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[0:00] Greet you in the name of Jesus this morning, the one that we need to see. Amen.! Might we see our Lord Jesus. We sang a lot of good songs, but this one, hallelujah, I have found him whom my soul so long has craved.

[0:29] ! He satisfies my longings. Through his blood I now am saved. Have you found him? You know, two weeks ago we looked at the treasure in the field and have you found that treasure, that pearl of great price?

[0:59] Have you owned it for your own? Have we found our Lord Jesus and have we, have we given him, have we, have we sold all that we might gain Christ?

[1:18] So I want to go further today, somewhat building on two weeks ago.

[1:33] We'll start in Romans chapter 12. And, you know, how, you know, when Jesus said, I know when he told the rich young ruler, he said to sell everything that he had.

[1:52] That was his material possessions. But today, more than that, what is Jesus looking for in our lives? Is it not that we surrender our heart and life to him, lay it out before him and give it to him and allow him to direct our path to, um, to plan our life, to plan our life for us and to use us as he desires?

[2:24] You know, if we plan our life, you know, if we plan our life, be very limited in what he can do with us. But if we allow him to plan our life and to order our steps, there's unlimited possibilities of what our Lord can do with us through the power of his spirit working in us and through us.

[2:50] In Romans 12, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that he present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

[3:10] Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

[3:26] And notice here when he says to not be conformed to the world, he tells us how to accomplish that. How do we accomplish not being conformed to the world?

[3:40] How do we become a separated people? Is it not as we have that renewed mind, as we are transformed?

[3:52] You know, when we're born again and we're transformed into a new creation in Christ Jesus, isn't that, isn't that what separates us from the world?

[4:12] You know, my mind goes back to the children of Israel and not long after they had left Egypt, Moses, in conversation with God, he said, Isn't this how the people of the world will know that we are your people is because you are with us because God is in our midst.

[4:43] That is how the world will know that we are his people. That is what separates us from this world is the presence of God in you, directing your life, the Holy Ghost within you, empowering you to live this Christian life.

[5:07] Well, be not conformed to this world. You know, not dressing like the world will not accomplish this.

[5:21] But to be truly transformed, it takes a renewed mind. Something that we cannot do of our own self, in our own strength.

[5:34] You know, many people will try to reform, to reform their life and to bring it into some sort of place that is acceptable to God.

[5:49] But that will never be accepted of God, but only the transformed, the renewed mind that comes when we are born again through our Lord Jesus.

[5:59] Born again, saved by the blood of Jesus, born by the Spirit of God. Now notice here, he beseeches us that we present our bodies a living sacrifice.

[6:23] And to present it to him, we must be holy. It is only as we are holy. How will we become holy? It is only by the holiness of our Lord Jesus that is imputed to us.

[6:40] That righteousness that we receive when we become a new creation in Christ. Now I want to, in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, He says here, he says here in verse 14, For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then we're all dead.

[7:09] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

[7:22] The love of Christ constrains us. The love of Christ compels us. It urges us to live for him.

[7:35] You know, he gave his all. He shed his blood. He left the glories of heaven to come to this earth and to live here as a man on this sin-cursed earth.

[7:47] He did that all for you, for me, for all of us, for the whole world. And so what less can we do but to give our life to him and to live for him?

[8:02] It says he died for all. That those of us that live, when we live, because we've received his life, we owe everything to him.

[8:20] We owe him our life. We owe him our future. It is only because of him that we have eternal life. It is only because of him that we can live a victorious life.

[8:34] So it is all because of him. So what less can we do but live for him? Actually, we can do nothing less.

[8:46] We can do nothing less but to live for him if we will live a life pleasing to our Lord Jesus. Verse 17.

[8:58] Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, to wit that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

[9:35] Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us. We pray you in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God.

[9:48] For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

[9:59] We then, as workers together with him, as workers together with Christ, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

[10:13] So now, we find ourselves, and we're born again, and we have the Holy Ghost within us, and we give our life to him, and we want to serve him.

[10:27] He says here that we, he has given us the ministry of reconciliation, the ministry, the very purpose that Jesus came to this earth for, was to reconcile lost humanity, back again into right standing, into acceptance with God in heaven, the almighty, the holy God.

