Monday, 14 July 2008

• It is NOT about YOUR willpower

  Have reproduced last Sunday's sermon notes, mostly unedited.  Went home, typed it up and looked up the biblical references.  The choice of versions was mostly my personal preference though Pastor Josh did refer once to Living Translation.
  
  

  13 July 2008 (Sunday - 3^rd service)

  Pastor Joshua

   

  Christianity is not about shunning evil and doing good; it’s about receiving the life of Christ.

  When you want to be a better person, you put yourself under the knowledge of good and evil – it’s very subtle.  Understand that in your flesh dwells no good thing.

  We have a choice everyday – to eat from the knowledge of good and evil or from the tree of life.

  Satan’s hangout place is in the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

  Where are you eating your fruit from?

  Romans 7:12 – 8:4 (NLT)

  But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.

   But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

   So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.  I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.  So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

   And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

    I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

  Romans 8

    So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

  The law is proclaiming that you can’t do it.

  When you will to do good, in your strength, you can’t.

  When you are angry, you are mentally insane for a few minutes.

  2 Corinthians 4:7 (KJV)

  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

  God can use a cracked vessel.  You don’t need to have it altogether before God can use you.  His power is made perfect in weakness.

  Many times we try to overcome our weakness by doing good.  But this approach is wrong, it should be by His life. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT))

   Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

   When you acknowledge you are weak in yourself, “for when I am weak, then He is strong” (God’s power shows up best when you are weak and not full of yourself)

  When you see flesh, don’t react with flesh (or you’ll get more flesh)

  See people as “under construction” Main contractor -God; Subcontractor – Holy Spirit

  We are also “under construction”

  Hebrews 10:15-23 (NKJV)

  But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
   “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

     
   Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.3 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

  The “help” is not in knowing.  It’s not in knowing you’re forgiven.. (this is head knowledge); it’s about going to Jesus.  From Him will come your strength and life.

  Boldness to enter into His presence

  Even the most demon possessed man (ref “Legion”) had a will.  Use your will to run to Jesus.  (You cannot overcome sin by your will  - ref Romans 7 above)

  God is the one who increases strength in us.

  Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.  (the reverse is also true: quick to anger, quick to speak, slow to hear)

  The choice is not the things we do with our good intentions, it is to choose Jesus.

  Eg. When we are angry, it is not in counting to 10, it is in going to Him, “Jesus, You are my patience”

  
  

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