Today’s message summary from Pastor Gus Brown:
Today, we are starting a new series pertaining to salvation, but this series is more about how one is to behave after one gets saved. Salvation, in itself, helps to remove some of the struggles of life. It doesn’t remove them completely, but now we have, along with the ability to endure life as it happens and to see the hope through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. There must be a desire to grow in your salvation; otherwise, you will miss out on the blessings that God bestows upon you and the maturity that comes with a healthy relationship in Jesus Christ.
Salvation is real. It is real if you allow yourself to experience the goodness and blessings of God.
Why were you born?
Were you born to carry on a name or to be a part of a family? Was it to be a great professional or something like that?
Do you know that you were born with a real purpose?
Your purpose for being born the first time and the second time is that you might know God. The second time is your salvation–to be born again for the purpose of having a real relationship with God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
To be born again is a real privilege. You are born again because God reveals Himself to You for who He really is.
God knows who you are, but now you have to get to know them (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Your real purpose in life is to have a relationship in which you learn and experience the person of God.
- The first blessing that God grants us is to know Him and to experience Him.
Psalm 14:1-4
1 The fool says in his heart, “God does not exist.”
They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.
4 Will evildoers never understand?
They consume My people as they consume bread;
they do not call on the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3
1 I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.
2 He brought me up from a desolate pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord.
God helps us to see the purpose of life. Without the first birth, we could never experience the second birth.
John 17:3
This is eternal life:
that they may know You, the only true God,
and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ.
God blesses a person with life and the ability to experience it.
John 17:4
I have glorified You on the earth
by completing the work You gave Me to do.
Romans 5:1-2, 10
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life!
- To know and to be known by God is very important. To not do this is to not experience His blessings.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
In order to see God’s blessings in big things, we need to see how he blesses us in the smallest of things. It’s all about appreciation for what you have.
Psalm 73:25-26
25 Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.
Jeremiah 1:5
I chose you before I formed you in the womb;
I set you apart before you were born.
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
Exodus 33:17
The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me.
2 Timothy 1:12
…and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
- Too many people live life in a state of failure. Why?
There is an absence of a relationship with God.
John 17:15-17
15 I am not praying
that You take them out of the world
but that You protect them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world,
as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by the truth;
Your word is truth.
Philippians 1:6
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
John 14:16, 18, 26
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
- There are two concepts that determine your experience of victory and blessings in your life–maturity and freedom.
Ephesians 4:13-15
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ.
Luke 22:31
Simon, Simon, look out! Satan asked to sift you like wheat.
John 10:10
A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
1 Corinthians 10:23
“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up.
When we acknowledge the truth and wisdom of Jesus Christ, we mature in the faith.
Satan knows how to block out growing and blessings in the faith:
- To be against the things of God. Satan tries to make you believe that God wants you to have it.
- He keeps your mind on your past life. You are to forget the past and press on.
- Keep you prone to failure.
- Controlled by your bad habits. The fact is that you can change your habits.
- Confusion. Remember that God is not the author of confusion.
- Blinded to the truth.
- Refuse to listen to or hear the truth. Faith enables you to receive truth.
- We will not speak truth to self. You have to accept the truth when other people give it to you.
- We choose to believe a lie. Remember that Satan lies all of the time (John 8:44).
- He wants you to believe that you don’t have a godly inheritance. You do have a hope and a future.
Always remember that God is able to guide you into a better life. He is the Author and Originator of your faith, and He delivers on His promises. You have to trust that He can and will do these things for you.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 