Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
Transcript
- 0:00Good morning, I hope everybody had an enjoyable week that was full of joy and thanksgiving and I hope some moniker of rest.
- 0:09!
- 0:30Well, on the one hand, we will only be another day into another journey around the sun.
- 0:42On the other hand, there is something seemingly significant about passing from one year and into another.
- 0:50Doesn't it always feel like we are turning a page in a book, closing the chapter that we call 2024
- 0:57at opening the chapter we call 2025.
- 1:03I was born in 1980, and I can remember the openings of movies
- 1:08that were set in the future being set to 2025.
- 1:13And here we are in the future.
- 1:16Doesn't it feel like an opportunity for a fresh start?
- 1:22Because of the grace of God to us in Jesus Christ,
- 1:25we always have the opportunity to start afresh.
- 1:29Isn't that wonderful?
- 1:31But our minds are often drawn to make new commitments
- 1:35at the beginning of the year that we most often call resolutions.
- 1:41We are surrounded by people making resolutions.
- 1:45If you've not already heard this language, it's coming this coming week,
- 1:50and you're going to see lots of suggestions for resolutions,
- 1:54and many of them are good things.
- 1:56But this morning, my prayer for us is that we can look to God's Word together
- 2:00and consider how we can make resolutions that please the Lord.
- 2:06Some have asked if resolutions are biblical.
- 2:11Should we make promises to change?
- 2:14And I say to you, absolutely yes.
- 2:17Yes, we most certainly should.
- 2:21To believe in change is Christian.
- 2:26We are a people who have been changed from enemies of God into friends,
- 2:32from dead to alive,
- 2:34because we have placed our faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- 2:39Further, we have set for us a pattern in the Bible
- 2:43of God's people making promises that are pleasing to God.
- 2:48Let me just give you two examples,
- 2:50one from the Old Testament and one from the New,
- 2:53and then we will turn our attention to today's text.
- 2:57First, Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself
- 3:02with the Babylonian king's food or wine.
- 3:06Daniel chapter 1 and verse 8.
- 3:10Secondly, Paul resolved to make his way to Jerusalem
- 3:12to fulfill a Nazarite vow that he had made.
- 3:16Acts chapter 19 and verse 21.
- 3:21So we have some examples set for us of this type of behavior.
- 3:24So, let us resolve to change,
- 3:29believing that change is really possible.
- 3:34May we do so not just at the first of the year,
- 3:37but may we do so at the first of the year,
- 3:40and may we do so in a way that pleases our God.
- 3:45So our text today is 2 Thessalonians chapter 1,
- 3:48verse 11 and 12.
- 3:52Before I read it, let me remind you,
- 3:54Beloved, this is God's word to us,
- 3:55written for his glory and our good,
- 3:58and so we would all do well to listen to it
- 4:01in order to believe its promises
- 4:03and to obey its commands.
- 4:06Paul here writes to the Thessalonian believers,
- 4:09To this end, we always pray for you
- 4:12that our God may make you worthy of his calling
- 4:15and may fulfill every resolve for good
- 4:18and every work of faith by his power,
- 4:21so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you
- 4:25and you in him according to the grace of our God
- 4:28and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 4:32The outline for this morning's text is as follows.
- 4:35Number one, resolve to be holy.
- 4:39Number two, resolve dependently.
- 4:42And number three, resolve for the glory of Christ.
- 4:50At the age of 19 and across some time,
- 4:54a young follower of Jesus Christ
- 4:56penned 70 resolutions,
- 4:59promises aimed at God's glory and his good.
- 5:04The first resolution reads,
- 5:07and this quotation is on the back of your bulletin this morning,
- 5:09quote,
- 5:11resolved that I will do whatsoever I think
- 5:14to be most to God's glory and my own good,
- 5:18profit and pleasure in the whole of my duration
- 5:21without any consideration of the time,
- 5:24whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence.
- 5:29Resolve to do whatever I think to be my duty
- 5:31and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
- 5:36Resolve to do this,
- 5:38whatever difficulties I meet with,
- 5:41how many and how great so ever.
- 5:45Nineteen years old.
- 5:47Boy, have we come a long way in our writing, haven't we?
- 5:50This young man's name was Jonathan Edwards.
- 5:56In the preamble to his resolutions,
- 5:58he wrote the following,
- 5:59which is found in the sermon note section of your bulletin today.
- 6:03He said,
- 6:04being sensible,
- 6:05that I am unable to do anything without God's help,
- 6:09I do humbly entreat him by his grace
- 6:12to enable me to keep these resolutions
- 6:14so far as they are agreeable to his will
- 6:17for Christ's sake.
