Mlworship#23 Christian living, stranger than fiction(16jun2004)

Christian living: stranger than fiction
(16th June 2004)


‘But you, man of God, flee from all this( that is, love of money) and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.’
1 Timothy 6:11

For unlike in the Old Testament days, where God anointed humans(Moses and Solomon) built the temple for God to dwell in their presence, under the new covenant of the New Testament,

‘Do you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?’
1 Corinthians 3:16

Be in the world, but not of the world.

Runs contrary to what any worldly-wise person will do or give as advice to surviving in this harsh, competitive world.

But indeed our time on earth has a definite finality, our time with God can be eternal.

So who do we obey ??
- the enticing external packaging of what is really a limited shelf life offered by Satan,
- or the plain truth of God’s Words that will renew our minds and transform us into the glory of His eternal loving grace as we respond.

Humans tend to be consistently irrational.

Buy low sell high, that is sound investment dictum.
Yet, in reality, most buy near high, and sell near low

Trust in God and receive eternity in heaven, and peace and blessings on earth.

‘Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness’
James 3:18

Yet, many choose to ignore God and receive pain and insecurity on earth, with damnation in eternity.

‘For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice’
James 3:16

Why
- just like greed and fear will drive us towards going against common sense in investments
- lusts for things of the world pulls us towards hell,
fear of letting go of temporal things pushes us away from God

‘Dear friends, do no be surprised of the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12-13

‘So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good’
1 Peter 4:19

For we are all accountable to God on the day of reckoning,

‘For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may secure what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad’
2 Corinthians 5:10


LIVING A GODLY LIFE

‘Teach me Your way, O Lord. I will walk in Your truth. Unite my heart to fear Your Name’
Psalm 86:11

How to do it??

‘….so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.’
Philippians 4:1

‘Rejoice in the Lord always;’
Philippians 4:4

‘The Lord is at hand.’
Philippians 4:5

‘Be careful for nothing
‘but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God’

‘And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’
Philippians 4:6-7

What do we do??

In leaving our burdens to God, we are freed up to partake in the joy and peace of God’s grace and glory by :

‘whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
……………….., do; and the God of peace shall be with you’
Philippians 4:8-9

.But whoever lives by the truth come into the light, so that I may be seen plainly what he has done has been done through God’
John 3:21

Where do we start??

- in seeking God in everything, the Holy Spirit will convict us of our sins and make us ready to do God’s work

- in acknowledging God, He will reassure

‘but if , when ye do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God’
1 Peter 2:20

- in staying focused on God, God will guide us and make our paths straight

‘teach me your way, O Lord and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name’
Psalm 86:11

Who do we start with???

‘So in everything, do to others what you would want them do to you’
Mathew 7:12

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this;
To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world’
James 1:27

‘And find out what pleases the Lord’
Ephesians 4:8-10
What we must not do??

Things of God yes, things of the world no.

‘Do not judge…………..
Do not condemn………..
But
Forgive…………………..
And
Give…………………………’
Luke 6:37-38
For
‘If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins’
Mathew 6:14-15
And
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged’
Luke 6:37

What more must we not do???

- An unbridled tongue a la ‘Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde’
‘out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so’
James 3:10

- A fettered heart a la ‘Grandpa Scrooge Mcduck’
‘each man should give what he has desired in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver’
2 Corinthians 9:7

- A self centred focus a la ‘Narcisscus’
‘The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction. The one who sows to place the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life’
Galatians 6:7-8

- A desire to play God a la ‘Satan’
‘As you do not know the path of the mind or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things’
Ecclesiastes 11:5

- A poorly grounded enthusiasm, for body is willing, spirit is not
‘let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’
Galatians 6:9