ISDAMan
04-27-01, 11:00 PM
Friday Night Sermon -- Online Bible Study
From: www.NailScarred.net (http://www.NailScarred.net?sciforums.com)
Getting Down To Action Part 3
Part 16 Of A Study In 2 Corinthians
Well, I'd like to ask some more questions. Tell the truth. When your back is against the wall, does it really matter to you what God's point of view is, what the Christian's perspective should be? When all that you care for stands in the balance and you know it's all in danger, what will you do? Suppose it's your livelihood. Think of it as your spouse or even your child being in danger. When the conflict comes and you must make a decision, will you first consult the Lord? If God would have you to do the opposite of your feelings, would you do it?!?!?! Sadly, too many would not. Most, in fact, would not even bother going to God because they would not want to hear what He has to say. They would willingly choose their emotion and, therefor, willingly choose a lie.
I think of Job, a man that had lost everything; his family, his livelihood, and even his health. He had to trust God in the midst of all of this obvious loss. Like any of us, he was confused. He did not understand why. He had faith in God and listened to God anyway. Catch that, "listened to God", part!
Then, I think of Abraham, a man sent on a mission, by God, that would take the life of his son, his own flesh and blood. His son had done no wrong and could not have done anything to garner such an impending fate. Yet, it was a faithful man that trusted God though he feared the danger to his own son!
I think of David, a man that could not make the hard choices. Incestuous rape, murder, sedition, and shame befell his house because, He could not make the hard choices to stick with God and stand against sin, even the sin of his own flesh and blood. All that God had given him, he ruined by his own hand.
There's no way to take back the day of our choosing. The consequences that will befall us and those around us are SET the very moment we chose whether or not to go with God. How much do you want to serve the Lord? What are you willing to sacrifice? Sure, you'll give some money. You'll trust God to take care of you in that. You'll volunteer your time. After all, it feels great to know that others can depend upon you. It really gives you a sense of belonging. Hay, you'll even teach a class, and disciple new converts. You'll go all out for God but, what if God wants something other than what you have or are willing to give? God has this way of hitting that nerve. What's your choice when God allows danger into your life? How do you develop a plan of action? Do you just go to enough friends until you finally get to hear what you want to hear to make yourself feel vindicated for choosing to do something apart from God? Do you start looking for ways to justify your position, even in God's Word. Or, are you going to be that upright kind of Christian that that looks to God's Word to learn, that goes and seeks wise counsel, that prays and waits before action? Are you going to be still and allow God to show you that He is God? Too many of us freak out and and make poor and emotional decisions like David. We end up causing more harm than good. The Bible tells us that you can't do wrong to do right; EVER!!!! That's like trying to pull a loose string out of your sweater. You'll only make the problem worse. The impact will spread farther and wider than you could ever account for. Ask yourself, "How much do I want to serve God?" If you want to go all the way with God, then, you'd better be ready to stand against sin. David was not willing to stand against the sin of his children. Many men died and David almost lost his kingdom. No matter how close to home sin strikes, no matter what we fear we may loose, we MUST trust God and stand against sin!
I'm not doing to give a long drawn out detail on the lives of these three men. I encourage you to read on your own. There's some truly heavy life lessons to learn from them.
Christian website of the week: CHRISTIAN COLLEGE SEARCH (http://ccs.gospelcom.net/?www.nailscarred.net-ChristianSiteOfTheWeek04-27-01)
From: www.NailScarred.net (http://www.NailScarred.net?sciforums.com)
Getting Down To Action Part 3
Part 16 Of A Study In 2 Corinthians
Well, I'd like to ask some more questions. Tell the truth. When your back is against the wall, does it really matter to you what God's point of view is, what the Christian's perspective should be? When all that you care for stands in the balance and you know it's all in danger, what will you do? Suppose it's your livelihood. Think of it as your spouse or even your child being in danger. When the conflict comes and you must make a decision, will you first consult the Lord? If God would have you to do the opposite of your feelings, would you do it?!?!?! Sadly, too many would not. Most, in fact, would not even bother going to God because they would not want to hear what He has to say. They would willingly choose their emotion and, therefor, willingly choose a lie.
I think of Job, a man that had lost everything; his family, his livelihood, and even his health. He had to trust God in the midst of all of this obvious loss. Like any of us, he was confused. He did not understand why. He had faith in God and listened to God anyway. Catch that, "listened to God", part!
Then, I think of Abraham, a man sent on a mission, by God, that would take the life of his son, his own flesh and blood. His son had done no wrong and could not have done anything to garner such an impending fate. Yet, it was a faithful man that trusted God though he feared the danger to his own son!
I think of David, a man that could not make the hard choices. Incestuous rape, murder, sedition, and shame befell his house because, He could not make the hard choices to stick with God and stand against sin, even the sin of his own flesh and blood. All that God had given him, he ruined by his own hand.
There's no way to take back the day of our choosing. The consequences that will befall us and those around us are SET the very moment we chose whether or not to go with God. How much do you want to serve the Lord? What are you willing to sacrifice? Sure, you'll give some money. You'll trust God to take care of you in that. You'll volunteer your time. After all, it feels great to know that others can depend upon you. It really gives you a sense of belonging. Hay, you'll even teach a class, and disciple new converts. You'll go all out for God but, what if God wants something other than what you have or are willing to give? God has this way of hitting that nerve. What's your choice when God allows danger into your life? How do you develop a plan of action? Do you just go to enough friends until you finally get to hear what you want to hear to make yourself feel vindicated for choosing to do something apart from God? Do you start looking for ways to justify your position, even in God's Word. Or, are you going to be that upright kind of Christian that that looks to God's Word to learn, that goes and seeks wise counsel, that prays and waits before action? Are you going to be still and allow God to show you that He is God? Too many of us freak out and and make poor and emotional decisions like David. We end up causing more harm than good. The Bible tells us that you can't do wrong to do right; EVER!!!! That's like trying to pull a loose string out of your sweater. You'll only make the problem worse. The impact will spread farther and wider than you could ever account for. Ask yourself, "How much do I want to serve God?" If you want to go all the way with God, then, you'd better be ready to stand against sin. David was not willing to stand against the sin of his children. Many men died and David almost lost his kingdom. No matter how close to home sin strikes, no matter what we fear we may loose, we MUST trust God and stand against sin!
I'm not doing to give a long drawn out detail on the lives of these three men. I encourage you to read on your own. There's some truly heavy life lessons to learn from them.
Christian website of the week: CHRISTIAN COLLEGE SEARCH (http://ccs.gospelcom.net/?www.nailscarred.net-ChristianSiteOfTheWeek04-27-01)