- 6:21Now, it is my intention this morning
- 6:22to weave Edwards' poignant preamble
- 6:25through our text
- 6:27to set for us an example of application
- 6:29for how it is that we should be making resolutions.
- 6:34So the first point,
- 6:36resolve to be holy.
- 6:39If you make resolutions
- 6:40that are not aimed at your holiness,
- 6:44those resolutions, again,
- 6:45not altogether bad,
- 6:47but if that's it,
- 6:48then you are setting your sights
- 6:50far too low.
- 6:54If conformity to Jesus Christ
- 6:55is not the end goal
- 6:56of all that we do as Christians,
- 6:59then we are falling miserably short
- 7:01of that which God has called us to.
- 7:04Holiness is our high calling
- 7:07in Christ Jesus.
- 7:09Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1,
- 7:12verse 13 and following,
- 7:15Therefore, preparing your minds for action
- 7:17and being sober-minded,
- 7:20set your hope fully on the grace
- 7:22that were brought to you
- 7:23at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 7:25As obedient children,
- 7:27do not be conformed
- 7:28to the passions
- 7:29of your former ignorance,
- 7:31but as He who called you is holy,
- 7:33you also be holy
- 7:35in all your conduct.
- 7:37Since it is written
- 7:38in Leviticus 11.44,
- 7:41You shall be holy
- 7:42for I am holy.
- 7:45Be set apart.
- 7:47Be transformed.
- 7:50Different from this world.
- 7:52Live lives that are righteous
- 7:54and pleasing to God
- 7:56because you are found in Him.
- 8:01In our text,
- 8:02I first want to draw your attention
- 8:03to the specific what
- 8:05that Paul's pray for,
- 8:06the Thessalonian believers.
- 8:09Verse 11, he says,
- 8:10To this end,
- 8:11we always pray for you.
- 8:16What is that end?
- 8:17What is he aiming at?
- 8:19That God would make them
- 8:21worthy of His calling
- 8:22and may fulfill every resolve
- 8:25or see desire for good
- 8:27and every work of faith.
- 8:32It's not an aimless prayer
- 8:34that Paul is praying.
- 8:36He is not primarily concerned,
- 8:39notice,
- 8:39about their circumstances.
- 8:42That they would have jobs
- 8:44or find houses
- 8:44or be in good health.
- 8:47All good things to pray for.
- 8:50But rather,
- 8:51his concern here
- 8:52is about their holiness.
- 8:56Their greatest,
- 8:57their highest good.
- 9:01Paul prays, notice,
- 9:02for two specific things.
- 9:04That they would be made worthy
- 9:06of God's calling.
- 9:08Some translations say there,
- 9:10count you worthy.
- 9:12Paul's prayer is that
- 9:14they are in fact
- 9:16counted worthy
- 9:17of God's saving call.
- 9:20Which is just to say
- 9:21that the evidence
- 9:23of their call
- 9:24is the practice
- 9:25of their faith.
- 9:27That they would show themselves
- 9:28to be in Christ.
- 9:32And that their desires,
- 9:34their resolves
- 9:35for good and works of faith
- 9:38would be realized.
- 9:40This was a consistent concern
- 9:43of Paul's
- 9:44for those who claim
- 9:45to follow Jesus Christ.
- 9:48Because the fervent pursuit
- 9:50of holiness
- 9:51is a marker
- 9:52of those
- 9:53who are truly
- 9:54converted.
- 9:56You hear me say this
- 9:57all the time.
- 9:58We cannot,
- 9:59we are not saved
- 10:01by our works.
- 10:02We're saved
- 10:03through faith.
- 10:05But if we have
- 10:06this faith,
- 10:07this conversion faith,
- 10:08and it is going
- 10:10itself to work.
- 10:12It's going to show itself.
- 10:13It's going to evidence
- 10:14itself in the way
- 10:15that we live
- 10:16our lives.
- 10:19Now I don't want you
- 10:19to lose sight
- 10:20of our text
- 10:21in 2 Thessalonians,
- 10:22but let me show you
- 10:23how concerned
- 10:24Paul was
- 10:25with the holiness
- 10:26of those who profess
- 10:27to follow Christ
- 10:28by looking at the prayers
- 10:30he mentions
- 10:31in four other epistles.
- 10:34His prayers
- 10:35for the saints
- 10:36are constantly full
- 10:37of this holiness
- 10:39language.
