Ps Gary Rivas
Happy New Old
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 NIV)
✔️There needs to be a clear change in my life when I start walking with The Lord. If people are unsure that I'm a Christ follower, then there's a problem, I'm still walking in my own strength, I need to put off my old self.
CHALLENGE FOR 2014
✔️BEING DIFFERENT IN THE AREA OF MY MIND
-in the area of my mind, what my mind is focused on (our minds are defaulted to focusing on ourselves our needs our flesh) what we focus our minds on determines how we live our lives.
-this means really focusing on reading and meditating on Gods word so it can saturate our minds with the Lords word.
-this means listening to the right music
-a lost mind invents false gods that we begin to worship
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
✔️BEING DIFFERENT IN THE AREA OF MY HEART
-when our minds are filled with things of this world, we get stubborn in our hearts
✔️BEING DIFFERENT IN OUR ACTIONS
-we can serve others
-we can care for others
-have compassion and discipline with love not judgement and anger
✔️BE DISCERNING
-what is it that God requires of me?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1, 2 NIV)
-spend time alone with God so you can learn how to discern His voice so that when the world is loud you can hear His still small voice.
-join a small group to help you discern what's right and not, what's God's voice and what's not.
Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God. (James 4:4 NIV)
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. (1 John 2:1, 3-5 NLT)
✔️BE DECISIVE
- Stop talking about "doing stuff" either be FOR God or AGAINST GOD - make a call, stop being lukewarm
-we need to put off some stuff that's corrupting us - what's the stuff that's holding me back. Don't bring that baggage into 2014. Write it down, pray over it, get help.
-be renewed, give up the old self, this is a daily process. Don't allow anyone to remind you of who you WERE. But before you can do that you have to RENOUNCE THE OLD
Sent from my iPad
Happy New Old
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 NIV)
✔️There needs to be a clear change in my life when I start walking with The Lord. If people are unsure that I'm a Christ follower, then there's a problem, I'm still walking in my own strength, I need to put off my old self.
CHALLENGE FOR 2014
✔️BEING DIFFERENT IN THE AREA OF MY MIND
-in the area of my mind, what my mind is focused on (our minds are defaulted to focusing on ourselves our needs our flesh) what we focus our minds on determines how we live our lives.
-this means really focusing on reading and meditating on Gods word so it can saturate our minds with the Lords word.
-this means listening to the right music
-a lost mind invents false gods that we begin to worship
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
✔️BEING DIFFERENT IN THE AREA OF MY HEART
-when our minds are filled with things of this world, we get stubborn in our hearts
✔️BEING DIFFERENT IN OUR ACTIONS
-we can serve others
-we can care for others
-have compassion and discipline with love not judgement and anger
✔️BE DISCERNING
-what is it that God requires of me?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1, 2 NIV)
-spend time alone with God so you can learn how to discern His voice so that when the world is loud you can hear His still small voice.
-join a small group to help you discern what's right and not, what's God's voice and what's not.
Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God. (James 4:4 NIV)
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. (1 John 2:1, 3-5 NLT)
✔️BE DECISIVE
- Stop talking about "doing stuff" either be FOR God or AGAINST GOD - make a call, stop being lukewarm
-we need to put off some stuff that's corrupting us - what's the stuff that's holding me back. Don't bring that baggage into 2014. Write it down, pray over it, get help.
-be renewed, give up the old self, this is a daily process. Don't allow anyone to remind you of who you WERE. But before you can do that you have to RENOUNCE THE OLD
Sent from my iPad
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Traci