The Committed Christian John 13:1-32 - Matt. 5:13-16 by Cooper Abrams |
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INTRO: It is impossible to even begin to scratch the surface in trying to describe the glory of God.
1. Some small inkling of His greatness and glory is seen looking at his creation our Universe.
a. Many people think there are other populated worlds, and scientists
have a program of sending messages's into space seeking to hear some message from extra-terrestrials.
b. However, suppose there was
life in space. If we tried to communicate with them, and our communications
traveled at the fastest speed in the Universe, it would take 100s of years
to reach the nearest stars, 1000s of years to reach moderately distant stars
in our galaxy the milky way and millions of years to reach even the nearer
galaxies.
c. On the other hand, the smallest
things in the Universe I read somewhere was a sub-atomic particle called
a "quark". Trillions could be placed on the point of a pin.
d. Our God made the vastness of the Universe, and the minuteness of the quarks. Certainly our Creator is a the great
and powerful God.
2. The word "Glory" is the Greek work:
"Doxa"
a. Means: Brightness, splendor,
radiance.
b. Further
is means, the majesty, sublimity, splendor and might and power of God.
c. The God of this Universe
is a lot greater than most people think.
3. It should also be our motive, theme,
goal, reason, and purpose to glorify our God and Jesus Christ our Savior,
in all that we do.
The glory of the parent, or honor of the parent is many times show in their offspring. When the parent sees the son or daughter make some achievement in life, they are honored and glorified in their accomplishment. I have often watched the face of a parent whose child made some achievement.
So God is pleased and gloried when the Christian lives a righteous and faithful
life.
"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus
Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:11)
A
parent is dishonored and shamed by the misconduct of their children. Many
is the mother and father, live their lives in heartache and shame, because
of the bad deeds of their children. Many a godly mother and father, cry
themselves to sleep and often go to an early grave worrying over a child gone
bad. They desire only the best for the child they worked so hard
for and sacrificed to raise them the best they could, and yet
ofthen a child shows only contempt for his parents by living an evil and immoral
life. The glory and honor of a parent is in the satisfaction of seeing their sons and daughters being successful in life. I believe it is the same with the Lord. He is honored by the obedient believer who accomplished His will for their life.
How many times, have I seen the
shame in the face of a parent, when ask about their children and they are
embarrassed by the answer to the simple question.
4. So it is also when the child of God, lives a life that does not bring honor and glory to God.
The fact is that the majority of God's creation
does not honor Him, or in any way glorify Him. On the contrary, they are
in rebellion and sin and show forth no glory of their Creator. To look
at the average man in the world today, you would have no idea of the greatest
and glory of our Creator.
A. No greater act of love could God show for man in
that He came to earth, took the form of a man, suffered all the shame of
being rejected. And then being crucified by his own creation!
Yet, God's Glory is made perfectly clear in that He, never turned
or was deterred by man's rebellion and gross sin, in spite of it-----He went
willingly to the Cross, to save His rebellions creation man.
B. The greatest purpose of man in Creation was
to reflect the Glory of our God, and to live our lives show honor and glory
to Him.
C. The reason for this? Because He is deserving
of our glory, because He is all majesty, power and greatness.
1. He is good--to love His
rebellious creations.
2. Read:
II Thess. 1:7-12.
V7. The Thessalonians were being pledged with false teachings concerning
the day of the Lord and the coming judgment.
V8. Paul says the day of judgment will come and
all God's glory and strength will be made clear to them that reject Him as
Savior.
V9.
They who reject Christ, will be forever damned to be excluded from the presence
of the Lord and all His glory.
V10.. Yet those who trust Him as Savior accept Him as
their Lord and God, will be gloried. We will be a witness to the glory of
God, and his greatness.
V11. Because they believed in Christ, V11 says the children
of God will be experience and fulfill the goodness of God and the work of
faith and power.
V12 WHY? Why does God do all this? That God will be gloried
in the persons who is saved by God's Grace.
