Gifts of Christmas

Messiness: Pastor Michael Dascoli

December 6.2020

“…I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Romans 7:18-19

“…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.” 1John 1:9-10

Denying spiritual messiness can lead to two things:

1: spiritual apathy

2: Powerless living

Both can lead to spiritual performance, stunt our spiritual growth and

effectiveness, and damages others

“You won’t go wrong following their teachings… “2But be careful about following them. They talk a good line but they don’t live it. 3They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit and polish veneer.”

27“You’re like manicured grave plots. Grass clipped and flowers bright but six feet down it’s all rotting bones and worm eaten flesh. People look at you and they think your saints but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.” Matthew 23:1-2, 27

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”

James 5:16a KJV:

1: Thank God often that you’re a work in progress

We all… are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory,

which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2Corinthians 3:18

2: Trust God to finish what He started

“…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will

carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

3: Keep your eyes on Jesus

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Let’s Pray:

-What is God’s Spirit saying to you today?

-How must you respond?