God is Building You
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
➟ ➟ ➟ This has been a year of challenge, transition, and change.
The month of August ends tomorrow as we move closer and closer to 2021.
When it comes to life in general, I know many who are ready to turn the page and hopeful that next year will be better than this one has.
But I want to caution us on this type of thinking because it can become very easy to shift our focus away from how God has been working this year and blessing us significantly. Sometimes it is in the darker times where we can look back and see the light of His work the most.
And if you pause just a moment, you can believe and see His blessing all around you. HIs continual provision. His unending love. His purposeful sustainment.
In your quiet moments, I challenge you to just pause and see where God has been active in your life this year.
What are some things He has been trying to teach you?
How has He sustained you and your family?
What are some of the blessings He has bestowed upon you?
Be intentional about this. Tune out the negativity of the world situation … and focus.
➟ ➟ ➟ As God spoke in Psalms 46.10...
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
If anything, it should be for us, that the difficulties of 2020 have only brought us closer to God … in gratefulness and appreciation … as well as trust in how He will always meet every need we have individually, as well as a congregation.
➟ ➟ ➟ One of the things we have tried to do during August is examine what God is building right here right now as a local church.
He has blessed this socially, educationally, and economically diverse church with the blessing of unity.
We’re all at differing levels of spiritual maturity levels, but our common association with our brother and Lord, Jesus, is what brings us together.
He has and is blessing us right now with the type of people who are committed enough to His work, His mission, and His purposes to take the type of risks necessary to do bold things in the kingdom.
We believe, as Mordecai told Esther, that God has brought us together right now for such a time as this.
He has and is blessing us with the mission of soul-winning. We are committed to getting outside of these walls and impacting Dayton & the surrounding community with the message that the hand of the Lord is strong and that we fear the Lord.
We’re not moving by our own strength or might, we’re moving by the power of God’s spirit.
And finally, we have talked about how we’re part of something that is being built to last.
Jesus said with certainty that He will build His church. That is what He is building… the church … the body … His people. Those who are saved.
We need to get into where He is building … that is, moving our life in the direction where God is … walking by the Spirit, living lives of obedience.
And when we do, nothing is going to stop us because nothing will stop God’s mission of building His church.
Nothing. No demon or hell’s angel. Not Satan. Not even death itself. Jesus said, the gates of hades will not prevail against it.
Today we’ll wrap up our series on building by taking a very personal look at what God is doing inside of us.
Its really such an amazing thing.
He is taking us through a transformation … and it’s a process.
I want you to think of some of the areas in your life right now where you’re in the middle of the process and you know it.
It feels like a mess. It is a mess. You may wonder, will I ever get to the other side?
We’ve just past the 2 year anniversary of moving into our home in Waynesville.
Lots of FB pics coming back through my feed from the remodel & renovation that took place.
I remember the upstairs bathroom before. Total 1970’s look. Pink tile. Gaudy light fixtures. Totally outdated needing a refresh. Through the years, there had been several layers of flooring put down. The floor sat higher than the main floor in the hallway.
➟ ➟ ➟ We started stripping things away. It was a happy day when the tile came off the wall.
➟ ➟ ➟ Everything came out. And as we got under the surface, we found more things in need of repair.
We got so far in & I remember thinking … what have we done? It was such a mess.
There were things that needed repaired that we couldn’t do on my own. We needed a lot of help.
We knew we couldn’t give up. (You really need a bathroom in the house). There was no turning back.
➟ ➟ ➟ And within a few weeks, with a lot of help from others who know a-lot more than me on that kind of stuff, we had a brand new bathroom.
➟ ➟ ➟ Maybe that is where you are with some things in your life right now. You’ve committed to begin the process and you know there’s no turning back. You’ve got to see this through.
But you know you can’t do this on your own. And as you’ve peeled the top layers off and gone down deep … maybe there’s some things that are ugly and embarrassing. Things that are bigger than you. Things that you can’t fix on your own.
This is where God comes in. He is committed to seeing it through. God is building you.
Today, we’ll talk about:
Why God saved you.
The goal of Christian living.
How to cooperate with God as He builds
Why God Saved You
Why God Saved You
Romans 8.28 & 31 present us with two general truths given by the Holy Spirit.
➟ ➟ ➟ 8.28 - God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God.
➟ ➟ ➟ 8.31 - God is for us. He is committed to us … he will see his purpose through.
➟ ➟ ➟ 8.28 - God is working for your “good.” Good refers to your final glory.
8.28b - You have been called for a purpose.
What purpose?
➟ ➟ ➟ Romans 8.29 - Why did God save you?
to be conformed to the image of his Son.
God didn’t save you to deliver you from hell, or … to live in heaven
These two things are wonderful benefits of our salvation… along with:
forgiveness
the experience of peace, joy, love, etc.
You have been saved to be like Christ.
This is what “conformed” means. It means to be “in the same form with.”
Think spiritually … God is shaping and molding us to be just like Him in holiness; blamelessness; righteousness; and spiritual perfection.
➟ ➟ ➟ 8.17 - what are we hoping for as children of God? So that we may also be glorified with Him.
That is, one day we will be brought into the same form as Jesus in His resurrection body.
➟ ➟ ➟ 8.29 - image means “replica.” This is a likeness that has been intentionally replicated. It’s not accidental. It’s nothing something we do to ourselves.
God is the one who shapes us to be like Jesus inwardly and outwardly.
You can’t do this yourself. You don’t have that kind of power on your own.
➟ ➟ ➟ 8.30 - we await the day when this will be 100% reality.
Until then we make the commitment to cooperate with God so that progressively He can make us more and more like Christ.
