Date:      5th October 2008                                                                    (Sunday AM)                                                                       Ref: A0404

Place:     Kambah P.S.

Title: How to Live

Text:        & Titus 2:11-13

Illust:     Theodore Epp the founder of the Back to the Bible radio broadcasts made this statement: “Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow." As I read this & pondered on it, I was impressed by how simple yet potentially life changing this one short sentence is.

I.                   Died Yesterday

A.               Death of a Loved One

i.                 When someone near to us dies, there is a natural grief & period of mourning that you go through. That sense of loss, of separation / sorrow.

ii.               Common to the human experience – Cultures have a variety of ways of dealing with the loss of a loved one. In most countries those in mourning wear dark, sombre clothes

           Seriousness to their life, not all fun & merriment. A mature soberness a withdrawal from frivolous social events & pursuits.

      In orthodox Jewish ceremony when the mourners get home from the burial, they do not shower or bathe for a week, do not wear leather shoes and/or jewelry, men do not shave, and in many communities large wall mirrors in the mourners' home are covered. It is also customary for the mourners to sit on low stools or even the floor, symbolic of the emotional reality of being "brought low" by the grief.

         2 Samuel 18:33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!” (NKJV)

           You can hear the grief in David’s anguished cry. ~  It was also customary to rend their garments & some ancient cultures even cut themselves or shaved their head as a sign of mourning / grief.

         Deuteronomy 14:1 “You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead. (NKJV)

iii.             What is also true is that grief / mourning has a timeframe, There is a time to grieve, but there is also the truth that as time passes the grief fades, life goes on as it must.

B.               The Sacrifice Fresh

i.                 How should we live? “Live as though Christ died yesterday,” ~ A sense of that intense grief & sorrow over the death of our loved one, not in the distant past, but with the raw emotion of a yesterday. The one who loved us so much that He gave His life in our place. We should not treat in a careless or light hearted matter the cross.

ii.               In fact it would help if you can keep the Cross fresh in your mind. Spend some time meditating on the Cross of Calvary, of the price that Jesus paid that your sin could be cleansed. – Isaac Watts Hymn:

      When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

iii.             A daily looking to the Cross, a constant reminding of yourself of the death of your saviour, of the cost of your redemption. A sober reflection, a mourning, a sense of sorrow of His death in your place.

      Often you may see a sports team wear black armbands following the recent death of a previous player or important club member.

iv.             Need to wear the symbol of mourning. – Not talking about wearing a cross, or some other symbol. No I am talking about a manner of living & walking through this life. – A manner that reflects the price paid.

         Galatians 6:17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. (NKJV)

      There is a cost to serving Christ, a refraining from certain things, the setting of your priorities what you do with your time, talents, resources & energies ~ & vs. 12

II.                 Rose Today

A.               He is Risen

i.                 Now we come to the next part.  “Live as though Christ rose from the grave today." While there is a grief over yesterday, we also need to have a constant sense of the truth that His death was not the end of the story.

         Mark 16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. (NKJV)

ii.               Praise the Lord, He is Risen indeed The Good News of the Gospel. Jesus is not just a good or even great historical teacher. – He is alive. He conquered hell & death & is alive.

iii.             A new movie released in America by late-night TV talk show host & stand-up comic Bill Maher - "Religulous" is a full on attack against all religions. Most of these authors & filmmakers that attack religion, tend to view all religion as the same. – Fundamental difference between Christianity & all other religion – The resurrection of Jesus Christ.

iv.             The Apostle Paul made this clear

         1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. (NKJV)

v.               He then goes on to proclaim the truth

         1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (NKJV)

B.               Joy Comes in the Morning

i.                 You need to live each day with the Joy of knowing that “He Lives” – No matter what happens, not matter what opposition, what trials, what struggles, Know that Jesus is alive.

ii.               This is the Glory of the resurrection. Jesus Himself, alive before the Throne of God. Making intercession for you

         Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (NKJV)

iii.             Not only that but because of His death & resurrection you have access into the very throne of heaven yourself. Charles Wesley wrote:

      No condemnation now I dread: Jesus, and all in Him, is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th’eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

         Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NKJV)

III.              Coming Back Tomorrow

A.               Certainty of Return

i.                 Now we come to the third part:  “Live as though Christ is coming back tomorrow." This is the great hope and expectation of the church & it should be for every believer – Jesus Christ is coming back. ~ & Acts 1:9-11

ii.               Christ’s second coming is mentioned more than 300 times in the New Testament (An average of 1 in 25 verses.) – In Paul’s letters there are more than 50 references to the return of Jesus. – Central to the Christian message – Called the Blessed Hope & vs. 13

iii.             This is not some figurative idea, some metaphor for when we die, this is a physical event when Jesus Christ personally comes down to earth to rule & reign. He Himself said:

         John 14:2-3 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (NKJV)

           Have this Hope firmly rooted in your life – Jesus Christ is coming back.

B.               Immanence of Return

i.                 Which leads to the final point. How should you live your life? – How would you live today if you knew that Jesus was coming back tomorrow? What would you do, how would you spend your time, what would be your priorities, how much more would you be passionate about the souls of loved ones, How much more would you pray?

         Romans 13:12-14 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (NKJV)

ii.               Truth is that we do not the day nor the hour that Jesus will return, what we do know is that it is immanent, it could happen tomorrow or even today. – The signs are all around us. They are not hidden, they are not cryptic, they are as huge neon signs.

      Iran (Persia) and it’s threats against Israel

      Russia (Gog & Magog, Meshach & Tubal) sabre rattling

      Global economic crisis

      Rise of Europe

      Many other signs, Israel, Lawlessness, Pestilence ...

iii.             Jesus is coming back & He is coming back soon & it could be tomorrow. Live like He is. ~ & Text

IV.             Altar Call

      “Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow."