Fixate PHX

1 John 5:13-21What we should know but maybe need reminded.

1. If we are born of God then we should not be actively, deliberately sinning, as we live under his rule and reign. Idolatry in this form is knowing what God had said but choosing to worship a false god by practicing an action that is disobedient to the life that’s been purchased for you. Idols are not just carved images, they are conflicted hearts, torn between two realities. Lordship is shown not by what you know, but rather what you won’t allow yourself to do anymore after you have encountered Christ’s love.

2. The enemy wants to get you so mad at the world that you forget you’re called to change it. Being mad at a fallen world for being fallen is just us becoming more aware that we Christian’s haven’t taken the great commission serious enough. I challenge you today to not get mad at a fallen world, but to be challenged to be the light in the darkness that we have been too busy being opposed to, rather than fighting for.

3. Idolatry all comes down to truth. Do you believe biblical truth, the truth of the gospel, the truth and the conviction of the spirits leading in your heart, the truth you’re a child of God…the list is endless. Or have we believed half truths….that influences the full truth of the gospel…and has stripped a submitted life in Christ of its power and instead started a new battle ground of logic and reason, you must know God’s truth as your truth, so your truth doesn’t rewrite Gods truth.

1 John 5:1-12 Proof proves a viewpoint. Do we have proof of a life that is overcome? Do we have proof of a life that has been changed? It is easy to profess faith but not produce anything that proves faith.

1. There is absolutely no way around it. A life in Jesus must have an encounter rooted in revelation of the blood that was shed, water baptism of repentance, and a life led of the Holy Spirit and growing in your consciousness of its leading. We can only claim ignorance of these matters so long before it slips into rebellion that leads to lifeless religiosity.
2. Love and obedience go together they do not fight against each other. The creators instructions on living are perfectly and divinely designed to meet his creations needs. What you love you obey, follow and protect. If you love, and yet do not know the ways of obedience to that love you must immerse yourself in a lifestyle of abiding in his word and his spirit to learn how love is lived.
3. The things that no one knows are the places His overcoming power wants to touch first. How you grow in faith is when it transforms what was once pain, into a platform for His glory to be shown. If you want to be the proof to the world and to yourself…you must allow the darkest secrets and doubts, and the hidden places of your life to be exposed to the blood, the water and the Spirit…and not carry the burden anymore.

1. THE PRACTICE OF ABIDING IN GOD IS JUST LIKE THE PRACTICE OF ANY OTHER THING THAT REQUIRES PRACTICE TO DEVELOP. USUALLY IT IS AWKWARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE AT FIRST, THAT OVER TIME PRODUCES A CONFIDENCE, PEACE, AND SENSE OF PRIDE AND APPRECIATION FOR WHERE YOU STARTED AND HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME. DON'T BE SO AFRAID OF THE STARTING LINE THAT YOU FORGET YOU WERE BORN TO RUN THIS RACE WITH JESUS.
2. THE COMPOUND INTEREST OF ABIDING IS A DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.. IF YOU ABIDE BUT DO NOT HAVE THE EVIDENCE OF FRUITS OF SPIRIT OR GREATER AWARENESS OF THE SPIRITS LEADING , YOUR ABIDING MUST COURSE CORRECT BEFORE IT TURNS TO CYNISM, CRITICALNESS, AND A SPIRITUAL SUPERIOR SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE COLOR ADDED IN A BLACK AND WHITE WORLD.
3. IF THE DEVIL CAN’T GET YOU TO SIN HE WILL GET YOU TO LIVE IN FEAR… FEAR CAN TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM GOD JUST AS MUCH AND AS FAST AS ANY SIN CAN. FEAR TAKES YOUR EYES AWAY FROM THE FATHER AND PLACES THEM ON THE FALLEN. EYES STAY UP SO LIFE STAYS UP.

