Point of Grace Worship 3.13.22 Sermon Notes – “Let Go to Hold On – The backwards way of Jesus!”

The backwards way of Jesus?

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Let Go to Hold On

Following Jesus is a “Let Go and Hold On” Life … a “Yes to Jesus and No to Self” Life

The Self-Reliant-Self …… “self” centered ...... filled with “self” …… Old Me

The God-Reliant-Self …… “God” centered (F,S,HS) …… filled with “Spirit”…… New Me

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4

“Do not worry!” Jesus

Matthew 6 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus makes the case for “denying self” – “putting off the old me” with its worry-

•                 Worry gets you nothing but costs you so much,

•                 Worry costs you so much life. Why do we do it? There is another way … other than the human normal.

 

Jesus makes the case for “putting on the new self” with its reliance on God not self (worry) –

•                 Your Father in heaven loves you very much

•                 He is extravagant in His care of His children – He knows our needs

•                 You are so very valuable to Him

•                 He provides for today … today and tomorrow … tomorrow!

 

How do I “put off old me that worries” and “put on new me that relies”?

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Seek – active engagement (Pray and Do) “It is a ‘felt’ step of faith.”

First - as absolutely unequivocally your number one priority every day

His Reign – His authority, rule, dominion, leadership, in-charge-ness revealed in Jesus

His Righteousness – Right standing before Him from Him and His next right thing for me to do!

Pray and Do

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I step out in faith and in Your name I deny my old “self-reliant-self” from leading my life today. I renounce its authority over me. I put off my old self along with its worry, self-centeredness and self-reliance …….

I step out in faith and in your name put on my new “God-reliant-self” that joyfully seeks Your leadership and reign Jesus over my life in every aspect. You love me so much, I am so valuable to you, You are so gracious to me, I love You so much and thank and praise You for your goodness. Today, I will dwell on Your character, promises and provision and will mention my problems – instead of the other way around.

Amen

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week. The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon – Matthew 6:25-34 Tue – Psalm 62:5-8 Wed – Philippians 4:4-8 Thu – Hebrews 4:14-16 Fri – Jeremiah 29:10-14

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.