- 10:42In 2 Corinthians
- 10:43chapter 13,
- 10:44the first part
- 10:45of verse 7,
- 10:46he says,
- 10:46but we pray to God
- 10:48that you may
- 10:49not do wrong.
- 10:52And in the same chapter
- 10:53in verse 9,
- 10:54that their restoration
- 10:55is what is being
- 10:56prayed for.
- 10:59In Philippians
- 11:00chapter 1,
- 11:01verse 9 and 10,
- 11:03there Paul says,
- 11:03it is my prayer
- 11:04that your love
- 11:05may abound
- 11:05more and more
- 11:06with knowledge
- 11:07and all discernment
- 11:09so that you may
- 11:10approve what is excellent
- 11:12and so be pure
- 11:14and blameless
- 11:16for the day of Christ.
- 11:18In Colossians chapter 1,
- 11:20verse 9 and following,
- 11:22there he says,
- 11:23and so,
- 11:23from the day we heard,
- 11:25we have not ceased
- 11:26to pray for you,
- 11:28asking that you may be
- 11:29filled with the knowledge
- 11:30of his will
- 11:30and all spiritual wisdom
- 11:32and understanding
- 11:32so as to walk
- 11:34in a manner
- 11:34worthy of the Lord,
- 11:36fully pleasing to him,
- 11:37bearing fruit
- 11:38in every good work
- 11:39and increasing
- 11:40in the knowledge of God,
- 11:41being strengthened
- 11:42with all power
- 11:43according to his glorious might
- 11:45for all endurance
- 11:46and patience
- 11:48with joy.
- 11:50And then lastly,
- 11:511 Thessalonians chapter 3,
- 11:53verse 11 through 13,
- 11:55now may our God
- 11:56and Father himself
- 11:56and our Lord Jesus
- 11:57direct our way to you
- 11:59and may the Lord
- 12:00make you increase
- 12:01and abound in love
- 12:02for one another
- 12:02and for all
- 12:03as we do for you
- 12:04so that he may establish
- 12:06your hearts blameless
- 12:07in holiness
- 12:08before our God
- 12:09and Father
- 12:09at the coming
- 12:11of our Lord Jesus
- 12:12with all his saints.
- 12:14And then chapter 5
- 12:15and verse 23
- 12:16of 1 Thessalonians,
- 12:18now may the God
- 12:19of peace himself
- 12:20sanctify you completely
- 12:22and may your whole spirit
- 12:24and soul and body
- 12:25be kept blameless
- 12:26at the coming
- 12:27of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 12:30biblical sanctification
- 12:32is progressive.
- 12:34We are from one degree
- 12:36of glory to another
- 12:37being made to look
- 12:39more like Christ.
- 12:41And so it's good for us
- 12:42at the beginning
- 12:43of a new year
- 12:44to set our gazes
- 12:46in that direction.
- 12:49Back to the Edwards quote,
- 12:51he says,
- 12:51being sensible
- 12:52that I am unable
- 12:53to do anything
- 12:54without God's help,
- 12:55I do humbly entreat him
- 12:56by his grace
- 12:58to enable me
- 12:59to keep these resolutions
- 13:00so far as they are agreeable
- 13:03to his will.
- 13:06There's his concern, right?
- 13:08He's looking toward
- 13:09what is it that God
- 13:11would have me do?
- 13:12How am I to live?
- 13:16Edwards resolves,
- 13:17and I just greatly encourage you
- 13:19to look up.
- 13:20I think you'll be
- 13:21prodded on by them.
- 13:24All of his resolves,
- 13:25those 70 of them,
- 13:27were aimed at
- 13:27his character,
- 13:30his personal habits,
- 13:32his relationships,
- 13:33and his service.
- 13:37Now I'm going to give you
- 13:37just three examples
- 13:39of my own
- 13:40for this year.
- 13:41And at the end of this,
- 13:42I'll ask you some questions
- 13:43to help kind of guide
- 13:44your thinking,
- 13:45and I'll put those
- 13:45in your sermon note section
- 13:46as well.
- 13:47You can go ahead
- 13:48and be looking at them
- 13:49if you would like to.
- 13:52So, in addition to my resolve
- 13:54to not make any errors
- 13:55in the bulletin in 2025,
- 13:57resolved to spend more time
- 14:01praying for and with my family.
- 14:06I find that I often pray
- 14:08too little for
- 14:09and too little with my family.
- 14:13And I want to be better at that
- 14:14this year for the glory of God.
- 14:16Secondly,
- 14:18resolved to create
- 14:20more margin
- 14:21in my schedule
- 14:23for reflection.
