Advice For The Christian Life Pt. 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Last week, we began look at these verses on the thought of “Advice For The Christian Life”...
The devil is always looking to trip us up. He’s waiting for us to let down our guard, to drop our weapon, to rest just a for a moment, and when we do, he will attack us.
He cannot have our souls, thank God, but he will do whatever he can to ruin our testimony, or reputation, and make sure that we are a reproach on the name of Christ!
So, knowing this, the Holy Spirit gives us some practical advice in these verses on how we should live our Christian lives.
Last week, we made our way through verses 1 and 2 and saw two of the four pieces of advice we are given.
Number 1, we are told to stay armed…we arm ourselves with Jesus Christ and His mind.
Then, number 2, we are told to stay aimed…we need to stay aimed so we do not waste time, and because we have a worthy target, that is, our goal or target is to do the will of God.
III-Stay Adamant
III-Stay Adamant
We need to be unshakeable and unyielding…
In the eyes of God, it is important for all of us to embrace a righteous stubbornness. As Christians, we should cultivate a spirit of grit and determination. This steadfastness will empower us to overcome challenges and stay strong in our faith.
It is fascinating to consider how God's intervention in Saul of Tarsus' life, transforming him from a murderer to a missionary. The conversion likely did not alter his personality significantly. Paul remained steadfast and determined, demonstrating his resilient nature. He just changed sides!
With unwavering conviction, he embraced his divine calling and remained steadfast in fulfilling God's will, undeterred by any amount of suffering or hardship. Sadly, we have far too many fickle Christians today who are blown about with every wind of adversity.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
8 I have set the Lord always before me:
Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
It’s okay to dig in our heels and be unmoved when it comes to the fiery trials. God will get us through them as we stay determined to fight the good fight of faith.
When it comes to staying adamant, there are a few things we find in these verses that will help us do just that...
The first is...
Avoid past associations.
Avoid past associations.
1 Peter 4:3 (KJV 1900)
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Now, there’s a five dollar word in that verse I want to explain before moving forward… “Lasciviousness” is lewd, animal-like behavior.
This is how the world chooses to exist. It is a product of the teaching of evolution. In a barn full of cattle, there is no shame, no morality in behavior.
We need to be careful about people in our lives that would hinder us.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
We might think if we go back and associate with the past crowd that we can influence them for good. Science proves otherwise.
You take a bucket of clean water and a bucket of dirty water, and you mix them together, you don’t end up with a bucket of clean water!
You’ve all heard the old saying, one bad apple spoils the bunch…You don’t put one good apple into a bushel of rotten ones and all of a sudden the rotten ones get better...If God has changed your life—stay out of the world’s bushel basket.
The second thing that will help us stay adamant is...
Get accustomed to present accusations.
Get accustomed to present accusations.
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
Whenever God’s work is moving forward, there will be friction. Billy Sunday used to say: “If I’m rubbing the fur the wrong way—turn the cat around!”
As we embark on our spiritual journey with Christ, it is inevitable that we will encounter opposition. This opposition serves as a fiery trial, a test of our faith and commitment to living a godly life in Christ Jesus.
13 For I have heard the slander of many:
Fear was on every side:
While they took counsel together against me,
They devised to take away my life.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour:
But through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Often the people who should be most supportive of our changed lives will resist us. Family members and friends who know us well will criticize or make fun of our Christianity or stand for Christ.
The best thing to do is stay close to Christ—He is the friend that “sticketh closer than a brother.”
Here’s another thing that will help us stay adamant...
Be aware of a future accountability.
Be aware of a future accountability.
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Daniel Webster said: “The greatest thought that can occupy a man’s mind is that one day he will meet God.”
Solomon wrote something similar in the Bible...
Ecclesiastes 11:9 (KJV 1900)
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
Knowing that we are going to give an account to the Lord one day will help stay adamant.
Our Lord is our wonderful Savior, but He is also our judge. He is the One we will face one day. When Christians face the Lord, it will not be a time of clowning around and goofing off. I believe it will be a very serious, sobering time as we answer the Lord’s questions and we realize what we have not done, but could have done for Him.
The focus of our lives should be faithfulness to the Lord no matter how difficult the task or the results of our labors. When it comes to the Lord’s work, you never know what is being accomplished through you because the results of your labors often go unseen.
Adrian Rogers said, “Now, dear friend, not only is a day of reckoning coming and a day of recognition coming but, thank God there is a Day of Reward that is coming. The Bible teaches here that our Lord is going to recognize those who are His own. And He is going to judge the quick and the dead, the living and the dead. And He is going to reward His own.”
An elderly preacher was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. “Pastor,” said the man, “something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There’s been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he’s just a boy.” Any pastor that has experienced this kind of incident knows how this preacher felt. Satan loves to use people without a brain to lower a bomb on the preacher right before he gets up to preach.
The pastor graciously listened, his eyes moistened and his thin hand trembled. “I feel it all,” he replied, “but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.” On that day the pastor’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign. He was feeling pretty low. The deacon made him feel like a flop and failure.
After everyone else had left, that one boy that was saved that year came to him and asked, “Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher—perhaps a missionary?” Again tears welled up in the pastor’s eyes. “Ah, this heals the ache I feel,” he said. “Robert, I see God’s hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher.”
Many years passed. An aged missionary returned to London from the continent of Africa. His name was spoken with great respect and reverence. Nobles and dignitaries invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa’s most savage chiefs. He translated the Bible into the Setswana language. He also was the father of ten children. His daughter Mary, married missionary David Livingstone. Another son, John, became a missionary at a mission station in Kuruman. His grandson, Howard, became the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia.
The name of the aged missionary was Robert Moffat. He was the one boy that was saved in the church, the same Robert, who many years before, had spoken to the discouraged pastor that felt like a failure on that Sunday morning in the old Scottish church. May the Lord help us to be faithful until He returns or until the day we take our last breath. May we never underestimate what God is doing in us now and will continue to do in our service to Him. May we leave the results of our labors to Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Here’s a definition for “life.” “Life is our opportunity to meet God.” That’s all life is.
It’s not about making money or being successful. All of that will remain here when life ends.
“Only one life twill soon be past and only what’s done for Christ will last.”