Living the Right Way

Intro

Today we are going to jump a few chapters.

We will return, but I do not want to loose the momentum we gained last week.

Last week was a revelation.

We saw that many Christians want to do the right thing and live holy lives but go about trying to the right thing the wrong way - through legalism/ rule following.

Today we are going to see the right way to live a holy Holy life. A way that has no rules, no lists of do’s and don’t’s.

The only way to live holy.

So if Legalism does not work and indeed it docent, then what is the correct way too live a godly life for God?

Its called Relational Theology.

The key to victory is not rules, its relationship - a relationship built on love.

Love is the most powerful force we have.

As the bible says:

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

What rules are incapable of doing love does with ease.

And God has given us a powerful, tangible picture of how this works.

Ephesians 5:31–32 AV

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

The relationship of marriage, between a husband and a wife is the picture of our relationship with Jesus.

And the way a marriage works is the same way our faith works.

Look at just how they match:

1: You give your spouse your body:

1 Corinthians 7:4 AV

4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

You give God your body

Romans 12:1 AV

1 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.

2: You give your spouse your mind.

Song of Solomon 4:9 AV

9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

You give God your mind:

Romans 12:2 AV

2 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.

3: You give your spouse your will:

Philippians 2:3 AV

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

You give God your will:

Romans 12:2 AV

2 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.

Lets examine this further.

Good marriages are not built on rules, they are built on vows. Vows given in love.

When a marriage starts bringing in rules, it is the beginning of the end because a) Rules don’t work and b) they make things worse as we saw last week.

When you get married you become something new, You change from water into wine.

As a result you never “ forget” that you are married.

I don’t go to a restart, see a pretty waitress, flirt and get her number then suddenly remember that I’m married.

My marriage to Kim is constant. I go as a married man, I order my food as a married man and I treat other woman as a married man.

Likewise, the Christian is a new creation and can never “ forget” that he is a Christian.

You cannot go to a bar with friends order drink after drink, get drunk and then suddenly remember you are Christian.

I am not just a married man when I am with Kim, I am a married man 24 hours a day, likewise I am not just a n christian when I am in Church, I am a christian 24 hours a day.

What does that mean: To be a married man?

It simply means that thoughts and love for my wife are constantly in my head and heart.

And it is the love I have for her that controls my body, my mind and my will.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

It simply means thoughts and love for God are constantly in my head and heart and it is the love I have for Him that controls my body, mind and will.

Lets talk about rules.

What have we already learned?

1: Rules don’t work unless they are accompanied by a threat. And even then the rule may change the behaviour but not the heart.

It a marriage built on threats and fear? Of course not. They are built on love and trust.

Likewise, Our faith is not built on fear of punishment.

1 John 4:18 AV

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Second, we learned that rules actually reveal sin, not control it.

For example:

What can you deduce if I said: Kim made a rule last week that I am not allowed to flirt. You can deduce that I have a problem with flirting. The rule reveals my sin.

But here is the reality:

There is no rule in our marriage that I am not allowed to flirt. But strongly, even though no such rule exists, I don’t flirt.

Why?

Because I don’t want to do anything that would upset the one I love.

Simnilarerly, there is no rule in our marriage that I must buy Kim a chocolate.

Yet,m when I go get milk or bread and have a few rands, I would buy here a Chocolate. Why would I do this?

Because I love her and know that she would really appreciate it and I want to make her happy.

This applies to dosses of other examples I could give.

No rules, yet total control - all based not on fear but on love.

This is exactly how we ought to be as Christians towards God.

But this kind of relationship requires intimacy.

Let me be frank: Most people cannot live like this simply because they lack this level of intimacy with God.

Intimate relationships are not created by 1 hour sermons a week, or by 5 minute chats once a day.

Intimacy take time, dedication, commitment, humility and vulnerability.

How can we get this intimate with God?

Firstly - Intimacy is available to all of you right now through Jesus Christ and Secondly - God wants to be intimate with you.

So let me be as practical as possible:

1. Decide to obey no matter what the cost or how difficult the journey.

Forsake the things of the world

John 14:15 AV

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Believe in His goodness and obey Him even when there is no evidence

Embrace that he who loses his life for Jesus’ sake will find it

Matthew 10:39 AV

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

2. Immerse yourself in the Word.

Follow the lead of Jesus and believe every word He says.

John 5:30 AV

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 10:30 AV

30 I and my Father are one.

John 15:10 AV

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

John 15:17 AV

17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

3. Spend copious time pursuing God

Hebrews 7:19 AV

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Be brutally honest with God

Ask the hard questions

Wait on Him

Do everything He tells you to do.

Learn to believe in His grace, love and transforming power.

2 Corinthians 3:18 AV

18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

4. Immerse yourself in intimate worship of God.

Sing love songs to God, rather than songs about God

Avoid the false god of Christian “entertainment,” where your flesh is stimulated rather than knit to God

5. Find and dive into the life of a church that believes the Word and operates in the Spirit.

6. Refuse to be discouraged by ‘wilderness periods.’

Temptations and troubles can sometimes cause us to believe that God has abandoned us. They test and temper our faith.

But God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can withstand and He will never abandon or forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5 AV

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Conclusion

God has given us an amazing promise: that if we seek Him with all our heart, He will reveal Himself to us .

Jeremiah 29:13–14 AV

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Often, someone who is dying will express deep regret that they did not spend more time with their family. As their life comes to an end, they lament over discovering (too late) that life was to be found in intimacy with those they loved—that in fact, all the money, possessions and career successes were worthless in comparison.

Don’t let that happen to you!

Friends, intimacy with God and others is the intended purpose of life, both here and in heaven.

It may require time and effort but will prove itself in a transformed life and the intense joy of experiencing God’s presence.