- 14:26And by margin,
- 14:27I mean times that are unplanned,
- 14:29times that are not packed
- 14:30to the very brim,
- 14:31which so often seems
- 14:32to be the case,
- 14:34just to slow down
- 14:35and to think.
- 14:37And of course,
- 14:38I want to think about good things.
- 14:39I don't want to think about
- 14:39just anything.
- 14:41I want to think about
- 14:42good things,
- 14:43the things that God is doing
- 14:44in my life
- 14:45and the things that God intends for me.
- 14:47I want more space
- 14:48this year
- 14:49for reflection.
- 14:52And then thirdly,
- 14:52resolved.
- 14:54This is a long-standing one
- 14:56many of you have heard.
- 14:57To read 50 books this year,
- 14:59I normally do that.
- 15:01I regularly get into
- 15:02the mid to high 30s.
- 15:04I haven't yet reached 50.
- 15:06I'm kind of sad to say.
- 15:07But,
- 15:08I set a goal
- 15:09and I work toward
- 15:10that goal.
- 15:11This past year,
- 15:12I did an abysmal job at it.
- 15:15Many of you know
- 15:15I've been building a house.
- 15:18I'm in the low to high teens
- 15:20from this past year,
- 15:21depending on how you want
- 15:22to count audiobooks.
- 15:24So,
- 15:24read 50 books
- 15:25and I typically set
- 15:26some direction
- 15:28for that reading.
- 15:30And this year,
- 15:30I want to read 50 books
- 15:32that increase my affection
- 15:34for Christ.
- 15:36So,
- 15:37those are three examples.
- 15:38Three examples
- 15:39of resolves
- 15:41for me.
- 15:42And there are other things
- 15:42that I'd like to do
- 15:43to change.
- 15:44They're practical things.
- 15:46Goals for this next year.
- 15:49This is the kind of resolution
- 15:50that I'm talking about.
- 15:52I think these are the kinds
- 15:53of things
- 15:53we should be committing
- 15:55ourselves to.
- 15:57Right?
- 15:57Aimed
- 15:58the same way Edwards did
- 15:59at character
- 16:00and personal habits
- 16:01and relationships
- 16:02and service.
- 16:05So,
- 16:05let us resolve
- 16:07to be holy.
- 16:09But as we do that,
- 16:10let us resolve
- 16:11to be holy
- 16:13dependently.
- 16:16You are
- 16:18powerless
- 16:19to change yourself
- 16:21in any
- 16:22meaningful way,
- 16:24but God is
- 16:25all-powerful
- 16:26and desires
- 16:27to change you
- 16:28into the image
- 16:29of His Son.
- 16:31God supplies
- 16:32for all of those
- 16:33changes
- 16:34that He asks
- 16:35of us.
- 16:36And we need
- 16:37to make resolutions
- 16:38dependent on Him
- 16:40to work
- 16:41in our
- 16:42efforts.
- 16:44This is why Paul
- 16:45so readily
- 16:46prays
- 16:47for the church.
- 16:48Right?
- 16:48All of those examples
- 16:49that I give you,
- 16:50he's asking that God
- 16:51would do
- 16:52this work
- 16:53because he knows
- 16:54that only God
- 16:55brings about
- 16:56these types
- 16:57of meaningful
- 16:59changes.
- 17:00We cannot
- 17:02just stay
- 17:03on our heels.
- 17:04It requires
- 17:05effort on our part,
- 17:06but it must be
- 17:07God-empowered.
- 17:09It must be
- 17:09imbued
- 17:10by Him
- 17:11for it to
- 17:12accomplish
- 17:12its end goal.
- 17:15So again,
- 17:15notice our text.
- 17:172 Thessalonians
- 17:18chapter 1.
- 17:19Paul says,
- 17:19To this end
- 17:20we always pray
- 17:21for you
- 17:22that our God
- 17:23make make you.
- 17:25And he launches
- 17:26into it.
- 17:26It's worthy
- 17:27of his calling.
- 17:28And notice
- 17:29at the end
- 17:30of verse 11,
- 17:31By His
- 17:33power.
- 17:34And verse 12,
- 17:35According to the
- 17:36grace of our God
- 17:38and the Lord
- 17:39Jesus Christ.
- 17:42Most of the words
- 17:43in these two verses
- 17:43are about God's
- 17:45power working
- 17:45in the lives
- 17:48of believers.
