Sermon Central
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Circumstantial Christianity
Contributed by Pablo Catala on Jun 22, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: Situational Christians
“Circumstantial Christianity”
Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go on.
There is a great truth that I would like to bring out to you this morning, and that is beloved that Christianity is not based of how we feel it is based on truth and if you base your faith on your feelings you will lose every time, God responds to faith not circumstances.
23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
We are at a point in life that as people, as human beings we make decisions based on circumstances and not based on faith. We live in a faithless generation. Jesus spoke of such that would be of today’s nature in the word of God when he rebuked His own disciples.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
Jesus is dealing with a faithless people that determined their faith based on what they were able to see or not see, even today people make their decisions whether or not to serve Christ based on if Christ were to help them or come to their aide or their comfort when they request. Yes it is God will for His people to be at peace but sometimes our peace come through the storms.
If we look at Mark 9:17-18 we see that men that have walked with Jesus and that come to see Jesus work miracles were not able to cast out a demon spirit.
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
We live in a generation where circumstances now dictate their decisions, determine their destiny and control their emotions. We live in a generation that feel as if they are entitled, you owe me, why not me? Take from him and give to me, I deserve it mentality. Today’s generation are raised with an expectation to expect with no intention to give back, our nation was birthed on giving, with supporting with nothing in return, godly motives and godly standards, Christ-like mentality laying down your life for others. But today what is happening is that when things don’t go our way or if things don’t pan out for us the way we thought they should have the God we once served has now become the God we have chosen to forget and deny even with cursing. I’m not a Christian I’m one of you.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
So now we come to our text this morning beloved we see Joseph life is good, he has been given dreams of a promise he has the hand of God upon him but something seems to have taken a wrong turn, he is betrayed, he is to his understanding about to die, But how could this happen I am destined to greatness? God promised him greatness but God never told him when. If anyone had a reason to deny God it was Joseph. The question is this can you wait on God even when you don’t see God’s plan unfold in your life at your timing?
