I Can Will It
January 14, 2007 AM
Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church
Isn't life supposed to be more than short sprints towards a goal?
Self discipline will never give us what we are looking for.
I am not giving you an excuse for falling short - but …Romans 3:23.
We must see things differently - more than that, receive things differently.
We all know the struggle…
Christ acted to set things right…
WHY? He demonstrated His
love for us.
We obey God because He loved us…
If I cannot accept this love, then …
I cannot love Him in return …
and I cannot obey Him.
Self discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean, accepting God's love will.
The ability to accept God's unconditional grace and ferocious love is ALL the fuel we need to obey Him in return.
We have learned that we can never earn forgiveness
Yet we still "will it, but don't do it" when it comes to obedience.
Our behavior will not be changed long with self-discipline, but fall in love and …
"I am a disciple whom Jesus loves"
Embracing His love not only gives you forgiveness - but it also gives us the fuel to obey Him in holiness.