THE MARK: The Center of Christian Living!

TOPIC: Jesus
TITLE: THE MARK – The Center of Christian Living!
SERIES: Jesus, His Person and His Works

TEXT: Philippians 1:21
“For me to live is Christ.”

INQUIRY: How does the authentic believer manifest “to live is Christ”?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. BY PAYING THE TOTAL PRICE
II. BY DEVOTING HIS TOTAL LOVE
III. BY OFFERING THE TOTAL SACRIFICE
IV. BY ATTEMPTING TOTAL IMITATION

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Our meditative music this morning says, “Lord, we’ve come to listen, and hear what you would say.” Often I’m concerned that many church people listen but do not hear what the Lord has to say. As the Scriptures say -

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, Who have eyes, but see not; Who have ears, but hear not.” [Jeremiah 5:21]

Apparently I’m not alone in this concern. Let me read a few words from R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s Commencement Address to the 2004 graduating class at Southern Seminary. Mohler is president of the school. He became president at age of 30 (I believe) and was voted one of Time Magazine’s top 50 young adults in America the same year.

[DEMONSTRATED LIFE] Mohler said, “there are two types of people who hear the Word of God: those who believe it and seek to conform their lives to it and those who' listen to it but remain unchanged – like the man of James 1:23-24 who stares at his reflection in the mirror. … .

“We are to center our ministries, ourselves, and all that we do in the teaching and the preaching of God's Word, and in the demonstration [of it], motivating others likewise to be doers of the Word. We will know that our ministry is effective … if our congregations show what God's Word is in their lives.

“We live in an emotive age when many people judge the authenticity of their faith by how they feel,” he warned. “But if we give our primary con-sideration to feeling, eventually we will no longer even be able to feel.”

“I think I can say on the basis of an observation of the times that we will soon find out who are the doers of the Word,” Mohler said. “In this day there will be no more cultural Christianity. In the white-hot heat of our current confrontation, there will be no casual Christianity.”

“We must confront the church of God with this truth. We must arm Christians with this realization. We must challenge ourselves and others with the task and the litmus test of true faith, which is its demonstration.”

I agree Roy and Revel Hession who said many come by the “door” way of Christianity, but very few arrive at Heaven’s gate on the “walk” way.

Apparently, many of God’s so-called children are too fearful to walk publicly with or for the Lord … to be a fool for Jesus! Or as our text says, “to live is Christ.”

The Bible speaks of sin as missing the mark … this implies that there is a mark which we should desire to hit. And that Mark is Jesus! Anything missing the Mark is sin.

The committed believer did not always live to Christ! Of course not! He began to do so when the Holy Spirit convinced him of his sin. He committed to do so when “by grace” he saw his dying Savior making propitiation for his guiltiness. From the moment of this new and heavenly rebirth, he began to “live” to Christ.

INQUIRY: How does the authentic believer manifest “to live is Christ”?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. BY PAYING THE TOTAL PRICE

To the committed believer, Jesus is the Pearl of Great Price, for which he is willing to part with all that he has.

II. BY DEVOTING HIS TOTAL LOVE

To the committed believer, Jesus has completely won his love: so much so that his heart beats for Him alone.

III. BY OFFERING THE TOTAL SACRIFICE

To the committed believer, Jesus’ glory is his life; in defense of His Good News, he would sacrifice his life.

IV. BY ATTEMPTING TOTAL IMITATION

To the committed believer, Jesus is the template of his life, the model by which he would sculpt his character and reputation.

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Paul's words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ. Let’s be honest, to Paul, life itself was Jesus.

[SPURGEON] “Jesus was his very breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life.”

Can you say, as a professing Christian, you meet this ideal?

Can you honestly say for you “to live IS Christ”?

1. Consider your employment – are you laboring for Christ? Or is it done for self-aggrandizement and personal advantage? You ask, “Is this an improper motive?” For the Christian? Yes!
2. Consider your finances – are they wholly devoted to Him?
3. Consider your home – is it a temple of the Living God?
4. consider this church – are you making it the sanctuary of worship He deserves?
5. Consider when no one is looking – is the time devoted to the King of kings?

Jesus Himself said, “You cannot serve to masters.” If you profess, “to live is Christ”; how can you divide your devotion and not commit adultery?

Many carry out this principle in some measure; but who is there who dares to say he lives wholly for Christ … in the same way Paul did?

But, this, my friends, is the authentic Christian life … its origin, its lifeblood, its nature, its means of operation, its objective are all gathered up in one person – the Living Word of God.

