TRANSFORMED BY GOSPEL HOPE (5)

THE GOSPELIZED CHURCH -5

IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE SPENT A GOOD PORTION OF YOUR LIFE IN A CAREER. YOU’VE SPEN THOUSANDS…

COME TO JESUS AND FIND THAT WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IS

What is an idol?

An idol is when something or someone becomes more important to us than God.

Tim Keller put it like this

“An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.

SIX IDOLS THAT CAPTIVATE

Our Identity

Money

Entertainment

Sex

Comfort

Cell Phones/social media

Your rights

BUT WHEN WE CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS WE ARE SAYING

WE HAD A SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD JESUS AND WE NOW, ARE HIS POSSESSION

PAUL’S CONVERSION PARIDIGMATIC OF ALL CONVERSIONS (SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING)

Acts 9:3 ESV

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

Acts 9:4 ESV

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Acts 9:5 ESV

And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Acts 9:6 ESV

But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Acts 9:7 ESV

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

Acts 9:8 ESV

Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

(MAKE NOTE OF THE TEXT - FOCUS ON THIS: PAUL WENT TO DAMASCUS -

AS A DIFFERENT PERSON WITH A DIFFERENT PURPOSE

WHEN YOU ARE CONVERTED YOU ARE CALLED

1 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV)

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

TO BE CONVERTED IS TO HAVE A “RADICAL REORIENTATION OF ONE’S FUNDA,ENTAL COMMITMENT… IT IS A RADICAL CHANGE IN BELIEF, BEHAVIOPR AND BELONGING.

I. SERVING THE LORD BECAUSE OF A NEW CONVICTION (BELIEF)

The gospel - explain how it contrasts the thinking of the world (self centered, this life only, get all you can)

Resurrection

II. SERVING THE LORD WITH A NEW CONDUCT (BEHAVIOR)

Faith, love and hope

separation from all that impedes growth in grace

III. SERVING THE LORD AS A MEMBER OF A NEW COMMUNITY (BELONGING)

THE QUESTION IS NOT:

WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP?

THE REAL QUESTION IS THIS

ARE YOU WILLING TO LOVE CHRIST ABOVE ABOVE IDOLS?

DO YOU BELIEVE, BEHAVE AND BELONG AS IF CHRIST IS FIRST IN YOUR HEART OVER THE COMPETING IDOLS OF THIS WORLD?

Christ Over Our Identity

Christ Over Money

Christ Over Entertainment

Christ Over Sex

Christ Over Comfort

Christ Over Cell Phones/social media

Christ Over Your rights

THE MARK OF GENUINE CONVERSION IS ALWAYS THE ONGOING DEFEAT OF IDOLS!

BUT NOTE THIS LAST THING

IV. YOU ONLY DEFEAT IDOLS BY TURING TO THE LORD

TURING IS ACTIVE AND ONGOING

A. YOU TURN BY GROWING IN YOUR INTAKE OF THE WORD (BELIEF)

B. YOU TURN BY GROWING IN YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD (BEHAVIOR)

C. YOU TURN BY GROWING IN YOUR INVESTMENT WITH YOUR FAITH FAMILY (BELONGING)