Sunday Morning, November 18, 2012
scriptures: Luke 9, Romans 6, Psalms 119, Romans 6, 1 Peter 1, John 13, Galatians 5, Philippians 2
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NOTES
Luke 9:23-26
Don’t want to think that people with more obvious responsibility are the ones who have to deny themselves.
Don’t think that it is more important that the teacher or preacher be committed than it is for you to be committed. If ANYONE is going to come after Jesus, he must deny himself.
We must daily make these decisions. You cannot take time off from Christ. Each day you have to consider what God wants, not just yourself.
What is denying yourself? There are a lot of things that you could do, but that doesn’t mean that you should do.
When you deny yourself, there are a lot of things that you possibly do, opportunities that may arise, but you make decisions based on what pleases God.
It is better to obey than to sacrifice. God wants you to be faithful, to trust and follow Him.
As a new creature, there are ways you feel like you are giving up to be in Christ.
Things of this world will be offered to you, the world, a city, a job title, etc. What good is it to get that and lose being with Christ.
You cannot be ashamed of God and what He says. There are people who come to churches do not support what God has said, His stance, doctrine and truth. They may plead ignorance about a topic to avoid making a stance in God’s word.
Romans 6:15-18
Thankful that they kept doctrine. It is about truth, not just claiming the title.
Psalms 119:57-60
Being committed to keeping God’s words. I’m going to obey you (not with an excuse if I feel bad or get mad).
Your life should be full of what is not what should.
Is God your passion? Fully committed with all head and all heart. Some people are divided, double-minded, double-souled. That person is unstable.
Did you think on your ways? People reflect that they are not nice, tend to attitude, whatever the personality is. Do you ask if that way is consistent with God? If it isn’t, do you turn towards God’s ways?
Think of yourself. Do you have ways that are not in God? God knows what you are about.
Make haste. If you are not where you need to be, why are you taking a slow time to get where you need to be?
If you are stuck in sin, you might not want to get out. You start to taper off instead of quitting sin.
Psalms 119:129-133
Longing for God’s testimony. A lot of people are running away from people giving them the truth.
Are you thirsty for, asking God for direction in His word?
Is there an area where you are not under God’s control? Let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Regularly attending or fulfilling duties at church does not erase that iniquity.
As we do this, just focus on judging you.
1 Peter 1:22
Is your soul purified? It is in obeying the truth. There are people in congregations who have baggage. Do you want to be purified? Do you care about having a purified soul?
Unfeigned love of the brethren
John 13:34-35
This is the focus. We are required to give our hearts to others. We have to love one another. That’s how people will recognize you as Christ’s.
Galatians 5:13-14
We have been made free to serve in love. How do I serve one another in Christ?
The whole of the law, the bible is asking if you can love others.
1 Peter 1:22
Is this you?
Unfeigned love – not hypocritical
Love of the brethren – community of brotherly love
People will know how into Christ you are by what you are doing with others who love Christ.
If your real friencs are the people who you sin with, then that reflects who you are.
Unfeigned love means that you will work with believers, establishing a relationship in love with others.
Are you willing to give and receive? Love has to work both ways.
You have to stretch out yourself to love someone fervently. You cannot wait for friendship, you have to be friendly. It is about you being faithful and true to the cause. Being compassionate, speaking things that are trusted.
Can someone send you to check on people? Even if you don’t even know them yet? What is your heart and purpose?
Philippians 2:1-4
If you have anything on the inside of you that cares about Christ, be together in Christ. Have the same mind. How do you follow this command? You have to stretch out, reach out.
It is not about you.
Look – you have to be really concerned. You cannot be absorbed in yourself. If you are only concerned about your issues, then you are serving yourself.
We are commanded to involve ourselves in the lives of others. When you start doing things for God, He will give what you need so that you can do more or Him.
If you cannot raise yourself to love somebody in Christ, it is worthless. You have to be assertive in your relationship to care.
Homework: love one another FERVENTLY. look on the things of OTHERS.