Doors

“We shouldn’t focus on the doors that God closes. Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Change means growth.” (Anonymous)

²⁸ We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan. ²⁹ God knew them before he made the world. And he decided that they would be like his Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:28-29, ERV)

Review: Our primary purpose in life is to love God (worship). We love God by loving one another (fellowship), and becoming like Jesus (discipleship).

There are four ways we need to become more like Jesus:

1.   Truth

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

2.   Trials

² Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. ³ Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4, AMP)

3.   Temptations

¹³ Whenever you feel tempted to do something bad, you should not say, “God is tempting me.” Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone. (James 1:13, ERV)

 

a)   Our vulnerability

^“So anyone who thinks they are standing strong should be careful that they don’t fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12, ERV)

b)   Our victory

^“ The only temptations that you have are the same temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ERV)

4.   Trespasses

^“For if ye may forgive men their trespasses, He also will forgive you -- your Father who [is] in the heavens.” (Matthew 6:14, YLT)

 “The circumstances we ask God to change are often the circumstances God is using to change us.” (Max Lucado)[i]

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[i] Inspired by the sermon “Change by Design: Living by Design” (Installment four), Sunday May 19, 2019, Pastor Dave Jansen, CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.