- 17:50Paul wrote
- 17:51in Philippians
- 17:51chapter 2
- 17:52verse 12 and 13,
- 17:53Therefore,
- 17:54my beloved,
- 17:54as you have
- 17:55always obeyed,
- 17:56so now,
- 17:56not only as
- 17:58in my presence
- 17:58but much more
- 17:59in my absence,
- 18:01work out your own
- 18:02salvation with fear
- 18:03and trembling
- 18:05for it is God
- 18:07who works in you
- 18:08both to will
- 18:09and to work
- 18:10for His good
- 18:12pleasure.
- 18:14Meaningful change
- 18:16takes effort
- 18:18on our part.
- 18:20We should think.
- 18:22We should make plans.
- 18:24We should apply.
- 18:25We should jump
- 18:26over hurdles.
- 18:27We should kick
- 18:28down doors.
- 18:29It takes effort.
- 18:32Too many people,
- 18:34too many people
- 18:35want to change
- 18:36and want to make
- 18:37no effort
- 18:38to change
- 18:39at all.
- 18:40But,
- 18:41here,
- 18:41it also takes,
- 18:43it takes
- 18:44the grace
- 18:45of God.
- 18:47If we resolve
- 18:48to be holy,
- 18:49we can have
- 18:50confidence
- 18:51that God
- 18:52will work
- 18:52in our
- 18:53working
- 18:54toward that
- 18:55great end.
- 18:58If you are
- 18:59in Christ
- 18:59this morning,
- 19:01God loves
- 19:02you
- 19:03immeasurably.
- 19:05It's difficult
- 19:06to even comprehend
- 19:07how much
- 19:08God
- 19:09loves you.
- 19:10And He loves
- 19:10you so much
- 19:12that He is working
- 19:13to conform you
- 19:14to be like
- 19:16His Son
- 19:17who had
- 19:18no sin,
- 19:21no baggage
- 19:22of it,
- 19:23didn't carry
- 19:24around the
- 19:25guilt of it,
- 19:26had no separation
- 19:28of fellowship
- 19:28with the Father.
- 19:31God loves you
- 19:32so much
- 19:33that He's working
- 19:34to give you
- 19:35Himself
- 19:35by making you
- 19:37look more
- 19:38like Christ.
- 19:40Great
- 19:41high end
- 19:42for you
- 19:43to the praise
- 19:44of His name.
- 19:47So,
- 19:47if we aim
- 19:48ourselves
- 19:48in this direction,
- 19:49if we're
- 19:50looking to grow
- 19:51in our holiness
- 19:52to look
- 19:52more like
- 19:54Jesus,
- 19:55we can have
- 19:55the confidence
- 19:56that God
- 19:57will help us
- 19:58to that end.
- 20:00And,
- 20:00oh,
- 20:01do we need
- 20:02His help.
- 20:03remember
- 20:05Edwards'
- 20:07preamble.
- 20:08He says,
- 20:09being sensible,
- 20:10being reasonable,
- 20:12being sensible,
- 20:13that I am unable
- 20:14to do anything
- 20:15without
- 20:16God's
- 20:17help.
- 20:19I do
- 20:19humbly
- 20:20entreat Him
- 20:21by His grace
- 20:22to enable me
- 20:24to keep
- 20:25these resolutions.
- 20:28So,
- 20:28we should
- 20:29resolve to be
- 20:30holy,
- 20:30we should
- 20:30resolve
- 20:31dependently
- 20:32and
- 20:33we should
- 20:34also
- 20:34resolve
- 20:35for the
- 20:36glory
- 20:37of Christ.
- 20:39The third
- 20:39point.
- 20:41Why did
- 20:42Paul want
- 20:42to see
- 20:43the Thessalonian
- 20:43believers
- 20:44grow in
- 20:45holiness?
- 20:46Why does
- 20:47Paul desire
- 20:47that we
- 20:48would grow
- 20:49in holiness?
- 20:51Look at the
- 20:52beginning of
- 20:52verse 12.
- 20:54So that
- 20:55the name
- 20:57of our
- 20:57Lord Jesus
- 20:58may be
- 20:59glorified
- 21:00in you.
- 21:01not just
- 21:03about us.
- 21:05Our good
- 21:06is a good
- 21:06thing to
- 21:07aim at,
- 21:08but it's
- 21:08more than
- 21:09that.
- 21:09It's also
- 21:10for the
- 21:10glory
- 21:11of Christ.
- 21:14Resolutions
- 21:14aimed at
- 21:15making you
- 21:16a better
- 21:17you
- 21:18miss the
- 21:19mark.
