The Christian and Self-Renewal Renewing the Mind (2)

1
The Christian and Self-RenewalRenewing the Mind
(2)
Walk in Newness of Life
2
Introduction

• Studying the Christian and Self-Renewal
• Individual renewal
• Putting into place a process to continue vibrant
  growth
• And do not be conformed to this world, but be
  transformed by the renewing of your mind
  Romans 122

3
Recognize the Need

• Do you want to go to heaven?
• Everyone says yes, but
• What are you doing to secure your eternal
  salvation?
• Do you really believe you need to grow?
• Do you really believe that you are progressing
  satisfactorily?

4
Passages to Consider

• But I discipline my body and bring it into
  subjection, lest, when I have preached to others,
  I myself should become disqualified. 1
  Corinthians 927

5
Passages to Consider

• Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to
  make your call and election sure, for if you do
  these things you will never stumble. 2 Peter
  110
• What things are we to do?
• GROW in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control,
  perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and
  love.

6
Recognize the Need

• Do you want others to go to heaven with you?
• This should be every Christians goal.
• Do you not say, 'There are still four months and
  then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you,
  lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for
  they are already white for harvest! John 435

7
Recognize the Need

• Do you want others to go to heaven with you?
• This should be every Christians goal.
• And on some have compassion, making a
  distinction but others save with fear, pulling
  them out of the fire, hating even the garment
  defiled by the flesh. Jude 22,23

8
Recognize the Need

• Are things any different today?
• We need to be aware that we may be the ONLY hope
  for some in this world.
• Our BEST opportunities lie with teaching the
  gospel to those who are close to us
• Will we meet the challenge?
• How often do we remind ourselves that UNTOLD
  MILLIONS are DYING lost?

9
I have a Moral Responsibility

• Sometimes, we realize we need to do something
  because it needs doing.
• Our country does many things because it has the
  power and wealth to do them.
• Stepping up to the plate shows we care and wish
  to help.
• From Those who have muchGod demands much.

10
I have a Moral Responsibility

• Personal level.
• When someone cries out for help, do I answer?
• Women attacked in NYC few years ago
• Are you MORALLY RESPONSIBLE?

11
I have a Moral Responsibility

• As a Christian, I should recognize my God-given
  responsibility to warn those who are lost.
• Snatching them out of the fire.
• Paul understood this
• 1 Corinthians 916
• So did Ezekiel
• Ezekiel 317

12
Understand LoveHow Much Do You Care?

• Christian love is not just a feeling.
• It involves a persons mindsethow we act.
• Love is defined as, caring enough to sacrifice
  what is best.
• God best demonstrated love
• He who does not love does not know God, for God
  is love. 1 John 48

13
How Did God Manifest His Love?

• For God so loved the world that He gave His only
  begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
  not perish but have everlasting life.John
  316
• Greater love has no one than this, than to lay
  down one's life for his friends. John 1513

14
How Important Is This Love?

• Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
  angels, but have not love, I have become sounding
  brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the
  gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries
  and all knowledge, and though I have all faith,
  so that I could remove mountains, but have not
  love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my
  goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body
  to be burned, but have not love, it profits me
  nothing. 1 Corinthians 131-3

15
How Important Is This Love?

• We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John
  419
• For the love of Christ compels us, because we
  judge thus that if One died for all, then all
  died. 2 Corinthians 514
• he will receive the crown of life which the
  Lord has promised to those who love Him. James
  112

16
Optimism

• Some are afraid to use this word because of how
  its been abused.
• Some teach only a positive Christianity to the
  exclusion or neglect of the negative.
• Such conclusions are not pleasing to God.
• We must strike a BALANCE

17
Optimism

• There are times when people need to be rebuked
  and condemned.
• We must expose erroreven calling names at times.
• Whythings are not what they ought to be.
• Optimism is associated with the one who is right
  as he stands before God.

18
Optimism

• Many Christians fail to grow because they lack
  confidence in God and in themselves.
• Theyre willing to settle for mediocrity and
  complacency.
• I cant teach anyone. Right, but why?
• Theyre not capable because theyve chosen NOT to
  develop their abilities.

19
Optimism

• Some churches dont grow because, in their minds,
  theyve come as far as they can.
• Nobody wants to hear the gospel anymore.
• Instead of building on what is right, we get
  bogged down with what is wrong.

20
Optimism

• Remember the blessings youve received.
• Christians should have a different perspective on
  life.
• If then you were raised with Christ, seek those
  things which are above, where Christ is, sitting
  at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things
  above, not on things on the earth. Colossians
  31,2

21
Optimism

• God is on OUR sidegiving us a reason to live.
• I can do all things through Christ who
  strengthens me. Philippians 413
• What then shall we say to these things? If God
  is for us, who can be against us? Romans 831
• Yet in all these things we are more than
  conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans
  837

22
Dangers of Pessimism

• Gods word contains many examples of the dangers
  of pessimism.
• Why did Israel wander in the wilderness for 40
  years?
• Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it
  not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in
  the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that
  they would not enter His rest, but to those who
  did not obey? So we see that they could not enter
  in because of unbelief. Hebrews 317-19

23
Gods Word Calls for Optimism

• Not false optimism
• Not ignorant optimism, for example, one who
  believes he is forgiven even though he refuses to
  obey the gospel!
• Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall
  enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
  will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 721

24
Gods Word Calls for Optimism

• Not false optimism (one who thinks he is better
  than he is)
• Because you say, 'I am rich, have become
  wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not
  know that you are wretched, miserable, poor,
  blind, and naked. Revelation 317

25
Gods Word Calls for Optimism

• Not false optimism
• One who sees great wealthbut leaves God out of
  the picture
• And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many
  goods laid up for many years take your ease
  eat, drink, and be merry. But God said to him,
  'Fool! This night your soul will be required of
  you then whose will those things be which you
  have provided? Luke 1219,20

26
Gods Word Calls for Optimism

• Not false optimism
• Self-righteousness
• The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,
  'God, I thank You that I am not like other
  men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
  this tax collector. I fast twice a week I give
  tithes of all that I possess. Luke 1811,12