You can’t be serious! “Oh, but I am” you say? Well, let’s just see how serious you really are. The Apostle Paul gives us a glimpse into how serious he was about living the Christian life when he said in 1 Cor. 9:26, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”
The word “uncertainly” means Paul had a clear understanding of the Christian life and what he was up against. He was determined to be a winner and win the prize. Many Christians do not seem to have this understanding.
Imagine an Olympic athlete showing up to compete and he hadn’t even bothered to train. He would be a disgrace to his team and to his country. Many Christians have become a disgrace to their church AND to the LORD
Why? Because they have a casual, indifferent, lackadaisical attitude toward the Christian life. A true athlete’s attention is focused on one thing – WINNING! He is not focused on the cheerleaders. He is not focused on the crowd and he is not focused on the cameras.
What Paul was trying to convey to the believers at Corinth is true, today, as well. Christians, today, are too easily distracted. A rainy day is all it takes to keep some home from church. A concert, their child’s ball game, or a chance to go fishing is all it takes to divert their attention from what really counts.
Why? Paul said it is because they are not in the race to win. All they are doing is playing games. Paul said, “I am not playing games, here. I am in this race to win it. I am in the ring fighting the enemy with all I’ve got!”
Why should we give everything we’ve got? Because there are eternal rewards at stake! Paul reminded them in (v.25) “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
He said that when an athlete strives to master his event, he is going to be “temperate in all things.” That means he will exercise some self-control and restraint in every area of his life so that he might be the best he can be.
The trouble is, many believers exercise very little restraint in their Christian life. The first desire that pops into their head is what they follow after. Why? Because they have quit striving for the mastery. They are not interested in running an effective race. They are not interested in winning any prizes. They have become more consumed with having a “corruptible crown” today than striving for an “incorruptible” crown later.
So, are you really serious? Are you IN it to WIN it? If not, get back in the race, today. After all, the Christian life is not a spectator sport!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Can A Person Change?
The following is an excerpt from Sunday morning's sermon, but I felt it was something that others needed to read. Many times when a person loses their temper and reacts out of anger, they might say something like, "That's just the way I am." Or they might say, "I can't help it and I can't change." So the question is "Can a person change?" Consider the following:
1. The Bible says that change IS possible for a believer. In fact, the Bible says that if you are truly a Christian then you have ALREADY been changed! 2 Cor. 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The whole reason Christ came to die for our sin was to change us.
2. We must do OUR part to change. Verses like Eph. 4:22-24, Eph. 5:1-21, and Col. 3:1-17 specifically tell us that change is not only possible but it our responsibility. Rom. 8:29 tells us that as a believer we have been predestined to be "conformed to the image of His Son." To be conformed to something means change must occur. So, when we see an area of our life that does not glorify God, that area must change.
Heb. 12:1 says we are to "..lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." It is OUR responsibility to lay them aside. It is OUR responsibility to change.
3. Change is possible with God's help. Phil. 2:13 says, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." You cannot change in your own strength, but fortunately we do not have to. When you trusted Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit came to dwell inside you and will give you the strength to change.
If someone says, "I just cannot help myself. There is no way I can change." They might just be indicating the real problem. They just might be revealing that they cannot change because they do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them and that is the problem.
I am so glad that God never commands us to do something that He does not give us the power to do. We CAN change for His glory!
1. The Bible says that change IS possible for a believer. In fact, the Bible says that if you are truly a Christian then you have ALREADY been changed! 2 Cor. 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The whole reason Christ came to die for our sin was to change us.
2. We must do OUR part to change. Verses like Eph. 4:22-24, Eph. 5:1-21, and Col. 3:1-17 specifically tell us that change is not only possible but it our responsibility. Rom. 8:29 tells us that as a believer we have been predestined to be "conformed to the image of His Son." To be conformed to something means change must occur. So, when we see an area of our life that does not glorify God, that area must change.
Heb. 12:1 says we are to "..lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." It is OUR responsibility to lay them aside. It is OUR responsibility to change.
3. Change is possible with God's help. Phil. 2:13 says, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." You cannot change in your own strength, but fortunately we do not have to. When you trusted Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit came to dwell inside you and will give you the strength to change.
If someone says, "I just cannot help myself. There is no way I can change." They might just be indicating the real problem. They just might be revealing that they cannot change because they do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them and that is the problem.
I am so glad that God never commands us to do something that He does not give us the power to do. We CAN change for His glory!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Don't Get Mad, Get Glad
Have you ever had someone who just got on your last nerve? I mean it just seems they know exactly what to do to just irritate the fool out of you. How do you handle someone like that?
Yesterday I was preaching about Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. The Bible says she had an adversary who just loved provoking her because she could not have children. But Hannah decided early that the one weapon she had in her arsenal was more powerful than anything her attacker could hurl at her. It was PRAYER!
