"Storybooks, Fairytales & the Life God Wants You to Have"
Part 1 - Ideals, Settling & Obedience
NewSong Church - 11/16/08
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[SLIDE] - This week we begin our new teaching series, "Storybooks, Fairytales & the Life God Wants You to Have."
• We all know that this time of year, we are supposed to experience peace, joy, gratitude, hope, love… you know, all the good holiday attitudes and emotions
• But over the past few weeks, I have had many people both in and outside of the church tell me, "Well, those sound like nice ideals, and it would be great if I could experience them, but they’re not really part of my life and I’m not even sure they’re meant for everybody."
• Part of that statement is absolutely true. Those ideals are often not part of our real lives.
• But they are part of God’s life, the life that He desires and even expects us to have, a life lived on His level.
• And we will never be able to experience that life on His level so long as we are clinging to life on our level.
• So over the next couple weeks leading into the Advent season, we will be looking at principles from the Bible that help us live God’s ideals in our reality.
[SLIDE] Discussion: What kind of life do you think God wants for you?
• I’m not talking about the kind of life some televangelists promise, a prosperity message
• Life with no problems, lots of money, huge success, perfect body shape and great hair
• That life only exists in storybooks and fairytales
• Even when we get to experience some of it, the story is over in the blink of an eye
:: The Life God Wants You to Have ::
John 10:10
[SLIDE] - “… I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full” [NIV]
[SLIDE] - “… I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” [CEV]
[SLIDE] - “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” [NLT]
[SLIDE] - “I came so that they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” [The Message]
• A life of joy & happiness, peace & security
• A life of blessing and miracle, a life of provision, wanting for nothing
• A life of abundance, living to its fullest, satisfied, content
• A life of love and loving, overflowing with the compassion and sacrifice of Jesus
• A life of power and impact, a catalyst for change, a life that makes a difference, that counts
• A life that realizes all of these ideals on God’s level, though – not ours.
[SLIDE] - We can live life on God’s level when we exchange our ideals for His ideals.
:: Ideals ::
[SLIDE] - “Existing as a perfect model; exactly as one would desire; a perfect kind.” [Webster]
:: Settling for Good Enough ::
[SLIDE] - “Settling” substitutes God’s ideals for ones that are less than perfect
:: Not Good Enough For God ::
[SLIDE] - If we are going to live with in the blessings and benefits of God’s ideals, then we also have to live in God’s expectation of obedience to his commands.
:: Disobedience & All My Other Problems ::
When we choose to live outside of God’s ideals and follow our own, we miss out on the life God wants us to have.
[SLIDE] - Numbers 20:1-12
In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh.
There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers! Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock? Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!” Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.” So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord. Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
• We think: “Cut Moses some slack! Look at everything he’s done so well in the past!”
• But God is not looking at our past accomplishments or failures
• He judges us by how we are currently living – in obedience to His Word, or on our own
:: Experiencing God’s Ideals: Obedience ::
[SLIDE] - We can live life on God’s level when we exchange our ideals for His ideals through obedience to His commands & principles.
• God’s Word is more than just guidelines for spiritual living
• To live in obedience, it becomes the final authority for all aspects of our life
• In God’s Word we discover the life he wants us to have and we see where we come up short
• And the option is not to settle for what’s good enough for me
• Rather to change and strive for what is expected and desired by God
:: God’s Expectations & the Work of Grace ::
[SLIDE] - Grace should never be used as an excuse or justification for disobedience. (Romans 6)
[SLIDE] – Romans 6:15-16
Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
:: Transformation & God the Spirit ::
[SLIDE] - Achieving God’s ideals is not going to be accomplished in our own strength – we must rely on the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and transform us.
:: The Life God Wants You to Have ::
[SLIDE] - Deuteronomy 28:1-6, 9
If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God:
God’s blessing inside the city, God’s blessing in the country; God’s blessing on your children, the crops of your land and on your livestock, God’s blessing on your basket and bread bowl; God’s blessing in your coming in, God’s blessing in your going out. God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God, your God, and live the way he has shown you.
[SLIDE] - This life will only be experienced when:
1. We have received forgiveness and a new life through faith in Jesus Christ
2. We surrender our life and ideals to God and choose to obey His ideals and His life
3. Allow the Holy Spirit to daily transform us, bit by bit even, until our life reflects Jesus’ life
[SLIDE] - Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
[SLIDE] :: Next Step ::
What is the Next Step for you this morning?
• Maybe it is to discover a new way to live by meeting Jesus Christ and beginning a fresh relationship with God.
• Maybe your Next Step is to begin or continue to surrender your ideals in exchange for God’s ideals. To live a life of obedience to God’s commands and principles.
• We can help you with that – by participating in a small group, beginning a discipleship journey, or becoming involved in ministry at NewSong you open up the door for the Holy Spirit to begin to work in you and change your life.
Whatever your Next Step is, we are here to help you take it. You have a place and a purpose here at NewSong. I encourage you to live your life to its fullest here, in this community.
[SLIDE] - COMMUNION
