Contemplations on a Sermon - 1/18/09

Sermon Series: The Jesus Life

Sermon Title: Inhabited By God

Text:

John 7:37-38  37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

John 14:20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

We can't be transformed into disciples of Christ if we don't allow God to inhabit us.  We aren't responsible for our transformation, that's up to God.  We need to open up our lives to the power of God working in us.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Phillipians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

God is at work in me.  He has plans for MY life.  He wants HIS good purpose for ME.

How do we allow God to work in us?

Just like dear friends influence our lives by being a presence, so does God.  I need to make God/Jesus my friend ... my dear friend ... and allow Him to have an influence in me.  To challenge me, to love me, to listen to me.

If I recognize God inhabiting me, then I allow His power to work in me.  God chooses to be a part of my life and share me.

Eph 3:16-19 tells us that we are to be filled with the fullness of God.

The Jesus Life: Being open to the power of God.  What would it look like???

The Big Idea: Transformation into the likeness of Jesus happens because God inhabits us.

Read Phil 2:13.  What does it take for you let God work in you in whatever way He desires?

Releasing my worries to Him and listening for His leading.

Read Eph 3:16-10.  How is this prayer meaningful to you personally?

I need God's strength and power every day to make wise decisions.

What does it mean for you that "your life is God's project"?

God wants better things for me thatn what I myself am capable of doing.  I need to let God take control.

Prayer for this week:

Give our heavenly Father thanks that he makes each of our lives his personal project.  Pray for each other using Paul's prayer in Ephesians.

Key Verse

I liked Eph 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.

This message really spoke to me as Josh and I are figuring out how to pay our income taxes and buy the last of the baby things we need to buy.  We are really trying to give these things to God, and we can't do that fully unless he fully inhabits us.