Sermon, 31Jan2010

This is the final sermon in the series entitled "Living the Dream: Joseph and the 50:20 Vision."

Sermon 31Jan2010

A lick away from perfection

As most of us know, salvation is in three dimensions: justification, sanctification, and glorification. Sanctification is the process used by God to make us into the image of Christ. We may not be as aware of the idea that there are also three dimensions of sanctification.

Here is an excellent, though simple, illustration of the three dimensions of sanctification as told by Pamala Kennedy. I apologize that I cannot remember the source of the story.

It concerns a little girl who had just come out of the candy store having spent her allowance on a lollipop, when she spied her best girl friend coming down the street toward her. Being a properly brought up child she knew that unless she could think of something quickly she would be obliged to offer the lollipop to her little friend.

Her dilemma between courtesy and hunger was solved by an action which quickly, certainly, and forever sanctified the lollipop for her own use alone. And that action was simply to lick it all over on both sides before her girl friend was alongside.

By licking the lollipop she set it apart for herself; it was not now something the friend would want. That is like positional sanctification.

The moment we receive the Lord as Savior, God sets us apart for Himself, instantaneously, certainly and forever.

But that first lick did not mean much assimilation of the lollipop for our shrewd little girl. Nevertheless, she took care of that problem posthaste. She proceeded to keep on licking the candy and to make it practically what it already was positionally – her very own.

This is progressive sanctification, and it is a process that continues throughout life.

But finally there came that moment when the whole lollipop was completely in her mouth and stomach, when it was totally possessed by her.

So it shall be with us when we go to be with Christ. We shall then be fully (or perfectly) sanctified or fully set apart and possessed by him.

Roadblocks to the Vision Part 2, Genesis 39-40

This is the fourth sermon in the series on Joseph entitled "Living the Dream: Joseph and the 50:20 Vision." This sermon was preached on Sunday, 24Jan2010.


Sermon 24Jan2010

Great Sunday!

Yesterday was a great Sunday at DaySpring Church! The song service was wonderful. Thanks to Evan and Isaac and the praise team and praise band for working hard to make it great.

Our guest speaker, Angela Williamson of Caring House in Griffin, gave an inspiring message concerning the love of Christ and a moving presentation of their ministry to pregnant women in our community.

The message about Joseph, “Roadblocks to the Vision, Part 2, was…well, you just had to be there. And what a wonderful response during decision time.

Then in the afternoon, those who met to plan the vision activities and calendar for 2010 really brought it all home with their enthusiasm and ideas for keeping our church focused on the mission and reaching out to our community. There are some wonderful and exciting things planned for this year. Make sure you are present on February 7 as we kick off our look forward at our plans for this year.

From Alfred Barnes:
The atonement was not an after-thought on the part of God. It entered into his plan when he made the world, and was revolved in his purposes from eternity.
It was not a device to supply a defect in the system; that is, it was not adopted because the system did not work well, or because God had been disappointed. It was arranged before man was created, and when none but God could know whether he would stand or fall.

Psalm 115:3 Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.