Lord, our prayer this day is that You forgive us our failure to live as You would have us live.

We here present ourselves to live only in You, for You, by You, and to You.

Let us be as the bull that stands between plow and altar, to work on the one hand, or to sacrifice on the other … let our motto forever be, “Ready for either.”

Morning & Evening

Consecration, Devotion, Jesus, Philippians,
Preaching, Sacrifice, Sermons

FIRST THINGS FIRST: God’s Priorities Are Not Necessarily Mine!

TOPIC: Jesus
TITLE: FIRST THINGS FIRST – God’s Priorities Are Not Necessarily Mine!
SERIES: Jesus – His Person and His Works

TEXT: Isaiah 41:14

“Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”

This morning, as we continue to look at the person and the works of Jesus, let’s hear the Lord Jesus speak to us, both individually and corporately. Jehovah has said to Jacob (aka: Israel), “I will help you.”

However, let’s notice God’s opinion concerning those He “will help.” He addresses them and says, “you worm.” He sees them not only as of nature but in nature.

He sees them as the smallest of creatures, slimy and slithering. They are useful, but not to themselves; they are garbage eaters and soil turners, walked upon, eaten by scavengers. And yet he says, “Jacob.” Is this Jacob of Hebrews 11:22? Doesn't this tell you His inner feelings for this worm?

Now (far more than ought to be necessary), we’ve taught that Jesus is Jehovah God; when we speak of Jesus, we speak of God in the flesh [John 1:1, 14]. And we know that we are the objects of God’s promises to Israel, since their promises are now in Christ, to His Bride, the Church.

The point is if He promised help to Israel, He will also help believers, and in the same way, since He is immutable (unchanging).

There have been times in my daily walk when I wonder where God is and (if He indeed is never to forsake me or depart from me) why is He not at that moment busy meeting my every need?

When I do this, Jesus says, “Do you not understand that it is a small thing for me, your Creator, to help you. Yet, in spite of this you continue to suggest I am not helping you?”

Jesus says, “Consider for a moment what I’ve already done. Did I not ransom you with My blood? What, that is somehow not enough and you still wonder if I will help you in your time of need?”

Jesus says, “Did I not die for you, even while you were yet in your sin; and if I’ve done this great thing, won’t I do the lesser things?”

He says, “I am the Lord your God, and that which I have done for you is a small feat. I’ve done greater, and will do even more.”

• “Do you not know, before the world began, I chose you and made My covenant with you?”
• “Do you not know, I set aside My divine glory and took on flesh for you?”
• “Do you not know, I freely gave My life for you. If I have done all this, will I not help you now?”
• “Do you not realize, if you were to need a thousand times as much help, that I would give it to you?”
• “Do you not comprehend, you require little compared with what I have already given and that I am ready to give even more?”

“Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

Matthew 7:9-11

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: There is much for us to need, but it is nothing for God to give it all. He told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you."

Jesus says, “What, still you think I might not help you?” Child of God, consider ...

• Can you use more strength than the omnipotence of the Triune Godhead?
• Do you truly desire greater wisdom than already exists in you in the Father?
• Do you wish for more love than has been displayed by the Son?
• Do you desire more power than that manifested by the Holy Spirit?
• Is your thirst for more than that provided by the Water of Life?
• Is your hunger for truth not satisfied by the Bread of Life?
• Is not the Door that leads to eternal life greater than the door of opportu-nity?
• Is the Way of Christ not the only way?

Jesus says, “Bring your empty vessel! Surely, My Living Water shall fill it; you shall never again thirst”

“Hurry!” He says, “Bring your wants to Me – your emptiness, your woes, your deficiencies. My River is equal to your need. What else can you possibly desire?”

He says, “Go child, in your greatest need. I Am is your helper!”

“Fear not!” He comforts. “I am is with you. And I am is your God and I Am will give you help."
“Do not fear or be dismayed,” [Deuteronomy 1:21] brothers and sisters!

“[be] content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,’ so that we confidently say, ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT SHALL MAN DO TO ME?’” [Hebrews 13:5, 6]

[MOUSE] If a mouse sought nourishment at the door of an overflowing Nebraska silo, the company could not in a thousand years ruin its finances if it gave the mouse a handful of corn each day. You are nothing but a tiny worm at the door of God’s all-sufficient grace, mercy, and love. And out of this sufficiency, Jesus has said, “I will help you.”

Morning & Evening

Grace, Isaiah, Jesus, Love, Preaching,
Priorities, Sermons, Sufficiency