Intro: 2 Thessalonians states before the Anti-Christ is revealed there will first be a falling away. Matthew Henry gives us this explanation of the falling away—“there will be a falling away from sound doctrine, true worship, and holy living.” Today, I would like to present the attitude you must have to not be numbered with those who fall away, but of those who hold fast.
A NO MATTER WHAT CHRISTIAN
As a Pastor for 23 years I have had the privilege of pastoring many Christians who finished their race with faith in their hearts, fire in their bones, and heaven in their reach. Here are some of the keys it will take to be A NO MATTER WHAT CHRISTIAN.
I. Though He slay me, yet will I serve Him—Job 13:15
For us to be a no matter what Christian we must come to the place in our lives where we say, I am going to serve God no matter what. In Job’s life this meant three things:
a. I will serve God even if life seems to be going against me. It is easy to serve God when everything seems to be going well, but true faith rises when it is tested. To serve God on the top of the mountain is good, to serve God in the midst of the valley is better.
b. I will serve Him with or without encouragement from others. Some people seem to need others to continually cheer them on in their walk with God. But sometimes we must stand alone and say like Joshua, for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
c. I will serve Him, even when I don’t understand everything that He is doing. Abraham went out not knowing where he was going and became the father of the faithful. If you have to know why you are building arks you will never build any. It is when you don’t understand the plan and purpose, that you build your greatest works for God.
II. Israel’s Remnant- I Kings 19:18—Elijah thought he was at
The place where he was the only one who had not given into the world. But God revealed to him there were 7000 who wouldn’t bow. Today it is the same, to be part of the remnant you must decide these things
a. no matter how evil the world is, I will choose to live a holy life to God. God has always had a people in every generation who having done all to stand, will stand.
b. If God is for us, it doesn’t matter what is against us. Elisha’s servant only saw the enemy, but Elisha saw God. To many times we focus on the problem when we need to see the solution.
c. I’ve come to far to turn back now—Sister Clark—I can see the lights of home.
III. Peter’s Confidence- John 6:66-68 Where would we go?
Thou has the words of eternal life. For you to be a no matter what Christian, your confidence can’t be in yourself, or in others, it must be a confidence in the Word of God.
You must be sure.
1. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17
2. I like the story of the Atheist telling the little boy he would give him a dollar if he would show him where God was, the little boy said, I will give you 2 dollars if you can show me where God isn’t
3. Song—where would I go, where would I go, seeking a refuge for my soul, needing a friend, to guide me to the end, where would I go but to the Lord.
IV. Paul’s Declaration: 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 but we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us
a. we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed—Paul says, it doesn’t matter what you are going through, but that you are going through
b. we are perplexed, but not in despair— we are in difficult situations, but I’ve got a feeling everything is going to be alright
c. persecuted but not forsaken—He will never leave us or forsake us, He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
d. Cast down, but not destroyed, the secret to being a no matter what Christian, is getting up one more time than you have been knocked down.
V. John’s secret—Revelation 1:9-10 I was in the Spirit on the
Lord’s day.
a. it is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith
the Lord.
b. John 4:23 the true worshippers will worship the Father in
Spirit and in Truth.
Close: what will it take to be a no matter what Christian—
To be a Job that says, though he slay me, yet will I serve Him
Remnant people, I will not bow down to this world
Like Peter—where else could we go but to the Lord
Like Paul—we have this treasure
Like John—in the Spirit---
Ill) years ago at McDonalds I accidently left my wallet on the food tray and threw it into the trash can. By the time I got back, they had thrown the bags in the dumpster out back. I had just gotten my paycheck cashed so it was into the dumpster. Murphy’s law kicked in, I looked through every bag in the dumpster, and in the last bag I found my wallet and money. When I was in the dumpster, I was a no matter what person, I wasn’t coming out without my wallet. If we can be that determined for earthly things, how much more should we be determined over eternal things. Be a No Matter What Christian
