God In The Center

1
God In The Center
2
Introduction

• Becoming a Christian is relatively easy hear,
  believe, repent, confess, be baptized, live
  faithfully.
• Its no small thing. Certainly not
  inconsequential. Absolutely important.
• I dont want to diminish the act of becoming a
  Christian in any way rather, I wish to, as
  Emeril Lagasse would say, take it up a notch.
• I want to challenge all of us, regardless of our
  spiritual maturity, or current season of life, to
  not be content just leaving it at that.

3
Introduction

• In the book of Revelation, we read of a church
  that is labeled by Christ as luke warm, we are
  introduced to people in scripture who fail to
  live up to the Christian life.
• We are reminded of the importance of maintaining
  our Christian standard (Phil 316), being holy (1
  Peter 116, Rom 121, Eph 14) examining
  ourselves to see that we are in the faith (2 Cor.
  135) and continually adding to our faith (2
  Peter 15-8).

4
With God In The Center

• An individual is obedient through submission,
  fully trusting in Him and His will, applying His
  word as He has given it, loving through free will
  choice (Matt 2237, Phil 23-4).
• Effective in talking the talk and walking the
  walk (1 Thes. 512a-18).
• Unshakable example (Phil. 46-7).
• Joyous, positive, excited and upbeat (Phil. 44)
  and faithful unto death.

5
With God In The Center

• No one and no thing can get in the way, between
  He and us we can enjoy immunity from being
  rattled by the mundane or common place of this
  world.
• We experience far less stress, fear, anxiety or
  worry (James 12-4, 12, 16-18)
• We experience far more trust, comfort,
  contentment, security, peace, faith, perspective,
  insight and confidence (Heb .131-6)

6
With God In The Center

• We can free ourselves from self -doubt,
  self-centeredness and self-destruction.
• We can free ourselves from others seeking the
  praise of men, concern with threats or negative
  opinions of the ungodly, being drug through the
  worldly mire.
• We are effective for God, His church, and the
  world (Heb. 1314, James 121-25)

7
Examples Of Lives With God In The Center

• Psalm 128
• Psalm 128 speaks, in part, to the life of those
  who have God in the center of their lives.
• In this Psalm, we have the picture of a family,
  lead by their respect of God, allowing their
  actions (v1) and decisions (v2) to revolve around
  Him.
• They are doing Gods will (v2-3) and they enjoy
  the blessings of this life (v4).

8
Examples Of Lives With God In The Center

• Hebrews 11
• In this well known chapter, we have a whos who
  of scripture, men and women who showed how to
  live with God in the center.
• Especially noted, we have
• Abraham, who when he was called, obeyed by
  going (v 8) and when he was tested, offered up
  Isaac.. (v 17) considering that God is able
  (v 19).

9
Examples Of Lives With God In The Center

• Hebrews 11
• Joseph, who lived a life apart in a foreign land,
  all the while, never forgetting Gods good(Gen.
  5020)
• Joshua, who gave his honest good report (Num.
  14), took on the leadership of a nation (Deut.
  31) and stood for God (Josh. 2415)

10
Examples Of Lives With God In The Center

• Paul
• Through clear evidence from scripture, we see
  Paul as a man having God at the center of his
  life. (1 Cor. 111, Phil. 411, 121, Gal. 220)

11
Keys To Living With God In The Center

• Humility James 46
• Obedience Phil 212-16
• Love Romans 828
• Beware, strive and grow
• 2 Peter 15-13
• 2 Peter 317-18, Romans 12

12
With God In The Center

• We are able to see God for who He is perfect,
  holy, loving and worthy of worship (James 112)
• We are able to see Gods word for what it is
  perfect, sure, right, pure (Psalm 19, 2 Timothy
  316-17)

13
With God In The Center

• We are able to see sin for what it is
  abhorrent, evil, worthy of punishment, not from
  God (Rom. 623, the wages of sin is death.
  Rom. 1423 whatever is not from faith is sin
  James 113 He himself does not tempt anyone),
  including the moral decline we see today in the
  form of evolution, abortion, foul language,
  lowering of standards, and much more.

14
With God In The Center

• We are able to see nature for what it is Gods
  own creation and revealing of His glory (Psalm
  19).
• Things as simple as a sunrise or sunset, as
  amazing as the human body or the solar system, or
  as complex and non-accidental as Fibonaccis
  sequence an example of thinking Gods thoughts
  after him.

15
Contrasts

• Without God in the center
• God revolves around us
• God has a job to do for us
• If Hes not revolving around us, Hes not doing
  His job
• If Hes not doing His job, Hes not a good God.

16
Contrasts

• With God in the center
• God doesnt revolve around us we revolve around
  God
• Gods only job is to be God
• Being God, the God that He is, manifests certain
  qualities that we greatly benefit from, but that
  is His nature, not His job
• God doesnt need fixing
• The Bible doesnt need editing or revising

17
Contrasts

• With God in the center
• God deserves to be, can be, and should be
  worshiped in exactly the way He expects to be
• Gods church isnt antiquated and doesnt need
  additions
• Gods people are important
• Gods will and my will fit together

18
A Reverse Invitation Of Sorts

• God does not revolve around us, we must revolve
  around Him that is the healthy and proper
  relationship and we can only do this when we
  invite him into the center of our lives.
• He will not force the issue against our free
  will, so we have to yield the center of our life
  to Him.
• Its God who is at work (Phil 212-13, 16)
  were not here, now, by accident - dont let this
  moment be in vain (2 Cor. 61-2).