The Total Package
June 24, 2007
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Text: Matthew 7:7-12
Total package - Barry Bonds - yet not really total. Christian - total package - really total? What if we were the total package? People living the life of God? How? Relate right and reap richly. How do we relate right?
1) Love God
V7-8 - Repent - ”After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’”
Ask - Right motives! ”When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
You will receive!
Seek - To search for His presence! Lost keys or cell phone? Get panicky! Promises?
”I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” - Proverbs 8:17
Hebrews 11:6
You will find! Life changes!! Martin Luther, John Wesley, Billy Graham!
Knock - Let God know you’ve arrived! Yet seems like door stays closed? “I can’t understand it!” God responds to those who are pursuing Him.
How good and kind our Father is!! V9-11 - Good gifts!
2) Love each other
V12 - rule - We are the summation of God’s ways! We total up LOVE! Romans 13:8-10
”For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” - Galatians 5:14
Preceding verses - V1-5 - Critical spirit - Ebert & Roeper, judge, jury - Our society lives this way!
How do you want to be treated? Kindly? Honestly? Supportive? Patient? Interested? Caring? Trusted? How do you want to be treated? Treat others that way!
I’ve been totally changed this week in how I’m thinking - Considering how I’d want to be treated - thus I treat folks that way!
Truth - You will draw closer to God than ever before - You will impact your world more than ever before! You may be the only expression of God anyone will ever see - You will relate to God better than ever before - You will relate to others as God has designed! You will be the total package!
Conclusion
Shane Claiborne story - Setting fire to our world! The total package! Loving God and loving each other! Impacting the world by setting it on fire with love! Gifted by God! Living as the total package!