Gtcotr/ss060720
Have
you ever noticed that the wrong answer just will not work? The wrong answer is often
just a placeholder until you finish the test, but in the end, you fail.
There
are certain elements of life which are established factors in every
problem-solving equation. These factors must be included as they weigh heavily
in finding the right solution. Without these factors being added to the
equation, we end up with just one more wrong answer. This morning we are going
to confirm and then I am going to encourage you to embrace
4 Elemental Factors
1.
God created man in His image (Body, Soul & Spirit)
o
Body – We are physically limited to life on earth.
§ What we think; What we feel; and What we want
o
We
have got to remember that we are human, and humans are limited in perception
and perspective.
2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are
temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
§ When we see Jesus, we
shall be changed to be like Him. (1 John 3:2)
§ But for now we are
human and live in a temporary world.
o Soul – This is our individual intellect … the
real person … who you are … your mind, your will, and your emotions …
§ Adam was created as a living soul (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:45)
§ The hope of our soul is two-fold
·
First we need to be Transformed
·
Next we need Informed
·
Then we need to be Reformed
Romans 12
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
§ We are Transformed when we are born-again
§ We get Informed as we learn the Word, the Will, and the Way
of Jesus.
§ We are Reformed little by little with every decision we make
to live the Word, do the Will, and walk the Way of Christ.
o Spirit
§ The Spirit is the spark
of life; the essence of life in man
The
first factor in solving the problems that plague us and our world is to
remember that:
Man,
all men, and women alike … Mankind: Asian, Hispanic, Black, Native American,
White, Mixed; whether young, old, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Atheists,
heterosexual, homosexual, Priest, policeman, politician, farmer, doctor,
homemaker, inmate, enemy or friend … every person is made in the image of God.
If
we forget to factor this into the equation of life, and forget to respect this
truth, we stand in great jeopardy, of arriving at the wrong solutions.
The
second basic elemental factor we must include if we are to come up with the
right answer to the problems we face is:
2.
God has already seen the future
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the
end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet
done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
o
How
can God know the end from the beginning? Because He is God!
o
He
has seen the future!
o
God
knows every detail of the future with certainty.
§ This is what makes Him
our best counsel.
§ God has already seen
the future – He always has the right answer
§ God has a plan and He
knows the end from the beginning.
§ What is God’s plan?
o God’s plan is our choice (He wants us to choose …)
§ Him as our Father
§ The Church as our Family
§ His Word as our guide
§ His Holy Spirit as our guard
§ The Great Commission as our goal
o
We
began to know God’s plan when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior.
o We begin to live God’s
plan when we accept Him as Lord.
3.
Satan is actively fighting against you (to bring disorder, chaos, death, and destruction to God’s plan for
mankind).
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.
o
The devil is the enemy of your soul … do not
let him take it …
4.
Jesus is the only answer
o
Politicians
do not have the answer … although we need them
o
Police
do not have the answer … although we need them
o
Protesters
do not have the answer … although we need them
o
Well
organized groups of People do not have the answer …
o
It
is time we verbally affirm and publicly embrace the only right answer.
Acts 4:12 “Nor is there
salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved.”
The
wrong answer will never work … but the right one will.
This
morning I am here to encourage you to make three fresh commitments.
·
Commit
to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
·
Commit
to be informed by the Word of God.
·
Commit
to be reformed by the life of Jesus.
We are transformed when we make Jesus our Savior.
We are reformed when we make Him our Lord!
Take
a chance and reach out. You will find that most people are struggling with the
same concerns today. Sometimes it may look like we are on different sides but
when we are on God’s side, we are always on the same side.
We
came from so many different places and took so many different roads to get here
today … but we are all here, together, just like God intends.
If
peace was up to you, would we have peace? That is the same way 99% of all the
people you will ever meet feel. Let’s overwhelm that 1% that is working with
the devil and let’s support the 99% that are doing their best.
We
may take different roads and come from different places and carry different
burdens and have different experiences … but we are all the same when we
choose:
·
God
as our Father
·
The
Church as our Family
·
His
Word as our Guide
·
His
Holy Spirit as our Guard
·
The
Great Commission as our Goal
You
can choose to accept Jesus today:
·
Recognize
·
Repent
·
Receive
