A Growing Relationship With Jesus

The faithful, growing Christian is the one who is always looking for ways to deepen his relationship with Jesus and is constantly on the look out for things that would hinder that relationship, Heb. 12:1-2.

Philippians 3:8-9 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

When we see the Savior like the Apostle Paul saw Him, it helps us to be faithful Christians. He saw Him as: 

CHRIST—"The Holy, Anointed One, the Messenger, Messiah and Prophet of God." 

JESUS—"The Savior Who gave Himself for all those trapped in sin." 

LORD—"The Sovereign Ruler and ventral authority of all of life, the One who hates sin and is set against it."

Paul lays all he is and has alongside Jesus and sees it as garbage compared to Him. Nothing in his life was as important as having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Is there anything in your life that hinders you from having a focused, vital, growing relationship with the Lord Jesus? 

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for —profit without their expressed written permission. 

Praying For God’s Best

Believers should never be satisfied to be like everyone else. God has called each of us and gifted us in wonderful ways, 1 Cor. 12:7-26.  

We need to be different because the Lord has done a work in our hearts and lives. He takes us like He finds us and transforms us into what He wants us to be—if we let Him. 

We need to pray like Jabez. The Bible says that Jabez was not remembered as a great leader, prophet or preacher. His name is remembered because He was a man of prayer—a man of God in a godless day. 

1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting God’s best. It’s not about money, possession, and power etc.; simply obtaining God’s best for your life that it may glorify Him.

Given the chance, God will amaze you with what He can do with you and your life.

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

Called To Serve

There was nothing special about the apostles. They were common men with common deficiencies and common problems. So, why did Jesus call them? Because He wanted to. 

He could have chosen a thousand ways to get His work done on earth—like using angels or doing it Himself or creating a special race of people.

Wait! That’s what He did. He saved us out of our sins and created us as a special race to do His will. 

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Jesus calls every person He saves into His service. He makes us new creatures. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

He gives us gifts to use in the body of Christ, 1 Cor. 12:7-26. 

I encourage you to seek Him to find your gift and get busy for Jesus. 

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

Supplying Your Need

Believers in Philippi had sacrificed to meet the Apostle Paul’s needs. He reminds them that God will take care of them. 

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

This is not a wholesale, across the board promise. It’s conditioned upon our obedience. When we give, and walk in obedience to God’s will for our lives, we can rest assured that He will meet all of our needs, Luke 6:38. 

If you will do as God says, He will take good care of you - Psalm. 37:25. He took care of Elijah in a mighty way and many more.  

Always honor God or don’t be surprised when He doesn’t honor you,  2 Cor. 9:6-7. 

Allow yourself to be a channel of blessing through which He can flow to help others.

——- Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written 

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