Our life in Jesus is about being changed to reflect Jesus, to grow in love..

Oftentimes, our faith is fed with fast food.

John 17:19 (NRSV) “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Sanctify: To purify internally by reformation of the soul; to be changed to reflect Jesus, to be more like Jesus.

We are being separated from our sinful selves, purified from moral evil, and conformed into the image of Christ.

Being made holy is a lifelong growth process of a believer

What spiritual disciplines are you using to feed your faith? (cultivate holiness)

Change is a part of life, and it will either bring us closer to or further from God.

When do we procrastinate the most? CHANGE

New life in Jesus breeds new spiritual habits through which we can see and experience the life-giving process of change as we follow Jesus.
Not many people like change, but change doesn’t care what we feel.

It's wise for us to remember that each moment we live is God-given.

Will the life changes bring me closer to God or take me further away?

Joy drives us toward one another

Our true joy will point towards God as well as what He is doing or will be doing

Our joy reminds us of the bigger picture

What is your joy rooted in?

How are we able to experience more joy?

What might need to change in our lives?

Mother Teresa - “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Ronald Reagan - “Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.”

Jewish people were working through some conflict.

Joseph was working through some conflict.

The voice of the Lord brings peace.

True peace is connected to the presence and voice of God, not just outcomes.

Peace is built on God’s faithful promises.

Peace is built on God’s faithful promises fulfilled and to come.

Peace, being rooted in God’s presence and promise, fuels his obedience.

When our peace is rooted in God’s Word and presence, we cling to his promises as we walk forward, even without having all the answers.

We can cloud hope with wishful thinking. HOPE is confident expectation, it is security in knowing, it is expecting an awaited outcome.

Holiness and Faithfulness do not protect us from disappointment or even suffering. Unmet longings can become places to encounter HOPE.

God’s answers often look different than our expectations. Jesus at one time was the future hope who became, and still is, the present hope and continues to be the future hope.

Jesus is our confident expectation, Jesus is our security in knowing, Jesus is our expected awaited outcome.

“When/Where do I need HOPE (Jesus) to meet me?”

“What might He (Jesus) be doing in the waiting?”

WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD?
WE CAN ENDURE HARDSHIP AND BECOME RIGHTEOUS
WE CAN EXPERIENCE SALVATION AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WE CAN BELIEVE IN GOD AND OVERCOME OUR UNBELIEF

HOW CAN WE LIVE OUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD?
1) GIVE UP YOUR GOOD LIFE FOR GOD’S BEST LIFE
2) GIVE UP TRYING TO OBEY GOD FOR FOLLOWING GOD
3) GIVE UP WHAT WE VALUE FOR GOD’S POWER
4) GIVE UP WHAT YOU THINK IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR WHAT GOD KNOWS IS POSSIBLE

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HOPE IN GOD?
WE ARE ENCOURAGED AND WORSHIP HIM
WE ARE QUIET AND WAIT ON HIM
WE DEPEND ON GOD AND BELIEVE IN HIM
WE FEAR GOD AND LOVE HIM

HOW CAN WE LIVE WITH HOPE?
1) LIVE OUT THE SALVATION OF JESUS
2) OBEY THE COMMANDS OF JESUS
3) BE HOLY LIKE THE NATURE OF JESUS
4) TRUST IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE NEW LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST?
WE ARE CONTROLLED BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST
WE ARE DEAD TO OUR OLD LIVES AND ALIVE TO CHRIST
WE ARE NO LONGER EVALUATING OTHERS BECAUSE OF CHRIST

WE ARE LIVING NEW LIVES IN CHRIST HOW CAN WE LIVE A NEW LIFE IN JESUS
1) WE WORSHIP IN SPITE OF OUR DOUBT
2) WE TRUST GOD WHILE WE MAKE DISCIPLES OF JESUS
3) WE TEACH OTHERS WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED WHILE WE LIVE WITH ASSURANCE