Sermon 022397

1Jn. 5:3-5                                     Overcoming While in Trouble                                    2/23/97

                                                                                                                             ABCC

I.   Love for God (v. 3)                                                                                                           560

     Brief introduction & background

     A. Expressed in actions = obedience (v. 3a)

     B. Expressed in attitude (v. 3b) = Ps. 40:8

·        The emphasis is not on what you “say”, but rather on thinking & actions

·        Do your actions contradict your profession?  Does your thinking & attitude contradict your profession?  Your actions & attitude speak much louder than your words!

II.  Faith in Christ & Love for God is Victory (v. 4-5)

     A. Victory begins with the new birth - “born of God”

·        instantaneous & immediately (2Co. 5:17)

     B. Victory continues by faith - Jude 20-21

     C. The world must be overcome {not conformed to - Rom. 12:2, befriended - Jas. 4:4 or loved - 1Jn. 2:15}

·        The world is anyone or anything that attempts to convince the believer that God does not love you & that His commandments are burdensome!

·        “overcome” - to conquer, defeat, prevail, get the victory {“Nike” is the noun > children}

·        We must conquer the thinking & attitude that leads to disobedience

·        The temptation toward wrong thinking is greatest in times of trouble (tight places)

        In Rev. 2-3, Christ makes unique promises only to the one who overcomes in trouble (7 cases of trouble)!!!!

        1.  The battle for right doctrine can lead to unloving actions (Rev. 2:7) - lack of love, wrong motives

         2.  Suffering, poverty & danger can lead to fear & compromise (Rev. 2:11) - fear

Overcoming While in Trouble, pg. 2

         3.  The dominance of worldliness can lead to compromise in doctrine (Rev. 2:17) - false teaching

         4.  The dominance of immorality & wickedness can lead to compromise in morality (Rev. 2:26) - immorality

         5.  Legalism can lead to lifeless routine & rituals (Rev. 3:5) - dead lifestyle of ritual & routines

         6.  Consistent opportunity & blessing will lead to opposition (Rev. 3:12) - strong opposition

         7.  Abundant material blessings can lead to arrogance & apostasy (Rev. 3:21) - hypocrite (Pr. 30:7-9)

     D. Examples of overcomers in trouble (Heb. 11) - by faith [v. 1, 6]

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV)

·        Noah (v. 7), Abraham (v. 8), Sarah (v. 11), Moses (v. 24-26), Others (v. 32-40)

- they experienced financial ruin, severe health problems & death, children’s lives endangered, career &

education plans radically changed, loss of possessions, rejection, loneliness

·        How did they overcome?  >  They believed & agreed with the promises of God (v. 13)

·        How can we overcome in trouble?

        1.  You must continually defeat the negative attitude toward God & scripture (1Jn. 5:3c)

            “The temptation is too great, God doesn’t love you, You’re too sinful, no need to pray, attend worship svc.,

             confess sin, resist sin, pursue holiness, no value in contentment & humility = Look at yourself NOW!”

        2.  You must lovingly obey the scriptures (1Jn. 5:3b)

            - constantly remembering Jesus Christ life & example as I obey (Heb. 12:1-4)