I Urge You Series

Seriously, the town of Jonesboro is a pretty good place to live, especially when you compare it to Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI, and a few other places. However, as good as Jonesboro might be or might seem to be, we still lack holiness and godliness.

There is meanness and nastiness going on all the time in this town. And in the midst of this ungodly world wherever we live we are urged to be holy and godly.

ILL.- I once worked with a guy in church camp who was originally from Chicago, IL. He said he still some family there but he hated to go back to that city. I got the impression that he feared for his soul in that city, that is, that there was just so much temptation and sin there that he didn’t dare go there again.

It’s the idea that he wanted to stay out of the devil’s territory, which was Chicago to him.

Where’s the devil territory for you? It could be Jonesboro. It could be places or even certain people in Jonesboro. We all need to stay out of the devil’s territory where we are most tempted and we need to stay from certain people who cause us trouble!

Nevertheless, we’re here and we are urged to be holy and godly. WE MUST BLOOM WHERE WE’VE BEEN PLANTED and for now, we’ve been planted in Jonesboro, AR. And you can be or can become holy and godly in Jonesboro! BUT ONLY IF YOU WORK AT IT.

Goodness and godliness don’t come easy to us. We’ve been stained by Adam and Eve’s sin. It’s easy to sin, but it’s much more difficult to be holy . It’s easier to be a sinner than to be a saint.

Paul said that we should pray in such a way as to develop holiness or godliness in us. We need to pray for the right atmosphere where these things can be accomplished.

What kind of atmosphere is needed for godliness and holiness to grow or take place? I’m not sure a rock concert would be a good place to become more holy nor the Indy 500 nor a bar, etc.

Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Holiness or godliness cannot be acquired in a noisy atmosphere or a nasty world. We must be alone with God for Him to rub off on us. We must be with Him for us to become holy.

Take time to be holy.

The world rushes on.

Much time spend in secret with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be.

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

I urge you to work at becoming godly.

III. I URGE YOU TO SEEK SALVATION

3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

God wants all people to be saved in Jesus, which means to believe the truth of His Word. How are we going to get the job done? God is urging to seek the salvation of all mankind! What are we going to do about it?