Sermon Title: Prepare for change; Prepare to Change (Embrace The Will of God)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In a radically dying world, true Christians must radically, and resolutely, live out the Christ life.
We have heard it said that change is the only constant in the world; and because of that, Christians, too, must change along.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
The reality is that the world is changing; but it is changing towards chaos, darkness, death and destruction.
This must not surprise us.
The Apostle Paul has long since revealed the world’s trajectory towards darkness, depravity and death in Romans 1:18-32:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.
Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.
Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
We live in a world who knew God; yet chose not to give thanks to Him; much more, glorify Him. (Ref: Romans 1:21)
We live in a world who claims to be wise, yet foolishly chooses not to have anything to do with God; instead choosing to live in the lie of worshiping and serving themselves, along with “created things rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25)
We live in a world which upholds every dark immorality; and allows themselves to be “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.” (Romans 1:29)
“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32)
As the world changes, so must the Church – but in a completely opposite direction!
Our change cannot be that we may identify, nor empathize, with the world more; and most certainly not that we may become more relevant to the world.
Instead, our change must be directed towards becoming New Creation beings destined for the Kingdom of God!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
To be “in Christ” is the change every born-again believer must strive for; in fact, be fascinated and completely pre-occupied with.
Our definition of ‘new’ must not be as the world defines and perceives; which is why our New Year cannot be the same as the world’s new year - for our desires, dreams and hopes are radically different from the world’s.
In the face of a changing world that will look more and more like representatives of the devil itself, Christians must categorically change to look more and more like Christ - who is the ‘Son of Man’ because He is the very epitome, perfect and timeless representation of Man as God originally designed us to be.
Without Christ, we must expect that even the best of the human race bears the very face of the devil itself.
Which means to say that the contrast and divergence between believers and unbelievers is ever widening; and it must necessarily be so.
To prepare for the world headed towards greater depravity, you - along with the Church - must prepare to resolutely and radically change to be like Christ.
To be in Christ, we must embrace His Will, His Work, His Word; His Worth, and His Win.
The absolute and total embrace of God’s Will is the foremost and fundamental requirement for every true disciple of Christ.
Our Lord Jesus exemplifies in Luke 22:42 (emphasis mine),
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
To which, the Apostle Paul resonates in Romans 12:2:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
This world is headed towards damnation; and yet, the Children of God must continue to singularly embrace and fulfill God’s “good, pleasing and perfect” Will – in being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
What must our transformation lead us to become?
What must we change to be?
And this brings us to the ageless question that every Christian must ask...
What is God’s overarching Will for you – His child?
Remember God’s Command in Leviticus 11:44, “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy.”
God’s Sovereign Will; His good, perfect and pleasing Will for you becomes perfectly clear.
It is God’s Overarching Will that His every child must be holy because He is holy.
To be consecrated and sanctified; set apart and be made holy unto the Lord – is the Will of God for every believer. (Ref: 1 Thessalonians 4:3)
The Apostle Paul writes plainly in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7-8:
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
To be holy before God begins with the desire to live for His Will alone; and belong wholly to Him – such that you would intuitively, and categorically, abhor the pervasive pattern of this dark world that is fraught with every regressive forms of sexual immorality and the defilement of all aspects of the human being in divine design and relationships.
Let us be very clear.
Here in Canada, we may seem to live in a society that was established on biblical foundations and precepts.
That may have been the original intention; however, the present state of this nation is completely antithetical and adversarial to everything of God.
Apart from mere words and icons that suggests a Christian heritage, we must acknowledge that this society has become utterly pagan.
In a society that is determined to defy God, we must be unreservedly careful and intentional to live a holy life.
Be careful to never reject God’s command to be holy; for to reject this command is to be damned to eternal death – having rejected God who has bestowed upon every human being the Holy Spirit, who is, the very source of each human life.
In the midst of the world’s constant regression into darkness and depravity, and as we walk in the pathway of discipleship towards Christ in our quest for holiness, how must we think about the Will of God?
1. Recognise that everything that happens in your past, present and future – including that which causes you to be anxious, depressed, and scared – is the Sovereign Will of God.
2. News may be new to you; but never new to God.
3. When you receive any news or new development in your life, acknowledge that God is giving you yet another opportunity to control your thoughts and actions, and renew your mind by the Power of the Holy Spirit so that you may be consecrated and sanctified through the unfolding of the events - be it perceivably good, or bad.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
In fact, Hebrews 13:8 reinforces the goodness, perfection and pleasure of the Will of God by revealing that Christ is present to us - through it all – in our past, present, and future.
To this, we may declare:
Christ is the Lord of my past; but He is also Lord in my past.
Christ is the Lord of my present; but He is also Lord in my present.
Christ is the Lord of my future; but He is also Lord in my future.
Brethren, to be truly Christian, we must prepare to embrace God’s good, pleasing and perfect Will in every aspect, event and facet of our lives.
To Change to be like Christ; our Constant must be Christ; that our declaration of faith each day would be:
“Come what may, I will - to embrace God’s Will!”