[10:56] And so Jesus came to begin this work of reconciliation. He shed his blood, and he established the work of Christ, the kingdom of God on this earth.

[11:10] And now we are labors together with him. We are labors together with him, to reconcile a lost and a dying world, back to holy God.

[11:24] And he says, I beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. What's he saying?

[11:35] You know, all of us have received the grace of God. If you're born again here today, you have received the grace of God.

[11:45] You have been born again by the spirit of God. And that spirit wants to, wants to direct your life, and he wants to empower you, by the holy presence and power of God, to live a victorious life, and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and a dying world.

[12:11] That is, that is what he desires of you. And he has given to every man the measure of faith.

[12:22] He has given grace to every man, like Ephesians says. And so, whatever, whatever calling that you have today, whatever place he's called you to fill, in the church, and wherever he will take you, his grace will be with you to, to accomplish that, and to fulfill that calling.

[12:49] Like Ephesians says, we've been created unto good works. Those good works, what are they? They, they are the works of God that we do by the grace of God.

[13:04] They might be things that, that you couldn't do in your own strength. They're definitely things you would not do if you were not a new creation in Christ Jesus. It all begins when we become that new creature in Christ.

[13:22] Like verse 17 says, if any be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away and all things are become new.

[13:34] Have all things become new. Are you hanging on to some of the old life? You know, we, we, we see so much today that the, the, the people want to, people want to bring a gray area.

[13:48] They want to, instead of black and white, they want everything to be gray. And that's why some people think that there's not much difference between the church and the world.

[13:58] It's because people are, are, are refusing to let old things pass away. They want to save the best of the old life.

[14:09] And it's an abomination in the sight of God. It will not work. He will not accept anything of the old life. He will not accept anything of the old man.

[14:20] It must all be from the new creation in Christ Jesus. God dwelling with man. Now, Colossians.

[14:35] It's Colossians chapter one. the apostle says he is a minister of the gospel, of this dispensation of the gospel of Christ.

[15:04] Verse 26, Christ in you, the hope of glory.

[15:33] You know, can we comprehend? You know, we, we've heard this probably, most of you have heard this all your life, that, that Christ wants to dwell in your heart.

[15:45] But, this is not a small matter. That holy God, Jesus Christ, Christ, being, being, being, being, equal with God.

[16:01] And he, through the Holy Spirit, will dwell in our heart. He will dwell in our heart. No wonder he asks us to be holy.

[16:13] He will make us holy, if we will allow him to cleanse us. But, but, can we comprehend that he wants to live in our heart and he wants to order our steps?

[16:27] He wants to direct our life. He wants to put his grace upon us and use us. You know, the last verse in chapter one, here, well, let's read verse 28 and 29.

[16:44] Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

[17:03] The Apostle Paul, saying here, that, that he works, and, and he says, that, that, God works through him mightily.

[17:16] Another place he says, that, how the grace of God, works through him mightily. And, that is, his desire.

[17:28] That is God's desire for us. That is God's desire, is, that he, that the spirit of God, can work in us, and through us, and use us mightily.

[17:42] Amen. Now, let's go back. Let's start here in the first part of this chapter.

[17:54] We'll start in verse 10. Verse 9, for this cause, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, that we would walk worthy.

[18:33] In Ephesians, it says that we would walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith we are called. Are we walking worthy? Are we, you know, we've been called to this walk?

[18:48] We've been called into the kingdom of God. We've been called by the Lord Jesus to become a part of this great work, and to become a part of his kingdom here on earth, the everlasting kingdom.

[19:04] Are we walking worthy? Or are we walking according to our own thinking, and our own, the dictates of the flesh, or our own desires?

[19:21] You know, I'm not saying that everything you do for yourself is wrong. No, but when it takes away from what God would have you to do for the kingdom of God, it is wrong.

[19:34] He that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Can we, can we grasp the seriousness of this life?

[19:45] I remember when I was young, very young, and these things started, started coming into my conscience, that, you know, we, we all want to do the things we want to do, and live the way we want to live, but, but, that's not how life works.

[20:08] Someday, we will give an account of our life, and with the things we've done, the things we've said, did we put Christ first, or did we live for self?

[20:20] Are we, are we walking worthy of the Lord? Lord, you know, when we look at the Lord Jesus, Hebrews says, ah, I'll look at it, that verse, worded all the time, but right now it didn't come.

