Aligning Our Vision with God's Purpose for 2023

You know, you would think today that the church's role is to help you become a millionaire. That's not our job. Our job is not to straighten out politics. Our job is not to straighten out the government. Our job is to help you look just like Jesus Christ. [00:33:42] (15 seconds)


And so we want to stay focused on the main thing. Amen? To become conformed to his image. Now it does have some implications and let our light so shine before men. They see our good works and glorify. Father in heaven. But the primary thing is that we emulate Christ in our character, our communication, our conduct. [00:33:57] (17 seconds)


I want to do a vision check over the next couple of weeks, and I want to say, you know what? God does want you to search. God does want you to grow in him. God does want you to mature. God has created you for abundance. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond all you can ask, think, or imagine. [00:40:30] (18 seconds)


See, many of us think that God is small because our proximity to God is too far away. See, when you don't have close intimacy with God, you think God is irrelevant. When you're not intimate and close with God and walking with God and studying God's word, you feel like God is totally irrelevant. [00:44:39] (18 seconds)


Spiritual stagnancy is characterized by spiritual dryness. It's characterized by unfulfilled potential. It's characterized by increased frustration and anxiety. When you have learned to be a Christian, you're going to be a Christian. You're going to be a Christian. Long-term frustration and anxiety, it's an indication of your lack of intimacy with God. [00:45:50] (19 seconds)


The reality is unless you are getting yourself into the word of God and the power of the spirit of God, you're not going to make spiritual progress and In Romans chapter 12, verse 1, he says, I beseech you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable one to God, which is your reasonable service. [00:51:10] (22 seconds)


Set your minds on things that are above, not on the things on earth. Well, man, well, well, well, pastor, I mean, I live on earth. I shouldn't think about earthly things. Verse 2, he says here, he says, set your mind. This word set here in the Greek is not a suggestion. It comes in the imperative. The imperative means it's a command. It's not optional. [01:01:10] (23 seconds)


The key idea is to recognize that your life is hidden with Christ. Shifting your identity from self-centered to Christ-centeredness is essential for true spiritual progress. You know, I wanted to be a muscle man. I did. But it's just some of my genes. It just don't happen. [01:11:42] (22 seconds)


The fourth shift is from partial commitment to full dedication. He says in verse 4, but this is the power verse right here. He says in verse 4, y 'all still with me? He says in verse 4, he says, when Christ who is your life, that's frustrating. Because the thing is, we don't want to make Christ our life. [01:18:15] (27 seconds)


How many of you are looking? How many of you are looking forward to glory one day? Boy, this is not the best life. Eternal life is the best life. If you get everything now, be concerned about where you're going. Then you also will appear with him in glory. I'm looking forward to glory. [01:31:13] (24 seconds)


How do you shift your vision for spiritual victory? Shift from death to life. Shift from an earthly focus to a heavenly perspective. Shift from self to Christ. Shift from partial commitment to full dedication. And shift from present struggles to future glory. I want to see you guys surge this year. [01:31:47] (28 seconds)