Testing

The Apostle Paul writes to all believers about doing good to all in Galatians 6:1-5 (The Message).

    1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

Now look at what Paul says next:

4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.

It’s up to us to look in the mirror and take our lives in to account. God is good all the time. Can that be said of us?

Living Vision

Let’s look at a lesson about having God’s vision in Act 26:1-15:

 ¹ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

   So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

 4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

 9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied”. 

There is much we can learn from Paul here. A big part of vision is just doing what you’ve already been told to do. That’s called obedience (vv 1-3). We need to remind ourselves of God’s promises in His Word. (vv 4-8) It will keep us focused on our purpose. We are all obsessed with something. Is it for or against Christ? (vv. 9-11) When you come in contact with Jesus Christ there is no mistake about who He is! (vv.12-15)

Today and every day is a good time to share your story.

Be Jesus

In Micah 6:8 we see that in God’s goodness and love for us he has requirements and desires for us to live by.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

What three things are mentioned?

1.                 Act justly

2.                 Love mercy

3.                 Walk humbly with God

These attributes in a person’s life will be evident. God’s holiness, righteousness, and grace are given, and are to be shared with the world around us. Today is a great day to start being “Jesus with skin on”! Amen?

Keep in Step

Years ago Rich Mullins wrote a song called Step by Step:

Oh God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You, Oh God, You are my God, and I will ever praise You, I will seek You in the morning, and I will learn to walk in your ways, and step by step You’ll lead me, and I will follow You all of my days.

It’s a great and simple song to sing, but hard to live out. Think about it:

-         Ever (always) praising God

-         Seeking Him every morning (all day)

-         Learning His purposes and ways

-         Step by step dependence on His leadership

-         Commitment to follow God for your whole life

Great goals (and steps to make) for all of us - Amen?

Four Turns

The action verb turn implies a decision and redirection. Consider God’s Word to His prophet Isaiah. "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:18-19

Four Turns to make:

1. Turn from the past. - Forget – don’t dwell. Why is this so hard for us to do?

2. Turn to the light. - See – new thing. What “new things” does god want you to experience?

3. Turn to God’s direction. - Making a way – through wilderness. How does this “making a way” look in your life?

4. Turn to God’s provision. - Making streams – in the wasteland. What do streams in the desert do to the land (Your life)?

God asks us to turn. He’s done His part. Now it’s up to us. Are you willing?

Recognition

In 1 Samuel 3:1-18 there are three things that Samuel did that we as God’s people must to do as well.

1. Realize God’s voice when He speaks to us through the Bible, other believers, or the Holy Spirit. His plan needs to be our plan, and His ways our ways. Let’s covenant to be like Samuel who said, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”

2. We must answer God. Eli said, “He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes.” We need to listen, even if what He tells us is not what we want to hear.

3. We need to be about His purpose, and that comes through obedience. Our text says, “the Lord said to Samuel; See I am about to do something.” God is always doing something and we need to be a part of it. Church it is time to get off the sidelines and get into the game.

“The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.” Isn’t that a great picture of how we should be in the Lord, Not letting our words fall to the ground? We should pray that we would be so focused and intentional in our daily walk that everything we do will bring praise, honor, and glory to God and Jesus Christ, His Son, and our Savior. Amen?  Then just like Samuel, the world will recognize that we love and serve Jesus everywhere we go, and in everything we do.

Amen?

Building

Jesus ended the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 7, by telling a story.  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

We need to learn to build our life on the Bible so that we’re building on solid rock. When the storms and trials and difficulties of life come, you’ll be able to handle it. Knowing Jesus as Savior and applying the Bible to your life enables you to withstand life’s storms. Amen?