What Does God Want of Me?

2003018

Topic # 279 (grace)

Introduction:

A.    What purpose did the Creator of the universe have for making man?

1.    What did He intend for us to be & do?

2.    What were His purposes & what is His purpose for man?

B.    Consider this for a moment.

1.    We were not created so there would be someone baptized.

2.    We were not created so there would be someone to “go to church.”

a)                     Yes…these are important/essential don’t misunderstand!

3.    We WERE created for something to which these things contribute. 

4.    These things assist us in a process of being what God would have us to be.

C.   God wants us to become like Him.

1.    Eph. 5:1 – imitators of God.

2.    Lk. 6:40 – disciple & what it is.

3.    Rom. 12:1-2 – transformed by renewing of mind.

 

I.  The basics…

A.  God wants us to seek Him & find Him.

1.    Acts 17:22-23 – the UKNOWN GOD.

a)        It might seem they were saying the true God was unknown to them.

b)        But…more to it…

c)        They recognized the presence of some superpower over all other powers – whom they could not identify.

2.    Note 17:23b.

a)        We CAN know God exists!  He is REAL!  God existed in the beginning.

b)        17:24-26 – this is THE God!  Almighty God!

c)        17:27-28 – Here’s why we exist.

3.    Did you catch the key words/phrases here?

a)        27a – seek Him

b)        27b – grope for or look for Him.

c)        God wants man to desire Him.

B.    God wants us to glorify Him & be thankful.

1.    Rom 1:18-21

a)    We are w/o excuse.

b)    We can look at creation & know there must have been an eternal power at work.

2.    1:21 – why is God displeased?

a)    Look & see if you see God wants His creatures to glorify Him & be thankful.

b)    What does God want?  He wants us to glorify Him & be thankful!  He wants us to recognize our dependence upon Him.  He wants us to understand we are His creatures!

C.   God wants us to love Him w/all our hearts.

1.    Mt. 22:36-37 – what does God want of us?

2.    If we love Him w/every fiber of being – then we will seek to be like Him.

a)    Unquestioned obedience.

b)    Everything in life will be a direct result from it.

3.    My love for Him will motivate me to put off sinful man; clean up my attitude.

4.    If I don’t love Him; realize my utter dependence on Him; have a willingness to glorify Him & be thankful.

a)    then it won’t matter if I’m baptized

b)    It won’t matter how many commandments I obey.

 

II. God wants us to fulfill His purpose for man.

A.     God has a purpose for us.  He has made us in such a way that we can learn what He wants us to do.

1.    Gen. 1:26-27 – we’ve been made in His image.

2.    God has created us w/ability to appreciate goodness.

3.    We have a sense of morality & ethics.  We possess a sense of right & wrong.

B.    We are free moral agents.

1.    Not only do we understand right/wrong – but God has given us the ability to choose between them.

C.    Scriptures treat man as being morally responsible.

1.    every commandment

2.    every conditional promise

3.    Every “if” of the Bible implies man has a choice of some kind.

D.    From the beginning man has been treated as capable of being the kind of person God wants Him to be.  What is that?

 

III. God wants us to partake of the Divine Nature.

A.    2 Pet. 1:3-4

1.    1:4 – we are expected to be partakers of the divine nature. i.e., we are expected to be like God.

2.    We are expected to have a god-like character.  Godly!

B.    Note!  We are like God when we escape the corruption that is in the world by lust.

1.    How can we who have sinned ever be godly?

a)       Remember, He (God) has made it possible for us to escape this corruption.

b)       He made it possible to be forgiven of sin.  THIS IS GRACE!

C.   He wants us to be godly in character!

1.    He wants us to be His children!  He wants to be our Father!

2.    So…we must develop God like characteristics in our lives.

3.    What to do when we fail?  HE makes it possible for us to be forgiven.  Through death of Jesus.  THIS IS GRACE

D.   1 John 1:5-10 – God is light.

1.    God wants us to walk in the light – to make truth the pattern of our conduct.

2.    Our entire lives must be directed toward walking in this light.

3.    Fail?  1:9-10. God has provided means of forgiveness.  THIS IS GRACE!

4.    God wants us to be something.

a)       Through goodness & mercy – He made it possible for us to be what He wants us to be – despite our failures.

E.    1 John 3:1 – He wants us to light & walk in the light.  He is pure & wants us to be pure.

F.    1 John 4:16 – This repeated here.

G.   1 Pet. 1:15-16 – Be holy for God is Holy.

1.    Have you noted a characteristic of God yet?

2.    God is light; love; holy; just; spirit.

3.    Therefore, we are to walk in the light; be pure; be holy; be just; worship in spirit & truth.

4.    You see, God desires to shape our character.

H.   Nothing new!

1.    Deut. 10:12 – very essence of our being must be given in love to Him!

2.    Hos. 6:6 – Did God command sacrifices? Yes!  Specific regulations…

3.    1 Sam. 15:22…

a)       How can obedience be better than sacrifice when sacrifice is obedience?

b)       Action only part of the sacrifice.

c)       People could go through form of sacrifice & still not be pleasing.

d)       Think of Pro. 21:27; Isa. 1:13; Jer. 6:20: Mal. 1:8-10

4.    God displeased because their hearts were not in it!

 

IV. God wants me!

A.    He wants our heart!

1.     He does not want baptisms; the church; etc. unless I have first given Him myself!

2.     Only when I have given myself to Him does worship mean anything!  Baptism, etc.

B.    Why would God want someone like me?

1.     Well…He loves me.  He is merciful to me.  God is gracious!

2.     God wants you!

a)       He wants you in spite of the sin in your life.

b)       He does not want the sin; doesn’t approve of sin; nothing in sin he likes – but he wants you!

3.     God is merciful & makes it possible for us to be like Him.

a)    Micah 6:8 – this is what God wants!

C.   He has made it possible for us to:

1.     love Him & appreciate Him

2.     Reach for Him; praise Him; & serve Him from all the heart!

3.     And…to make all that possible – He gave Jesus to die for OUR sin!

a)    Did we deserve it?

b)    A free gift – so justice of heaven can be fulfilled.

 

Conclusion:

A.    Mt. 16:24 – How is this possible?  Only through the grace of God.

B.    Can we possible be what God wants us to be?

1.    We can try!  This is what He desires!  Try & try again!

C.   Have you made the start?

1.    Get moving! 

2.    Spend the rest of your life in service to God WORKING to become more like Him!

3.    Obey the gospel!

D.  I N V I T A T I O N