1:6 says he claimed to have fellowship with him and yet walk in darkness. We lie and do not live in the truth. Living in the truth is truth.
Him wanting him to be the strength and the power of Our Lives. As we go forward. Do not deceive ourselves. Seek after okay, here's the challenge. In the end 2nd, Peter 1:10.
Says, they are four brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. In other words, don't sit on your on your hands when it comes to following Christ. Make every to confirm your calling and election for do these things, you will never stumble. In other words going on, in this life, it's important to press forward because when we don't we falter And you will receive a rich welcome into the Eternal Kingdom of Our Lord Savior. Jesus Christ, Paul Does the press forward. Peter wants us to press forward. God wants us to press forward in our lives. And not just take a relaxed mode and what we're doing. We have a day-by-day experience in our walk with Jesus Christ. You remember Timothy Timothy picked up with Paul on his second missionary journey and really journeyed with him along the way. And in fact, he became the leader of several of the churches that that we see in scripture cluding Ephesus and Paul is riding to him in his first book to Timothy and he's encouraging him along the way he says this. And 1st Timothy 6:12, fight the fade hate to be internal life to which you all when you made that good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Including his mother and grandmother. Okay. He made that call and Paul is telling him now. Don't stop pressing. Press on forward, keep going. You know, you don't give up the Walk of faith in your life just because you're getting a little bit older, just because it seems like life is passing you. By why? It's not as long as God has you here, sir, he has you here for a reason and we need to remember that everyone has a reason for being here. As long as he keeps his here, is to share the faith that you have. You have something that is absolutely necessary for every person on the face of this Earth, you realize that you have a gift from God that is more important than anything else. You could give You can't give anything better to any of your family members knowing Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior, you can't give anything better to any of your friends, except knowing Jesus Christ as your lord and savior because it changes everything in your eternity. it changes every So, share that with 817 says, now if we are children, then we are heirs Heirs of God, inchoate with crop. If we leave, we Sharon Springs in order that we may also share in his glory. In other words, as we go through this life and it comes our way and we have opportunity to share Christ, even though you might do it shaking and one, whether your message is going to get across to the truth know that, because it's not your power that does it is the spirit of God working in you. That makes all the difference in whether your message is heard and understood and eventually leave somebody Did Jesus Christ. What? An amazing gift. You have by presenting the gospel because when you do so you will allow God's work has been in your life and the life of others. So she said that because we grow together as a body of Christ and we are truly the Sons and Daughters of the Living God as we have trusted him and we walked this. Working fate. So, stand firm. All sister stand firm in our faith to not, give up to not let the battles of life, change the direct. Because the age, when it is becoming more difficult to walk, is it in faith in our lives, he was sick that 3/6 as but Christ is faithful as the sun over God's house and we are his house. If indeed, we hold firmly to our confidence in Our Hope, in which we Glory. Okay, my glory. Is it? Jesus Christ. Lives in my life. My glory is that God exists in the power of the holy spirit in my life. And my gift is that he will never leave me or forsake me. And so I have all that Glory within me, why not expressive and let it out helping others to see what he's done for me.
And then in the end Peter says will be Mention that we've lived this grave and my life for the Living God, in the things that he's called us to do. And we've done all we can, you know, and Jesus talks about that in them. 25 of Matthew and he goes through.
Set that we are involved in life and some of those things are sharing, you know, Christ in us. And some of those things are helping others in need. And in those sort of things in Matthew 24, he says, these words for those who get to leave this life and go up to Glory says, then the king will do those on his right. Those who have come into Glory, come you who are blessed by my father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world and that wonderful God has prepared something for you. And for me, It is powerful and important. Exciting for all eternity.
And so here's the challenge for each of us in the things that we are doing throughout our days. We need to remember that. We are vessels of the Eternal God and some of us might be crumbling a little bit in a little bit shaky, but we are still vessels of the Mighty God. And we need to remember that as we go through life. That I need to be building up the internal vessel my life. And we have opportunities to do that. God called you to be involved in that Growing Experience of Christ in your life. You know, are you involved? That's the huge question today. How much are you involved and wanting Christ to be build up in your life? It's the most important thing you can do. You can't point me to a job that you have and say, that's more important than Christ in my life because that's a lie from say. You can't say that my family is more important than my relationship with God. That's a lie.
From an eternity, the most important thing you have is your relationship with Jesus Christ and how you build that up. And the value of that because that carries over in everything, you do your job and your family will be blessed when God blesses you with a powerful presence in your life. We need to understand that and know that the truth is there. You willing to grasp, a hold of the truth and living out in your life by being involved in the activity of growing in Jesus Christ day by day because it will make a difference in your life on this Earth and who knows, it might make the difference in the life of another Bromley turn it. Let's pray.
Your father in Heaven.
we worship God because we have recognized that we were
And we didn't know our Pathway to Glory was Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Our Savior and we received that goodness, that blessing from you with joy and Thanksgiving. Help us to retain that joy and Thanksgiving in not only having that salvation but growing in that salvation growing in the righteousness in the Holiness that you called us to by making every effort to walk in the line that you get. Through the power of the spirit. We can do this through the power of Jesus Christ Living in our lives. We can do this. So help us to remember that father, and help us to seek you with all our hearts in Jesus precious name. Amen. Let stand
Our gracious Father in Heaven, how we thank you. That you are our savior, our mighty king, our Lord, all eternity and maybe walk in that precious Life as we go out into this world, Bless us. Oh Lord and yes in Jesus name. Amen.
