WHAT IS THE GOAL OF YOUR LIFE? CHANGING TO BE LIKE CHRTST. 1.

As a Christian our goal may be to: obey God in all we do, serve God fully and complete His work, minister to the needy in power, glorify God in every action, be a powerful witness to Christ, fulfil an effective ministry, - etc. These, and many others, are excellent goals to aim at, but God has a goal for us that sums all those up. Rom 8:29 be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus. Gods goal for us is to become like Jesus. This goal is also given to us in: Ps 17:15 Gen 1:26,27 Phil 3:13,14 1Jn 2:6 Eph 4:13,15 Gal 2:20 1Jn 3:2,3 Mat 5:48 Col 1:27 To become like Jesus involves change, being transformed, being renewed. Growth requires change, 2Cor 3:18, Rom 12:2, Eph 4:22-24. Changing to be like Jesus requires: a. humbling ourselves before Jesus as Lord, 1Pet 5:6. b. acknowledging and desiring to be changed, Ps 139:23,24. c. faith in Gods promises to change us, Pro 28:13. Rom l2:1,2 Give yourself as a living sacrifice to God. Be transformed by the Word of God in faith. Jam 4:10 Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up. 2Chr 7:14 Humble yourself, pray and seek God, turn from every wicked way, and He will hear, forgive, and heal your land, (your heart, life, family, church, nation). 1Jn 1:9 Confess your sins, and He is faithful to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Pro 1:23 Turn at Gods rebuke and He will pour out His Spirit on you and make known His words to you. God promises to change us by the power of His Spirit as we believe, and keep believing His Word to us. Gods power is in Gods Word to do Gods Work. As we believe His promises of the Word, Gods power is released to do the work of changing us to be like Jesus. Some promises: 1Thes 5:23,24 Ezk 36:25-27 2Pet 1:3,4 2Cor 7:1 Heb 13:20,21 Phil 2:13(GNB) 5. Seven areas of Change. a. Pride replaced by humility and service to others. Pro 8:13 1Pet 5:6 1Pet 5:5 Lk 18:14 Lk 18:9-14 Lk 22:27 b. Fear replaced by agape love and boldness.

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Jam 4:10 Jn 13:1-14 Phil 2:7

2Tim 1:7 1Jn 4:18 Pro 28:1 Ac 4:13 c. Doubt replaced by faith in God and His Word. Heb 3:12 1Jn 5:4 1Jn 5:10 Heb 11:6 d. Rebellion replaced by obedience to Gods Will. 1Jn 3:4 Lk 9:23 Lk 6:46 e. Lust replaced by self control in the Spirit. 1Cor 6:9,10,11 Gal 5:23 f. Self concern replaced by Christ centredness. Self love Col 3:1-3 Self centredness Mat 16:25 g. Legalism replaced by faith working by love Gal 5:1,6 Rom 10:3,4 Lk 18:9-14 Col 1:4 Covetousness replaced by worship of God. Materialism Rev 19:1-10 Love of possessions. Lk 6:31-38

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We are changed into the likeness of Christ by faith in the promises of God . God has promised to do this as we humble ourselves and seek Him diligently. 2Cor 7:1 2Pet 1:3,4 Rom 6:6,11,12,14,22 2Chr 7:14 Deut 30:6 Ac 15:9 Heb 9:14 Rom 8:2 1Jn 1:9 Heb 6:12