Powerful Living Comes from Powerful Obedience

Larry Siegle
01/07/24 - Sun AM

Link to sermon video: Powerful Living Comes from Powerful Obedience - L Siegle

Powerful Living Comes from Powerful Obedience

(Rom. 6:16, 17)

INTRODUCTION

1.  This next part of the series is, “Powerful Living Comes from Powerful Obedience”

2.  Which comes first, relationship or obedience (faith) or (works), covenant or law?

3.  How we frame this very question determines the outcome of how we think about

      God, the Bible, and what it means to live the kind of powerful life that God has in

      store for each one of us.

4.  In reality, a powerful relationship leads to powerful living evidenced by powerful

      Obedience

      a.   The Bible begins and ends within the realm of Covenant which is that which

            determines the “boundaries of what defines relationship” (Everything from

            Genesis to the maps is framed within the language of relationship with God as

            described by Covenant).

      b.  The Bible was written over 1500 years, by about 40 different

            writers, all of whom were in Covenant, to people who were in Covenant, to

            accomplish God’s redemptive purpose in the establishment of relationship for

            those who enter into the “everlasting covenant” (Heb. 13:20).

ENTRANCE INTO POWERFUL LIVING

1.  When it comes to understanding anything, there are FIVE essential questions each

      of us has to ask.

      a.   Law Enforcement investigations and reports require that we answer these very

            same questions:  WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHY? and HOW?

      b.  If God has something that will change the very fabric of our lives and our reality,

            how to we receive that?

            1)  If someone today handed us an ATM card and revealed to us an account

                  (already established) was funded with a million dollars, how many of us would

                  want to know the PIN number of how to gain access to that account?

            2)  God wants to enrich our lives (II Cor. 8:9)—not talking about lavish material

                  wealth here, but the access to “every spiritual blessing” (Eph. 1:3).

2.  To gain entrance into the realm where “powerful living” is possible requires

entrance into a Covenant relationship with Him—remember covenant is that which distinguishes between those who are IN relationship with God from those

            who are OUTSIDE of relationship with God.

FAITH IS THE MEANS OF ENTRANCE INTO COVENANT WITH GOD

1.  There are several steps that places one in covenant relationship with God, but all of

      them, each of them takes place under the umbrella of faith (Heb. 11:6)

      a.   Hearing the “gospel of Christ” is that which produces faith in the heart and mind

      of a person (Rom. 10:17)

      b.  Faith is based upon what is revealed within the Word of God as is an active

            element that brings us into relationship with Him (John 3:16; Acts 18:8).

      c.   Repentance comes as the result of understanding the heart and will of God and

            how that our past lives were out of harmony with what is described within the

            covenant into which we are entering.

            1)  Repentance is not merely a change in outward behavior but rather is

                  something that happens on the inside of our hearts and minds (Acts 2:37, 38;

                  3:19).

            2)  Repentance takes place in the mind of a person, while forgiveness takes place

                  in the mind of God.

      c.   Confession is a heartfelt (faith-based) expression of affirmation that we believe

            that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9, 10)

            1)  We express our heartfelt submission to the very Lordship of Jesus Christ.

            2)  It is a recognition that from this time forward every area of our lives will be

                  under His guidance and direction.

      d.  Baptism is a passive action of allowing ourselves to identify and to participate in

            the meaning of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:26,

            27)

            1)  It represents the “end” of a past life OUTSIDE of covenant relationship with

                  God, and “entrance into” the very life that God has for us (John 5:24).

            2)  There is nothing magical or mystical in the “water” that somehow saves us.

                  We do not believe or practice “baptismal regeneration” (holy water).

            3)  It is our faith in the redemptive work of Christ and the cleansing that takes

                  place through His shed blood that provides entrance into the very presence of

                  God

            4) Because of our past transgressions, we had been “dead in trespasses and sins”

                  (Eph. 2:1)

            5.  Through each of these elements just mentioned, on the basis of faith based

                  upon the revelation of God’s Word, we experience “resurrection-life” and

                  have (as a present reality) the “spiritual body” that will live eternally in the

                  presence of God when we exit from this temporary life on planet earth.  We

                  are equipped with “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (II Pet. 1:3)

POWERFUL LIVING AS EXPRESSED IN OBEDIENCE

1.  As believers the whole direction of our lives changes—we are transformed, how we

      think, how we speak, how we act, how we live.

      1)  Christ is the author of “eternal salvation” to those who “obey Him” (Heb. 5:8, 9).

      2)  Faith then is expressed in actions consistent with that faith (James. 2:14, 17).

2.  Faith is that which is the overarching reality from the time of Abel to the time of the

      establishment of the New Covenant (Heb. 11).

CONCLUSION

1.  Having an appreciation for what God has done through the establishment of

      covenant relationship with Him will shape the very fabric of our lives each day.

2.  What we knew and learned yesterday has shaped us into who we are today, and

      what we know and learn today is the very basis or foundation of what we become

      tomorrow and for the rest of our days.

3.  May God help us to make 2024 the best year ever in our walk with God and how we

      relate to those around us whose lives can be transformed for God’s glory in His

      Kingdom.