OUTLINE:
Learning God’s Perspective
Because of our lifetime training in the ways of the world, certain spiritual truths in the Bible hit us the wrong way at first.
To “Receive” The Lord- Jn 1:12
“Lambano” does not mean a passive, sit back and receive thing. It’s an active thing; to take hold of, to grab hold of, or to seize.
To “Receive” The Lord- Jn 1:12
Saving faith is pictured here as an active thing, even aggressive.
In the same manner, we should actively receive, grab hold of, God’s truth.
Take Hold By Faith
We should “receive” His truth, whatever it is He reveals to us from His Word, so that we can enter into His joy. Jn 8:31-32, 15:10-11
Will You “Receive” It?
Slavery to Christ is a wonderful thing. It’s actually freeing.
Ro 6:22, Jn 8:31-32
1Co 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
“Thank you Lord for being my Shepherd!”
“I receive Your authority, I take hold of it, because the alternative is to suffer and die! Thank you for saving me. I rejoice in being Your servant.”
Mk 6:34
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
“Thank you Lord for being my Shepherd!”
The Great Shepherd came down out of heaven to save us from certain death!
2 Pe 2:19
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
Being a Slave of God’s Love
If we ALLOW ourselves, if we will RECEIVE/take hold of His love for us… well, we are in the joy of bondage to His love. Ps 116:1-2,16, Jn 10:10
“You have loosed my bonds!”
“I WANT to be yoked to You, Lord! I WANT to be Your servant! I’m HAPPY to be Your slave!”
“Receive” The Word!
Jesus promises us joy when we choose to act and do for Him (a.k.a. being good servants for the sake of His kingdom).
Inner Joy
There is no substitute for the joy that comes from pleasing our good and loving Master.
Freedom and Joy because…
… we are no longer sheep without a Shepherd!
“What’s My Purpose?”
For the believer in Christ, that miserable search is over. We have been created by God and for God, and we now know our purpose in life is to serve the Lord and bring Him glory!
The Lord My Shepherd
Be “in love” with God and Jesus! He’s hands-down your Best Friend!
The Joy of Having Jesus
We don’t live a life of “wanting”, we have HIM, and He owns everything. Ps 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Embrace The Oxymoron!
We want God to be like us, but His ways are sooooo different than ours. How different??? Isa 55:8-9 – do you believe this??? STOP looking for God to fit into your own ideas for your life. He has a new and abundant life for us. And finding true joy doesn’t come from what we as humans already know. Ro 14:17-19
True Joy
Could there be any greater joy, both now and in eternity, than KNOWING that your life has been pleasing to the Lord???
“Talents” of Substance
These people were given something by the Lord, something that carries weight that they could work with, something of substance. (Heb 11:1-2 anyone?)
Using Your “Talents”
Do you obey the Lord and invest for His kingdom, thus enabling you to enter into His joy???
“You Did It To ME”
When we choose, by faith, to follow the Lord’s commands on how to love others, we are happy to know it’s just like we did it for Jesus!
Ahhh…
What a relief, that I can repent and go forward in God’s plan at a moment’s notice (deliverance is only a change of perspective away).
Ahhhh….
The joy of being a slave of Christ! The joy of knowing we are being pleasing to the Master, if BY FAITH we DO these things. Mat 25