Called - How to Grow
August 23, 2020
For the past weeks we’ve been looking at God’s call in our lives. It starts off with a call to WHO we are, not an immediate doer.
We’ve looked at the fact that we have been called by God. In fact, as Paul told Timothy, our calling is a HOLY CALLING. It means we’ve been called and set apart by God. We are supposed to look different than the rest of the world. That’s what it means to have a holy calling. It’s based on our relationship with God.
And God expects us to take that calling and as Paul pleads with us . . . to walk or live our lives in a manner worthy of that calling. So, whatever you do, wherever you go, bring honor and glory to God by the way you live your life. You’ve been called! Now, live out that calling in a manner which shows the world who Jesus is by the way you’re living.
Of course, we can’t live like this unless we have a relationship with Jesus. He told us He is the vine and we are the branches, we must remain or abide in Him, and He will dwell within us and we will bear much fruit. And if we say NO, I can do it on my own, then we are nothing more than an old branch which gets thrown out and put in the burn pile.
And if you go back just a bit further, I spoke about getting 1% better everyday. And if we do that, we have an opportunity to dramatically change. We become people we weren’t at the beginning of the year. But we need to continue that process of drawing closer to Christ. It’s being connected to the source of all life.
And it’s knowing we will go through some of the rough spots. We may not grow or improve as much as we would like in the beginning, but that’s OK, we just can’t get stuck in the valley of disappointment. That’s the valley which comes just before the improvement comes.
So, in a nut shell, that’s where we’ve been. Now, let’s keep moving forward.
We were created to be in a loving relationship with God. God already loves us and we are to love God, to worship Him, to serve Him. And in the midst of all this we experience the power of His presence in our lives.
We were also created to be in fellowship, not just with God; but also with one another. When all systems are working right, we’re supposed to be family. Worshiping and serving together in a system in which we truly love one another and want the best for one another. And even when we don’t agree with one another, we’re still unified and have this deep abiding love which is based on the love of Jesus.
So, when God calls us, we’re to respond. We were created to become like Christ. We are not the Savior, but we are given power and talents that surpass what we could ever accomplish on our own. From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make each of us like His Son, Jesus. That is our destiny.
But there’s one huge, HUGE problem. And that problem is us. It’s the problem of sin. It creeps in and is always ready to pounce as Peter says - - - -
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8
That’s not a great thought, but if we are aware of the danger which is lurking, then we can be prepared.
Do you recall when Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis 3? Listen to satan’s lie to Eve, he said -
4 “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, knowing good and evil. - Genesis 3
Did you hear that lie? He told Eve we will be like God. But we aren’t, are we? We would like to be and we would like others to think we are. But we aren’t. And that becomes one of our biggest issues in all of life. We want control. We really want to be more than like God, we want to be god. But we aren’t, as much as we fight to be that way.
Here’s an interesting dynamic when it came to that first sin. If you notice, Adam and Eve were not threatened by satan. He was roaming around on the earth like all the other animals. In fact, verse 1, simply tells us he was more crafty than all the beasts of the field.
So, when he came up, there was possibly nothing to fear, because they knew who he was, but Adam and Eve didn’t fully know his nature. They didn’t see the lies coming from his mouth. And it’s a reminder of the danger that is out there. Make sure someone is giving you the truth before you jump in. Because satan lied.
OK, that was just an interlude. Back to the message - - -
Moving along with that, listen to what Rick Warren wrote - - - “This desire to be a god shows up every time we try to control people around us. But as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn’t want you to become a god; He wants you to become godly – taking on His values, attitudes and character.”
That’s so true. We will never be a god. Continuing with that thought, in Ephesians 4 Paul gives us more instruction. He wrote - - - -
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Notice Paul is insisting we do what he’s telling us. And if we do it will make a huge difference in our lives. Don’t live like the gentiles.
Remember, a gentile is someone who is not a Jew. And we can take it even further now, because a gentile is anyone who is not a believer in Jesus.
Their way is not the way of Jesus. It’s futile and will always lead to death. So, don’t follow their practices. Move away from their thinking. Paul adds - - - -
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!
Again, Paul’s straight forward to tell us. Folks, this is not what you learned in the way of Jesus. Jesus’ way is about loving God and others, not about fulfilling your wants and desires. He goes on and says, albeit, with sarcasm - - -
21 assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus,
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4
So, does that all make sense? We are to no longer live like people who don’t know God. Verse 22 tells us get rid of your old self because that contains your old ways of living, living with deceitful desires and being corrupt.
