Two Different Christians
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 9 viewsNotes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Today i want to start by talking about 2 different christians. Tom and Harry.
Let us examine and judge both their lives and see what makes them different.
Tom:
Is afraid of the current situation in the world. He is axcius about the future and his buisness. Tom, also has the habit of taling his fears and frustrations out of people he loves, like his family. Tom, prays, but not very often, same with reading the Word, it reads it, but does not sit dowen and study it. He also still falls into many sins, he gets drunk every now and then, he listens to ungodly sexual music, he enjoys ungodly TV shows and movies. And he does not tithe.
Harry:
Harry is also concerned about the future but he has peace that God is always in control. His fears and frustration he takes to God in prayer, and does not take them on his family. He has a meaningful devotial prayer life and thougaly enjoys reading, studing and meditating on scripture. Haryy faces many temptation, as many as Tom, but Harry resists the Devil and lives mostly in victory. When Harry does fall, he repends before God in tears. Harry is also faithful in his support of the Church.
Ok: Now Lets us ask a few questions about Tom and Harry.
Who’s light is shinning brighter for God?
Who is living in Victory?
Who do think expereince more of God’s blessings and annionting?
Who would you rather be?
Now here is the real question: Why are they so different? Do you think that Harry, is making more of an effort that Tom and that is why he is more victorious?
Do you think that if Tom, just tried harder, put the effort in, and was more obedient he would also experince victory like Tom?
If you think yes, then you are wrong.
This is a huge missundertadning for many Chroistians. My friends can we ever, in our own strength and by trying harder live a life of perfection that we are called to live?
No.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The different between these 2 christians is NOT effort - its submission.
Harry expereince victory NOT because he tries harder than Tom, but because he submitits to the moving of the Holy spirit.
Harry is just as weak as Tom, we are all weak, but God has given us something to help us in our weakness.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Victorious Christian living and close fellowship with God through Jesus Christ is NOT the result of human effort but on submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Walking in the Spirit
Walking in the Spirit
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
A walk in the bible is a synonim for daily living. Christians are to live daily in the Holy Spirit.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
What does this mean?
To walk in the Spirit means:
1: That we yield to His control,
2: We allow Him to Exert his influence over us.
3: We follow his lead.
1: Yeald to his control
1: Yeald to his control
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
The flesh—our fallen nature under the power of sin—is in direct conflict with the Spirit.
17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
When the flesh is in charge, the results are obvious.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The above things are not evidence that you are not trying hard enoug, they are evidence that you are not yealding to the Holy Spirits control.
If you are a christian you have the Holy Spirit. And as such the Holy Spirit will lead you IF you have crucified the flesh.
2: Allow Him to Exert his influence
2: Allow Him to Exert his influence
Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and the bearers of the fruit the Spirit produces.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Thus, those who walk in the Spirit walk in love—they live in love for God and for their fellow man.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in joy—they exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in peace—they live worry-free and refuse anxiety (Philippians 4:6).
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in patience—they are known for having a “long fuse” and do not lose their temper.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in kindness—they show tender concern for the needs of others.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in goodness—their actions reflect virtue and holiness.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in faithfulness—they are steadfast in their trust of God and His Word.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in gentleness—their lives are characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God.
Those who walk in the Spirit walk in self-control—they display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say “no” to the flesh.
Notice that none of these wonderful benifits are the reslts of human effort, they are fruit of the Holy Spirit.
3: Follow his lead
3: Follow his lead
Those who walk in the Spirit rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them in thought, word, and deed.
11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
They show forth daily, moment-by-moment holiness. This is important. Christian victory is not won on a year by year scale, or a week by week, not even on a day by day scale.
It is won on the moment by moment level. All that matters is whether or not you are going to follow the holy Spirits leading right now, in this moment.
How?
11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.
key to this is hat those who submot moment by momet to the Holy Spirit dwell moment by moment under the authority of the Word.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And this producing holy living because the Word is our authority on holy living.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Let me tell you, the Holy Spirits ability to lead you into truth is directly proportional to how much you follow Him leading you into the Word.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Those who are led b y the Spirit, who walk in the Spirit live in victory.
Their whole way of life is lived according to the rule of the gospel, as the Spirit moves them toward obedience. When we walk in the Spirit, we find that the sinful appetites of the flesh have no more dominion over us.
To walk in the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit, and some results of the Spirit’s filling are thankfulness, singing, and joy.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,