Introduction
Let me begin with a discipleship question: how will you follow Jesus in prayer and dependence on God this week?
Main Points
In this lesson shaped by Calvary Boise's teaching on PEOPLE OVER RELIGION: Surprisingly Blessed, Christ invites us to receive truth with humility, practice repentance, and walk in faithful obedience.
Hope in Suffering
We're gonna look to his word this morning for what I believe is an answer into the message of hope that we have this. Morning found in Galatians chapter 3 we started a series in Galatians called people over religion and I do believe that it is a.
- Timely series a timely theme to think about because in so many ways our normal religious activities are in question and they're not happening.
- As they normally do and yet God supersedes our religious activities to do what he always does which is to point our hearts and.
- Our minds to him and to the people around us so that love can win the day and so we're going to continue in.
- Our theme and we're gonna do it in a way that initially I found challenging the theme of this morning will be I believe.
Initially challenging as we think about what the word is trying to tell us but again very hopeful as we look to God to. Give us answers in this time so if you have a Bible you can turn to Galatians chapter 3 but in this new normal.
Grace and Justification
The context of things we've been talking about the first couple weeks of this series is that the gospel has been preached to this. Church the gospel has been received which is simply that God so loved the world that he sent his son to take the place.
- Of the penalty of sin in our lives and to give us newness of life by dying on the cross and resurrecting from the.
- Grave and as he preaches this message what he's finding is that so many people have received the free gift of salvation by grace.
- And yet now they are hearing a message that they have to do something more that they add on to the message of free.
- Gift of salvation in God's love through God's son by adding on to that the traditions or the religions or rituals of religion and.
What Paul is saying is you began in the spirit it was something that God did by His Spirit to give you life and. Now you're being fooled away to add on to that religious activities and he asked them very pointedly did really you began in the.
Sin and Salvation
And anyone who believes in Jesus is now part of the promise that God gave to Abraham and we too are blessed he says. That you are blessed as you believe just like abraham believed now here's the challenge in that do you feel less than blessed this.
- Week do you go through the circumstances of a world that is challenged by a very difficult news feed that we're hearing about the.
- Worst case scenario maybe getting worse or your job shifting your income shifting your normal way of life shifting and you think to yourself.
- This is very challenging not only for my life but also as I look to God who is the provider of my life I.
- Don't feel very blessed right now and as I read this scripture and I think Lord this is a message about how we are.
Blessed by believing in you and we're gonna preach a message about blessing this morning well the reality is if you believe in Jesus. And you've accepted his Spirit into your life to give you life in the hope of eternity you are just as blessed this week.
Sin and Salvation
It is this to be made wholly or consecrated in other words God's blessing isn't simply by providing all of the desires of our. Material wants and needs but also by taking the life that he is giving us and making it more and more and more complete.
- In him that's why in verse 4 in verse 3 it says are you so foolish having begun in the spirit you're now being.
- Made perfect by the flesh in his way of saying that is that's not how it happens God has given you his spirit and.
- Now he is perfecting you from the time that he made you born again to the time that you see him face-to-face throughout your.
- Life whether you feel the blessing of material wealth and prosperity and health or not because what blessing of God really is his way.
To complete you and God is blessing us now I say that in some ways and the title of the message will now come. From this one of the things that I have constantly been questioned as I talk to people as I answer the phone as I'm.
Prayer and Dependence
Not our church locally only but I can't help but to think about the global Worldwide Church that is absolutely on its knees praying. And seeking and worshipping God in a way that I believe is beginning the united effort of revival in the church the church is.
- Doing well the local churches are learning to pray in fact I talked to one of the connections that we have in the support.
- That we give to India and we were talking about the different challenges of what we're going through and as we're giving the update.
- We're just having to pray and as Trevor said we're really trying to think through the way we spend our money right now and.
- Be very conservative and also be very hopeful the response that India gave was it sounds like you're doing what we do all the.
Time because we are now learning to live as Jesus says where you find the Blessed are the poor in spirit and I believe. That there is an example that God gave us and the person of Abraham this morning that we will find the reason to be.
Grace and Justification
We look to the example of Abraham the first way that the Church of God and the people of God are being blessed this. Day this era is that we are once again learning that when we rest in God's work God blesses it and that is what.
- We find in the example of Abraham look what he says in chapter 3 verses 5 he says therefore he who supplies the spirit.
- To you and works miracles among you does he do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith and.
- Then he gives you the answer in the example of Abraham he said just as abraham believed God it was accounted to him for.
- Righteousness what did Abraham do to receive the promise and to believe in the promise he rested on the work of God and we.
Are living in a time where the church is reviving in its rest and this is a challenge for us I know it's a. Challenge because if you're like me and so many of us we're looking at a time where we are being asked to spend more.
Sin and Salvation
A good world day by day seeing that it was good and in six days of creation he saw it fit to make man. In his own image and then on the seventh day he rested think about that blueprint for those six days God is working and.
- On the seventh day he rests which means what well this is how watchman Nee sets that blueprint into our focus so that we.
- Can understand how we were designed to work and rest with God he says this in the classic book sit walk stand he says.
- Whereas God works six days and then joy enjoyed his Sabbath rest Adam began his life with Sabbath for God works before he rests.
- While man must first enter into God's rest and then alone can he work so here's what God is doing to revive us as.
People of God is teaching us once again that when we really see God move the most in our lives when we really see. God answer our prayers and work miracles and provide the spirit it is not when he when we finally talk him in to blessing.
Conclusion
We return to the opening teaching: discipleship is not just information, it is transformation through faith and obedience to Jesus. If we receive His Word and walk it out, He will shape us into people who endure and bear fruit.
Lord Jesus, help me hear Your Word, obey it with faith, and grow as Your disciple. Amen.
Conclusion
We return to the opening teaching: discipleship is not just information, it is transformation through faith and obedience to Jesus. If we receive His Word and walk it out, He will shape us into people who endure and bear fruit.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me hear Your Word, obey it with faith, and grow as Your disciple. Amen.