We’re called to put off that old self, get rid of that old person, and put on the new person who’s been created in the image and likeness of God. Do you see that? Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God.
As I was preparing for this message, I also read these verses in the paraphrased version of the Bible called The Message, written by Eugene Peterson. I love the way he paraphrased this section. What he wrote makes a lot of sense. This is not a translation, but a paraphrase of the Bible. Peterson wrote - - - -
17 And so I insist — and God backs me up on this — that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd.
20 But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ!
21 My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to Him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus.
22 Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything – and I do mean everything - connected with that old way of life has to go.
It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life — a God-fashioned life,
23 a life renewed from the inside 24 and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you.
That’s pretty clear, isn’t it? Don’t go along with those mindless, empty headed people. That’s not the way to life. Get rid of everything bad, and embrace the good life in Jesus. Be renewed from within. That’s the key folks, be renewed on the inside.
That’s why we must be connected to Jesus at all times. If not, it becomes too easy to give in to sin, to do what we know we shouldn’t be doing, but we do it anyways and feel guilty at the same time — — because we knew it was wrong.
It’s not about our head knowledge. There’s lots of people who can quote the Bible, but don’t believe a word of it. Head knowledge is good, only if you’re being transformed from within. Then, the knowledge and wisdom gives you direction for living life in the likeness of Jesus.
The goal is for us to become more like Christ.
Our problem comes when we want life to be about us. We want the world to revolve around us. We want to make sure we get what we think we deserve. Again Rick Warren tells us in his book, The Purpose Driven Life on the very first page . . . . “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!” Is that not an in your face way to start a book?!
It’s actually hard to say this and mean it. Because we really want life to be about us. Say it at home or at work, or wherever you are. It’s not about me!! Ready? Say it with me, and say it with conviction.
IT’S NOT ABOUT ME!!
Remember it will never be about you, it will never be about me. It will always be about Jesus Christ. That’s great news. And it’s actually freeing. I can give myself a break because it’s not about me. It’s always about Jesus. It has to be!
Yet, some want the focus to be on them and only them. Even if others are hurt ---
We do it when we make every conversation about us.
We can do this in our social media posts.
When we talk about people behind their backs.
When we are malicious in attacking others.
When we gossip and slander.
When we are abusive in our relationships.
When we are phonies and hypocrites.
When we give in to addictions.
When we lie, steal or cheat.
Actually, we do this when we place anything ahead of Jesus Christ.
That’s the bottom line. Jesus Christ must come first. Until that happens, we will never grow in Christ and frankly no church can grow spiritually and become the church God wants them to be. We will always be trapped in sin.
God’s ultimate goal for our lives is not comfort, it’s character development. Christlikeness is all about transforming your character. God is not our servant. It’s not about us!! We exist for God’s purposes, not vice-versa.
I want to end with something which really struck me from the gospel of John. And then we get more on the practical application next week.
I really want you to take in what Jesus tells us in John 14 - - - -
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. - John 14:15-17
Jesus is telling us if we love Him, we will keep His commandments . . . love God and love one another. That’s the starting point. And we can do this only because we’re connected to Him.
Now comes what I want you to see — — Jesus says the Father will give us another Helper.
When we think of another helper — — — we think of someone different coming to give me assistance. It’s as if you ask me to fix your car, and I can’t, so I send someone else to help you. That person is different than me.
That’s how we generally interpret that phrase. But I believe that is not what Jesus means.
When we look at the Greek for the word ANOTHER - - - - this is what Jesus is telling us - - - -
The Greek word "?????" (allos) is used to indicate "another" in the sense of one more of the same kind. It is used to indicate another of the same kind, as opposed to another of a different kind.
So, Jesus is telling us, He is going to send ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND, or as I interpret it as being the Father is going to send ANOTHER OF ME.
So, the Father will give us another Jesus, to be with us and to intercede for us. Don’t we say and believe, Jesus is with me. Well, He is with us through the Holy Spirit who is the Helper or Advocate.
That’s the gift of God. It is the power of God to give us exactly what we need. That’s the beauty and majesty and power of God at work. He does not leave us alone trying to figure it out on our own. He’s with us!! Always!
And as we end, it’s the promise from God that when we are connected to the vine, the Spirit of God dwells within us and empowers us to do more than we ever thought possible.
It’s what Paul told the Ephesians ----- get rid of that old person, don’t associate with those simple minded people who don’t have the Spirit of God dwelling within them.
Instead be connected, allow that new person to powerfully be present to the world.
