Being Spiritual in an unspiritual world…

My concerns.

· The world its all about given and take principles … 50- 50 when it comes to realtionships

· I invest in you and you give me something back in terms of a relationship..

· I invest you and you invest me and we get something out of it…

· Christ’s love for us is always been abandoned to the his needs for the needs of someone else like you and me.

· The only thqt kind of love to develop in a believer is first to recoginse that we are loved.

· Developing Christ like love for others comes as a result first by have a relationship with God.. an intimate and personal relationship

So believers believe is that we can go it alone

· I don’t need relationships to lead a Christ centered spiritual life.

Theres are some lies that the enemy puts in our minds such as.

· God is all I need,

· I have Jesus and it will be fine.

· Other Christian won’t understand.

· Isolation stands in stark contrast to the teachings in the bible.

Jesus often called his Disciple friends.

· When ever there was tragedy or pending significant events he would call his disciples. His friends to gather around him… He referred to his friends often Mary, Martha. Lazarus.

· In Luke friend is almost mention at least once in every chapter

· Jesus wants not into autonomy. He was into interdependence of not only the father but of his friends.

· Paul. Had many friends and he showed how he needed his friends. Such as timothy

· In Romans he mentions 35 by name.

o People who really knew him and loved him as he obvious loved them.

· How many people you know even in this room, a room of brothers in the Lord or in this Church that you can look at and n say with your heart he is my true friend.

Have you chosen your pall barriers yet? Do you have six true friends that you know would be there for you in you most difficult time?

UnSpiritual world.. really it is very spiirtual

· We live in a spiritual world

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
12For 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.

· Some don’t understand who we are

We still think and live in the temporal world and don’t even think of the eternal nature we have through Jesus.

Nicodemas .. learned man member of the Sanhedrin.

John 3:3 (NRSV)
3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

John 3:31 (NIV)
31“The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

To be born again or born “from above” (anōthen has both meanings; e.g., “from above” in 19:11 and “again” in Gal. 4:9) is to have a spiritual transformation which takes a person out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God (cf. Col. 1:13)

AS Believers we are suspposed to thinks upon things that are above

Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV)
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Hebrews 11:8-10 (NASB95)
8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:14-16 (NASB95)
14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

· We are different, We are special

· If we were born again where is our citizenship ?

· We are born from above, our citizenship is in the heavenly Jerusalem where God lives

· I was born in the natural in Milford Utah but Spiritual I was born in the Heavenlies.

· I am an alien in an earth suit… I live in this tent

And when my Lord come I will be raise up in Glory and given my heavenly bodily and like Jesus.

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· While we live in this world we are told in numerous scripture that we are to adopt a spiritual life style

Old self dead in the Flesh

Ephesians 4:19-24 (NLT)

19They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, The “old self” (literally, “old man,” also translated “old nature”) describes each person before he or she comes to know Christ which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

The old self describes those areas of rebellion against God. We must forsake this former lifestyle.

Man and control….

Believers are to adopt a spiritual lifestyle What does a prson have to do to adopt a spiritual life and can you describe them ?

James 1:21-24 (NIV)
21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

like people who look at themselves in a mirror. They see their faces and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like

· Explain how we can hear something and agree with it but not let it affect our behavior.

· When you look in a mirror do you like who you see looking back at you and want to forget the person looking back at you ?

When you look into that mirror and God is looking at you what do you suppose he sees?

1. So how can we become what we know we should be ??

How are believers “to be renewed in the spirit of [their] minds”? They must:

• be involved in activities that renew their minds (Philippians 4:8–9);

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

We are not capable of change without the Holy Spirit

Eph 4.23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes

· What are the characteristics of dearly loved children ?

Arrow head

The lord has worked on me
15 years ago
arrow head

· God wants relationship with me !

Well when you are looking in that mirror and God is looking at you what do you think he see and thinks?

John 3.16

Significance of that verse for God So loved

1 John 4:7-12 (NLT)
7Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

How are we to show our love to people ??

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, start with Gods Love

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

How do w do that ??

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

It starts with our relationship with God first..

Acts 13:2 (NASB95)
2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them

Story of the Daughter

God want our love and praise..

How do you Love God ?

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Acts 13:2 (NASB95)
2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them

· A Believers ability through the Holy Spirit to change his character and to love must first start with and understanding of God’s love for us

· Think about Gods Love towards us and that is the fuel that makes our Love toward people happen.

· Give thanks and be thankful

How can we learn to be imitators of Christ ?

· Focus on God forst and the Love he has for you

· Be thankful and give him praise

· When you prya thank him for the blessing and his faithfulness to you

· Do complain when you pray

· Don’t turn it into 10 minutes of give me give me

· Yes we aare to menetion our needs but when you approach God in praise and thankful ness you will step into his throne oom and God will bless you beyond you expect..

· But foirst focus on your relationship to the God who love you first

When you do you will change.. people will see the change

each person must study God’s Word,

introduction

Sermon text with italics and bold and John 3:16 and v. 20.

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