The infinitely repeated test of loving others

1 JOHN 3:13-24

How we can make the test easier and not harder

1. YOU EXPERIENCING HATE, BITTERNESS, JUDGMENT, OR UNFORGIVENESS DOES NOT GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO RE-TRANSMIT IT TO OTHERS. YOUR RESURRECTION LIFE IS TIED TO YOUR REPRESENTATION OF CHRIST LOVE IN THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN EVERYDAY. IF YOU WANT LIFE YOU MUST LET GO OF DEATH.
2. THE DEED AND THE TRUTH IS WHAT SHOWS THE PROOF. YOUR ACTIONS CARRY MUCH MORE WEIGHT THAN YOUR WORDS. TIME WILL SIFT THE WORDS YOU SPEAK TO ENSURE THAT YOUR ACTIONS BACK THEM UP. LOVE IS MUCH MORE THAN LIP SERVICE; THERE IS A PRACTICAL SERVICE REQUIRED.
3. LOVE IS A CONTINUOUS PRESENT TENSE REALITY TO A FOLLOWER OF JESUS; IT IS THEE EXPRESSED EVIDENCE OF A COMMITMENT OF FAITH. IF YOU WANT TO TRACK YOUR GROWTH AND MATURITY, FOCUS ON YOUR ABILITY TO FORGIVE, SACRIFICE, RELEASE PEOPLE, NOT BE DIVISIVE, LOVE THE BRETHREN, RELATE WITH THOSE YOU HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH, AND ON AND ON IT GOES.. THE CHALLENGE OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE..

1. lust of the flesh is anything natural that you prioritize, give power to, or pervert above the righteousness of God and His Spirit. The parts that you trust least typically are the ones he wants to prove himself to you most, if you’re open. I’d your feelings dictate your faith, more than your faith dictates your feelings, this one’s for you.
2. Lust of the eyes is the root of “eye-dolatry”. Awareness of the darkness is the first step in seeing the light. Comparison and coveting are quiet killers are the quiet killers of the Christian faith today. I’d you don’t own your eyes, He can’t own your heart.
3. The boastful pride of life is the opposite of the bride of Christ. If we are drinking cultures kool aid we can’t be mad when we don’t experience contentment. Status in the kingdom is suffering well, long obedience in the same direction, resilient discipleship, and being aware of sand castles and what actually matters. There are no comfortable crosses.
4. Your practices of abiding determine the depths of which you will know God. Your habits with will make you holy if you allow your humility to admit where you’re weak and from that place where to start. If we aim for nothing we will be sure to hit it.

1. A child of God is not one who possesses physical looks and legal guardianship...it's one who has the likeness and character that proves who their Father is. We prove our likeness by our Godliness.
2. Purification is the process of becoming like; if you don't want to live pure you will not become like. You may keep your seat at the table, but you won't be allowed to taste what He has prepared for you. Filled up on the wrong things, craving the right ones.
3. Stop using poison to water seeds. The seed grows in an environment cultivated for growth, habitual sin hijacks an environment of growth and kills any life in Christ that is trying to take root in you. If you're poisoning the roots with sinful behavior don't be mad when you never eat of the fullness of a surrendered life in Christ.

1. If your beliefs aren’t changing your behavior; your behavior will rewrite your beliefs.
2. Knowing the commands and doing the commands is what we’re commanded. There should be some rigid routine inside of your relationship with God and scripture. Don’t be mad you’re not full if you’re not eating.
3. If the law and blessing is love; the breaking of the law and curse of doing so is rooted in hate, offense, and bitterness. If you cannot forgive the lights will be getting shut off.

1. He must be your light rhythmically, before you will ever be His light publicly.

2. The World is looking for light more than it’s looking for signs.

3. The more intense the light the more noticeable the blemishes; don’t ask for more if you’re not wanting to deal with what might be revealed.

4. Confession and self awareness have been the accelerators of taking sinner to Saint since the beginning. If you don’t repent; and you aren’t aware of the sin in your life you struggle with and are actively trying to change it; don’t get mad when life feels like fumbling in darkness.