MACON TRANSITIONAL CENTER - June 1, 2014
Wayne, Julia and I went to Macon TC to hold the Sunday morning service. We had an amazing praise and worship service...the best one we've ever had. Then Wayne brought the message on "Treasures of a Wasted Life" taking his text from Philippians 3:1-14.
Wayne, Julia and I went to Macon TC to hold the Sunday morning service. We had an amazing praise and worship service...the best one we've ever had. Then Wayne brought the message on "Treasures of a Wasted Life" taking his text from Philippians 3:1-14.
We need to want our lives to count for something ... we need to want our lives to count for HIM!
In this scripture Paul is talking about his life. He is addressing the church. Jews were coming in bringing a list of things the Gentiles had to do to follow Christ, but they were actually hindering the advancement of the Gospel. Paul lists seven things .. everything he has received and everything he has achieved.
When you get lists in scripture, you need to pay attention because the writer is trying to tell us something. The seven things he listed were in five categories: 1. Family Heritage 2. Social Status 3. Biblical Knowledge - there is a difference between "knowing" the Bible and studying it to be imitators of Christ. 4. Religious Activities - zel for what you do 5. Moral lifestyle
What one thing do all of these things have in common? They are all good things. But all of these good things were keeping Paul from Christ. It is possible to have all of these things and yet when we get to the end, have a wasted life. The only thing that counts in this life is CHRIST! Paul is redundant throughout these scriptures that it is all lost and that Christ is far greater than all of these things.
What does it mean to be a Christ follower? Treasure chest of holy joy! Everything and everyone is "waste" without HIM!
This list is subtly deceptive because it can mask our true spiritual condition. The questions is .... do you KNOW Christ? Not do you know OF Him or believe in Him .... but DO YOU KNOW HIM? Is He your ALL? Matt. 13:44-46 We have found something worth losing EVERYTHING for. Full truth of what it means to be a Christ-follower. Phil. 2:25-30 Epaphroditus was an "unknown" ... not a "biggie" like Job, Moses or Paul ... but he was sold out to Christ. Nothing counted anything for him except what Christ asked him to do.
How are we going to impact people in our lives if God is not our everything? Who wants to serve a God if you cannot be happy? How are we going to impact people when we are trying to "walk the fence" - Satan owns the fence. This is the kind of church we see today.
We ended the service with discussions on the message. We always have an open forum with the guys. We gave an altar call but everyone in the room professed to be saved. We then got into a circle and closed in prayer.
We need to want our lives to count for something ... we need to want our lives to count for HIM!
In this scripture Paul is talking about his life. He is addressing the church. Jews were coming in bringing a list of things the Gentiles had to do to follow Christ, but they were actually hindering the advancement of the Gospel. Paul lists seven things .. everything he has received and everything he has achieved.
When you get lists in scripture, you need to pay attention because the writer is trying to tell us something. The seven things he listed were in five categories: 1. Family Heritage 2. Social Status 3. Biblical Knowledge - there is a difference between "knowing" the Bible and studying it to be imitators of Christ. 4. Religious Activities - zel for what you do 5. Moral lifestyle
What one thing do all of these things have in common? They are all good things. But all of these good things were keeping Paul from Christ. It is possible to have all of these things and yet when we get to the end, have a wasted life. The only thing that counts in this life is CHRIST! Paul is redundant throughout these scriptures that it is all lost and that Christ is far greater than all of these things.
What does it mean to be a Christ follower? Treasure chest of holy joy! Everything and everyone is "waste" without HIM!
This list is subtly deceptive because it can mask our true spiritual condition. The questions is .... do you KNOW Christ? Not do you know OF Him or believe in Him .... but DO YOU KNOW HIM? Is He your ALL? Matt. 13:44-46 We have found something worth losing EVERYTHING for. Full truth of what it means to be a Christ-follower. Phil. 2:25-30 Epaphroditus was an "unknown" ... not a "biggie" like Job, Moses or Paul ... but he was sold out to Christ. Nothing counted anything for him except what Christ asked him to do.
How are we going to impact people in our lives if God is not our everything? Who wants to serve a God if you cannot be happy? How are we going to impact people when we are trying to "walk the fence" - Satan owns the fence. This is the kind of church we see today.
We ended the service with discussions on the message. We always have an open forum with the guys. We gave an altar call but everyone in the room professed to be saved. We then got into a circle and closed in prayer.