Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "Family Recipes" with part 2 in this Sunday service.
Family Recipes Part 2
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, November 15, 2009
www.churchatmirrorlake.com
Sermon Notes:
Philippians 4:10 (Message) “I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess…I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am…”
Main Point: There are lots of recipes. They all look similar—List of ingredients, mixing and cooking directions—but what sets them apart is the end result—what they produce. A recipe is like a kitchen version of DNA—science can identify the ingredients but they cannot identify the directions that produce life. Our recipe, our DNA, makes us unique and can be used to identify us beyond a doubt. God has a recipe for life that, like DNA, will give us identity and declare us innocent of the charges against us. But it takes more than knowing the ingredients and the directions—we must love what it produces.
What makes a great recipe?
1. Ingredients
- 2 Peter 1: 3-4 “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
a. We have what we need, the ingredients, the DNA, to live a rich and satisfying life. Note: what we desire is the determining ingredient.
b. It is not enough to have the ingredients—we must have the directions. The same ingredients God has given us for life can produce religion. Instead of freedom, they can be used to produce control and bondage. Instead of relationship, they produce rules and regulations.
2. Directions
- Joshua 1:6-8 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”
a. 1 Samuel 15:22 “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” We like to experiment with the recipe. Why? Because some recipes have actually been improved through experimentation. But, then there are the tried and true ones. The ones that just work if you follow the directions. Note: our offerings and sacrifices are burnt!
b. John 14:21 “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.” Note the 1st direction is always to fall in love with God. The rest of the directions are dependent on the first one.
3. “The Proof is in the Pudding”
- Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!”
• We can only know the recipe is a good one when we have tasted the results. Others can tell us about it, describe how it tastes to them, but until we taste for ourselves we don’t know if it is a recipe we want to use.
• Once we have tasted and found it good, then we are willing to make it a part of our “cookbook”. Then it becomes part of our culture—our DNA.
Final Word:
Like the batter of a great recipe—the waste—that we cannot just throw away, we lick the mixer paddles, clean the bowl, make ice cream flavors based on it—we can determine our DNA-the recipes we are choosing for life—by what we are “wasting” our lives on. 2 instances of waste in the New Testament—
1. The Prodigal Son who wasted his inheritance on what was supposed to be life, and
2. Mary of Bethany—who those watching her pour out a year of her life’s earnings on Jesus described as wasteful. I have decided to waste my life on Jesus.
A Life-Giving Church for People Just Like You!
Whether you are full of questions or ready to jump right in, there is a place for you at The Church at Mirror Lake. Our church is a place where you can build relationships with others, experience God in worship, be empowered by practical, life-giving teaching from God's Word, and have fun doing it.
Together, we are living the Winner's Life as we learn to love, serve, reach, grow and connect. So whether you're a spiritual seeker starting to ask questions about God, or a committed Christian looking to sink your faith roots even deeper, you'll feel at home at The Church at Mirror Lake.
If you believe Jesus really meant it when He said, "I came so people can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of," (John 10:10 Message Translation) then join us this weekend at one of our Jesus Celebrations. Until then, browse our website (a link is on the right of this page) where you'll find lots of helpful info and feel free to download one of our service messages or subscribe to our weekly podcast where you will receive the fresh, life-giving Word of God.
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