Cross Creek Community Church – February 28, 2010             Pastor Jeff Aulisio

“Who Am I?”

1.) Mistaken Identity

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

2.) Test and Approve

“…we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:”1 Thes 4:1-3a

Sanctified – Purified; To set apart as sacred, To be made holy

Holy – Having a spiritually pure quality

Truly Sanctified!

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth… For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” John 17:16, 17 & 19

3.) God’s Message remains the same

The Message and The Reaction - Luke 3:7-14

John had Heart, Determination and Discipline

Choosing to hear brings change

4.) Change Takes Heart, Determination and Discipline

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…without holiness; no one will see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14

“For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity” Proverbs 24:16

Cross Creek Community Church – February 28, 2010             Pastor Jeff Aulisio

“Who Am I?”

1.) Mistaken Identity

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

2.) Test and Approve

“… we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified:” 1 Thes 4:1-3a

Sanctified – Purified; To set apart as sacred, To be made holy

Holy – Having a spiritually pure quality

Truly Sanctified!

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth… For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” John 17:16, 17 & 19

3.) God’s Message remains the same

The Message and The Reaction - Luke 3:7-14

John had Heart, Determination and Discipline

Choosing to hear brings change

4.) Change Takes Heart, Determination and Discipline

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…without holiness; no one will see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14

“For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity” Proverbs 24:16

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit” 1 Thes 4:3-8

“The key to success is to fix our eyes on Jesus” Hebrews 12:1-3

5.) When God Calls - He delivers

Jeremiah

“The word of the LORD came to me, saying,⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."⁶ "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."⁷ But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:1-7

"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸ Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 1:17-19

The Choice is yours!

Jesus spoke of 4 types of people who “Hear” His Message:

(Luke 8:1-15)

• Those who reject and allow it to be ripped away
• Those who receive it with joy yet in time of testing fall away
• Those who receive it and allow the pressures of life to prevent growth
• Those who receive it, retain it and persevere to their Godly Identity

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit” 1 Thes 4:3-8

“The key to success is to fix our eyes on Jesus” Hebrews 12:1-3

5.) When God Calls - He delivers

Jeremiah

“The word of the LORD came to me, saying,⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."⁶ "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."⁷ But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.⁹ Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:1-7

"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸ Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 1:17-19

The Choice is yours!

Jesus spoke of 4 types of people who “Hear” His Message:

(Luke 8:1-15)

• Those who reject and allow it to be ripped away
• Those who receive it with joy yet in time of testing fall away
• Those who receive it and allow the pressures of life to prevent growth
• Those who receive it, retain it and persevere to their Godly Identity

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29