sign in sign up
<<
Home , Christ (title), Pastor

THE BASICS OF Part II

Pastor Gerald McGinnis April 30, 2017

Review –

3 Steps to a Christ – Centered Life

1. Crucified Life Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the , who loved me and gave himself for me.

2. Sanctified Life John 17:17 (NIV) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:19 (NIV) For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV) May God himself, the God of , sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Christ.

Hebrews 13:12 (NIV) And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

3. Consecrated Life Romans 12:1 (TEV) So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.

Grace – A gift you receive that you do not deserve. Mercy – You do not receive what you deserve.

Romans 8:1 (NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Have you noticed the word Christian? It is used in many settings; Christian bookstore, Christian family, and Christian business, Christian , Christian organization, you get the point. What is a Christian?

The word “Christian” is used three times in the (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Followers of Jesus Christ were first called “” in Antioch (Acts 11:26) because their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ. The word “Christian” literally means, “belonging to the party of Christ” or a “follower of Christ.”().

A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection on the third day.

John 1:12 (NIV) “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:4, 10). A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

We need to come back to the basics.

We have complicated Christianity, volumes of books are written, conference speakers are in demand, mentors and coaches charge high fees, church growth consultants are enlisted to solve our problems. I’m not critical of this concerned if this has become our primary source and trust to solve church problems and kingdom growth. What I am trying to say; have we forgotten the basis of Christianity?

1. Prayer; it is work, warfare and worship. 2. Studying the ; it is a light, lamp, hammer power of God ect. 3. Obey God; simple obedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice. 4. Walk in Faith; without it you cannot please God. 5. Walk in Love; the most powerful force in the world, most of us are guilty of this. 6. Be involved in the work of the kingdom of God; you will be judged for works. 7. Fellowship with believers; , you solve or creative problems.

Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) 9 After this manner pray: (Just do it) Our Father which art in heaven, (not confined to nor controlled by time or space, it’s all about relationships) Hallowed be thy name. (From center to circumference) 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (He has a kingdom and a will) 11 Give us this day our daily bread. (Our provisions) 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (No options) 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: (How can God do that?) For thine is the (His) kingdom, and the (All) power, and the (All) glory, forever. Amen.

Now let’s go back and look at these more closely.

1. Prayer; Prayer is personal communication between you and God, it is communion, it is fellowship, sometime it is dialog at others times it is being still and listen for and to the voice of God.

There are certain events that will never transpire unless you pray. And you will never find the center of Gods will without prayer

At times it is difficult and others it is joyful. Prayer can be work or worship or warfare.