Christ desires that we partake of this Sacred Supper in His remembrance.
Why does He take us - time and time again - to the night of his betrayal and the eve of His Crucifixion?
Because on that fateful night, Christ embraced the Will of the Father in order that we may be consecrated and sanctified through His work of atonement for the sins of the world through His suffering and death on the Cross at Calvary.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Have you been crucified with Christ? Does Christ live in you?
Live by faith in the Son of God – in everything, and at every moment, embrace the Will of God for you to be holy, just as He is holy.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, help me fully embrace Your Will in my life; Your Will that I be set apart and be made holy before You.
In a world that has chosen to reject and defy You - “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity” (Romans 1:29) – Lord, fill my heart with the desire to love You, to please You and to live for You alone!
Change my heart, O Lord, that my every thought, decision and action is led by Your Holy Spirit to acknowledge and embrace Your Will for me.
Help me remain in Christ and live for Him all the days of my life; that every challenge and concern in my life be the very process through which I remain resolute in radically changing my life that I may be like Christ in every way.
I acknowledge that the absolute and total embrace of God’s Will is the foremost and fundamental requirement for every true disciple of Christ – and that, Your overarching Will for me is to be holy because You are holy. (Ref: Leviticus 11:44, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7-8)
May my every prayer declare as Christ did, “yet not my will, but yours be done.”
May my every desire be established upon being consecrated and sanctified by Your Holy Spirit; to control my body “in a way that is holy and honorable”; and to live a holy life declaring Your command to the world that we be holy.
Holy Spirit, grant me courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to never “conform to the pattern of this world” – but in everything, live solely for the sake of Your “good, pleasing and perfect will” (Ref: Romans 12:2); and help me to embrace God’s good, pleasing and perfect Will in every aspect, event and facet of my life.
Grant me the desire to live for Your Will alone; and to belong wholly to You – that I would intuitively, and categorically, hate every pattern of this dark, depraved and demonic world and hold on only to Your Way, Truth and Life.
Lord, in everything and at every time, may I recognise that my life is firmly in Your Grasp and Sovereign Will; and that every challenge in life is yet another opportunity for me to be consecrated and sanctified by Your Holy Spirit – even through the struggles of the tribulations that unfold in my life.
Yes, Lord Jesus, You are “the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
I do declare that You are the Lord of my past; and also Lord in my past.
You are the Lord of my present; and also Lord in my present.
You are the Lord of my future; and also Lord, who is already, in my future.
I live each day with courage and confidence because I “live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Come what may, I will - to embrace Your Will in my life that I be holy, just as You are holy!
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
In a radically dying world, true Christians must radically, and resolutely, live out the Christ life.
We have heard it said that change is the only constant in the world; and because of that, Christians, too, must change along.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
The reality is that the world is changing; but it is changing towards chaos, darkness, death and destruction.
This must not surprise us.
The Apostle Paul has long since revealed the world’s trajectory towards darkness, depravity and death in Romans 1:18-32:
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.
Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.
Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
We live in a world who knew God; yet chose not to give thanks to Him; much more, glorify Him. (Ref: Romans 1:21)
We live in a world who claims to be wise, yet foolishly chooses not to have anything to do with God; instead choosing to live in the lie of worshiping and serving themselves, along with “created things rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25)
We live in a world which upholds every dark immorality; and allows themselves to be “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.” (Romans 1:29)
“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32)
As the world changes, so must the Church – but in a completely opposite direction!
Our change cannot be that we may identify, nor empathize, with the world more; and most certainly not that we may become more relevant to the world.
Instead, our change must be directed towards becoming New Creation beings destined for the Kingdom of God!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
To be “in Christ” is the change every born-again believer must strive for; in fact, be fascinated and completely pre-occupied with.
Our definition of ‘new’ must not be as the world defines and perceives; which is why our New Year cannot be the same as the world’s new year - for our desires, dreams and hopes are radically different from the world’s.
In the face of a changing world that will look more and more like representatives of the devil itself, Christians must categorically change to look more and more like Christ - who is the ‘Son of Man’ because He is the very epitome, perfect and timeless representation of Man as God originally designed us to be.
Without Christ, we must expect that even the best of the human race bears the very face of the devil itself.
Which means to say that the contrast and divergence between believers and unbelievers is ever widening; and it must necessarily be so.
To prepare for the world headed towards greater depravity, you - along with the Church - must prepare to resolutely and radically change to be like Christ.
To be in Christ, we must embrace His Will, His Work, His Word; His Worth, and His Win.
The absolute and total embrace of God’s Will is the foremost and fundamental requirement for every true disciple of Christ.
Our Lord Jesus exemplifies in Luke 22:42 (emphasis mine),
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
To which, the Apostle Paul resonates in Romans 12:2:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
This world is headed towards damnation; and yet, the Children of God must continue to singularly embrace and fulfill God’s “good, pleasing and perfect” Will – in being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
What must our transformation lead us to become?
What must we change to be?
And this brings us to the ageless question that every Christian must ask...
What is God’s overarching Will for you – His child?
