Diving Deeper…

"Push aways"

March 11, 2007 AM

Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church

We must remember that the road does not produce the change, it only puts us in the place where change can occur. 

Romans 12:9-16 

There are muscles that build our ability to push away from evil!  Or as James says "Flee" Paul says "Escape"

Our not doing muscles include things like:

1.  "Push away" the noise and business of life:

Mark 1:35; Luke 9:10; Mark 6:30-31

In all these cases Jesus withdrew from the world to refocus, to regroup and to reconnect. 

To "Push away" by:

Silence - pulling ourselves away from the sounds of the world around us!  1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Timothy 2:2

Solitude - getting away from all the busyness of our lives.   Mark 9:10

          Waiting - for others  Isaiah 40:31

2.  "Push away" the desires that could control us!

Colossians 3:5-10

These desires are not evil in themselves.  These desires become evil when they control us. 

Romans 8:5-6

"Push away" by:

Fasting - pushing away from… to… Matthew 6:17

Frugality - not spending money on yourself

Chastity - fasting from sex 1 Corinthians 7:5

Secrecy - doing these things without any credit  Matthew 6:3

In three words - Deny Your Self.  Matthew 16:24 

Denying ourselves tell our desires that they are not in charge! 

Not seeking to earn God's favor - but rather training ourselves to put our desire to know God above meeting some craving within us.

Let us drive that road that puts un in the right place to be formed into the likeness of Christ.  

Diving Deeper…