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| Reaching our full potential begins with a clean heart—one that loves the Lord and desires to obey Him. However, each of us was born with a nature bent away from God. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and inclined towards wickedness. Pleasing self is man’s normal state.
Salvation changed our hearts and lives. Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin and broke its power over us. By receiving Christ as Savior, we each became a new creation — with a heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and a mind that strongly desires to know the Father better. We also received the Spirit’s power to deny our selfish desires and obey God. With clean hearts, we can begin to realize the capabilities our loving Lord has given us.
The best way to maintain a clean heart is by meditating on Scripture. It acts like a mirror in which we see ourselves as God does. Through it, we discover the areas where we have been faithful and also the places where we’ve veered from His path. Expressing genuine repentance brings God’s forgiveness and cleansing (I John 1:9).
The heart represents the seat of our mind, will, and emotions. When we strive to keep it pure, we will more easily discern the Lord’s plan, submit our will to His, and follow Him obediently.
Becoming the person God planned for each of us to be requires an intimate relationship with Him and a desire to obey His Word. Apart from Jesus, we can’t achieve anything of lasting value (John 15:5). Cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s transforming work will help us keep our hearts clean.
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Current Sermon Series
This series will study the duty the Christian has to walk worthy of the great blessings they have been given. The characteristics of the worthy walk: humility, meekness, patience, love, and unity are presented to encourage you in your walk for Christ.
Last Week:
How are we to walk worthy? What does it look like? Paul tells us in verses 2-3, 5 characteristics of the worthy walk. The first on is humility. We see that this world despises humility and exalts pride. God challenges us to live humbly.
Sunday's message is available for streaming or for download on our
sermons page, or by visiting us on iTunes.
Next Week:
We will continue our study of Ephesians 4, Walk Worthy in two weeks. This upcoming week, we will have special guest speaker, Dale Bish, Jr.
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Upcoming Events
July 16, 2017 - Special Speaker Dale Bish, Jr. in the worship service
July 26, 2017 - Quarterly Business Meeting at 7 PM
July 30, 2017 - Church Outside at the Caldwell's at 11 AM. No Sunday School or any services at the church.
August 6-9, 2017 - Vacation Bible School with Cool Kids Ministries from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. On Sunday, we will have a fair with the slip n' slide starting at 5 PM. Hope to see you there!
August 12, 2017 - Trustee's Meeting at 8 AM
August 13, 2017 - Deacon Meeting at 8 AM
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