- Introduction
- I remember many years ago, sitting in a congregation having a conversation with another member.
- He was making these vary absurd comments regarding some things he had been doing.
- I remember saying to him “Some of these things that you’re saying don’t add up and there are no facts to support them biblically.” He kept continuing to go on and on with what he believed to be sane.
- I remember a couple of these things very vividly, such as “Why does God want us to be fishermen, go out and waste our time with people who don’t even want to hear us because they don’t agree with what we’re saying?”
- My answer to him was “Broad is the way and narrow is the gate” and “Many are called and few are chosen
- Jesus says this in Matthew 7:13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Enter at the strait or narrow gate. That is Jesus Christ. Not all paths lead to Heaven. We are called to be fishers of men, leading them through the narrow or strait gate.
- Jesus also says this in Matthew 22:14: For many are called, but few are chosen. Jesus is calling whosoever will, to follow Him. The chosen are those who choose to follow and obey Him.
- The second thing I remember this man saying to me and others was “What’s wrong with having a few drinks every now and then, and hanging out with people who may not be going the Christian way but are still our friends? They really don’t want to hear the Gospel but I like them as friends. They wouldn’t come to church as I had asked them many times. I don’t see the difference.”
- He said “We’re all worldly Christians in some sense. Why don’t we just be honest and live our lives the way we know the best we can? Jesus will still love us, won’t he?
- We are saved? It seems so legalistic to try to tell people how to live their lives. Why don’t we mind our own business and just be Christians and loving?”
- What does the bible say about worldly living?
- We’re told not to conform to the world, but to be different. Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. How is our mind renewed? It is renewed as we pray, study the Word, and worship God. As we do these things we are transformed.
- We’re also told that friendship with the world is enmity with God. James 4:4: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. This does not mean we are to cut ourselves off completely from unsaved people, and never associate with them. No, it means that the people we hang out with on a day-to-day basis should be godly people. They should be brothers and sisters in Christ.
- We are given a higher standard as born-again Christians. Matthew 5:20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. You and I are to be different, and set apart from the people of the world. As we submit to God, His Spirit will transform us and we will be more like Jesus.
- What does the bible teach about looking on the things of others more than ourselves?
- We are called as Christians to put others before ourselves. PHilippians 2:4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. You may have heard this acronym for JOY. An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word.It is Jesus first, Others next, and Yourself last.
- Along this same line, we are to esteem others higher or better than ourselves. Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. The term vainglory in this verse is defined as , “empty glory” or “pride,” nearly akin to vanity in the modern sense.
- What does God say about the standard of living that we should stand by?
- Of all the commandments given by God, these are the two most important. Mark 12:30 and 31: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. This goes back to the JOY acronym I mentioned earlier. We are to love God first and foremost, then we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.
- Similarly, we are called to seek God and His Kingdom first, and then everything we need will be added to us. Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Prior to this verse, Jesus was telling us that we don’t need to worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear, because God provides for all our needs. Instead, we are to seek Him first.
- Finally, let’s flip back to the Old Testament. In Micah 6:8: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? There are many verses about how you and I should live as Christians, but these three sum up God’s standard of living quite well.
- What is insanity?
- Insanity is defined as a derangement of the mind or extreme foolishness – a foolish or senseless action, policy, statement, etc.
- As Christians, one of the things we have been promised is a sound mind. 2nd Timothy 1:7: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. As Christians, we have God’s Power, Love, and the Mind of Christ.
- What is the motto for us to live by and what are the facts?
- Our motto here is rescued, saved, and heaven bound, and God wants us to succeed more than we want to succeed ourselves. Here are the facts.
- We have all gone astray and need to be rescued from our sinful ways. Isaiah 53:6: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. This applies to all of us. We have all strayed from God’s Will.
- Because God is holy and can’t look upon sin, the wages of sin is death, but Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Imagine going to the court house to pay a steep fine, and then learning someone has paid it for you. Jesus paid your sin debt in full.
- Because of what Jesus did, you are a new creature, and are called to live a new, godly life. 2nd Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. As a Christian, the old sinful ways pass away as you submit to Him, and all things become new. You are transformed!
- How do people come up with these absurd statements when they’re in church every week and the pastor preaches on how we should live as Christians?
- They are blind and the scales haven’t fallen from their eyes. John 12:40: He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. You can be in church and hear the message, but it has to reach the heart and God must give you the understanding.
- They are hearers of the Word only, and not doers of the Word. James 1:22: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. I don’t want to stand up here week after week bringing God’s Word, and have it fall on deaf ears! We need to not just hear, but do what God’s Word says.
- Are people being led astray by you when you don’t study God’s Word and just paraphrase what everyone says?
- We are called to study God’s Word. It’s great to read and listen to the Word, but we should study it. 2nd Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Let’s take a few moments to break down this verse.
- We are to study, not to be approved by men, but by God.
- We are to be workmen, not working our way to heaven, but working to know who God is, and how we are to live as His Children.
- If we’re studying God’s Word, we need not be ashamed. Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. God’s word is powerful. When we study it, we can rightly divide the Word of Truth, and it will give life and power to the hearer.
- We should never paraphrase God’s Word. This waters it down and changes the meaning. Matthew 4:4: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. This is why in here we recommend the 1611 King James bible, and encourage you to stay away from other translations.
- Conclusion
- Are you truly living and breathing God’s Word?
- Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you into all truth and understanding? Are you trusting God? Are you living by faith?
- Are you writing a new bible? One that fits your agenda?
- Are you winning souls? Are you being the fisherman God wants you to be. Are you sharing your testimony with everyone you come in contact with?
- My word to you and to anyone and everyone, let’s stop the insanity and let’s go with the facts!