Remember God’s Command in Leviticus 11:44, “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy.”
God’s Sovereign Will; His good, perfect and pleasing Will for you becomes perfectly clear.
It is God’s Overarching Will that His every child must be holy because He is holy.
To be consecrated and sanctified; set apart and be made holy unto the Lord – is the Will of God for every believer. (Ref: 1 Thessalonians 4:3)
The Apostle Paul writes plainly in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7-8:
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
To be holy before God begins with the desire to live for His Will alone; and belong wholly to Him – such that you would intuitively, and categorically, abhor the pervasive pattern of this dark world that is fraught with every regressive forms of sexual immorality and the defilement of all aspects of the human being in divine design and relationships.
Let us be very clear.
Here in Canada, we may seem to live in a society that was established on biblical foundations and precepts.
That may have been the original intention; however, the present state of this nation is completely antithetical and adversarial to everything of God.
Apart from mere words and icons that suggests a Christian heritage, we must acknowledge that this society has become utterly pagan.
In a society that is determined to defy God, we must be unreservedly careful and intentional to live a holy life.
Be careful to never reject God’s command to be holy; for to reject this command is to be damned to eternal death – having rejected God who has bestowed upon every human being the Holy Spirit, who is, the very source of each human life.
In the midst of the world’s constant regression into darkness and depravity, and as we walk in the pathway of discipleship towards Christ in our quest for holiness, how must we think about the Will of God?
1. Recognise that everything that happens in your past, present and future – including that which causes you to be anxious, depressed, and scared – is the Sovereign Will of God.
2. News may be new to you; but never new to God.
3. When you receive any news or new development in your life, acknowledge that God is giving you yet another opportunity to control your thoughts and actions, and renew your mind by the Power of the Holy Spirit so that you may be consecrated and sanctified through the unfolding of the events - be it perceivably good, or bad.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
In fact, Hebrews 13:8 reinforces the goodness, perfection and pleasure of the Will of God by revealing that Christ is present to us - through it all – in our past, present, and future.
To this, we may declare:
Christ is the Lord of my past; but He is also Lord in my past.
Christ is the Lord of my present; but He is also Lord in my present.
Christ is the Lord of my future; but He is also Lord in my future.
Brethren, to be truly Christian, we must prepare to embrace God’s good, pleasing and perfect Will in every aspect, event and facet of our lives.
To Change to be like Christ; our Constant must be Christ; that our declaration of faith each day would be:
“Come what may, I will - to embrace God’s Will!”
Christ desires that we partake of this Sacred Supper in His remembrance.
Why does He take us - time and time again - to the night of his betrayal and the eve of His Crucifixion?
Because on that fateful night, Christ embraced the Will of the Father in order that we may be consecrated and sanctified through His work of atonement for the sins of the world through His suffering and death on the Cross at Calvary.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Have you been crucified with Christ? Does Christ live in you?
Live by faith in the Son of God – in everything, and at every moment, embrace the Will of God for you to be holy, just as He is holy.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, help me fully embrace Your Will in my life; Your Will that I be set apart and be made holy before You.
In a world that has chosen to reject and defy You - “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity” (Romans 1:29) – Lord, fill my heart with the desire to love You, to please You and to live for You alone!
Change my heart, O Lord, that my every thought, decision and action is led by Your Holy Spirit to acknowledge and embrace Your Will for me.
Help me remain in Christ and live for Him all the days of my life; that every challenge and concern in my life be the very process through which I remain resolute in radically changing my life that I may be like Christ in every way.
I acknowledge that the absolute and total embrace of God’s Will is the foremost and fundamental requirement for every true disciple of Christ – and that, Your overarching Will for me is to be holy because You are holy. (Ref: Leviticus 11:44, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7-8)
May my every prayer declare as Christ did, “yet not my will, but yours be done.”
May my every desire be established upon being consecrated and sanctified by Your Holy Spirit; to control my body “in a way that is holy and honorable”; and to live a holy life declaring Your command to the world that we be holy.
Holy Spirit, grant me courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to never “conform to the pattern of this world” – but in everything, live solely for the sake of Your “good, pleasing and perfect will” (Ref: Romans 12:2); and help me to embrace God’s good, pleasing and perfect Will in every aspect, event and facet of my life.
Grant me the desire to live for Your Will alone; and to belong wholly to You – that I would intuitively, and categorically, hate every pattern of this dark, depraved and demonic world and hold on only to Your Way, Truth and Life.
Lord, in everything and at every time, may I recognise that my life is firmly in Your Grasp and Sovereign Will; and that every challenge in life is yet another opportunity for me to be consecrated and sanctified by Your Holy Spirit – even through the struggles of the tribulations that unfold in my life.
Yes, Lord Jesus, You are “the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
I do declare that You are the Lord of my past; and also Lord in my past.
You are the Lord of my present; and also Lord in my present.
You are the Lord of my future; and also Lord, who is already, in my future.
I live each day with courage and confidence because I “live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Come what may, I will - to embrace Your Will in my life that I be holy, just as You are holy!
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.