I Choose Obedience

1. Obedience is important. Mt 28:19-20; Jn 14:15, 21, 23; Jn 15:14; Mt 7:24-25; Jas 1:22
2. Obedience grows out of relationship. It all comes back to the relationship we have with Jesus.
3. Obedience involves an understanding of God's Word. Ps 119:105 God's Word gives us direction. (Rightnow media through 2Rivers).
4. Disobedience has consequences. Direction determines destination. If we continue to make poor choices, we will end up in a bad place. Prov 7, 3:5-6; The momentary thrill of sin is not worth the pain of obedience.
5. Obedience is hard. Ps 73

I Choose God

Josh 24:1-15 you must choose whom you will serve. "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
We will only choose to serve God if we are head over heels in love with God.
Jer 2:1-13. God's charge against Israel (and us): They turned away from God, and turned to other things to satisfy themselves. We get to this point by taking our eyes off of God as our greatest treasure.
We will only be satisfied if God is our greatest treasure. We are sinners and prone to turn away from God.
1. The ultimate essence of evil is choosing, desiring and treasuring anything or anyone more than God.
2. The cross was to bring us to God. 1 Pet 3:18a
3. Nobody is like this on their own. Only God can do this in us and for us.

Called by Grace

There, but for the grace of God, go I.
None of us deserve grace.
1. By God's grace, we are called to salvation. Accounts of Paul's conversion: Acts 9, 22, 26. Paul was not trying to hide his past. Paul never forgot what Jesus did in his life, and wanted others to know what God had done. Rom 1:16, 1 Tim 1:12-15. In grace, God is the initiator, he pursues us. Acts 26:12-14. We should not be ashamed of the gospel, always be thankful, allow God to use us and our life as an example to others.
2. By God's grace, we are called to service. Acts 22:6-10. "What shall I do, Lord?" Eph 2:8-10. We are called to service by the same God as Paul. Faithfully live out the role God has given us.
3. By God's grace, we are called to suffer. Acts 9:15-16. We should not try to avoid suffering. Paul's life became harder when he became a Christian. Rom 5:1-5. We should be on guard that our suffering is for Christ, not for doing wrong. Be aware and pray for those who are being persecuted and suffering around the world today.

Optimistic Love

Eros love - physically charged love, conditional love
Agape love - unconditional, sacrificial, God's love for us
Our starting place: living in the overflow of God's love.  1 Cor 13:7
1. Optimistic Love: is action shown to another. 1 Jn 3:18, 1 Cor 13:1-3
2. Optimistic Love: covers the worst for another.
3. Optimistic Love: believes the best about another. Mistrust, cynicism, and suspicion are at odds with Godly love.
4. Optimistic Love: places confidence in the future of another.
5. Optimistic Love: endures in the face of difficulty with another.
Jn 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

An Invitation Lk 9:23-26

I want to be intense in my walk with Jesus.
Lk 9:23-26
- It is an invitation to follow Him.  v23 "whoever" this invitation to follow Jesus is open to everyone. 
- It is an invitation to know Him. Jn 3:16. Passionately pursue Jesus.
- It is an invitation to deny yourself. v23
He calls us to spend our lives obeying Him, giving our all for Him.
- It is an invitation to suffer. v23 Take up your cross - die to ourselves. Come to the end of yourself, that's when we truly are open to being all in for Jesus. 1 Pet 4:14.
- The invitation is given daily. v23 Preach the gospel to yourself daily. Lk 9:57-62 We are great at having excuses for not following Jesus.

What Jesus Asked: Do you love me?

Jn 21:1-19 Do you love me?
Mt 26:31-35, 69-75 Peter betrays Jesus.
Jn 21:3 After denying/failing Jesus, Peter runs back to what he knows best - fishing. However, they caught nothing - it did not bring him any peace or comfort.
v5 Jesus asks us - Do you have anything to show for your own efforts?
v9-12 Jesus gave then a beautiful invitation: he didn't need their fish, to start the fire, or anything - just wanted them to hang out with him.
v15-17 Peter, do you love me? More than anything? Do you really love me? (3 denials, 3 chances for redemption) Jesus often takes our greatest failures and uses them for our good and his glory.
When we fail, run to Jesus. He will forgive and restore us, and use our failures.

What Jesus Asked: Has no one condemned you?

John 8:2-11
Rom 8:1 no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Now or in eternal life.
Self-condemnation:
1. We are set free from self-condemnation when we are reminded that we are no longer under the law but grace. Rom 3:19-20, 5:8; Heb 10:17; Phil 2:12b. Our failures point us back to our need for a Savior, and can be used to strengthen our salvation.
2. We are set free from self-condemnation when we stop seeking the approval of men and rest in the approval we already have in Christ. Gal 1:10.
3. We are set free from self-condemnation when we put down our own stones. What we are filled with (hopefully God's grace) will overflow onto those around us. Gal 6:1
Go and sin no more. Jesus was giving her permission and power to give up sin, freedom to resist Satan and his accusations, Phil 4:4.