Erika-In-Progress

On Sunday afternoons I'm going to try to make it a habit to respond to the sermon I just heard that morning. This is more for my own benefit than anyone else's (just like this blog), and is for the purpose of meditating on those scriptures and ideas presented and then applying them to my own life, and therefore (hopefully), deepening my relationship with my awesome God.

Sermon given by Brett Kays of Southpoint Community Christian Church

• Outward Appearance is overrated.  (1 Peter 3:3-4, 1 Timothy 2:9-10 NLT)

Modesty can be hard to come by, even in the Church, unfortunately.  I can sort of understand why denominations like the Mennonites and Amish and others stress the importance of plain clothes, no make-up, etc. for the women.  It does make it harder to put thoughts of your own appearance above what's in your heart if you only wear one style of dress and your hair always hidden in public.  But personally, I think that is a little extreme.  I do think it would be beneficial for all women and young ladies in the Church to examine their wardrobe for any items that might inappropriatly attract the eyes of the opposite sex–and then never wear them again.  Make-up should be for the purpose of making one look healthy, not sexy like all the ads tell us.  And women need to always "make themselves attractive by the good things they do."(1 Tim. 2:10)  Things like serving in the Church and in the community, praying for the lost and hurting, teaching their children about Jesus, and supporting their husbands.  

• Focus on inner beauty.   (Romans 12:2, 1 Sam. 16:7 NIV)

Renewing of the mind…so that I can know for certain what God's good, pleasing, and perfect will is.  How does this happen? How can I renew my mind?  The lexicon in my Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible says the word renew comes from the Greek Anakainosis.  Ana- again; kainosis (related to kainos)- qualitatively new.  Therefore, a renewing or a renovation which makes a person different than in the past.  I don't do the renewing…it happens by me presenting my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God (Rom. 12:1)  When I do that…he transforms me…like a caterpillar into a butterfly.  Sacrifice means to offer something precious (my body), or to surrender something for the sake of something else.  So if I offer Him my body He will give me a new (and better!) mind that is able to test and approve His will…  That's not such a bad deal now is it?  LOL

• It's More Important to Be Good than Look Good. (Matt. 23:27-28 NLT, John 3:2-3, 2 Cor. 5:17 NIV)

I don't just want to look good for the sake of gaining other peoples' approval and admiration (well, my flesh enjoys that but my spirit knows better).  I want to BE GOOD, inside where my heart is.  I want all the evil, dirty filth out of there.  That only happens by being born again….being renewed by God, like the butterfly again.  It is both painful and pleasurable to give up my own fleshly desires in order to gain eternal rewards such as joy and new life in Christ.

• God Can Change You From the Inside Out. (Isaiah 64:6, Isaiah 53:2)

I was filthy, sinful, with an inclination to rebel against God, until Jesus (who was plain in appearance) allowed His appearance to be disfigured beyond recognition and human likeness.  He became as gross and ugly on the outside as I was on the inside.  But He was always beautiful, just the same….  And He did it for me, and for you!

• You Can Start Your New Life Today. (John 3:5, Colossians 2:12, Acts 2:38, Gal. 3:27, Colossians 3:12)

Even though I was baptized over 6 years ago, I need to daily put my own desires on the offering table.  I need to discipline myself to form new, godly habits.  I need to spend time in the Word of God and in prayer with Him.  Clothe myself with Christ, and with compassioon, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (all of which were modeled by Christ when He walked the earth and are recorded in the Gospels).

1. Believe
2. Repent
3. Be Baptized

1. Forgiveness
2. the Holy Spirit
3. Eternal Life