Jeremy Utley - Taking Responsibility For Our Desires

Jeremy UtleyAugust 8, 201616mWatch on YouTube

In this collectionJeremy Utley130 messages

Speaker: Jeremy Utley Title: Taking Responsibility For Our Desires Date: 08-07-2016 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 central message is that while God has the power to write His law on our hearts, Christians must take personal responsibility for cultivating a heart that desires what pleases God. This involves actively guarding what fills our minds—our thoughts, entertainment, and conversations—rather than passively waiting for transformation. True spiritual health requires cooperation with God's work, much like needing to change diet alongside working out at a gym.

Outline

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

God's promise of the New CovenantGod promises in the New Covenant to write His law on our hearts and minds so that obeying Him becomes our natural desire.

Taking responsibility for our desiresInstead of passively waiting for God to change our desires, we must take responsibility and actively grab hold of His promises by faith.

What does our speech reveal?Jesus explains that the mouth speaks out of what fills the heart, revealing the true condition of our inner desires.

Making the tree goodJesus commands us to make the tree good, which means we carry the responsibility to control what we allow to fill our hearts and thoughts.

Spiritual health requires proper spiritual dietJust as a person cannot expect physical strength while eating junk food, we cannot ask God to change our hearts while simultaneously consuming worldly filth.

Guarding our affections through associationGod commanded Israel not to intermarry with surrounding nations because He knew people ultimately end up loving what their companions love.

Applying affection guardrails to media and readingThe music we listen to and the authors we read shape our affections, drawing us either closer to Christ or toward the pleasures of the world.

Better sorry than safeMany believers operate on the principle of wanting to consume as much permissible pleasure as possible without getting hurt, showing they value pleasure more than God's happiness.

Sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the SpiritThose who sow to the flesh reap corruption, while those who sow to the Spirit reap eternal life through proactive spiritual choices.Galatians 6:8

Setting our minds on the SpiritBelievers are not helpless victims of their desires; we are called to actively set our minds on the things of the Spirit.Romans 8:5

Doing our part so God can do His partWhen we do what only we can do by making the tree good and setting our minds on the Spirit, God does what only He can do to fulfill the New Covenant in us.

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Jeremy Utley - Taking Responsibility For Our Desires

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