SERIES:A New Year Ahead
SUBJECT:A New Life To Live.
READING:“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever" (1 Peter 1:23).
Introduction
A new year in upon us the old year is past. We do however carry some of the past year into the New by way of what the old year has brought into our lives and left there when it left!
We have a different set of challenges to face but the remnants of the old still remain!
One of the truths we recognize is that were Old Creatures being transformed into New Creations; Paul makes it clear that the source of this ttransformation into a new creature is the “Word Of God” Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Before we were introduced to God and Christ through the word of God we dealt with life based on experience ours and sometimes by observing that of others. If we had the right people helping us we could do good.
Too many times we are surrounded with others pretty much like ourselves! Those looking for help!
Hopefully at some point we get some help figuring it out!
One of the most exciting things about the world in which we live is the fact God not only purposed to create it for us but also revealed it to us through Himself!
Think about the life you lived before you discovered Christ and The Word of God. Those of you who were raised in a Godly home may not see it the same as those like myself who grew up in a basically Godless home.
I grew up just trying to find may way into adult hood the only examples I had to follow were my parents and/or the parents of my friends. Without the Godly influence of patents I made it without young adulthood without going to jail and not killing myself or someone else.For that I should and am thankful.
At some point, I married, started a family the cycle started again!
I was like so many growing older but not wiser; reaching goals but never satisfied; trying to find meaning in life but not knowing where to look; being a live but not living!
Then one day my oldest daughter Cindy who with Joyce’s sister Barb; rode the church bus to Toledo Baptist Temple invited me to come to church on Father’s Day which changed my whole world and my whole perspective on life! A LOT OF THINGS CHANGED THAT DAY!I HEARD; I BELIEVED; AND I RECEIVED!
- I HEARD the Gospel of Christ! 1Co 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
- I BELIEVED AND RECEIVEDThe Gospel of Christ 1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
- I BECAME a part of an eternal, incorruptible, and undefiled family of believers;Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
All that took place the instant I heard; I believed; and I received; But there was something that took place that moment I heard; I believed; and I received that I did not see nor realize! Something that I thank God everyday for; THE LIFE OF GOD; TOOK UP RESIDENCE IN ME!
- The “SEED of God witch dwells within me! Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- There is no more exciting truth in all the range of biblical revelation than that His Seed Remains in my heart and in the heart of every truly saved man and women!
I want to Tell you Five things I have learned about His Seed That Remains in every believer:
- First, WHAT Is The Seed?
- The seed of God is the word of God; the seed of the kingdom is the word of the kingdom. Mar 4:14 The sower soweth the word.
- It is a measure of the light and life, of the grace and truth, which is in Jesus Christ.
- It is a manifestation of His Spirit in the heart, it is given to the Christian on God’s behalf!
- It is the virtue and strength of Christto be developed for God in our lives.
- God places His Seed in the believer as a witness of His Holiness and to guide him from evil which is the flesh unto good, this is the seed, which is so freely bestowed on man,to spring up and REMAIN IN HIM, and to draw him out of himself, into Itself.
- Secondly, Who is the sower of this seed?
- Of course it is God, in and through Christ. He is the good husbandman. Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
- He, by the word which created all in the beginning, creates anew in Christ Jesus, renews His workmanship in man, and puts a measure of this word or Seed of life in man's heart, whereby he renews him; and
- They that are renewed (born again) by him, are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good workswhich God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10
- There in the hearts of men the light of the word shines, there the life of the word is felt, stirring secretly in and quickening those that were dead in trespasses and sins.
- There the voice and call of the word is heard, calling from unrighteousness and sin, to righteousness and holiness.
- Thirdly, In What Sorts Of Earth Or Heart (If You Will) Is HisSeed Sown?
- In all sorts; in thorny ground, stony ground, highway ground, and good ground. None are off limits; 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- God’s seed touches every heart not willing that any should perish, Christ’s words ring out clear; Whosoever will may Come!
- Not a single heart is left untouched but some are left unchanged not because of God's inefficacy but of man’s unwillingness to open the heart and let the seed come in!
- No part of the man’s world is left without a witness in his conscience against sin.
- So that, though man's conscience be corrupt, and his light blinded by Satan’s darkness, God's witness in his conscience can never be corrupted; but whenever it shines in the heart, it gives true light there; and whenever it witnesseth there, it witnesseth the truth for God, and against man, and the corruption and searedness of his heart and conscience.
- Forthly, In What Sort Of Earth Or Heart If Brings Forth Good Fruit To Perfection.
- Every man’s heart is subject to God’s work.
- It is not as if God works in some hearts and not in others; as we might do!
- We see someone that to our eyes seems hopeless; not that we want it to be so,
- But we look at the obvious externals and make a judgment that this one or that one is out of reach!
- But none are unreachable to God; Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
- But the facts cannot be ignored that Everyone can be saved; not everyone will be saved!
- The two thieves on Calvary were both savable but only one went with the Savior into paradise!
- Only one said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (43) And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luk 23:42-43
- None of the ground is by its nature is good; All have sinned and come short of the glory of God!
- The leaving off some bad things, and doing some good things is goodit is in fack likely the world’s favorite way; but that is not enough; there must be a willingness say “I surrender all!”
- The thorns that are left, the cares that are clung to, the worldliness even so slight must openly be revealed to the eyes of the Savior.
- This is not to say we must lay aside all sin by demonstration but we must have that willing heart! And God Knows! He knows our heart and he knows strength.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Psa 103:13-14 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. (14) For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
- None of us are fit to be indwelt by the seed of God!
- But all of us can humbly meet the master at the Cross in repentance and faith.
- There he will fill our hearts with faith and our lives with hope!
- There His eternal seed can be planted in our open hearts!
Conclusion:
All around us are those who need God’s seed planted in our hearts!
The question is who will be the sower for God! Will it be you? Could it be me?
Luk 14:13-14 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: (14) And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Look around you my beloved;
Luk 14:16-24 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (17) And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. (18) And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. (19) And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. (20) And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. (21) So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. (22) And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. (23) And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (24) For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Invitation:
We have seen that this new life in Christ starts with a seed—the Word of God. In the final analysis, when we refer to the Word we speak not only of the written Word but also the Living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is God's Seed who longs to be planted and nourished in our hearts.
Are you prepared to accept or reject Him? This is the crucial issue.
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