[20:42] Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, looking unto Jesus. Why? Because he is our perfect example.

[20:53] He is, he is the one that came, and lived a sinless life, here on this earth, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand, of the throne of God.

[21:10] Consider him that endured, such contradiction of sinners, against himself, lest ye be wearied, and faint, in your minds.

[21:21] You know, I believe, I believe, we live in a day, when, when the enemy is trying to weary us.

[21:34] He's trying to wear us down. He's trying to, to, to, to hinder us, just to, just to get us to, to back off, and just, just to make us weary.

[21:48] But he warns us here, to consider Jesus, and, and just think of, of all the things Jesus went through.

[21:59] And, and, what it says here is he, he endured such contradiction of sinners. You know, there they were. Oh, if you're the son of God, come down off that cross.

[22:12] I mean, if you don't come down, we know you're not the son of God. And on and on they went. But he had to stay on that cross, because he was the son of God.

[22:24] And he needed to shed his blood for you and me. consider Jesus, consider Jesus, that you may not be weary and faint in your mind as we continue this walk, as we continue the work of God.

[22:47] As we continue this walk of, of, of the spirit of God, directing us and empowering us. Do not become weary and faint in your mind, but rather, like verse one says here in Hebrews, lay aside every weight and the sin, which does so easily beset us.

[23:12] And let us run with patience, the race that is set before us. You know, we need a lot of patience in this race.

[23:22] As we, as we run this race. And, and as we, you know, there's, there's, there's so much out there that would mock us and scorn and, and just, you know, why, why do you think, who do you think you are?

[23:42] Why do you do what you do? And on and on down, you know, when we are walking in the way God has told us to walk, and we are doing his work and we must just continue on.

[23:58] Yes. But if we're walking in our own way, we better take heed when people bring questions. But Colossians, Colossians one, that he would walk worthy of the Lord and all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increase.

[24:21] increasing in the knowledge of God. This is the will of God for each one of us, that we are fruitful in every good work and that we are ever increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, and all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.

[24:47] You know, we like part of this, don't we? Strengthened with all might, the might of the Holy Ghost, the very power of God, and according to his glorious power, has anyone ever exhausted what that is, the glorious power of our God?

[25:11] God. No one has. But then he continues and he says, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.

[25:25] Isn't that where we struggle and where we fall short is in patience and long suffering with joyfulness. giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

[25:48] There is an inheritance for us. We have received the earnest of that inheritance, which is the Holy Ghost within us.

[25:59] But someday, someday, we will be rewarded for our labors. Someday, we will receive the inheritance of eternal life in glory.

[26:14] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

[26:32] Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible.

[26:47] Whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him. And that includes you and me.

[26:58] We are created by him. We are created for him. We are created for his glory. We are created to have fellowship with God.

[27:14] That is what he desires. We've been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. We've been translated out of the kingdom into the kingdom into the kingdom of Jesus.

[27:29] Yes. Yes. Yes. Verse 17.

[27:42] And he is before all things. By him all things consist. He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.

[28:00] He wants to have the preeminence in what? In all things. Well, how will he have preeminence in all things? Is it not individually as we surrender our heart and life to him and allow him to have the preeminence in my life and you in your life?

[28:22] And then he has the preeminence. You know, he won't like conquer a nation and take over the preeminence. No, that's not the New Testament way.

[28:35] The New Testament way is one heart at a time surrendering to the Lord Jesus that he might have the preeminence in all things.

[28:47] for it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Oh, hallelujah. Our Lord Jesus. Our Lord Jesus.

[28:59] He is the head of all things. He is the head of the body, the church. And in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

[29:11] And having made peace through the blood of his cross by him to reconcile all things unto himself. By him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven, and you that were at one time alienated and enemies, that was all of us, we were enemies, but now we are reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight.

[29:46] Oh, hallelujah. That's the goal of our Lord Jesus is right there to present us, to present us to the Father holy and unblameable and unreprovable in the sight of God.

[30:04] if ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. Be not moved away, do not drift away, do not, you know, you can stand on this truth, you can stand on this word, it will not change, it will not change.

