OPENING STATEMENT:  The follower of Jesus has an Old Nature and New Nature.  The New Nature is at Odds with the Old Nature.  The New Nature wants to know Jesus, the Old Nature does not.  Who prevails in this battle determines our willingness to take steps closer to knowing Jesus.

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.    (Revelation 2: 1-4)

1^st of 7 letters the Lord wrote through John to churches in that day.  They follow a general pattern:

1. I know your works
2. Commendation
3. Rebuke (except Philadelphia)

4. Promise to those who overcome

“Old Man’s Rubble”

Are you puzzled by the way that you’re behavin’

Do you wonder why you do the things you do

Are you troubled by your lack of resistance

Do you feel that something’s got a hold on you

Well deep within’ you there’s a spiritual battle

There’s a voice of the darkness and a voice of the light

And just by listening you’ve made a decision

‘Cause the voice you hear is gonna’ win the fight

Are you living in an old man’s rubble

Are you listenin’ to the father of lies

If you are then you’re headed for trouble

If you listen too long, you’ll eventually die

 

You are created in the Image of God.  God the Father had some thoughts about who you really are and what your life is really all about.

 

• So God created man in His ownimage; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  Genesis 1:27-28
• “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you… Jeremiah 1:5
• For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope… Jeremiah 29:11

 

What you THINK and what you FEEL determines what you will DO.

Thoughts + Emotions = Decisions

The war between our Old Self and New Nature is real.  It is a fight for the attention of our thoughts and emotions, for the one who wins the thoughts and emotions wins what that person decides to do:

• In relationships
• In loving others
• How we spend our time
• How we spend our resources

Be reconciled to God.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.   2 Corinthians 5:20

Take steps towards Jesus:

• Admit you are not as close as you need to be
• Ask for forgiveness
• Takes steps towards Him in worship, prayer, fellowship with other believers, reading His Word