Bulletins - rccinhisgrip (Rossville Christian Church)

There Is Power In The Blood
In Christ Alone
Intro:
Oath of enlistment
Also took another oath Jesus will be my Lord:
Philippians 3:1–8 NIV
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

So where is my hope found? In the world, in America or in the flesh, may it never be! In these last days men will do what is right in their own eyes, forsaking truth for whatever makes them feel good. They will chase evil desires, the desires of the their hearts, bu there is hope in repentance because God alone has made me, God alone has called me and so God alone defines me.
He Alone Has Made Me
Psalm 139:1–6 NIV
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:7–12 NIV
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:13–14 NIV
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
A. Imago Dei
1. The image
a. Because we are created in His image He knows me
b. He has created who I am to be
2. He Knit me together for good
a. Even though I broke it
b. He has fixed it
c. We are fearfully and wonderfully made for His work
i. force to be reckoned with
ii. You are strong for the force of God and good
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
B. Knows every part of me
1. Number of hairs, number of breaths
a. knows my capabilities
b. Understands my part in His work
c. Knows where I need to be shaped and molded
2. Knows me better than me
a. Won’t send me where He hasn’t equipped me
b. Gives me confidence in His work in and through me
c. Created on purpose for a purpose
Jeremiah 17:7 NIV
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
In the military we have a purpose, its called a AFSC - mine was 2A571 - That means I worked on airplanes as a craftsman. I had a well defined purpose. God gives us that same coding, he gives us a job description that is specially suited to us. AF stuck me where they needed me, God puts me where He is molding me.
He Alone has Called Me
Acts 9:1–8 NIV
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

Acts 9:13–14 NIV
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Acts 9:19–20 NIV
and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
A. To His will
1. First die to your own will
a. Paul had to be blinded to see
b. Turned from His will to God’s
Galatians 2:20 NIV
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
c. Let go of His purpose, and clung to the Lord’s
i. immediate
ii. Understood importance and truth
2. To bear the cross of love
a. Paul’s purpose had not been love
i. It was destruction
b. But he repented of himself
i. immediately came into the Lords will
ii. Repentance isn’t taught much anymore but necessary
Acts 17:30–31 NIV
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
B. To His purpose
Jeremiah 29:10–11 NIV
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:12–14 NIV
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
1. He has already determined our purpose
a. Nothing is a surprise to Him
i. My stupidity doesn’t stand in His way
ii. He has already accounted for your shortcomings
b. He has given us the purpose
i. seek and save the lost
ii. Grow each other up in Christ
Mission: Going out and Elevating Within
2. Give in to His purpose
a. Let go of the trivial things of this world
b. Focus and find peace in God’s purpose
i. It will bring you joy
ii. When it is done for Him
iii. It is the eternal purpose that brings true joy
1 Corinthians 10:31–33 NIV
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
3. His purpose is people pleasing
a. About doing His business
b. Kingdom minded
Hard to do - Used to be a pew dweller, look at watch wonder why pastor was going on so long. Couldn’t wait to get the service done so I could drive, so I could take a nap. Check boxing and people pleasing. But something changed when I made the decision to follow God’s purpose. I noticed and eternal difference and shift in thinking.
He Alone Defines Me
Isaiah 64:8 NIV
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
A. Not defined by the World
John 15:19 NIV
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
1. Not even this nation defines me
a. Military
b. But I have to let the Lord define me
Pastor Brandon - Like Rank in the military, why Pastor Brandon? Reminds me of two fold, I am created in His image and I am here for Him first and everything after.
2. Just look at the state of our nation
a. Still the best one on Earth
b. But what does it stand for now, so much sin
c. How long will I hold under its flag, instead let me cling to the flag of Christ
d. Even Paul had to let go
B. Not defined by family - born of Abraham - means nothing
Romans 9:8 NIV
In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.
Romans 9:16 NIV
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
1. Not who my family is
a. Cannot ride on coat tails
b. Who your Dad is doesn’t matter
c. Only the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ
John 3:36 NIV
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
C. So I am truly defined by Christ
a. He is the potter
b. He must mold me
c. For He has made me
Conclusion:
I can either be defined by my culture or by Christ, it is fully up to me. However, if I bend to the will of the flesh I will be surely disappointed in this life, but in allowing Christ to be the potter and I the clay, I find joy in the transformation. Yep, sometimes it hurts, for no one likes discipline at the time, but the masterpiece He is creating each day is beautiful and worth all that I must give up. For He alone has made me, He alone has called me and He alone defines me, how about you?
Pray
- - Philippians 3:1–8NIV2011
- - Psalm 139:1–6NIV2011
- - Psalm 139:7–12NIV2011
- - Psalm 139:13–14NIV2011
- - 2 Corinthians 3:18NIV2011
- - Jeremiah 17:7NIV2011
- - Acts 9:1–8NIV2011
- - Acts 9:13–14NIV2011
- - Acts 9:19–20NIV2011
- - Galatians 2:20NIV2011
- - Acts 17:30–31NIV2011
- - Jeremiah 29:10–11NIV2011
- - Jeremiah 29:12–14NIV2011
- - 1 Corinthians 10:31–33NIV2011
- - Isaiah 64:8NIV2011
- - John 15:19NIV2011
- - Romans 9:8NIV2011
- - Romans 9:16NIV2011
- - John 3:36NIV2011
O Come To The Altar
Who You Say I Am
- - Matthew 28:19–20NIV2011

He Alone Has Made Me

He Alone has Called Me

He Alone Defines Me

Philippians 3:1–8NIV2011

Psalm 139:1–6NIV2011

Psalm 139:7–12NIV2011

Psalm 139:13–14NIV2011

2 Corinthians 3:18NIV2011

Jeremiah 17:7NIV2011

Acts 9:1–8NIV2011

Acts 9:13–14NIV2011

Acts 9:19–20NIV2011

Galatians 2:20NIV2011

Acts 17:30–31NIV2011

Jeremiah 29:10–11NIV2011

Jeremiah 29:12–14NIV2011

1 Corinthians 10:31–33NIV2011

Isaiah 64:8NIV2011

John 15:19NIV2011

Romans 9:8NIV2011

Romans 9:16NIV2011

John 3:36NIV2011

Matthew 28:19–20NIV2011