A man who lives like I do has good ears and eyes or he don’t live at all.”
–Louis L’Amour (We Shaped the Land With Our Guns)
“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
“Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
–2 Corinthians 6:14 (NASB)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Friends, look around–look at the turmoil, fear, and torment that many face. Look on the faces of your neighbor or colleague to see if you can find hope. Ahh, it is so wonderful that as children of God we have an assurance, a hope that the Holy Spirit is with us–He is our “Comforter,” in these trying times until death or the return of the Lord.
“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has give us of His Spirit.”
–1 John 4:13 (NASB)
“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
–Romans 5:5 (NASB)
This is the nature of the Christian life. We are of the Spirit. Because of that we see life differently than those in the world. We have a different perspective and a different lifestyle. Our aim is to please the heavenly Father. We understand that we should live a righteous and moral life, and that we have a relationship with God because we are part of His family. We abide in Christ and He abides in us. WOW!
When we were born again, we were placed in a relationship with Jesus. We possess a Christian life, eternal life, and begin to see things through the eyes of the Spirit. This does not come immediately–sooner for others than some. It is a growth process just as in any relationship. It comes through knowing His Word, through obedience to His will, through being nurtured and molded by the Holy Spirit.
Give yourself a little test to see how much you are abiding in Christ:
1) What are the things of greatest concern, of greatest interest to you?
2) Do you rush for the Bible the same way you rush to listen to the news or to social media?
3) Are you concerned with the health of your soul? Do you exercise it; eat properly?
4) How well do you know God? Do you know Him better than entertainers, sports figures, or others in the news?
5) Are you interested in eternity, or is your mind on earthly things?
Friends, children of God — this is enough for this morning. We are to abide in Christ. We are to let the Holy Spirit work in and through us. I will close and say for you to contemplate on the following:
“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have seen in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
–Philippians 3:17-20 (NASB)
———————————-
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Friends, look around–look at the turmoil, fear, and torment that many face. Look on the faces of your neighbor or colleague to see if you can find hope. Ahh, it is so wonderful that as children of God we have an assurance, a hope that the Holy Spirit is with us–He is our “Comforter,” in these trying times until death or the return of the Lord.
“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has give us of His Spirit.”
–1 John 4:13 (NASB)
“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
–Romans 5:5 (NASB)
This is the nature of the Christian life. We are of the Spirit. Because of that we see life differently than those in the world. We have a different perspective and a different lifestyle. Our aim is to please the heavenly Father. We understand that we should live a righteous and moral life, and that we have a relationship with God because we are part of His family. We abide in Christ and He abides in us. WOW!
When we were born again, we were placed in a relationship with Jesus. We possess a Christian life, eternal life, and begin to see things through the eyes of the Spirit. This does not come immediately–sooner for others than some. It is a growth process just as in any relationship. It comes through knowing His Word, through obedience to His will, through being nurtured and molded by the Holy Spirit.
Give yourself a little test to see how much you are abiding in Christ:
1) What are the things of greatest concern, of greatest interest to you?
2) Do you rush for the Bible the same way you rush to listen to the news or to social media?
3) Are you concerned with the health of your soul? Do you exercise it; eat properly?
4) How well do you know God? Do you know Him better than entertainers, sports figures, or others in the news?
5) Are you interested in eternity, or is your mind on earthly things?
Friends, children of God — this is enough for this morning. We are to abide in Christ. We are to let the Holy Spirit work in and through us. I will close and say for you to contemplate on the following:
“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have seen in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
–Philippians 3:17-20 (NASB)