What I really need is....
Disclaimer: This sermon prepared by prayer and credit given to Dr. Reeder for thoughts from his sermon.
Selected Scriptures Mark 12:30
Hebrews 5:11-6:3
Introduction-
I am beginning this morning a mini series called what I really need God is...
I will probably do it in 3 parts.
Question:
If you could ask God for anything, what would it be?
Would you ask fo r material things?, money?, health?
If you ask for anything less than God first, you would already be heading on the wrong road.
God:
what I really need is:
1. YOU.... in my life, fulfilling my life, taking priority in my life.
2. Spiritual Growth- I cannot survive where I am at.
3. Purpose- Without you, without purpose, I am not complete.
4. Understanding- I have a lot of questions God.
5. Friendship- I need people around me and help me through my tough times.
6. Security- I need to know that I am safely in your hands and I am safe.
I will be trying to cover about 2 of them a week for three weeks.
I was out on Wednesday changing the sign out front, when this lady stopped her car in the middle of the road to tell me that she reads the sign every week and tells her grandkids about it when she takes them to school.
There is at least three families on Rosedale that I have come in contact with, some by elections, some by word of mouth, some who have just stopped into the church, telling me that they need to come to church. They need to get back to reading their Bibles. That they need to stop doing things that they know are wrong. That God is what they need in their lives. But they have never made an attempt that I know of to make that happen.
To follow through on the very thing that they know they need. To admit it to a pastor that they know that they have a need and they know what it is and how to fix it.
Hebrews 4:12
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to the dividing soul, spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The word of God is meant to be like a surgeon.
It is to cut out things that infect our lives and replace it with things pleasing to God and fulfill our lives.
Hebrews 5:11-6:3 Read
When people are asked- spiritual growth is what most will admit to needing. When they get spiritual and not materialistic.
You know what that tells us?
We are spiritually hungry and we do not take time to eat.
There is a void in our lives and we try to fill it with everything except God presence.
We were created by God- heart, mind , soul, and body.
God tells us to love Him with all our heart, our soul, our mind, and our body.
According to Dallas Willard:
your soul is deeper than our conscience awareness. It does not let you know when it has been hurt or wounded. He goes on to say that fundamental aspects of life such as art, sleep, rituals, family, parenting, health, community, are soul functions.
Your souls health is the driving force behind everything that matters to you.
That is why He wants all of you Heart, mind , soul, and body.
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Without God- you will never be satisfied
Without God- your soul will be unhealthy.
What are the signs of a unhealthy soul?
Your relationship with God will not be right.
You are centered on self. (No time for others)
You live a life with anger, fatigue, isolation, no compassion.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control- they are out of your reach.
Truth be told, no one would want to live in that state of unhealthiness.
Alright, that’s unhealthy- what do we do to get heart, soul to have a right relationship with God?
Do the right things we know to do
Apostle Paul - “ I have a desire to do what is right, that is the first step. When you truly turn it over to God. He takes that desire and empowers you by His Spirit to do right.
It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Maybe you’re here this morning , you say that I have the will to obey God, but I am lacking the power to do it.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you Act 1:8
Your will is good But God’s power is better
Soul Growth, Maturity, Empowerment to live a victorious life comes from God.
It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Hallelujah
What do you have to do? Learn this. Get it deep down.
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn
Hebrews 5:11
who’s driving your life?
If it is not God- give up the reigns.
He is not the co-pilot. He is the pilot.
What I really need God is... you God
Why is it most Christians never have the power of God working in their lives? Because they do not ask They believe they will never receive- so they don’t.
They are the ones who are always trying harder, beating their heads against the wall. Stop trying harder. Give your life to God and receive the power of the Holy Spirit like He promised us.
Consecrate- dedicated to a sacred purpose, deeply desiring to worship God..
Set yourself apart- Be holy because God is holy, He is desiring and wanting us to be holy.
God is not telling us to be perfect. He knows that we cannot do that. He is desiring that we live our lives as He intended us to. Devoted to God, heart, mind, soul, and body.
You cannot help but grow spiritually. With a mind set that you want to please God every moment of every day. Don’t be slow to learn- be eager to be empowered.
Learn the signs of drifting.
Begin your journey with God.
Make sure that you are staying the course. Unless you have you eyes on the compass, you will not know or realize that you are off course.
Illustration-
When Hudson Taylor went to China, he made the voyage on a sailing vessel. As it neared the channel between the southern Malay Peninsula and island of Sumatra, the missionary heard an urgent knock on his stateroom door. He open it , and there stood the captain of the ship. “Mr Taylor, he said, we have no wind. We are drifting toward an island where the people are heathen, and I fear they are cannibals. “What can I do? Asked Taylor. I understand that you believe in God. I want you to pray for wind. All right, captain, I will, but you must set the sail. Why that is ridiculous There is not even the slightest breeze. Besides, the sailors will think I’m crazy. But finally, because of Taylor’s insistence, he agreed. Forty five minutes late he returned and found the missionary still on his knees. You can stop praying now, said the captain. We’ve got more wind than we know what to do with.
Just like good cell phone reception is dependent upon not getting too far away from the cell tower. Christians need to stay close to God that we don’t lose our way. When we realize the signal is not as strong, we must move toward God to keep a good reception.
Just like a ship anchor that cannot reach bottom. We will float and drift. Anchor is not good unless it can take hold of a firm foundation.
Ezekiel, the prophet tells us: 36:25-27
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees.
God will empower us by His Holy Spirit, He will help us to not only get through life but live life to the fullest. He will keep us from drifting, going our own way, going off course that is not pleasing to God.
He will remove the heart of stone, and give us a new heart. A heart that follows God.
Learn this
God says be holy as I am holy, but you cannot be holy without God. Being holy is not being perfect, it is doing what God intended for you to do, that is to live a life devoted to God.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thess. 5;23-24
The last thing- live it
“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Learn it - live it
“Since we live by the spirit, let us keep step with the spirit” Gal. 5:24-25
Make sure God is number one in your life.
Make sure your schedule is not so full of stuff that God doesn’t get his time with you
Your soul cannot grow if your schedule doesn’t include God first.
If you have so much business that there is not time enough for prayer. Then you have more business than God intends for you to have” D.L. Moody.
Closing:
Get past the early teachings, begin to do kingdom work. Begin to be mature and not a baby in Christ.
Altar Call.
Please rate this sermon so I will know what you thought.
