A. INTRODUCTION
MEMORY VERSE
“Your attitude shall be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).
Review:
- Week one: You are here for God’s purpose.
- Week two: You were planned for God’s pleasure: worship.
- Week three: You were formed for God’s family.
Your work:
- Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Phil. 2:12-13).
- The word “work” means energy.
HOW TO WORK IT IN YOUR LIFE
Work out – like physical exercise. You already have salvation.
Work in – like medicine when sick. Put God’s energy in you.
B. THREE TOOLS GOD USES TO MAKE YOU LIKE JESUS
1. The first tool God uses to make you like Jesus is the Bible.
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do” (II Tim. 3:16-17).
- There are five ways to “spoon” it in.
1. Read.
2. Study.
3. Memorize.
4. Meditate.
5. Apply.
- How to answer, “I don’t have any faith.” “Faith comes by hearing . . . the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). How much does the Bible influence you?
- How to answer, “I don’t know what to do.” God’s plan is found in God’s Word. One pastor said, “When you open your Bible, God opens His mouth.”
- How to answer, “I don’t know how to live.” God’s will never contradicts God’s Word.
2. The second tool God uses to make you more like Jesus is the Holy Spirit.
- “. . . as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him” (II Cor. 3:18, LB).
- “Once the Spirit lives within you, He will bring to your whole being more strength” (Rom. 8:11).
3. The third tool God uses to make you like Jesus is circumstance.
- “God uses problems, pressures, difficulties, and stress to mold and shape your character” –Rick Warren.
- “. . . we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God chose them to become like His Son . . .” (Romans 8:28-29, NLT).
- Not every thing in our life is good, but God uses bad things for a good purpose.
- God can use problems only if you respond the right way.
- God will take you through everything Jesus experienced. Why? So you will be like Jesus.
C. THREE CHOICES THAT WILL HELP YOU BECOME MORE LIKE
JESUS
1. You can choose what you think about.
- Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Prov. 4:23, TEV).
- The way you think determines the way you feel, so change your mind to feel better about things.
- “. . . there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes” (Eph. 4:23, NLT).
- Spiritual growth is the process of replacing bad thoughts with God’s thoughts.
- “How can a young man keep his ways pure? By living according to Your word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psa. 119:9-11, NIV).
Problem:
- I don’t have the power to change my mind.
- I don’t have the power to obey until I make a choice to obey.
2. You can choose to depend on God’s Spirit moment by moment.
- Whatever I allow to live within determines my life and its fruit.
- “Take care to live in Me and let Me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from Me . . . I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit” (John 15:4-5, LB).
- Fruit is an inside job. Fruit will be just like the seed you plant.
Problem:
- How do you know if you are depending on God’s Spirit? Check your fruit.
3. You can choose to respond to your circumstances the way Jesus would.
- Look for the tie between God’s resources and your choices.
- “When all kinds of trials crowd into your lives don’t resent them as intruders but welcome them as friends. Realize that they come to test your faith and
produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed and you become people of mature character, people of integrity, with no weak spots” (James 1:2-4, PH).
- Circle the word process. The Christian life is a “beginning decision and a lifetime journey.
Problem:
How can I respond to bad things?
- You cannot choose what will happen to you, but you can choose how you respond. Illustration Victor Frank.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
