Sunday 06:12:11

This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it… Jer 6:16a The Way of Submission Throughout human history, there is a common theme between God and mankind. God reveals Himself and His way. What is man’s consistent reaction generation after generation? “I’ll do what I want.” Jeremiah 18:1-4 – ¬The pot was marred – we are all marred by sin. He formed it into another pot. His desire is to transform us into His masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” As seemed best to Him – The potter determines the shape of the pot. He knows its purpose. You will wrestle with God over this for the rest of your life. In time, walking with the Lord, you learn, He really can be trusted. He really does intend good for me. After God had carried out his punishment on the Israelites, he spoke to them through Jeremiah: Jeremiah 29:11 “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 18:5-10 – God retains the right to limit his sovereignty based on man’s response to his offer of forgiveness and restoration and threats of judgment and destruction. Jeremiah 18:11-12 – “It’s no use!” Despite God’s offers of restoration and threats of judgment, Israel (and by extension, we) stubbornly do what we want. Jeremiah 18:13-15 – “My people have forgotten me.” Jeremiah 2:11-13 “…my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. “They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Romans 1 Creation was given so man could see God’s power and divine nature and respond by giving God glory and thanks. Instead, we worshipped the creation. Paul uses the same language as Jeremiah, “They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for idols.” John 1:10-11 “10 He [Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” Why are we so obstinate? Galatians 5:17 “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” The Way of Stubborn Refusal • Disregard for God’s will • Defense of my sin • Deepening of my sin • Dependence on my self The Way of Submission • Revelation of God’s will - through Bible study, the Holy Spirit, other believers • Realization of my sinful nature – through application of the Scriptures, conviction of the Spirit • Repentance of my sin – a willful turning away from sin and turning toward God’s will • Reliance on God’s power to change me – dependence on and faith in God’s ability to overcome my sin God’s will is that we be changed, transformed, restored really, into something greater. He is transforming us into his likeness, which was marred by sin. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect [or contemplate] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. What’s God’s will for your life? Transformation to be like Jesus Christ. It starts with submission.