What's Next?

In John 3, Jesus explained being “born again” using “the serpent in the wilderness” from Numbers 21

 

You don’t have to know when you were born again, but you do have to know that you are.

 

What’s next after being born?

 

1 Peter 1:2-3

For you have been born again, (by) the eternal, living word of God… And that word is the Good News that was preached to you. So …Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

 

Without nourishment and nurture we “fail to thrive.”

 

Who is the Jesus/God you believe in?

 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His Son …

 

He is a God of Love.

How do you respond to someone who loves you?

You desire to please them.

 

Matthew 28:18-20

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

He is a God of authority.

How do you respond to a person of authority?  You obey.

How do you respond to someone with both infinite love and all authority?

You gladly please and obey right now!

 

Matthew 28:19 

“Go and make disciples of all nations/peoples” 

 

He is a God of purpose.

So if we believe in that God, we will live purposefully.

 

1Corinthians 10:31

“Do everything to the glory of God.”

 

Matthew 28:19

“Baptizing them” - gladly identify/declare Jesus is your Savior/God.

 

Matthew 10:32  

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

 

Is my allegiance and loyalty to Jesus as evident as to my favorite sports team?

 

Matthew 28:20

“Teaching them to obey everything I commanded” 

 

He is a God of transformation, regeneration, reconciliation, sanctification, grace, peace, hope … everything we need!

 

Romans 12:2

“Be transformed by the renewing of your minds”.

 

2Timothy 3:15-17 

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

 

Psalm 19:9-11

The decrees of the Lord are … righteous.

10        They are more precious than gold,…

            they are sweeter than honey,…

11        … in keeping them there is great reward.

Does my hunger for Scripture show I want to be transformed?

 

Romans 8:29 

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

 

In what ways should we become like Jesus?

 

Hebrews 10:7  

“‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God”

 

John 20:21

“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

 

Do I delight in doing the Father’s will?

 

Luke 5:16 

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

 

He told us to pray for God’s name to be hallowed/honored; His kingdom to be displayed here, and His will to be done. (Matthew 6:9-10)

 

Do I long for time with God, and do I pray for what is important to Him?

 

Philippians 2:3

“In humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, … he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, … he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

Do others see me as a servant?

 

Jesus’ most repeated teaching:

Mark 8:34-35

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save/find it.” (also Matthew 10:38-39; 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; 14:26-27; 17:33; John 12:23-26)

 

Do I believe I will find more satisfaction if I choose His desires above my own?

 

Jesus’ most important teaching:

John 14:20

“On that day (when the Holy Spirit is in you) you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

 

Galatians 2:20

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

 

Colossians 1:26

“The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people…. is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

 

Do I realize that I can’t live the Christian life, and only He can, and am I learning how to appropriate His life in me?

 

John 13:34

 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

 

1John 3:16  

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

 

Do others sense the love of Christ through me?

 

Hebrews 11:6

 “It is impossible to please God without faith.

 

Do I display faith by trusting Him in hard times and obeying even when it is scary?

 

John 3:16

God so loved the world.    

 

Matthew 28:19 

Make disciples of all nations.

 

Acts 4:12

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

 

Do I have the same perspective on the whole world as He does.

 

Hebrews 3:12

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

 

Do I think of myself as part of the Body of Christ and encourage and serve well with others, and do I let others into my life to help me grow?

 

Matthew 24:42

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

 

Titus 2:11

”For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” 

 

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,… 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

Do I look forward to His return and serve faithfully?