INTRODUCTION: Why Am I different?
- Even though you have made this great step, you probably feel just the same as you did before.
Many people react in different ways. Some feel a great load has been lifted off their mind. Others feel a release and a freedom but some just feel the same.
It doesn't matter or make any difference because it is not feelings that saved you but an act of faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for you.
- The bible tells us that we become a "new creation" when we accept Jesus as Lord. This verse of scripture is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 as we saw in the previous chapter and it says: " If any man is in Christ He is a new creation".
That is being "Born again" and then it goes in to say, "The old things have passed away and look, new things have come."
The "old" you has disappeared.
- Even though you may not even feel very different at this point of time, God now has control of your destiny and your future.
He is not going to allow anything beyond His care and help to come your way.
Rather He now puts the resources of all of heaven to work to lead you and guide you in every aspect of your life.
The bible teaches us that God is a giving and loving God.
He is like a good father and we are told, "Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father, who never changes nor varies." (James 1:17)Your Father - God Himself - now lives within you:
- When you made the decision to let Jesus become the Lord of your life, your destiny changed.
We saw how God gave you a "One-Way" ticket to His Kingdom.
According to Revelation we are taught that if "anyone's name is not found written in the Lamb's book of life he is cast into the Eternal Fire"
Praise God you have Chosen Life!
Because you have chosen Jesus, you have chosen life over death and therefore you are different.
In the book of Deuteronomy 30:19 when God is speaking to the Children of Israel He says: "See today, I have set before you Life and Death. Therefore choose life that you may not perish."
When God created mankind He created him (Genesis 1:26-27) in "Our image and after our likeness"; in other words He made us to be just like Him.
- This is an awesome concept and is hard to grasp, but the Word of God does not lie.
Jesus also spoke these words: "God is Spirit and those who would seek to worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." John 4:24.
There are two main things here:
Firstly we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and the bible tells us that God is spirit. (John 4:24) Consequently it follows that our first form of creation is that of spirit.
Many people misguidedly believe that our body is the primary form but that is just not true.
If God is spirit then it follows that He is interested in your spirit.
Secondly, you need to understand that what makes you different, according to the same verse of scripture, is that our worship must be in the same manner as He is. That is in the spirit. "....... must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." John 4:24. Conclusion — Jesus Died for every part of You:
- You see when Jesus died He died for your soul, which consists of your mind, your will, your thoughts and your emotions, He won the return of our soul back to the Father through His death on the cross.
Therefore you are made, or to put it another way, you are remade into the image of God at conversion.
This is called New Birth or being born-again that we spoke about in Session 1.
If you are made into the image of God then it follows you must be first a spirit, which has a soul and lives in a body.
In 1 Corinthians 15 we are given this picture of our bodies when we are taught that they have to be remade at the fulfillment of our destiny when we are united finally and completely with Christ.
You see, you are different, because God remakes you into what he chooses you to be.
- Pray a conscious choice:
"Heavenly Father,
I choose to see myself born again and remade into the image of your plan and purpose for my life according to 2 Corinthians 5:17.
I do not see myself as I was but as I am now, that I am born again into Jesus Christ.
Amen."