Hannah prayed in spite of her ADVERSARY. 1 Sam. 1:6 "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb." She made a decision to give it to God. We all have adversaries but what how we respond to them makes the difference. Hannah didn't pout or pitch a fit, she prayed.
Hannah prayed in spite of her ATTITUDE. 1Sam. 1:6 "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret..." The words used here means "angry" and "irritated." Then verse 10 says she was also getting bitter. She was getting a bad attitude because her adversary would not let up. So, what did she do? She prayed! (v.10) "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore."
Hannah prayed in spite of her AFFLICTION. 1Sam. 1:11 "And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid..." The word "affliction" has a meaning of depression. Things had gotten so bad that her irritation which led to her anger and bitterness had now grown into full-blown depression! So how did she get back at her adversary? What underhanded trick did she pull to exact revenge? Verse 12 tells us, "..she continued praying before the LORD..."
What? How can you pray when you are angry, irritated, bitter and depressed? Someone has said, "When it seems hardest to pray that is when we need to pray the hardest." If there's one lesson I take away from this it is this: She kept praying even when she didn't see an answer in sight!
So many times, we pray but when we do not see immediate results we stop praying. Her prayers did not immediately change her circumstances, BUT it did change HER in the circumstances! See, sometimes God's plan might not be to calm your storm. His plan might be to calm YOU in the storm.
So, don't get mad...get glad! Keep on praying. Don't give up!
Yesterday I was preaching about Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. The Bible says she had an adversary who just loved provoking her because she could not have children. But Hannah decided early that the one weapon she had in her arsenal was more powerful than anything her attacker could hurl at her. It was PRAYER!
Hannah prayed in spite of her ADVERSARY. 1 Sam. 1:6 "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb." She made a decision to give it to God. We all have adversaries but what how we respond to them makes the difference. Hannah didn't pout or pitch a fit, she prayed.
Hannah prayed in spite of her ATTITUDE. 1Sam. 1:6 "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret..." The words used here means "angry" and "irritated." Then verse 10 says she was also getting bitter. She was getting a bad attitude because her adversary would not let up. So, what did she do? She prayed! (v.10) "And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore."
Hannah prayed in spite of her AFFLICTION. 1Sam. 1:11 "And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid..." The word "affliction" has a meaning of depression. Things had gotten so bad that her irritation which led to her anger and bitterness had now grown into full-blown depression! So how did she get back at her adversary? What underhanded trick did she pull to exact revenge? Verse 12 tells us, "..she continued praying before the LORD..."
What? How can you pray when you are angry, irritated, bitter and depressed? Someone has said, "When it seems hardest to pray that is when we need to pray the hardest." If there's one lesson I take away from this it is this: She kept praying even when she didn't see an answer in sight!
So many times, we pray but when we do not see immediate results we stop praying. Her prayers did not immediately change her circumstances, BUT it did change HER in the circumstances! See, sometimes God's plan might not be to calm your storm. His plan might be to calm YOU in the storm.
So, don't get mad...get glad! Keep on praying. Don't give up!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Will You Look At The Time?
Have you ever noticed when someone gets caught up in a conversation that takes them longer than expected they look down at their watch and say, "Will you look at the time?" Why? Because they have just realized that time has slipped away from them.
In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul is basically saying the same thing to believers. He says there are two things that we, as believers, can look at that will tell us what our priorities should be in this life.
He first says, LOOK AT THE CLOCK. (v.29) "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;" The word 'short' means contracted. It is used only one other time in the New Testament and that is referring to when Ananias dropped dead from God's judgment and the the young men "wound him up."
What is Paul saying? He is saying that we need to look at the time and realize time is short, it is about to be wrapped up! And because time is about to be wrapped up he says that "both they that have wives be as though they had none;" In other words, our HUMAN relationships should not take priority over our HEAVENLY relationship with Christ. Then, notice what he goes on to say...
(v.30a) "And they that weep, as though they wept not;" - Are you going to let some PAIN or some tragedy in your life keep you from serving God? If so, you will never serve God because life is full of pain and tragedy.
(v.30b) "..and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not;" - Are you going to let PLEASURE in your life keep you from serving God? While some allow bad things to hinder them, others let good things hinder them. When life is good they do no need God.
(v.30c) "..and they that buy, as though they possessed not;" - Are you going to let POSSESSIONS in your life keep you from serving God? Many a man has allowed his business or work to hinder his walk with God.
Then Paul says, LOOK AT YOUR CLOSET. (v.31) "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." It is ok to use this world in a way that glorifies God but many abuse it by going too far and they start worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. But ultimately Paul is reminding us to not get too attached to this world because "the fashion of this world passeth away." He says to just look at your closet and just as the fashion of this world passes away, so is time passing away.
