Sunday, January 12, 2020 - The Recipe Of 2020
Bro. Ritchie Barrera
January 12, 2020
Paul had reason to forget what was behind - he had held the coats of those who had stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
**(Acts 7:57-58) Paul is called Saul here.
We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Because our Hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Do not dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him now. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your Hope in Christ.
Let’s look at Luke 9:61-62
What does Jesus want from us?
**Total dedication, complete commitment (not half-hearted)
We cannot pick and choose among Jesus ideas and follow him selectively,
**we have to accept the cross along with the crown.
We must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security-without looking back. With our focus on Jesus, We should allow nothing to distract us from following him.
What are the things that can distract us?
**Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride
But there is a power of God given to us to not get distracted in this world. Which is God's offer the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
**Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance,
**We must deal with them decisively (crucify them. Galatians 5:24)
These desires include those 7 deadly sins that I showed before. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the spirit that leads to a transformed life.
The fruit of the spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ's control. We cannot obtain them by trying to get them without his help.(GOD) if we want the fruit of the spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to his.
John 15:4-5 We must know him, we must love him, we must remember him and we must imitate him.(to follow as a model). As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law-to love God and to love our neighbors.
Which of these qualities do you want the spirit to produce in you?
Because the God who sent the law also sent the spirit. The by-products of the spirit filled life are in perfect harmony with the intent of God's law.
In order to accept Christ as Savior, we need to turn from our sins and willingly nail our sinful nature to the cross. This does not mean, however, that we will never see traces of its evil desires again.
As Christians we still have the capacity to sin, but we have been set free from sin's power over us and no longer have to give in to it. We must daily commit our sinful tendencies to God's control, daily crucify them, and moment by moment draw on the spirit's power to overcome them.
**Galatians 2:20, 6:14
The only way to escape these destructive influences is to ask God to help crucify our interest in them, just as Paul did.
V14 God work according to his purpose**
we should not let anything take our eyes off our goal-knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christian.
What is holding you back for not receiving God as your savior?
There are two kinds of people in this world.
- First group of people
- Second group of people
What is the different of this two people?
it is no other than **Receiving or Rejecting + the cross of Jesus Christ and the cross of Christ alone.
**whether you belong to the first group
**whether you belong to the second group
These storms are allowed and permitted by God to come upon us. So that he can reveal more of himself **to you and **to me
Conclusion:
If we failed last year! We need to keep moving on this year and so on. Do not quit cause if you quit you are belong to the first group of people.
2 Corinthians 4:18
We set our mind above not in this world, cause in this world it is temporary living, but above (heaven) it is eternal life and that is the promise of our God. But in order to go there in heaven we need to do some work here in earth to believe, obey, have faith, love one another, forgive one another, forget what is behind, and most of all share his word(gospel)to the people who rejected Christ. We need to save them cause God did not want to punish us or condemn us for his second coming he want us to be save and be with him in eternal heaven.
Happy New Year! Thank you and God bless us all!