Motivation To Live For Christ

The story has been told about a frog who fell in a large pothole and couldn’t get out. Even his friends couldn’t get him to muster enough strength to jump out of the deep pothole. They gave him up to his fate. But the next day they saw him bounding around just fine. Somehow he had made it out, and so they asked him how he did it, adding, “We thought you couldn’t get out.” The frog replied, “I couldn’t, but a truck came along and I had to.”

Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching: Over 1500 Sermon Illustrations Arranged by Topic and Indexed Exhaustively, Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file. (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1989).

That is the case today for our lives and ministry sometimes we need something to motivate us to do what we couldn’t do.

I want to share two factors that will motivate us to live for Christ.

Reflecting On the Awe of Christ- Convincing Others V. 11-13

Paul in light of the appearance before the judgement seat of Christ that we must all face to give an account for what we’ve done in the body, both good and evil, says knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others

Fear of the Lord in not so much the fear of dread that can come with judgement, but Paul is in awe of being in the presence of such a holy being.

To persuade, to convince someone to believe something and to act on the basis of what is recommended.

Paul doesn’t have to convince God, he already knows Paul’s character.

Paul hopes that the people will know this in their conscience.

Deep down inside, remember my character when others are speaking evil against me.

You know my past record with you. I only came to give you the gospel and to be sincere in my actions.

Your ideal is what you wish you were.

Compelling Love of Christ- Pushes and Constrains Us

Your reputation is what people say you are.

Your reputation is what people say you are.

Your character is what you are.

Paul is not recommending again, but giving them a reason for boasting. A motive or ground for being satisfied with your (or another’s) achievements.

So you can answer those who boast, or brag on outward appearance,

Those who look the part

Those who speak well

Those who appear to have a spectacular ministry.

But not inward appearance

Character but no flash

Integrity and sincere commitment

Insane for God, Sane for your benefit.

Issue with tongues

Paul in the third heaven heard things that could not be repeated, which man may not utter. He thank God for speaking in many tongues, more than all of them. But he dismissed it by saying, nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

A middle-aged business executive approached the front entrance of the office building in which he worked. A young feminist came up at the same moment, so he stepped back and held the door open for her to pass on through. She looked at him and said with annoyance, “Don’t hold the door for me just because I’m a lady.”

To her surprise, he looked right back and replied, “I’m not. I’m holding it open because I’m a gentleman.”

Likewise, we as Christians must always act toward others on the basis of what we are in Christ Jesus, and not on the basis of what they may or may not be.

Your reputation is what people say you are.

Your character is what you are.

Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 38–39.

The Compelling Love of Christ- Pushes and Constrains Us

The love of Christ. The fact that he holds you in such high regard.

Paul says this love controls us.

It forces us to an action.

It constrains us, by putting limitations in place. It hold us back from doing wrong.

It motivates us.

It compels us to serve Him.

It compels us do right.

It compel us to give him our best.

Why?

He alone died for all.

On the cross everyone died with him.

Now what?

Those who live should live for Him.

Who was died and raised.

One who died once and came back to life again.

A leader cannot invent motivation, he can only unlock it. When there exists no motivation within a people, no strong leadership is possible.

• Do only what is required of you and remain a slave. Do more than is required and become free.

• It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness.

—James Barrie

• Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.

Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 864.

Conclusion

Conclusion

How has your awe for God caused you to persuade others?

Are you being sincere in what you do?

Does you reputation proceed your character?

How has Christ love pushed you to do right and kept you from doing wrong?

Are you letting the compelling love Christ gives you control your life?