Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Worship Service May 15, 2016:
Scripture: Colossians 2:6
8 Marks of Someone Living Out the Reality of Christ:
Review from Part #1
1- Reverence for God
- 1 Peter 2:17 “Fear God” (Awe & Reverence)
- Acts 9:31 The early church walked in the fear of the Lord
Fear Defined: Fearing God is having a sense of awe or reverence toward Him.
2- Priority of Relationship – Matthew 22:37
John 14:21a – He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
23a – Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
24a – He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:
3- Moment by Moment Sensitivity to the Spirt – Galatians 5:16
4- Disgust of Sin – Romans 6:12, 13
Proverbs 8:13 – “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil”
A. Why Sin should be Disgusting to the Christian:
- Sin separates from God
- Sin leads to death
- Sin deceives
- Sin destroys families
- Sin enslaves
- Sin changes futures
- Sin has infected you
- Sin lead to the crucifixion of Jesus
B. Characteristics of Someone Who Tolerates Sin:
1. Puts their happiness and self before their holiness and God
2. Resists the convicting work of the Holy Spirit
3. Rationalizes their sin
4. Excuses their sin
5. No longer shocked at the presence of sin in their life
6. Abuses the gift of forgiveness
C. When Sin is not Dealt with in a Believers Life:
1. Fellowship (closeness) with God hindered
2. Impacts our relationships & affects others
3. Physical impact – Psalm 32:3-5
4. Escalation of sin
5. Inviting God’s discipline – 1 Corinthians 11:31, 32; Hebrews 12:5-11
6. Grieved inwardly
7. Contradicts who we are “In Christ”
5- Passion for Holiness – 1 Thessalonians 4:3a, 7
Holiness – “Absolute purity of your walk before God, the words coming from your mouth, and every thought in your mind – placing every detail of your life under the scrutiny of God Himself” (My Utmost for His Highest)
Holiness – Conformity to the character of God
- Though absolute holiness can never be achieved in this life, all areas of the believer’s life should be in the process of becoming completely conformed to God’s perfect and holy will.
- To be morally blameless – Separated from sin and separated to God
Sexual Sin:
1- Grieves the Holy Spirit
2- Displays a graphic self-centeredness
3- Dishonors those made in God’s image
4- Violates God’s plan for marriage
5- Total opposite love which is a fruit of the Spirit
6- Commitment to a Community of Believers – local church
A. Commitment to Christ at Salvation should be followed by a commitment to His visible body, the local church – Acts 2:41
- Baptism
- Public declaration of your faith in Christ
B. Indications of Being Connected to a Local Church in the New Testament:
1- The phrase “whole church” indicates a verifiable membership – Acts 15:22
2- Records kept – Acts 2:41
3- The responsibility for pastoral oversight and spiritual leadership – 1 Peter 5:1-4; Hebrews 13:17
4- Instructions given for church discipline – Matthew 18:15-17
C. The Benefits:
1- To be challenged – Hebrews 10:24, 25
2- To be equipped – Ephesians 4:11, 12 – Systematically taught the Word of God
3- To be held accountable – Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5
4- To have a loving, compassionate support system – Galatians 6:2, 10
5- Enables you to take part in the church’s business and become fully engaged in the church’s ministry
D. The Responsibilities:
1- To exercise their gifts and abilities – 1 Peter 4:10, 11
- Church is not a “spectator sport”
2- To financially support the church’s ministry – 2 Corinthians 9:7
3- To carry out God’s mission in the world – Acts 1:8 (Local and abroad)
7- Participation in Missions
A. The Purpose of Christ’s Coming
- Luke 19:10 – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- Matthew 18:11 – For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost
- 1 Timothy 1:15 – This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief
B. The Command Prior to Christ Leaving
- John 20:21 – Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
C. Vital part of the believer’s life
8- Living with an Eternal Perspective – Colossians 3:1, 2
“Resolved, never to do anything which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.” – Jonathan Edwards
A. Life is short especially when considered from an eternal perspective
B. The Lord’s return being imminent (could happen at any moment)
1 John 2:28 – Little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed at his coming.
C. Essential that we manage our lives well
- Our Time (how we use it)
- Time: Measurable period in which something takes place.
- Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time”
- Time is space in eternity.
- We live in time but belong to eternity
- Time is an opportunity to invest in eternity
- Time: “An earthly trust which, if invested wisely, will produce eternal treasures”
- Time = Opportunity (To waste time is to miss opportunities)
- How we manage our time reflects our values and priorities
- Our Treasure (how we use our money and possessions)
- Matthew 6:19-21
- You will never find a hearse pulling a U-Haul. Why? Because you can’t take it with you.
- Our Talents
- 1st – Natural Talents: Any God given natural ability
- Given by God at birth through parents to benefit mankind generally
- 2nd – Spiritual Gifts: An extraordinary gift(s) of the Holy Spirit given to believers at salvation to equip them for service in and through the church – 1 Corinthians 12:11
- Our Investment in lives (impacting lives for eternity)
- “The best use of one’s life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
- Life’s value is not its duration but its donation.