- 21:20When your
- 21:21end goal
- 21:22is your
- 21:24glory
- 21:24and not
- 21:25the glory
- 21:25of Christ,
- 21:27in your
- 21:27intention,
- 21:28you have
- 21:29made
- 21:30yourself
- 21:30a god
- 21:31and you
- 21:32have
- 21:32vowed
- 21:33before a
- 21:33paltry
- 21:34throne.
- 21:36A
- 21:36resolution
- 21:36to be
- 21:37more
- 21:37healthy.
- 21:38For
- 21:38example,
- 21:40fall
- 21:40short if
- 21:41it is
- 21:41merely
- 21:42for your
- 21:43image.
- 21:45Is it
- 21:46bad to be
- 21:46more healthy?
- 21:47Of course
- 21:47it's not.
- 21:48But if
- 21:48the aim
- 21:49of it
- 21:49is that
- 21:50you
- 21:50would
- 21:50look
- 21:51good
- 21:51to
- 21:51others,
- 21:53then it's
- 21:54falling
- 21:54too
- 21:54short.
- 21:56If it
- 21:56is aimed
- 21:57properly
- 21:57to be
- 21:59healthy
- 21:59in order
- 21:59to give
- 22:00yourself
- 22:01and service
- 22:02to others,
- 22:04then it's
- 22:04a good
- 22:05thing to
- 22:06resolve
- 22:06to.
- 22:08Samuel
- 22:09Rutherford,
- 22:09Puritan
- 22:10preacher,
- 22:10once said,
- 22:11build your
- 22:12nest upon
- 22:13no tree
- 22:14here,
- 22:15for you
- 22:16see,
- 22:17God
- 22:18has sold
- 22:19the forest
- 22:19to death.
- 22:22We should
- 22:22invest in
- 22:23that kingdom
- 22:24that is
- 22:25coming.
- 22:27And that
- 22:27means good
- 22:28things happen
- 22:29here.
- 22:31Paul wrote
- 22:32in 1 Corinthians
- 22:33chapter 10
- 22:33verse 31,
- 22:34so whether
- 22:34you eat
- 22:34or drink
- 22:35or whatever
- 22:36you do,
- 22:36do all
- 22:37to the
- 22:38glory
- 22:38of God.
- 22:40And in
- 22:40Colossians 3
- 22:41verse 17,
- 22:41and whatever
- 22:42you do
- 22:42in word
- 22:43or deed,
- 22:44do everything
- 22:44in the name
- 22:45of the
- 22:46Lord Jesus,
- 22:47representing
- 22:48Him,
- 22:49giving thanks
- 22:49to God
- 22:50the Father
- 22:50through Him.
- 22:52It is the
- 22:53high calling
- 22:54and the
- 22:55greatest joy
- 22:56of the
- 22:56Christian
- 22:56to know
- 22:57God
- 22:58and to
- 22:59make Him
- 23:00known.
- 23:00A chosen race,
- 23:00a royal priesthood,
- 23:02a holy nation,
- 23:03a people
- 23:04for His
- 23:04own
- 23:05possession.
- 23:07Why?
- 23:07Why do we
- 23:08belong to
- 23:09God?
- 23:09Peter doesn't
- 23:10leave us
- 23:10guessing
- 23:11that you
- 23:12may
- 23:12proclaim
- 23:13the excellencies
- 23:15of Him
- 23:15who called
- 23:16you out
- 23:16of darkness
- 23:17into
- 23:18His
- 23:19marvelous
- 23:20light.
- 23:21Once you
- 23:22were not
- 23:23a people,
- 23:24but now
- 23:24you are
- 23:25God's
- 23:26people,
- 23:26changed.
- 23:27Once you
- 23:27had not
- 23:28received
- 23:28mercy,
- 23:29but now
- 23:29you
- 23:29have
- 23:30received
- 23:31mercy.
- 23:33Beloved,
- 23:33I urge
- 23:34you as
- 23:34sojourners
- 23:35and exiles
- 23:36to abstain
- 23:37from the
- 23:37passions of
- 23:37the flesh
- 23:38which wage
- 23:39war against
- 23:40your soul.
- 23:41Keep your
- 23:42conduct among
- 23:42the Gentiles
- 23:43honorable,
- 23:44so that when
- 23:45they speak
- 23:45of you
- 23:45as evildoers,
- 23:48they may
- 23:48see your
- 23:48good deeds
- 23:49and glorify
- 23:50God on
- 23:51the day
- 23:52of
- 23:53visitation.
- 23:55Our
- 23:55resolutions
- 23:56should be
- 23:57for holiness
- 23:57and they
- 23:58should be
- 23:58dependent on
- 23:59God to
- 23:59work in
- 24:00them and
- 24:00they should
- 24:01be for
- 24:02the glory
- 24:02of Christ.
