Sermons

Happy new year!

God wants deep change in every part of your life. The change He wants for you is good and glorifying for Him. This Sunday’s message is part of my new series’ THE RENOVATION OF THE SOUL’.  Change is never what we resist it is the transition that our flesh fights.  We all want change for the good but it’s the effort we must put forth that tends to stop us.

Before you can renovate an old house, you must evaluate and tear out all the rot and trash that hides in the floors and walls. For our souls to be renovated we must submit to the Holy Spirits inspection right down to the foundations of our lives. We must be willing with God help to tear out the sinful attitudes and habits that have become a part of our daily lives. We must be willing to see and act in faith for deep change to happen. If you have wondered why you feel stuck, why you seem to stay very much the same instead of becoming more like Jesus then you need to come Sunday. Don’t miss this.

Blessings,
Joe.

STEPS TO PREPARE

PRAY FOR THE SERVICES AND FOR YOURSELF
AND ME AND THE OTHER TEACHERS.

PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES
AND CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A PREACHING SERVICE AND A SMALL GROUP.

INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.

PLEASE   READ THE SCRIPTURES PRAYERFULLY AND DISCUSS THE QUESTIONS.

2 Co 5:17  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Col 3:1-17 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2)  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (3)  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4)  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (5)  Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (6)  For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, (7) and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. (8)  But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (9)  Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, (10) and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. (11)  a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. (12) So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (14)  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. (15)  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (16)  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (17)  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

1. IS DEEP CHANGE EXPECTED IN THE LIVES OF ALL GENIUNIALLY BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS?
2. WHAT AREAS IN YOUR LIFE THAT ARE TO BE AFFECTED BY GOD’S NEW PRESENCE?
   

   2 Co 10:4-5 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. (5) We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

    

3. WHY MUST SIN BE SEEN AND CONFRONTED FOR DEEP LASTING CHANGE TO HAPPEN?
4. WHY DO PEOPLE AVOID CONFRONTING SIN AS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM ROTTING OUT THEIR LIFE?
   

   Rom 3:9-13 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; (10) as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; (11) THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; (12) ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” (13) “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; (14) “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; (15) “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, (16) DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, (17) AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” (18) “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

   Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

   Jer 17:9-10 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? (10) “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.

    

5. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AND DEAL WITH SIN AND ITS EFFECTS IN OUR LIVES?
   

   1Jn 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

   Mat 5:29 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

    

6. HOW CAN SEEING SIN AS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM IN THE WORLD HELP YOU UNDERSTAND AND COPE WITH THE INJUSTICES YOU SEE?
7. HOW HARD WOULD IT BE FOR YOU TO PRAY THIS PRAYER AND MEAN IT?
   

   Psa 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; (24) And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

   Psa 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.