LIVING FOR GOD
Pastor Bill Young
bill@trc.life
Three KEYS to practically living for God:
I. Keep your
1 Peter 4:1 NIV84 Therefore since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
A. We need to put our flesh to
Colossians 3:5-10 NIV84 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NIV84 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
B. How?
Philippians 4:8 NIV84 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Philippians 4:9 NIV84 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.What is one thought or action you need to change to become more like Jesus?
II. Leave your
1Peter 4:3 NIV84 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do–living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.
A. Don’t let your past
Isaiah 43:18-19 NASB “Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. 19 “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV84 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
What difference has your new identity in Christ made?
III. Let your Jesus
1Peter 4:5 NIV84 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
A. Two motivations for sharing the Gospel:
1 . Judgment is
!
Acts 10:42 NIV84 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.2 . Jesus is our
hope.
1 Timothy 2:5 NIV84 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 John 5:12 NIV84 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.What steps can you take to let your light shine brighter?
IV. Summary:
May we practically LIVE for God by:
1 . Keeping your FLESH in line.
2 . Leaving your PAST behind.
3 . Letting your LIGHT shine.
Discussion Questions:
1 . Describe a time when your flesh “got the best of you.” How would you change things in the future?
2 . Make a list of attributes that God created you to be as a Christian (i.e. forgiven, loved by God, etc.) How does this list differ from your own feelings?
3 . What “bad” things have you done in your past that still define you or affect how you live today? How does God view those things?
4 . When was the last time you told someone about Jesus? What steps can you take to make your light shine even brighter?