- 24:05Again,
- 24:06Edwards
- 24:06preamble,
- 24:07being sensible
- 24:08that I am
- 24:08unable to do
- 24:09anything without
- 24:09God's help,
- 24:10I do humbly
- 24:11!
- 24:11Entreat
- 24:11Him by
- 24:12His grace
- 24:13to enable
- 24:13me to
- 24:13keep these
- 24:14resolutions
- 24:14so far
- 24:15as they
- 24:16are agreeable
- 24:16to His
- 24:17will
- 24:17for
- 24:18Christ.
- 24:20sake.
- 24:23So let's
- 24:24resolve to
- 24:25be holy,
- 24:26let's do it
- 24:26dependently,
- 24:27and let's
- 24:27do it
- 24:28for the
- 24:29glory of
- 24:30Christ.
- 24:31So in
- 24:31conclusion,
- 24:33I want you
- 24:33to think,
- 24:35and I want
- 24:35to help you
- 24:36do that by
- 24:36asking you
- 24:36seven
- 24:37questions
- 24:39with some
- 24:40follow-ups,
- 24:41and these are
- 24:41again in your
- 24:42notes.
- 24:43What about
- 24:44you most
- 24:45needs
- 24:45to change?
- 24:48What sins
- 24:50seem to
- 24:50ensnare
- 24:51you?
- 24:51What habits
- 24:52do you
- 24:53neglect?
- 24:55Do you
- 24:55read your
- 24:56Bible enough?
- 24:57Do you
- 24:57pray enough?
- 24:58Are you
- 24:59regularly
- 24:59sharing the
- 25:00gospel?
- 25:01Do you
- 25:02work hard?
- 25:03Do you
- 25:04rest
- 25:05well?
- 25:08All just
- 25:08examples,
- 25:09all just
- 25:09thoughts.
- 25:10What about
- 25:10you most
- 25:12needs
- 25:13to change?
- 25:15I gave you
- 25:15some examples
- 25:16for myself.
- 25:17things that
- 25:19pop in to
- 25:21change?
- 25:22What are the
- 25:23motivations that
- 25:23come up
- 25:24underneath those
- 25:25things that
- 25:25pop in to
- 25:26your mind?
- 25:28Is your
- 25:29desire for
- 25:29change for
- 25:30God's glory?
- 25:32That way,
- 25:33you need to
- 25:33go back to
- 25:34number one.
- 25:35What about
- 25:35you most
- 25:36needs to
- 25:37change?
- 25:37What should
- 25:37be motivating
- 25:38that change?
- 25:41change?
- 25:43Thirdly,
- 25:44how are you
- 25:45going to
- 25:47change?
- 25:49What is
- 25:49the plan?
- 25:51Beloved,
- 25:51most of the
- 25:52biblical
- 25:52counseling we
- 25:53do here as
- 25:54a church is
- 25:55helping people
- 25:56come up with
- 25:56a good plan
- 25:57for change.
- 25:57They typically
- 25:58know what
- 25:58needs to
- 25:59change.
- 25:59They know
- 26:00the goal.
- 26:00They know
- 26:01where they're
- 26:01trying to
- 26:01go.
- 26:02They just
- 26:02need help
- 26:03making a
- 26:03plan to
- 26:04get there.
- 26:06What's the
- 26:07plan?
- 26:08What are the
- 26:08steps you're
- 26:08going to
- 26:09take to
- 26:11change?
- 26:12God has
- 26:12given us
- 26:12so many
- 26:13tools at
- 26:14our disposal
- 26:15and he
- 26:16works in
- 26:17those
- 26:18tools.
- 26:20Scripture
- 26:21reading and
- 26:21prayer and
- 26:23gathering with
- 26:23the church.
- 26:25Just some
- 26:25examples.
- 26:28Fourth,
- 26:28what is
- 26:30most likely
- 26:30to prevent
- 26:32your change?
- 26:34You know
- 26:35the obstacles.
- 26:35The things
- 26:36that most
- 26:36need to
- 26:36change about
- 26:37you are
- 26:37probably
- 26:38things that
- 26:38you've
- 26:38tried to
- 26:39change
- 26:39before and
- 26:40you've
- 26:41bumped
- 26:42your head.
- 26:42You've
- 26:43fallen
- 26:44over
- 26:44the
- 26:45hurdle.
- 26:47What
- 26:47circumstances
- 26:48need to
- 26:48change in
- 26:49order for
- 26:49you to
- 26:51change?
