The Ups and Down of the Christian Life Eph

  The Ups and Down of the Christian Life   Eph. 5:15-17    EBC    9/14/08

  2001 Indianapolis 500 – car leading race- 5 laps to go- part broke – car ended up 26 place- First place would have won them over 1,000,000.00. A breakdown of the engine revealed a 10.00 part had broken. When the engine was put together it was overlooked.

  Sometimes in the Christian life we fail because of things are left alone or overlooked.

I. Some things about the Christian Life

  A. The life is divine

    1. Eph. 2:1- we were made alive by the spirit of God

      a. We were dead in trespasses in sin- unable to do anything spiritual

    2. 2 Peter 1:4- we are partakers of the divine nature.

  B. The guide is infallible

    1. John 16:13-

      a. Someone has said, the unerring word of God is applied by the unerring spirit of God”.

      b. It is important that we understand that the spirit of God is never divorced from Jesus Christ or the word of God.

      c. for he shall never speak of himself- he never speaks apart from the father and the son- he never manufactures his own message.

  C. The provision is sufficient

    1. 2 Peter 1:3-

      a. Charles Stanley - At salvation God has gvien to each of us all we need to live a triumphant Christian life that brings glory to Him. All things are available including courage, forgiveness, vision, wisdom and a deepen trust in God.

        b. “His divine power” has given to us all of the things which you and I need to live life to the fullest. Don’t say that God has not made an arrangement for you to live for Him. He has made every arrangement for our life in Christ and our godliness of life for Him.

    2. Jude 24- He is able to keep us from falling and to fill us with power to resist the devil and to live a life pleasing to Him

II. When the Christian life Fails

  A. Forsaking God-

    1. Jer 2:11-13-

      a. Preferring what we want above what God wants for us.

      b. Israel had forsaken God and had made God’s that they liked. How many today have made their own God only later to find that their God brings no satisfaction. The best water in Israel was from a natural spring – they made cisterns – which never were very successful – the water usually was brackish and sometimes the cisterns would crack and would hold water.

    2. Psa. 81:11-14- God’s warnings were rejected, his promises forgotten. Israel walked in direct opposition to His word and will.

      a. J.Vernon McGee-  I think the United States is in a bad spiritual condition, yet we are telling the world how things ought to be done.

  B. Worldliness-

  C. Misplaced confidence-

    1. 2 Chron. 16:7-

  D. Neglect of little things

    1. Song of Solomon 2:15-

III. The Remedy for Failure

A.    Confession of Sin

    1. 1 John 1:9-

  B. Laying aside every weight

    1. Heb. 12:1-

  C. Consecrating our lives to Him

    1. Luke 22:42-