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The Gift of Singleness 1 Cor 7:32-40
DON'T WASTE YOUR SINGLENESS
Singleness is a gift and it's useful. You get the most out of it by trusting the giver (God)
Why is it good to be single?
To Grow our personal relationship with Christ V:32 1 Tim 6:6
1 Corinthians 7:32 “But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord;”
Carefulness- Anxious; full of care. Not a mental illness but a deep caring for the things that the Lord
◦ We should be singularly focused on God in our season of singleness. Use it for Him
◦ Leverage your time in singleness to grow in faith and knowledge of the word and how to serve others and further Kingdom so that when you get married you are prepared to lead to take on the trials that'll come with marriage.
◦ Our desire an obedience in life doesn't entitle us to Gods yes over a specific prayer
◦ Asking God to take away or fulfill a desire just to not to have to surrender something to him shows you don't want to have struggle within your life which we are promised as Christian's.
2 Cor 12:7-9( “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Buffet- a blow with the fist,a box on the ear or face a slap
◦ You're single so you can seek God. You can use your life to find Him and serve Him well. Don't be so desperate to get out of singleness that you never get to know him in it.
(1 Tim 6:6) "but godliness with contentment is great gain."
To be fully devoted to Him
1 Cor 7:6-9;37-38, Matt 19:12, Ps 37:4
1 Corinthians 7:6-8 "But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I"
◦ Marriage isn't varsity an singleness isnt JV
◦ While you are single you have a huge freedom in being able to drop things an go serve the Lord vs when married you assume a biblical responsibility to take care of your family first
◦ I read a story from a pastor. "In 2010 there was a massive earthquake in Haiti. Over 200,000 people died. The pastor was 30 years old had a wife and kids. A friend of his was also 30 but single. Living for the Lord. They are friends. They get on the phone and the single guy is like yeah man I'm catching a flight as soon as possible I'm going there to help. The Married guy is like what? Man all flights are shut down. How are you getting there ? He says idk I'll find a way. I just need to go help and share the gospel. ( Which is imperative because Haiti is a country whose leader has devoted the whole place to witch craft). He ask the married guy do you wanna come? He responds and says "yeah man I'd love nothing more but I have soccer practice on Tuesday for my kids". I can't leave my wife with all these responsibilities. His response here wasn't a brag, it was a "man I'd love to guy serve like that but I can't. You have a gift I don't have because I'm married.
◦ How you live your life single is a journal to who you are and what you'll bring to the person you'll marry someday.
◦ Andrew said just couple weeks ask "past behavior if the best predictor of future behavior "
◦ There is plenty of opportunities in your life now as a single person for God to use you in mighty ways for His kingdom ( 1 Cor 7:35)
1 Corinthians 7:35 “And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.”
◦ All your desires shouldn't be based on when you have a spouse( if they are adjust/ find new desires) because you will be let down by your spouse but not by God (Matt 19:12)
Matthew 19:12 "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it"
◦ It's ok to have desires but delight in the Lord an He will show you where your true desires should be. You'll see when you're walking step by step with the Lord. What you desire will be what He provides. (Ps 37:4)
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Psalm 37:4
◦ If God is having you wait, then do what waiters do and serve Him and serve those around you
To be prepared for the life ahead
V 9; 33;34;39-40 1Tim 6:6, Phil 4:11
“but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.”
1 Corinthians 7:33-34
◦ Unless God has shown you otherwise Singleness is more than likely a season for you.A barna study showed 84% of Born again Christians get married
◦ Remember: Your problems as a single person will translate into marriage unless you deal with them in your time as a single person.
◦ Your problems in singleness, not only magnify but double because there is now two of you with issues when you're married.
◦ Encouragement: No marriage has ever ended when two people are both following Christ full heartedly. A Divorce would be evidence of one person not following Christ.
◦ You aren't going to magically start just putting God first when you say "I do" at an alter one day.
◦ Train now in singleness to be ready for marriage before you get there an aren't prepared for the trails ahead (Phil 4:11)
Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
“There is no greater way to waste your life then to live in desperation for another season” - Jonathan Pokluda
The theme for TSM this year is to PURSUE.
I want to challenge you to Pursue God in this time of singleness. Pursue intentional relationships with community to help you through the trials of life to come.
When is singleness not a gift ?
Heb 11:13-16
Hebrews 11:13-16 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out of, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
◦ You are longing for a comfort and peace but looking for it in a place that's not heaven. Our true home. Looking for it in a person that isn't God.
1.)If you are saved but you aren't trusting the Saviors timing. you are constantly gratifying your flesh. Trying to put a relationship together on your terms. Playing games with people hurting them making them think things about themselves that aren't true and even though you don't realize it now.You are hurting yourself.
◦ Only the One who formed you has the power to transform you. That's God. Each one of us is made in his image.
2.) You don't have the giver> you aren't saved
◦ You can't do the first 3 things if you are not saved. You can try but your flesh will win and pull you into the worldly side of singleness.
Share the gospel
“for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:16-17
“that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans 10:9-10
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:13
It's not these words that will save you but the belief in your heart.
"Lord I know I'm a sinner. I know there's nothing I could ever do to get into your kingdom myself. Im sorry for trying to do it on my own. I'm here now Lord asking for you to come into my heart and forgive me of my sins.I believe that you sent your son and he died on a cross for my sin and you raised him from the dead and he's now seated with you. Lord you are King an Shepard over my life. I give up self control and give it all to you.
It's In your name that I pray amen"
