NCCF Church Sharing

August 24, 202028mWatch on YouTube

Speaker: NCCF Church Title: NCCF Church Sharing Date: 08/23/2020 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The speaker emphasizes that the goal of Christians is to reflect Jesus by growing in personal purity and functioning corporately within the local church. Drawing from Jonah's experience, the message stresses the necessity of calling out to the Lord in distress and remembering Him amidst difficult times. The sermon also uses the story of Joshua and the Gibeonites to warn against making covenants or decisions based on short-term appearances rather than seeking God's counsel.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

Learning from Jonah's prayer in distressThe speaker reflects on Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish, realizing that complaining about difficult circumstances is like following vain idol thoughts instead of turning to God with thanksgiving.Jonah 2:2

Avoiding Israel's mistake with the GibeonitesDrawing from the book of Joshua, the speaker notes how the Israelites failed to seek the counsel of the Lord and were easily deceived by the Gibeonites because they relied on their own reasoning.

Overcoming hindrances to seeking God's counselOverconfidence, impatience, and leaning on worldly information or human alternatives instead of waiting on God are major obstacles that lead to wrong decisions.

The statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream as self-willThe large statue from Nebuchadnezzar's dream represents the human flesh and self-will, which is in enmity against God and ultimately deserves to be completely crushed by the stone representing the Holy Spirit.Daniel 2:31

Understanding the selfless love of GodTrue love comes from God and is focused on the attitude of the heart rather than selfish motives, enabling believers to be patient, kind, and forgiving toward their families.

Finding endurance through the way of the crossEndurance in trials comes sequentially by bearing the cross, believing in its way, finding hope, and ultimately receiving the joy set before believers.1 Corinthians 13:7

The fact, process, and cause and effect of God's loveThe love of God is inseparably tied to God Himself as a gift poured into the believer's heart, requiring daily yielding to the Holy Spirit through brokenness so that Christ's life and aroma may bless others.