The Power To Become Series

From The Problem to the Solution

THE POWER TO BECOME

This morning, I want to continue our sermon series entitled FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

And I trust that this has been an immense help in your spiritual lives, because the truth of the matter is that you're either having problems, have had some problems, or you're going to have some problems

I thought about the dog I saw one time chasing his tail. Somebody asked, "Why is the dog chasing his tail? Somebody answered, "He must be trying to make both ends meet!"

How many of you know that when you're trying to make both ends meet sometimes you have problems!

And by way of reminder, during this series, we have isolated the square root of all of life's problems and discovered the 6 reasons for all of life's problems

And then, we told you, that in order to go from the PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, you would have to…

--1. Acknowledge The Problem (Don't live in denial)

--2. Make a "Word" Decision (Not based on feelings)

--3. Find Your Evidence

--4. Learn to Listen

--5. Patience Works

--6. Giving Thanks in All Things

--7. Tapping Into the Anointing (The Anointing Is the Difference)

And last week, we talked about CONFLICT RESOLUTION because if you're going to go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, you would have to learn not only to BE right with God, but you would have to KEEP right with others

And if you weren't here, you need that tape

And so, continuing on, this morning, I want to talk to you about another powerful principle that will greatly assist you in going from the PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION

And that is understanding the power of SANCTIFICATION

Everyone say SANCTIFICATION

Now, don't let that word scare you – I know it's a big word

But it's a powerful word and this morning, we're going to define it for you, although it's not that easy to define

It's like what Jazz great Duke Elligton's said about rhythm. Somebody asked him to define rhythm. He said, "If you got it, you don't need no definition. And if you don't have it, ain't no definition gonna help!"

And so this morning, I don't really care if you can pronounce it or if you can define it, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT IT because it's so vitally important

So, this morning, let's read…

John 1:12-13 (KJV) "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

INTRODUCTION

The passage that we read this morning primarily deals with the GRAND SUBJECT of salvation

Because it says TO AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM

And what we discover here is the sweet simplicity of Salvation

For you see, there are a lot of people who think – I'll…

--try harder

--do better

--turn over a new leaf

When what you need is not a new leaf, but a whole new tree!

And the truth of the matter is that to be saved, you don't stop this and that, you just simply RECEIVE HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR

You do not do good to get God, you get God to get good

And what a wonderful truth this is – that I don't have to…

--do this or do that

It's not DO, DO, DO – It's DONE, DONE, DONE

And really and truly, the only thing that I have to do is simply RECEIVE HIM

And I want to ask you today…

--have you received Christ?

--have you asked Him into your heart?

--have you surrendered to Him as Lord?

And the glorious simplicity of this truth is that He will take you – In fact, He's more willing to take you, than you are to receive Him

And I guarantee you that if you'll receive Him, He'll not cast you out

For Jesus said…

John 6:37 (KJV) "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

Isn't this thing wonderful called salvation!

But, there's another truth, here, I believe, tucked away in this passage, that at first glance, you might not catch it

Listen again…

John 1:12 (KJV) "But as many as received him, TO THEM gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

And I believe what you find in this passage, so plainly and clearly, is not only this wonderful thing called SALVATION, but when you take a closer look at this passage, and hold it in light to the rest of the entirety of the Word of God