CREATED TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST
The Purpose Driven Life - Part 4
Sermon Outline Notes
*** this is just an outline – God changed this message as I preached it to focus more on His Sovereignty and His perfection and our struggle to become more and more like Him.
Romans 8:29 “For God knew his people in advance, and
he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn,
with many brothers and sisters” (NLT)
What are some of the key attributes of Jesus Christ?
***Read list from page 220 and 221 [SON (JESUS)] from “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby and Claude King****
Ephesians 4:15 “Instead, we will hold to the truth in
love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his
body, the church.” (NLT)
MY 3rd PURPOSE IN
LIFE IS TO
BECOME LIKE
CHRIST
From our list of the Vital Attributes of Jesus we see that we have quite
a challenge ahead of us if we are to become like Jesus Christ.
How do we become like Christ?
I CANNOT!
I will never become like Jesus. I
will never be “like” God or a “god” - He is God and I am not.
Our only hope is to have as much of Him INSIDE US as possible. We can seek Him, learn about Him and be His
reflection here on earth.
1.GOD USES TROUBLE TO TEACH US TO TRUST
HIM.
Romans 5:3-6 “We can rejoice, too, when we run
into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--
they help us learn to endure And endurance develops strength of
character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of
salvation. And this expectation
will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has
given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly
helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners” (NLT)
So many time we ask, “Why Me?” when we have troubles and
tribulation. I believe that the better
question would be “Why NOT me?” Christians are better equipped to deal with
trouble than a lost person PLUS we grow in strength, in spirit and in blessing
as we deal with trouble from a Kingdom perspective.
It is not that we ENJOY trouble, just that trouble is good for us and
strengthens our faith and love for God as it develops the character to persevere
in our lives.
Jesus was not exempt from trouble, why should you be? You cannot truly become like Christ until you experience the things He went through.
Mark 14:32-33 “And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be filled with horror and deep distress.” (NLT)
“Father,” He said, “everything is possible for you.
Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want your will, not mine!” Mark 14:36 (NLT)
Wanting God’s Will
above your will or anyone else’s will is primary in becoming like Christ.
v Keep a spiritual journal
Numbers 33:2 “At the LORD's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places they stopped along the way.” (NLT)
What are the stages of your walk with God?
What has caused you to stop walking with God?
v Remember
the reward - this trouble is not the end – it is just a
bump in the road.
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!” (NLT)
again –
“WHY NOT ME?”
2. GOD USES TEMPTATION TO
TEACH US TO OBEY.
Matthew 4:1-2 “{The Temptation of Jesus--} Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry.” (NLT)
Matthew 4:10 “Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.'” (NLT)
v Keep focused on good thoughts – “Garbage OUT, God IN”
Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
(NLT)
v Get a spiritual partner - Find someone to share your struggles with. Someone who cares, supports and help you. Someone who will HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “ Two
people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return
for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But
people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.” (NLT)
3. GOD USES TRESPASSES TO TEACH US TO FORGIVE.
“People passing by shook their heads and hurled
insults at Jesus ... and the elders made fun of Him... Even the bandits who
had been crucified with Him insulted Him
in the same way.” Matt.
27:39-44 (TEV)
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these
people, because they don’t know what they are doing.’” Luke
23:34 (NLT)
v
Remember God has forgiven
me
Ephesians 4:32 “Instead, be kind to each other,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven
you.” (NLT)
v Remember God is in control
Genesis 50:20 “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT)
Even with these 3 unexpected tool God gives us to become more like Christ – WE STILL FALL SHORT
Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death
The gift of God is eternal life
Romans 10:9 – 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
The FIRST STEP in becoming like Christ is being SAVED BY HIM
You Must Know Him!
You Must Trust Him!
You Must Believe Him!