D. One of the clearest truths the Scriptures
teach is that a Child of God is to live his or her live to show forth the
Glory of God.
1. The lost man or
woman who rejects the mercy and Grace of God, is not a credit to God and
defames Him. God is Holy and righteous, yet the man who refused God's
free gift of forgiveness, so much as spits in the eye of God.
2. Satan would desire that a man be fooled into thinking that if he does some work, some rite or ritual that satisfies God and merits him a place in heaven. Nothing if further from the truth. God sent his Son to Save men FROM sin! Not to white wash it, ignore it, condone it, but to destroy it and remove it from a person's life.
The true child of God who truly believes is faithful and fights sin in his life. No man can receive the Grace of God and redemption and remain in satisfied in a life of sin. It is completely contrary to God's holiness and Righteousness that the Child of God receive the Grace of God and live in sin as he did before. Hebrews 12:4-13 plainly teaches the truth that God chastens His children when they sin in order that they overcome sin. 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 and 1 John 5:16-17 clearly teach that if one of God's children refuses to repent and continues in sin that God will take his life to stop his rebellion. He is saved, but he will lose all reward at 1 Corinthians 3:15 states.
A. Philippians 2:9-11... This
a real event that will happen in time! All shall bow and confess
that Jesus Christ is the very son of God, to the glory of God the father. Some in their lives as they believe and
accept God's grace and salvation. Sadly some will box their
knee before the Lord Jesus Christ at the Great White
Throne Judgment. They will be justly judged by their works and then cast alive into
the eternal Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)
B. So many Christian also today, live lives with seemingly little commitment or even concern to live as Christ would direct them.
1. Being faithful
and obedient to the Word of God today is not important to many.
2. There is a feeling that
one can be saved and receive God's Grace, and after that everything else
is optional!
3. Hebrews 10:25.. Do not forsake the gathering of yourselves together...YET
many are unfaithful in attending church. Everything else comes first.
4. God commands us
to give generously to the work of God, yet few do. We look at our bank accounts,
write a small little sum and think we have pleased God. Yet the Scriptures
are clear, God only receives that which comes sacrificially from the heart.
5. Matthew 28:19-20,
All Christians are commissioned to tell the good news of the Saving Gospel
of Christ, yet few ever, some never tell others about God's Son and His
Grace.
6. I Cor.
4:2. "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful."
Yet, many feel like it is someone else who should
do the work of the Lord. Many is the time I hear the words " Well, its time
someone else do this or that". Or I'm tired and I need a rest.,
etc. They fail to read Ephesian 4:1-16 which clearer
states that God gives every child of His a talent to be used in serving
the Lord. In verse 1 admonishes believers to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
Every believer is called of God to live a godly life of service.
What if your preacher did that, a preacher is called of God for a particular service, and he is to be faithful to that calling, year after year for a lifetime. Yet, everyone in the church according to I Cor. 12, is given talents to use in their service to the Lord in the church and their daily lives, and many never even seek to see what the talent is.
Many feel its a short term affair. We need someone in the nursery, every service and meeting and all could do it. It may not be nice or easy, and yet it needs to be done. We live in an area where there are many children, parents are lost and it would be a better situation he they could come and listen undisturbed to the service.
C. Wishing someone else will do the job, is of no value.
1. Be willing to do what is necessary yourself. Some have been critical as to why
we don't have better youth programs and etc. They have grand plans for US
to do, yet folks you can't do these things if folks are not committed to
the Lord and faithful to the church and its activities.
2. It takes everyone, committed and dedicated working to together to the common goal to Glory our Lord and God, and faithfully doing and seeking His will in all things.
Question: Will you do it? Will you glorify
Christ by your life ? If someone saw the way you live could they see
Christ in you and desire to have him too? Do your realize there
are those who are watching you.
(This message preached March 10,
1996)
Revised 9-18-2007
It is always encouraging to receive email from those who find the messages helpful, or who have comments.
It is always encouraging to receive email from those who find the messages helpful, or who have comments.