[30:26] Do not be moved away, do not drift away, do not allow circumstances, do not allow the things of this life, the cares of this life, to pull you away from the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

[31:00] So now here, we just read through this of who our Lord Jesus is, he is the head of the church and he has the preeminence in all things, that is the will of God.

[31:17] And then in verse 27, to whom God would make known what is the richest of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

[31:41] Christ in us, this awesome, all-powerful Christ who came to earth and gave his life for us, he now wants to live in your heart and he wants to take you and use you in the kingdom of God, to reconcile a lost and a dying world unto God Almighty.

[32:08] God's will and desire has always been to dwell with his people. That's what he's always wanted. Remember when the children of Israel and they came out of Egypt and then when they sinned then Moses took the tabernacle and he pitched it out outside the camp.

[32:28] It was God's desire to be in the camp but they had to put him outside the camp and then it says all that had a heart after God and sought after him they went out there.

[32:41] They went out there to seek the Lord. But God's desire has always been to dwell in his people. temple. We are the temple of the living God.

[33:00] Hallelujah. Well let's before we go there in 2nd Peter chapter 1 2nd Peter chapter 1 this is an awesome verse here.

[33:15] he says we'll just read a few verses starting verse 2 chapter 1 grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

[33:33] Remember earlier we had read increasing in the knowledge of God. Here he again he again brings this up he says grace and peace be multiplied to us through the knowledge of God.

[33:49] So as we grow in knowledge we will also grow in grace and in peace. According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue.

[34:13] This divine power for the power of the Holy Ghost in us. What does it do? It says he gives he's given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness and we will abide in him and we will follow his leading and walk in his way and allow the spirit of God to work in us and through us.

[34:39] it says he will bring all things that pertain to life and godliness. Oh hallelujah.

[34:51] You know I don't know if we'll get there or not but Jesus talking about the Holy Ghost he said he said it's a river it's a river and it will flow there will be a river of life flowing out of us those who believe in him hallelujah hallelujah yes the river of God and it will it will in that river of God in the Holy Ghost there is there is to meet the need of humanity every need of humanity can be met by that river of God hallelujah verse 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises oh yes great and precious promises are we grasping a whole of them are we are we seeing are we seeing this treasure in the field and are we grasping a whole of it are we buying that treasure are we selling our our own way and our own self and and all of those things that hinder us from fulfilling the will of God and are we are we latching a hold of it whereby are given us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature partakers of the divine nature what is that it is the very nature of God when we're born again we become partakers of his nature he he imparts his nature into our heart like what is it in Ezekiel

[36:40] I believe it says a new heart will I give you a new heart he's talking about the new covenant the new testament times a new heart will I give you imparting the very nature of God into our hearts having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust we all know what he's talking about we see it out there every day have you escaped from its power we can we can and he goes on he goes on I don't think we will continue on in this let me just read part of verse 10 yet he says give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you do these things he shall never fall you know I would yes just spend some time reading those verses there sometime but be diligent to make your calling and election sure you will not fulfill the will of

[37:55] God if you are not diligent if you do not give yourselves to the Lord Jesus and diligently follow after you will never fulfill his will but we are called with a holy calling Ephesians you know yeah let's read a couple verses in Ephesians have been coming to my mind here Ephesians chapter 2 and he talks about our past life and how we've been quickened and raised together in Christ and sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus for by grace are you saved through faith that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast for we are his workmanship created in

[39:02] Christ Jesus unto good works which God has before day that we should walk in them we are his workmanship and what does he desire what he desires is that that we give ourselves to him and to his work whatever he calls us to notice which God has before ordained that we should walk in them I believe God has a preordained plan for each one of our lives and if we will give ourselves to that plan and we will give ourselves to the Lord Jesus and allow him to fill us with his spirit and to lead us with his spirit to empower us with his spirit then these good works will be a part of our life yes hallelujah

[40:06] Ephesians chapter 3 talking about the spirit of God living within us the nature the very nature of God in us in us here we have here we have the apostle Paul he's he's writing and the the first part of the chapter in verse 6 he's talking about the Gentiles being brought in and being becoming fellow heirs with with the Jewish people and he says in verse 7 whereof I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power you know it's maybe one of the verses I referred to earlier but the apostle

