TCJ E-Sermon: Do Not Wear The Sign “Christian”, Live The Life.
Upon entering the little country
store, the stranger noticed a sign saying DANGER! BEWARE OF DOG! posted on the
glass door.
1.
Inside
he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor beside the cash register.
2.
He
asked the store manager, "Is THAT the dog folks are supposed to beware
of?" "Yep, that's him," he replied.
3.
The
stranger couldn't help but be amused. "That certainly doesn't look like a
dangerous dog to me. Why in the world would you post that sign?"
4.
"Because",
the owner replied, "before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over
him."
As the Lord looks at us, are we as
Christians what we are supposed to be according to His Word. Or are we just
wearing a sign that says “Christian”?
Theme: The Apostle Paul writes to
the Christians at Thessalonica, and encourages them (and us) to not just go
around wearing a sign that says “Christian” but live the life.
1.
Be
genuine, be true to God, to yourself, and to the world.
2.
But
what constitutes this life we are to live sincerely?
3.
Three
characteristics:
LIVE A LIFE OF
HOLINESS (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
The moral climate in the
Just like it is not healthy today
in our society.
1.
Immorality
was a way of life, and thanks to slavery, people had the leisure time to
indulge in the latest pleasures.
2.
The
Christian message of holy living was new to that culture, and it was not easy
for these young believers to fight the temptations around them. (Holiness: To be set apart. To be different)
People have certain food allergies.
Others have (like myself) have allergies to certain chemicals.
1.
One
that would make me very sick is chlorine.
2.
Others
are allergic to certain medicines. If you take them, it would be detrimental to
your health.
What about spiritual allergies.
The Bible gives us a clear
indication of what we are allergic to spiritually.
1.
Every kind of evil (1 Thess. 5:22). This should cause us to think about the choices
we make, because taking part in what is clearly evil is not good for our
spiritual vitality.
2.
Foolish disputes and arguments (2 Tim. 2:23; Titus 3:9).
This takes discernment, for some arguments have merit in
defending the faith. But those for which there is no answer or which have no
bearing on truth only cause dissension.
3.
Sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3). The Bible says that any sexual activity outside the
boundaries of a marriage between a man and a woman is immoral (Gen. 2:24; Ex.
20:14; 1 Cor. 7:2; Heb. 13:4).
“But as He who called
you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be
holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 2:15-16)
LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE
(1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
Read 2 Peter 1:2-4 The more that we
study about God, and live the way that God wants us to live, the more we will
take on His divine nature. (A God of
Holiness and a God of Love)
We see in nature that animals do
instinctively what is necessary to keep them alive and safe.
1.
Fish
do not attend classes to learn how to swim (even though they swim in schools)
and birds by nature put out their wings and flap them in order to fly. It is
nature that determines action.
2.
Because
a fish has a fish nature, it swims. Because a hawk has a hawk’s nature, it
flies.
3.
And
because a Christian has God’s nature, he loves, because, God is love (1 John 4:8) So love deeply, seriously, make
it a priority in your life to love as God loves.
LIVE A LIFE OF
TRANQUILITY & HONESTY (1
Thessalonians 4:11-12)
The Apostle Paul shares with the
Christians at Thessalonica concerning their relationships with others. In the
church, and outside the church
1.
There
was a problem (as there is today) of people meddling in the affairs of others.
(2 Thess. 3:11) His word to them (and us) “mind your own business, work with your
own hands) Be a blessing, not a burden.
2.
Walk
properly toward those outside the church. Be honest, respectful. Not meddling
in the affairs of others, but taking care of our own business, and being a help
when a request comes to help.
I remember a time when there were
dairy farm all along the ridges that ran through the county that I am from.
Each farmer milked his own cows.
1.
They
thrashed grain together, helped put each other’s pipes up on the silos before
corn harvest. And once in awhile share a sack of grain, when a neighbor was
short.
2. But never did I see, one farmer meddling in the affairs of another.
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