"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified".
-In my book entitled; ??THE SEVEN ARROWS OF OBEDIENCE??, one of the main points to obedience is;
??To obey God fully, you must be determined to be a reflection of Christ above everything else??.
- This means no compromise.
1. You were called to be committed like Christ. No compromise.
- Jesus could have been anything that He wanted;
-He could have been the best doctor.
-He could have been the best lawyer.
-the best business man.
-The best songwriter.
-He could have been anything he wanted to be.
He gave up all that He might have wanted to be, to fulfill the father?s purpose.
2. Becoming like Christ changes you and effects everything that you do.
-it changes your perspective on life.
-You start realizing that there are other things more important than; the new car, the new house, temporary things....
3. Being like Christ changes the outcome of your life.
-maybe you were a looser before. But you are not a looser anymore. Now you are the?? RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, IN CHRIST JESUS??.
-maybe you were unimportant before. But now you are the ??APPLE OF GOD?S EYE??
-Nicky Cruz was the leader of the mamaos.
-Good at inflicting pain on others physically.
-Till he inflicted pain on someone that new God?s purpose (David Wilkerson).
Nickie Cruz probably could have become a Puerto Rican Gottie or a crime boss.
- But he gave that up to become a great evangelist.
In the sixties Ritchie Ray and Bobby Cruz were on top of the world in the world?s standards
(THEY WERE DECLARED THE KINGS OF SALSA)
-The Lord had other plans....
4. You were created to have the character of Christ.
- The character of Christ is reflected through the Holy Spirit?s work within us;
*2 Cor.3:18 says; ??As the spirit of the lord works within us we become more and more like Christ and reflect his glory??
- The character of Christ is reflected through THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT; ??love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness,faith,meekness and temperance.??
(Gal.5:22-23)
5. You were created to touch and impact lives like Christ.
-There is no other person in the history of the world that has impacted more lives like Jesus.
-He impacted the poor and the rich.
-the religious and the not so religious.
-He impacted government leaders, doctors, tax collectors, everyone.
6. You were created to be like Jesus in your service to God and to each other.
-Jesus said; ?pick up your cross and follow me?.
-in my book; THE SEVEN ARROWS OF Obedience, ?the secret of Christ likeness is being occupied with the things that concern Christ?.
- This transformation takes place by; ?by the abiding presence of the spirit of God?.
* The bible says IN 2 COR.3:17-18; ?WE ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD?.
-Also the Holy Spirit also gives us power for service if we ask him for it. *Acts 1:8 says that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses.
-The main reason for the power of the Holy Spirit is for service.
Conclusion;
You and I have the capacity to be like Christ. But with that capacity comes the responsibility of allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us and to be a reflection of Him in everything that we do. It takes lot?s of obedience.
