01/29/2023 Church service

周日礼拜

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FORMED
Isaiah 64:8

Anonymous : “One step at a time is all you need to focus on doing when life seems overwhelming. And you can handle that.”
> Last week after church I stopped to pump gas. For us here in Alabama and Georgia, it was a very cold and VERY rainy day. I thought I’d clean out the disposable trash items from my car while the car was being filled.

I clearly was trying to do too many things at once (we’ve talked about the dangers of multi-tasking) and MY first step was a doozie.

Between trying to carry too many used water bottles, to the slippery wet floor and my old and very slick preacher shoes, I went hurling onto the wet floor without any way to control the fall.

I hit so hard I actually thought I might have broken my leg. I was a cold, wet mess on the gas station cement, but fortunately (long story short) I was really ok. Just a few cuts and bruises.

Every preacher tries to tie in life experiences into their messages, and this one was an easy fit for today.

We have a lot of steps to take in life, but sometimes that first step is the most important. Before we go onto Part Two of last week’s message, it is crucial that you have completed the FIRST Step.

Jesus: “I am telling you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God without being born again.”
? Have YOU been born again? Have you given your heart, your life, your past, present and future, to Jesus Christ?
Born of water… born of Spirit

Romans 10:9,10: …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
1 Peter 1:23 - You have been born again—not from perishable seed but imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.”

This is Step One. Now, Step Two, we have to submit our future to being shaped by God’s Almighty Hand.

“Still, Eternal One, You are our Father. We are just clay, and You are the potter.
We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth.”

Created means to come from nothing into something
Formed is to made out of pre-existing material

Created = Salvation (being “born again”)
Formed = Sanctification

Both parts are possible only by Faith. Belief. Do you believe?

2 Cor 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
What will we do with this New Life in Christ?
We need to first accept that we can’t do this on our own.
Jesus said, “According to your faith, it will be done to you.” (Matt 9:29)
Who we are, up to this point, has a lot to do with our beliefs.
What we believe from the Word of God, what we believe about ourselves. Is our self-image being molded (by our faith) according to God’s word – or by the words of others? By our own inner dialogue?
Like it or not, you are being FORMED through your beliefs.
A famous preacher is being criticized for saying that if Bible doesn’t line up with science, we have to reject the Bible. I believe if the science is correct, it should agree with the Bible.
Quantum Physics now proves that our 50-100 trillion cells respond to our beliefs. They are literally responding to our faith.
We start our Christian life like a newborn baby. But we must not stay babies!
We are created – and then we are formed

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared that we should walk in them.

Col 3:10 - Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

(ERV) Now you are wearing a new life, a life that is new every day. You are growing in your understanding of the one who made you. You are becoming more and more like him.

We are created – and then we are formed

Created means to come from nothing into something
Formed is to made out of pre-existing material
The process of sanctification is the process of Christ being formed in us.
John 17:17 - Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
If God’s Word sanctifies us, it just goes to reason that contrary words would tear us down. Corrupt us.
You are always being formed by your beliefs, so guard your heart

What’s going into your heart? Who are you listening to?
Who (or what) are you being influenced by?

1 Cor 15:33 - Do not let anyone fool you. Bad people can make those who want to live good become bad.

We are to be being formed by the Living Word of God
…and the Holy Spirit
…and the influences of Godly people and Godly teachings

Being FORMED will be a process. A lifelong journey of faith

Prov 27:17 - In the same way that iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend.
(GNT) People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.

We must be Formed – Sanctified – by God’s Truth
Salvation (being “born again”) and Formation (Sanctification) are both accomplished by FAITH.

We have to submit to the process and persevere

“GOD won’t do THROUGH you what He can’t do IN You.”

Maybe we have rebelled against this formation in times past – but this (today) is time to come back – come back home – and get back on the potter’s wheel

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (read)
“Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand…”
“It is time to come to the end of yourself.”

Isn’t that what it will take to get to the next level of where God wants to take us?

“it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.”

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

Eph 3:17 tells us that Christ will dwell in our hearts through faith

Beautiful Lord, wonderful Saviour
I know for sure all of my days are held in Your hand
Crafted into Your perfect plan
You gently called me into Your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord, to live all of my life
Through Your eyes
And I'm captured by Your Holy calling
Set me apart, I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord, I pray
Take me and mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

Eph 4:23,24: Now it’s time to be made new by every revelation that’s been given to you. And to be transformed as you embrace the glorious Christ-within as your new life and live in union with him! For God has re-created you all over again in his perfect righteousness, and you now belong to him in the realm of true holiness.







 

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Hillside United Methodist Church
3739 US 80
Phenix City  AL  36870
United States
Pastor: Mike J Koger

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