[41:11] Paul you all know the story of his life and how you know how God touched him but how God used him how God used him in a tremendous way and he says here that he was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me God called him to this ministry God called him to this ministry and and the gift of the grace of God came on him along with the calling and that is how it is with each one of us when God calls us and he asks us to do something whatever whatever work that is it is that he calls you to he will also give you the grace to fulfill it and to walk it out yes unto me who searchable riches of

[42:46] Christ you know that treasure in the field that pearl of great price we can we can preach about it for a long time but we can never exhaust it why because it's unsearchable you can never exhaust it hallelujah yes yes well let's just go on down here he gives us his prayer for the church in verse 14 for this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man well look at this that

[43:47] God would grant to us according to the riches of his glory is there any limit to the riches of the glory of God there is no limit it's unsearchable we cannot begin to comprehend it but he says that God would grant to us and that he would strengthen us with might by his spirit in the inner man oh hallelujah you know there's nothing there's nothing more important in this life in this walk with with the Lord there's nothing more important but to walk in a place where the Holy Ghost can get upon you and the Holy Ghost can use you that he can that his power can come into you and work out through you to meet the needs of those where

[44:50] God will send you or has sent you wherever you are at allow that river of God to flow through you yes you know a river flows a river flows if if you receive you you have received the Holy Ghost but you you don't allow it to flow out it it can't flow in either but as you allow it to flow out it will also flow in yes the river of God through the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost is the river of God hallelujah strengthened with all might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath and length and depth and height and to know the love of

[46:05] Christ which passes knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God that we might be filled with all the fullness of God oh my raise your hand if you attain to that so we all have a goal don't we hallelujah let us press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Christ of God in Christ Jesus yes press toward the mark press forward onward upward oh my that we might be filled with all the fullness of God that is his will that is his desire hallelujah none of him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us you know

[47:17] I believe the greatest hindrance to the Lord using us is our own unbelief our own lack our own lack of faith our own lack of surrendering to him our own lack of you know we we we think we have to explain everything you know well if you can explain to me how you how we can be washed by the blood of Jesus and we can be born again if you can explain that then maybe you can explain how how this works too you know the kingdom of God the work of God is a supernatural work it is not it is not something that we can explain but it it is by the spirit of

[48:27] God and we accept it by faith we grasp a whole of it by faith we enter into it by faith and we're filled with all the fullness of God by faith hallelujah the power of the spirit of God in us it is only as we surrender to him that he can work in us and through us now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think you know our asking is so many times hindered by our by our thinking because we want to keep things rational we want to keep things reasonable but our

[49:46] God is a supernatural God the new testament church is a supernatural church for us for us to a church us to be a church being born of a virgin was not natural Jesus lived a supernatural life and us being a part of his kingdom is a supernatural thing for us for us to be a part of this everlasting kingdom it is a supernatural life yes that we might walk worthy are we walking worthy are we walking worthy you know the very next verse the first verse in chapter four says I therefore the prisoner of the

[50:56] Lord beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called that you walk worthy after going through all of these verses and reading about the mighty power of God and how he wants to live within us and how he wants to fill us with the fullness of God himself and all of that oh that we would walk worthy walk worthy I believe we live so far below our potential and I'm not saying that you know that you know you need a lot of those modern books to get you hyped up and all of that no you need to humble yourself before

[51:59] God almighty and allow him to fill you with his spirit and then you can walk with him of the vocation wherewith he has called us so many times people get spiritual power mixed up with natural power you know there's men who can persuade men to think their way but it is only the spirit of God that will persuade men to surrender to him have you surrendered to the Lord Jesus have you allowed him to fill you have you allowed him to come into your life and to take over yeah there's one throne in your heart either you're on the throne or

[53:10]  Jesus is on the throne not both not both but when we surrender to him oh hallelujah hallelujah the possibilities of what he can do with us are endless he is able to do so much more with us and through us than what we can comprehend let's pray heavenly father we come to you lord we thank you we thank you for your awesome provisions lord we thank you for the holy ghost which lives within us and leads us and guides us and empowers us lord i pray lord that you would you would search our hearts and remove those things that hinder your spirit remove the unbelief remove the self life remove the idols that we've set up in our heart that that that do not allow you to have your way in our hearts lord search us and try us and see what's in our hearts and remove those things that hinder your spirit lord we pray in the name of jesus amen