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Being The People God Wants Us To Be!

Deut. 10:12-13 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and

with all your soul, "and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His

statutes which I command you today for your good?

* * 0 There are a great number of people

that only live their lives for the “here and now!”

●Two good friends of mine growing up ran into me one summer when I was in preaching school and we got to talking to and they told me “I plan to get my life together when I am older but I am having to much fun to quit now!”

●Don’t get caught by the “passing pleasures of sin!” (Heb. 11:24-26)

* * 0 It is important that we don’t get so caught up in this life that we lose sight of the life that

is coming!●Rom. 14:11-12 For it is written: "As I live,

says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

●We are the chosen people of God and we must learn to live and act as such!–1 Pet. 2:9-11"Beloved, I beg you as

sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul”

* * 0 I. The Work of the LORD! Php 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more

in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and

to do for His good pleasure.

●“Work out” kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee = to make known, to manifest, the actualization of something already possessed (Nelson)

●We work in response to what God has done for us!

●Keeping in mind it is God who is working!

* * 0 God has given us salvation, not only for

our benefit, but also for the benefit of others!

●We are to now make known this new life that we are living!

●Two reasons we are to do this!

–1st a note of encouragement, this work not so much ours, but rather God working in us!

–2nd an inter attitude, Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

●To will = to desire

●To do = actually accomplish

* * 0 II. The Word of the LORD! Php 2:14-16 Do all things without complaining and

disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst

of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding

fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored

in vain.

●God’s Word brings “light!” (Ps. 119:105) “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

* * 0 The proper place for the people of God is not only in the church building, but also out

as lights to the world! Mt 5:14, 16 "You are the light of the world. A city

that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your

good works and glorify your Father in heaven.●We must learn to be a living example of the

Word of God!

–1Pet, 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

* * 0 “Holding fast/forth the Word!”

Phil. 2:16●This has at least two meanings!

–First, holding on to the Word in our own lives, not letting go of what God has given!

–Second, holding out the Word to others, offering then the opportunity to come to know God in their own life!

●God’s Word is so good we want to keep it for ourselves, but also to share it with others!“Keep the faith but not from others!”

* * 0 III.The Will of the LORD! Php 2:17-18 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a

drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same

reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.●This one can sometimes be the hardest of

the three! It was indeed hard for Jesus!

–Mt. 26:36-46 “not as I will, but as you will!”

●Paul is more than willing to die as a sacrifice for Christ, if it will help others to come to have faith!

●Chances are if you are not willing to live for Him, you are not willing to die for Him!

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Goal for the Week!Sacrifice for the Savior!

●I. Living Sacrifice! Rom. 12:1

●II. Daily Sacrifice! Luke 9:23

●III. Dying Sacrifice! Rev. 2:10

* * 0 Conclusion:

●Being the people God would have us to be is not always going to be easy, but it is always needed!

●Many times it will require much commitment & sacrifice!

●May we learn to be “steadfast” in these three things!

–The Work of the Lord!

–The Word of the Lord!

–The Will of the Lord!

●If you are not yet a Christian, today is the day of your salvation!

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