HAPPY NEW YEAR!GOD AND ME IN 2014

PHILIPPIANS 2:13-15 & EPH. 2:10

In 2014PHILIPPIANS 2:13-

15 & EPHSIANS 2:10

I. THE BIG PICTURE

CHRISTMAS: JESUS CAME TO US! “For unto you is born this day…a Savior who is Christ the Lord! (Lk. 2:11)

GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER: JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN! (He removed every barrier and obstacle that stood between man and God)

GOD’S INVITATION: JESUS CAME TO US AND NOW INVITES US TO COME TO HIM!

QUESTION:

NOW THAT I BELONG TO GOD, WHAT’S NEXT?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT TO DO IN MY LIFE AND WITH MY LIFE?

II. THE CLOSE-UP ZOOM LENS

A CLOSE –UP LOOK AT WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO WITH MY LIFE

“For IT IS GOD WHO IS AT WORK IN YOU, both to will and to work for His good pleasure…So do all things without grumbling or complaining that you may prove yourselves blameless and innocent children of God above reproach…”

EPHESIANS 2:10“For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

PHILIPPIANS 2:13-15

GOD’S PLAN

GOD’S PLAN FOR EVERY BELEIVER IS TO: BECOME LIKE JESUS CHRIST IN OUR CHARACTER AND IN OUR LIKENESS!

Romans 8:29“For whom he foreknew, He predestined to become CONFORMED to the image of HIS SON…”

GOD’S REALITY

GOD’S REALITY FOR EVERY BELIEVER IS TO:

ULTIMATELY SEE EVERY BELIEVER MADE TO BE JUST LIKE JESUS CHRIST IN OUR CHARACTER AND LIKENESS!

I John 3:2“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He shall appear, we shall be LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him just as He is.”

GOD’S PROCESS

GOD’S PROCESS FOR EVERY BELIEVER IS TO:WORK IN EACH OF OUR LIVES TO MAKE US LIKEJESUS CHRIST IN OUR CHARACTER & LIKENESS!

Ephesians 2:10“For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

God is the potterwe are the clay that He molds

God is the carpenterwe are the wood that He builds

God is the refinerwe are the metal that He refines

God is the sculptorwe are the rock that he forms

THE QUEST

THE ON-GOING AND LIFE-LONG QUEST FOR EVERY BELIEVER IS TO:

BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS CHRIST!

JESUS CHRIST DID NOT COME JUST SO WE COULD HAVE A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION!

JESUS CHRIST DID NOT COME JUST TO GIVEUS MORE INFORMATION!

JESUS CHRIST CAME TO BRING ABOUT IN EACH OF OUR LIVES TRANSFORMATION!

THE NEW YEAR’S QUESTION

WHAT DO I WANT GOD TO DO IN MY LIFE THIS YEAR?

(What does he need to change? What does he need to confront? What does he need to work on in my life?)

III. THE INTIMATE PORTRAIT

GOD AT WORK IN MY LIFE! WHAT MIGHT THIS LOOK LIKE?

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

#1: It is my responsibility to understand that my salvation is only the start of what God wants to do in my life!

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

#2. It is my responsibility to understand WHY God wants to keep working in my life!

(God wants the world to know what He is really like by looking at the lives of those who are His children)

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

#3. It is my responsibility to understand HOW God works in my life!

(he uses the circumstance of life as a ‘chisel’ to mold me into His image)

That’s why the Bible tells us, “do all things without grumbling or complaining…” (Phil 2:14)

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

#4. It I my responsibility to SUBMIT TO HIS LORDSHIP AND ALLOW His work to take place in my life!

TRUTH TO LIVE BY

#5. WHEN WE ALLOW GOD TO DO HIS WORK IN OUR LIVES, WE ARE THEN ABLE TO BE USED OF HIM AND DO HIS WILL!

THE NEW YEARS QUESTION:

WHAT DO I WANT GOD TO DO IN MY LIFE THIS YEAR?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!GOD AND ME IN 2014

PHILIPPIANS 2:13-15 & EPH. 2:10

In 2014PHILIPPIANS 2:13-

15 & EPHSIANS 2:10