2nd Sunday in Lent
Phil. 3:17-21
Introduction
When I was in high school, there was a boy I will call Bob who I became friends with. He was a good person. His family farmed, and he was very well behaved. He didn't get into trouble. He didn't curse, at least that I had heard. He didn't do any of the things that I associated with being sinful. He was very easy to talk to. Eventually, I noticed him hanging around with Sam who I knew to be a Jehovah's Witness. As I recall I warned him about it, but he didn't say much about it nor listen to my warning.
One day, Sam approached me with some of his flyers and I told him in no uncertain terms that I did not accept his beliefs and that I believed those who did were condemned. I had been told that the only way to get rid of a Jehovah's Witness was to slam the door, insult them, etc. I considered them to be enemies of the cross, if you will!
After this I found out how close Sam and my friend Bob were; Bob was very indifferent and cold to me after that. He and Sam left me alone; they said very little to me after that. Bob had been a Jehovah's Witness all along. I'm not telling this story as an example of how to get rid of a Jehovah's Witness because I learned after this that reacting this way only closes the door of opportunity to win them to Christ.
I am telling this story because it is an example of a time when I considered someone to be an enemy of the cross. We all have people or organizations who we consider to be enemies of Christ!
Trans. But these aren't the people that Paul recognizes as enemies of Christ in our scripture today! Herod, in our first Scripture today, isn’t the enemies of the Cross that Paul talks about today! Let’s take a look!
I. Who isn't His enemies?
A. Those that live by His example or live by the
word!
B. They live a life totally yielded to Christ.
1. V.20 "our citizenship is in heaven"
It won't be a perfect life!
2. It will be one that fails but picks up and
goes again.
3. But it will be one that God can count on.
II. Who are these enemies?
A. Those whose God is their belly!
1. Only look out for themselves: #1.
2. Look what I have done.
3. Compelled by greed and self-gain.
4. Everything they do has to do with what they
will get
out of it.
a. This
is talking about self-gratification; even
church
stuff becomes about self-gratification for
them.
b. When
considering things at church, the question
is not, will it reach others, but it becomes,
what will I get out of this.
c. Will
I be fed if we do this?
d. Will
I like doing it this way?
5. They use the Gospel for self-gratification.
a. They want to be in church because it helps
their
business.
b. They want to be a member because it helps
them
get
elected!
B. Those who profess to be Christian but put
Earthly things before Christ!
1. They profess to be Christian with their
tongue, and show with their actions that Christ isn't important
enough to sacrifice anything for!
a. Christ isn't that important.
b. It's a matter of priorities, and Christ doesn't
rank too well!
b. Christ is only worth lip service!
2. This does more damage to Christianity than
one who doesn=t
even profess Christ!!
III. What will be the destiny of these enemies?
A. V. 19,
Whose end is destruction!
B. We can fool the world, but we can't fool God!
C. God requires more than "Lip
Service."
Conclusion:
A. Only those who live a yielded life are
pleasing to God.
B. How about us today: are we yielding it all to
Christ?
C. We can fool ourselves, but this scripture
seems to be plain that Christ must be first in our lives!
D. As we encounter Christ at the table this
morning and we
realize
our sin that caused Christ to have to die,
realizing
how maybe we have hindered the Cross in our
lives,
do we need to confess our sin and draw closer to
God,
making Christ 1st in our lives?
E. As you come and as you pray, face the cross
and realize
the
price that God paid that we can be forgiven and made
right
with God today!
Prayer of Confession
Service
of Communion
No comments:
Post a Comment