- 26:52Your
- 26:53schedule?
- 26:55Your
- 26:55friends?
- 26:56Maybe
- 26:56some
- 26:56influences
- 26:57in your
- 26:57life that
- 26:57are not
- 26:58conducive
- 26:59to change?
- 27:01Have you
- 27:02failed to
- 27:02change so
- 27:03many times
- 27:04in the
- 27:05past that
- 27:05you are
- 27:06afraid
- 27:06to
- 27:07even
- 27:08try?
- 27:11Fifth,
- 27:13what
- 27:13truth or
- 27:14truths do
- 27:15you need
- 27:15to believe
- 27:16in order
- 27:17to change?
- 27:21Paul says
- 27:21a nation
- 27:22for those
- 27:23who are
- 27:23in Christ
- 27:25Jesus.
- 27:27When I
- 27:27fail to
- 27:28change,
- 27:29I need
- 27:29to be
- 27:29reminded
- 27:30of this.
- 27:31I need
- 27:31to be
- 27:32reminded
- 27:32that God
- 27:32loves me
- 27:33in Christ
- 27:34and I
- 27:34am not
- 27:35condemned
- 27:36because of
- 27:36my failures
- 27:37but I'm
- 27:38set free
- 27:39from them.
- 27:39I'm
- 27:40liberated
- 27:40from them.
- 27:43This is
- 27:43such a
- 27:43motivation
- 27:44to change,
- 27:45to pick
- 27:45up and
- 27:46to keep
- 27:46moving
- 27:47on.
- 27:49Or how
- 27:49about
- 27:50Philippians
- 27:50chapter 1
- 27:51and verse
- 27:516 where
- 27:52Paul says
- 27:53I am
- 27:53sure of
- 27:54this,
- 27:55that he
- 27:56who began
- 27:56a good
- 27:56work in
- 27:57you will
- 27:58bring it
- 27:58to
- 27:59completion
- 28:00at the
- 28:01day of
- 28:02Christ.
- 28:03I need
- 28:04to be
- 28:04reminded
- 28:05sometimes
- 28:05of
- 28:05Paul's
- 28:06confidence
- 28:07in the
- 28:08saving
- 28:08work
- 28:08of
- 28:09God
- 28:09to
- 28:10give
- 28:10me
- 28:10the
- 28:10courage
- 28:11to
- 28:11press
- 28:12on
- 28:12and
- 28:14to
- 28:14change.
- 28:14So what
- 28:15truths
- 28:15do you
- 28:15need
- 28:16to
- 28:16believe
- 28:16in
- 28:16order
- 28:17to
- 28:17change?
- 28:17Six,
- 28:18are you
- 28:20committed
- 28:20to
- 28:21change?
- 28:23Are you
- 28:23a half-hearted
- 28:25attempter
- 28:25at change
- 28:26or do you
- 28:27believe
- 28:27God
- 28:28intends
- 28:28for you
- 28:29to?
- 28:29He's
- 28:30got good
- 28:30plans
- 28:31for you.
- 28:31He's
- 28:32going to
- 28:32empower
- 28:33the
- 28:34work
- 28:34because it
- 28:35will
- 28:36take
- 28:36work
- 28:37on your
- 28:38part.
- 28:39Are you
- 28:39committed
- 28:39to
- 28:39change?
- 28:40Are you
- 28:41ready?
- 28:43And lastly,
- 28:45how can the
- 28:46church
- 28:46help you?
- 28:48How can
- 28:49those people
- 28:49sitting to
- 28:50your left
- 28:50and to
- 28:50your right,
- 28:51how can
- 28:51the elders
- 28:52of our
- 28:52church,
- 28:52how can
- 28:53we
- 28:54help
- 28:56you
- 28:57change?
- 28:58To help
- 28:58you think
- 28:59about those
- 29:00things you
- 29:00need to
- 29:00put to
- 29:01death,
- 29:02those
- 29:02things you
- 29:02need to
- 29:02be
- 29:03putting
- 29:03on
- 29:04for
- 29:05your
- 29:05good
- 29:05and
- 29:06for
- 29:06the
- 29:06glory
- 29:07of
- 29:08Christ?
- 29:09So let
- 29:10us resolve
- 29:11to be
- 29:12holy.
- 29:12Let us
- 29:13resolve to
- 29:13do so
- 29:14dependently
- 29:15and let
- 29:16us do
- 29:16it
- 29:17for the
- 29:18glory
- 29:18of our
- 29:19Savior
- 29:19and Lord.
- 29:20Let's
- 29:21pray.
- 29:21as