Allowing God To Work In Us - Charles Banna
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Summary
The central message is that God rescues us from a deep pit of sin and degradation, calling us out from our former state. God's purpose for calling us is to use us to be a blessing to others, transforming our lives from the inside out, much like turning a wilderness into a garden. This transformation requires acknowledging that our salvation is a miracle from God, not our own effort.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Look to the rock from which you were hewnGod reminds believers to remember where He picked them up from, rescuing them from the deep pit of sin.Isaiah 51:1Ephesians 2:1
The call of AbrahamGod called Abraham out from his homeland with a purpose to bless him and make him a blessing to all families of the earth.
Making the wilderness like EdenGod promises to take our waste places and wilderness lives and make them like the garden of Eden, filling them with joy and thanksgiving.
The value of submitting to the sculptorJust like stones from a quarry, the more a rock submits to the sculptor's design and polishing, the more valuable it becomes.
Conformed to the image of JesusGod causes all things to work together for good so that we may be conformed to the character of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The difficulty of breaking human willIt took years for God to break figures like Abraham, Jacob, and Moses because people naturally hold on to their own will rather than saying 'thy will be done.'
Seeing trials as tools in the sculptor's handTrials and hardships are like the hammer and fire used on steel or stone to increase its value and make us like Christ.
The Potter and the clayGod uses the illustration of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah to show that He is forming us, and when we resist, He must reshape us.Jeremiah 18:6
King Nebuchadnezzar's humblingBecause Nebuchadnezzar became proud and claimed glory for himself, God humbled him like a beast for seven years until he acknowledged God's dominion.
The stone cut without handsNebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue crushed by a small stone points prophetically to Jesus coming to establish His eternal kingdom.Daniel 2:35
Living stones built into a templeGod calls believers out of the world not to be isolated, but to be built together as living stones with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone.
Equipped for the body of ChristGod gives gifts like pastors, teachers, and evangelists to the church to equip the saints for the building up of the body of Christ.
What is a sinner?Being a sinner fundamentally means wanting to live independently of God and follow one's own way rather than depending on Him.
The prodigal son's returnLike the prodigal son and the tax collectors who admitted they were not okay, true repentance means giving up our independent way and returning to the Father.
