The Christian life works. It has to, because to have anything less than a fully functional faith would be to claim that God failed and had a faulty plan. The Gospel reminds us that God did all of the work, He provided everything that we need, and He will even enable us to live spiritually successful lives as Christians. Yet, when you look inside the church today you’re likely to find subpar spirituality, crippled Christianity, or faulty faith. If God is not the problem, then we must be the weak link. Although we may have all that we need, the fact is we do not know how to use what He has given us, in the way that he intended.

“…according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.“ 2 Peter 1:1-4

It’s time for believers to know how to use ‘all things’ that God has given us for life and godliness, and to live a Christian life that actually works. It’s time to get ‘Geared Up!”

Monday: The Word of God in text- Scripture
Main Point:  When God speaks, things happen. Just as in the Genesis account of creation, God’s Words are powerful and have authority over creation. In the same way, what God has spoke to us in His Word should also be alive, active, and have authority in the live of a believer. God has chosen the means of His Word to reveal Himself to us and as the means to transform the believer into a New Creation.

Key Points:

Bound Bible- Just like a bound gear, when the Bible is neglected in the life of a believer, when we fail to invest, read, study, believe, or obey God’s Word- the Christian life as God intended it to be, becomes bound up, and will not function properly. Whenever we approach God’s Word in pride, unwilling to submit, believing we know best- we are binding the gear of God’s Word in our lives, until it has no effect. Belief is not enough when it comes to God’s Word. Obedience, is what makes the gear go.

Oiled Understanding- God is a Spirit, and His Word is a spiritually discerned book. You need the Spirit to provide understanding of what God has said and how to live out what He has said in your life. An unsaved person will not be able to comprehend what God has said in His Word. Their conclusion will be nothing more than educational, head knowledge that leaves them lacking. (Matthew 13:10-16, Isaiah 6:9) New convert/young underdeveloped faith- will have slow understanding of scripture, as the Spirit begins to work it’s way into the crevices of the gears/ their life, making it move. The more they obey The Spirit, via The Word, the more they will begin to understand the Bible, grow in the Bible, and live the Bible.

Tuesday: The Word of God in Person; Salvation

Main Point: Jesus was given to right all that was wrong between man and God. Through Christ, we are united to Him once again and enabled to function in faith. In order to receive Salvation, you must believe what God’s Word has said about your life; your greatest problem is sin. You must accept the completed work of Christ, as the only single solution to your sin problem. Then, you must allow Christ to complete the Christian by continuing a work in you. 

Key Points:

The Cog of Corruption: The Bible is full of examples of failures. People who could not live righteous, Holy lives. The reason is that the Bible points to our greatest need; our sin problem. Every person is born with a broken cog on the wheel of their life that hinders them from perfectly meeting God’s requirements and living out His will in their life.

The Cog of Christ: This is why Christ came, to complete our broken cog, bridging the gap that separated us from God. By His completed work we are united to our Creator once again, sinless, blameless, and considered righteous because of the work of Jesus.

The Cog of Christianity:  Now nothing stops us from being able to live the Christian life as the Bible describes. Just as much as it was Christ who saved us by His Work, it is also Christ who sanctifies us by His continued work. We are only enabled to live the Christian life by Jesus.

Wednesday: The Word of God in You; Sanctification

Main Point: The Christian life is accomplished by allowing the Spirit of God, bring about the ways of God, by the Word of God in your life. This process is known as; sanctification. This process will look different and take place at different speeds for each saint, however it is evidence of this process that assures us of salvation.

Key Points:

Synced Saint: By our very nature, we are in opposition to God. Our will, ways, words, thoughts, desires, and actions are completely contrary to His. This is why when God now resides in your life, your life will change. Your will, ways, words, thoughts, desires, and actions will become transformed to match His.

Progressive Motion: The pace of sanctification will depend on intentionality and devotion. This process will not take place by happenstance or osmosis. Only by slowing our lives down and intentionally seeking our Savior, will sanctification be a go in the  life of the godly.

Successive Sanctification: Sanctification is a progressive process. Meaning that you will not be instantaneously transformed into Christ’s image and likeness. Instead, with each surrender, each submission, and every obedience you will become more like Him as a believer day by day.

Thursday: The Word of God through You; Service

Main Point: If the Word of God in text is obeyed, the Word of God in Person is trusted in, we are changed by the Word of God in us- then the natural result will be the will of God taking place through us. The evidence of a Christian life that actually works is..well…works. Service to the Kingdom of God will become the natural desire of a successful saint.

Key Points:

The Pulley of Purpose: God placed the gears of the Gospel in motion in order for His purpose to be fulfilled in the life of each believer. The reason for scripture, Salvation, and sanctification in the life of a Christian is to reveal and fulfill God’s will in our lives.

The Pulley of Power: Just as much as we were incapable of saving ourselves by living a perfect and Holy Life that would bring us to God- we are equally incapable of living out the Christian life after salvation on our own. This is why God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to be the Christians He has called us to be.

The Pulley of Possession: In order for our purpose to be fulfilled, in order to be enabled by The Spirit’s power, we must give God full possession of our lives. As He leads, we listen. As He directs, we devote our lives to His will.