Being Right with God

Culture is an interesting word.

Have you ever looked it up - the definition of it: The application of labor or other means to improve good qualities in, or growth; as the culture of the mind; the culture of virtue.

What are some of the things that we as a church are working towards - what are some of the things we are to be cultivating as a church?

Culture Requires Improvement

But the word culture has come down quite a few notches from this, and I could not find at what point the word changed - but now it means:

a: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group ]

b: the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization =https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture

The word culture is not a biblical word. It is not even alluded to in the Bible. The closest things would be when the Bible says something like “As their fathers before them.” Or it makes a general statement such as “in those days” which it will say a lot and say how things were in those days such as

Judges 21:25 AV

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Nehemiah 13:23 AV

In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

2 Kings 17:41 AV

So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

I find that most of these passages refer to nothing good or godly. It is usually a description of the plight of the people in their sin.

Culture is usually something that man has brought about. It his way. It is his estimation of how things ought to be or it his attempt to do things how he sees.

The ways of God are not so.

God’s ways in society, in church, and in your family has never been something favored, but is usually mocked or called legalistic.

This series is to correct some of these false beliefs, errant beliefs, distorted views, and get back to plain, simple, but so much better - Bible truths and teachings.

This afternoon’s topic is:

BEING RIGHT WITH GOD

Can someone be right with God, if so, what does that look like. If not, what can we hope for?

Current church culture says, YES!

So people go through life acting as if everything is perfect and they do not have a problem, because to admit a problem, ie sin or failure - would be to admit that we are not right with God. So current church culture, the way that is commonly viewed, people do all they can to hold up that house of cards and not let anyone know or glimpse that all is just a sham.

Now, I’m not saying that any of your lives are a sham at all.

“A major problem of modern church culture is people living a right life on the outside having never built the infrastructure right on the inside.”

I. Self-estimation

A. None of us are good

None of us are good, none of us have arrived, no one has everything straightened out in their lives.

As soon as you think you’ve got it all figured out - you are admitting you don’t. As soon as you think you are right with the Lord, you are probably in sin and fooling yourself far more than you think.

Romans 3:10 AV

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Mark 10:18 AV

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

B. Our flesh cannot be trusted

Isaiah 64:6 AV

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Jeremiah 17:9 AV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Romans 7:14-21

C. Any good in relation to us is because of the Lord

Whatever good that is found in me or that is found in any of us - is because of the Lord God of heaven. We need to understand that and keep that before our eyes.

If we are not careful - before long we start to think that are goodness is because of ourselves, our greatness, our holiness, our humility, our diligence and dedication.

But as soon as we get that attitude, we have betrayed our

Romans 7:18 AV

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

II. Getting on track with God is not dependent on:

Now the next couple of things are important, but my point is you can still be on the right and track and draw close to God

A. Who you are married to

While a good spouse will contribute to your faithfulness and ease of growth for your life, and that is especially true for women having the right husband - but irregardless of who you are married to, saved or not saved, backslidden or rebellious - you can be right with God.

B. Who your parents are

Your start may not have been great at home, you might have had a lot of draw backs. But that does not hinder you from getting back on track for God.

I think one of the dangers for some kids who grow up in a Christian is that they have everything right with God -

C. Who your pastor is or which church you go to

III. How to be on track with God

A. Humble yourself continually before him

Never think that you have arrived or have done your duty or that you are better than anyone - just keep lowering yourself before that almighty.

Luke 17:10 AV

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

B. Love Him

There are a few things that are involved if we love Him.

1. Obey Him

John 14:15 AV

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10 AV

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.

1 John 2:3 AV

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

2. Say no to sin

Titus 1:16 AV

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

3. Say no to the flesh

1 John 2:15–16 AV

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1 John 2:17 AV

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

4. Get to know Him!

1 John 4:13 AV

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Philippians 3:10 AV

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

When we get to know the Lord - then we get to trusting Him.

That is what God wants with you and I to do, he wants us to get to know him in every way.

HOW TO GET TO KNOW GOD:

1. Through His written Word

Our written message is the Word of God.

2. Through being where God is

- Devotional life

- At Church

- Meeting with other believers

3. Have conversations with God

Did you know that conversations are two-way

o Prayer is two-way communication with God

o We know that the key to good relationships is communication

We need to be careful of just reading through the grocery list of the prayer list

o Vain repetitions – speaking without thinking

We usually don’t hear God because we are to busy talking

When we talk about hearing God, we are talking about the Holy Spirit

4. Talk to others who have been with God

to learn more about their character

Read books that people have written, listen to sermons.

C. Never Quit

1 Corinthians 15:58 AV

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.