What are you doing for Christ? Live for him, today!
In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul is basically saying the same thing to believers. He says there are two things that we, as believers, can look at that will tell us what our priorities should be in this life.
He first says, LOOK AT THE CLOCK. (v.29) "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;" The word 'short' means contracted. It is used only one other time in the New Testament and that is referring to when Ananias dropped dead from God's judgment and the the young men "wound him up."
What is Paul saying? He is saying that we need to look at the time and realize time is short, it is about to be wrapped up! And because time is about to be wrapped up he says that "both they that have wives be as though they had none;" In other words, our HUMAN relationships should not take priority over our HEAVENLY relationship with Christ. Then, notice what he goes on to say...
(v.30a) "And they that weep, as though they wept not;" - Are you going to let some PAIN or some tragedy in your life keep you from serving God? If so, you will never serve God because life is full of pain and tragedy.
(v.30b) "..and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not;" - Are you going to let PLEASURE in your life keep you from serving God? While some allow bad things to hinder them, others let good things hinder them. When life is good they do no need God.
(v.30c) "..and they that buy, as though they possessed not;" - Are you going to let POSSESSIONS in your life keep you from serving God? Many a man has allowed his business or work to hinder his walk with God.
Then Paul says, LOOK AT YOUR CLOSET. (v.31) "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away." It is ok to use this world in a way that glorifies God but many abuse it by going too far and they start worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. But ultimately Paul is reminding us to not get too attached to this world because "the fashion of this world passeth away." He says to just look at your closet and just as the fashion of this world passes away, so is time passing away.
What are you doing for Christ? Live for him, today!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Can A Christian Be Demon-Possessed?
Last night I preached on "Demonic Angels." It seems that people have little problem believing God and angels exist, but seem to think that Satan and demons are just a myth.
The Bible not only teaches that there is a devil, but that he has great power, too. In fact, Ephesians calls him the "prince and power of the air." We also see his power in Luke 4 where he tried to tempt Jesus. Luke 4:5-6 says, "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it."
Many Christians make the mistake of thinking that Satan has no power. If he can get you to think he has no power, then you will let your guard down and THAT is when he will attack. That is why the Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
So, the BIG question is, "Can a Christian ever be demon-possessed?" The answer is a resounding "NO" and here's why.
The Bible says in 1 Cor. 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" So, when a person trusts Christ as their Savior, the Holy Spirit immediately takes up residence in them. Jesus said, in Matt. 12:29, "..how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house."
Satan cannot possess a child of God because he would first have to overthrow ("bind the strong man") the Holy Spirit living inside you and he does not have the power to do so because 1 John 4:4 says, "..greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
So, as a believer, we should not be worried about being possessed by the devil, but rather what we SHOULD be concerned about is being filled with the Spirit. "Why is that important?" you ask. Because, although Satan cannot possess a believer, he can oppress us and hurt our effectiveness for Christ. "So how can I make sure I am not oppressed by Satan?" you ask. I believe James give us the answer.
James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1. Confess any sin and pride in your life. (v.6)
2. Submit yourself to God. (v.7a)
3. Resist the devil. (v.7b) - this sound obvious, but how times have we fallen to temptation without a fight?
4. Draw nigh to God. (v.8)
The Bible not only teaches that there is a devil, but that he has great power, too. In fact, Ephesians calls him the "prince and power of the air." We also see his power in Luke 4 where he tried to tempt Jesus. Luke 4:5-6 says, "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it."
Many Christians make the mistake of thinking that Satan has no power. If he can get you to think he has no power, then you will let your guard down and THAT is when he will attack. That is why the Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
So, the BIG question is, "Can a Christian ever be demon-possessed?" The answer is a resounding "NO" and here's why.
The Bible says in 1 Cor. 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" So, when a person trusts Christ as their Savior, the Holy Spirit immediately takes up residence in them. Jesus said, in Matt. 12:29, "..how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house."
Satan cannot possess a child of God because he would first have to overthrow ("bind the strong man") the Holy Spirit living inside you and he does not have the power to do so because 1 John 4:4 says, "..greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
So, as a believer, we should not be worried about being possessed by the devil, but rather what we SHOULD be concerned about is being filled with the Spirit. "Why is that important?" you ask. Because, although Satan cannot possess a believer, he can oppress us and hurt our effectiveness for Christ. "So how can I make sure I am not oppressed by Satan?" you ask. I believe James give us the answer.
James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1. Confess any sin and pride in your life. (v.6)
2. Submit yourself to God. (v.7a)
3. Resist the devil. (v.7b) - this sound obvious, but how times have we fallen to temptation without a fight?
4. Draw nigh to God. (v.8)
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