Easter Changes Everything
Series: Breaking Free
March 23, 2008 Pastor Bill Bump
Romans 5:10(Mes)
If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of His Son...just think how our lives will expand and deepen by means of His resurrection life!
Luke 5:32(Mes)
Jesus said: “I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.”
HOW TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON
1. OPEN YOUR MIND TO GOD’S POWER
Romans 12:2(NLT)
...let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…
Ephesians 4:18(LB)
...Many are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds against Him, so they can’t understand His ways.
Ephesians 1:19,20(LB)
I pray that you’ll begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him, It’s the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…
2. OPEN YOUR HEART TO GOD’S GRACE
Ephesians 1:8(LB)
God has showered upon us the richness of His grace, for how well He understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.
Romans 3:22(LB)
...God says He will accept and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in the same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like.
Ephesians 2:8(Mes)
Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish.
3. OPEN YOUR LIFE TO GOD’S LOVE
Ephesians 3:17-19(LB)
And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts...and may you be able to feel and understand how long, wide, deep, and high His love really is, and to experience this love for yourselves…
Romans 5:2(Mes)
We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us.
I Corinthians 16:23(Mes)
...Jesus has His arms wide open for you.
SPIRITUAL SURVEY:
A=I’ve opened my life to God’s power, grace, and love.
B=I’ve decided today to open my life to God’s power, grace, and love.
C=I’m in the process of considering opening my life to God’s power, grace, and love.
D=I have no interest in having God’s power, grace, and love in my life.