This is the process of sanctification.
While we go through this, we ultimately await our glorification.
Note how this is spoken of as if it has already happened.
This allows you to move with the greatest confidence.
➟ ➟ ➟ Philippians 1.6 - no matter what happens - God is always working to bring you to completion. As you work with Him, He:
works to increase your dependency on Him.
works to tear down your strongholds.
Works to change your thoughts.
Works to see your life transformed.
Transformed.... this is what Paul mentions so eloquently in 2 Corinthians 3.17-18.
The Goal of Christian Living
The Goal of Christian Living
For most of the part of 2 Corinthians 3 leading up to v. 17-18, Paul has been stressing the benefits of the new covenant over the old.
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.9 - with the new covenant, God has brought with Him the ministry that brings righteousness and glory.
➟ ➟ ➟ In 3.17 Paul says the Lord has brought us freedom. Freedom from what?
Because of your relationship with God you now are no longer a slave to:
Satan; law; fear; corruption/death; or sin.
You’ve been set free from all that.
This is the victory that we’ve been taking about all year. God has brought all of this to us.
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.18 - God has revealed Himself through Jesus and when we look at Him we are transformed.
We are being transformed into the same image of the glory of the Lord, from glory to glory.
We’re going from 1 level to another.
➟ ➟ ➟ Psalm 84.7 - the psalmist described going from strength to strength.
Psalm 84 challenges us with regard to our heart. All of the growth and transformation is with those whose:
➟ ➟ ➟ 84.2 - hearts long/yearn for the courts of the Lord.
➟ ➟ ➟ 84.4 - souls reside with the Lord … those who have him on their lips continually in praise.
➟ ➟ ➟ 84.5 - happy are the people whose strength is in God....
➟ ➟ ➟ 84.7 - that strength is growing and growing … and who is supplying it?
We’re into God and He is into us. It’s a growing, vibrant, and dynamic relationship.
As we live in trust in God, we rest with the confidence that the Spirit is building and strengthening us every single day.
How to Cooperate with God while He Builds
How to Cooperate with God while He Builds
➟ ➟ ➟ Move with a singular focus.
➟ ➟ ➟ Philippians 3.13b- what is the one thing Paul pursued as his goal?
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.14 - What is the prize?
Not heaven.
It’s Christlikeness. Being with Jesus and being like Jesus.
Take a look at the context:
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.8a
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.8b - why did Paul sacrifice all? So that he might gain Christ.
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.9b - His passion was to be found in Christ - pursuing the righteousness from God based on faith.
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.10 - His goal was to:
know Christ.
Know the power of his resurrection.
Know the fellowship of his sufferings.
be conformed to his death.
To be like Jesus was THE passion of his life. The singular thing he did.
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.12 - he hadn’t arrived at the goal yet. But he made every effort to press on.
I think this is where the challenge lies for us. Can we truly say Christlikeness is the goal of our life?
As I pursue my business interests is Christlikeness my goal?
As I pursue my family and professional relationships is Christlikeness my goal?
As I pursue my interactions on social media is Christlikeness my goal?
As I engage with people in the world is Christlikeness my goal?
➟ ➟ ➟ Embrace the power you have been given.
➟ ➟ ➟ Ephesians 1.19 speaks of the immeasurable greatness of his power and the mighty working of his strength.
➟ ➟ ➟ 1.20a - This is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
➟ ➟ ➟ 1.20b - It’s the same power that seated Jesus at the right hand of God.
➟ ➟ ➟ 1.21 - It’s the same power that elevated Jesus over every single thing in heaven and on earth.
If Satan is telling you that you will always be the same … change is impossible … it’s just who you are … no one can do anything about it … understand that is a lie.
If Satan is telling you that you can never overcome your past and that others will always define you by your past … that is a lie.
If Satan is telling you that you are alone and no one cares and that you are the only one who struggles … that is a lie.
➟ ➟ ➟ James 4.7-8 - resist the devil & he will flee. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
➟ ➟ ➟ 2 Peter 1.3 - Jesus’ divine power has given you everything required for life and godliness.
You have the power to lead a holy life.
When we do that, what will happen? Will you trust the promise of God?
➟ ➟ ➟ Trust that God knows what He is doing.
This is probably the most important part of our cooperation. If you don’t get this, you’ll never embrace God’s power … and you’ll never narrow your focus to Him.
➟ ➟ ➟ Jeremiah 1.5 - God knows you better than you. Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you...
He created you.
He knows your strengths. He knows your weaknesses. He. Knows. You.
➟ ➟ ➟ Jeremiah 29.11 - now we understand the context here and how this specifically applies to the restoration of God’s people, right?
But in this verse, we do see who God is.
Kind of parallels Romans 8.31. God is for you. God wants your spiritual well-being. God doesn’t want to see you fall into disaster.
Proverbs 3.5-7 - life is going to throw out some challenges.
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.5-6 - trust God.
➟ ➟ ➟ 3.7 - We get into trouble when we try to build things our way.
Conclusion
Conclusion
➟ ➟ ➟ God is building you.
➟ ➟ ➟ 2 Corinthians 3.17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
This is the goal of Christian living.
God is building your spiritual life elevating you from level to level; glory to glory; from weakness to spiritual maturity.
The starting point doesn’t really matter. All that matters is finishing.
You may be here today and feel your life is a mess … and find it hard to imagine how things could be any different.
God has the power to do far beyond all you can imagine or think.
➟ ➟ ➟ Will you surrender?
God will take you where you are and begin the process of comforming you to the image of Christ.
Philippians 1.6 - He will complete what he starts.
Will you trust Him?