But One Life

James 4:13–17 KJV 1900

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

American patriot Nathan Hale, September 22, 1776

I would like to preach on. One simple thought… But One Life.

1. A saved life

When I was 6, Give testimony

   a. Hebrews 9:27 (KJV): "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

   d. Romans 3:23 (KJV): "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

      Romans 5:8 (KJV): "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

      Romans 6:23 (KJV): "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

      Romans 10:9-10 (KJV): "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."

      1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV): "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

      John 3:16 (KJV):"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."

      John 14:6 (KJV):  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

      Revelation 1:5 (KJV): "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,"

      Ephesians 1:7 (KJV): "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

      - We only have one chance to get saved! There is no other way, name, or path. Above all else, it must be a saved life!

2. A Sanctified Life

When I was 19

Sanctification is “The act of consecrating or of setting apart for a sacred purpose; consecration.”

It is comanded by God b.      

1 Peter 1:15–16 KJV 1900

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Thessalonians 4:7 KJV 1900

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

How do we live Holy?

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Give God your Body

Romans 6:12–14 KJV 1900

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: Right Relationships Mean Right Living (Romans 12–13)

Before we trusted Christ, we used our body for sinful pleasures and purposes, but now that we belong to Him, we want to use our body for His glory (Weirsby)

SAC'RIFICE, noun [Latin sacrificium.]

1. An offering made to God by killing and burning some animal upon an altar, as an acknowledgment of his power and providence, or to make atonement for sin, appease his wrath or conciliate his favor, or to express thankfulness for his benefits. Sacrifices have been common to most nations, and have been offered to false gods, as well as by the Israelites to Jehovah.

A sacrifice differs from an oblation; the latter being an offering of a thing entire or without change, as tithes or first fruits; whereas sacrifice implies a destruction or killing, as of a beast. Sacrifices are expiatory, impetratory, and eucharistical; that is, atoning for sin, seeking favor, or expressing thanks.

a. This sacrifice is a choice

“I Beseech you” “ye present”

God will not make you serve Him. It is our choice to serve Him or not.

b.This sacrifice is Changeless

You cannot undo a sacrifice, when an animal was slain, there was no going back, there was no changing your mind. when Paul wrote this, the Hole Spirit was saying “This is not a every now and then thing, this is not something that is off and on, this is something that needs to happen, and no going back!” It is a living sacrifice, because it should be a continues thing, yet just as permanent as if it was killed and burned.

c. This sacrifice is Complete

A sacrifice differs from an oblation; the latter being an offering of a thing entire or without change, as tithes or first fruits; whereas sacrifice implies a destruction or killing.

Give God your Mind

Conforming is external

Transforming is internal

When we let whats going on around us dictate our thoughts, we will not be giving our Mind to God. There is to much Sin, Pain, Hate, Death…

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: Right Relationships Mean Right Living (Romans 12–13)

God transforms our minds and makes us spiritually minded by using His Word. As you spend time meditating on God’s Word, memorizing it, and making it a part of your inner man, God will gradually make your mind more spiritual (Weirsby)

      - We must be set apart; we have one chance to live a life that is holy before God!

3. A Serving Life

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV 1900

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

In Context, this verse comes after Paul talking about how we have death over the grave, its talking about the second coming, it comes after a note of Victory. Why do we serve Him? Because of all he has done for us! He is our victory, our Salvation, our Hope. Because off all that, we can serve Him!

Give God your Devotion

Stedfast Constant; firm; resolute; not fickle or wavering.

Not sometimes, not when you feel like it.

verse 52 talks about how quickly the rapture will happen, once that trump sounds its all done. Why give God our time? Because we are running out of it!

Give God your Dedication

UNMOVABLE means it is something that cannot be moved or shaken; firm; fixed.

Why Must we never move, or change positions on the work of the Lord? Because when we change it, we effectively make it useless

Galatians 1:6–9 KJV 1900

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 KJV 1900

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Give God your Development

always abounding Means to never stop increasing.

Never be content With what we have done for Christ

Always Strive to do more. Always try to give more people the Gospel

Are you doing more for God today then you were yesterday? If not, you are not always abounding in the work of The Lord….

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat; Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its days I must fulfill, living for self or in His will; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep; Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne; Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ’twas worth it all”; Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.