SOME THINGS WE'VE LOST WE NEED TO REGAIN IN THE NEW YEAR
2 John 8 & Luke 15:1-10
INTRODUCTION:
Our Scriptures say that we need to be alert lest we lose that which we have gained in our efforts and work for the Lord. It also tells us what we should do if we have lost something. Look for it till we find it.
I believe there are some things we have lost that we need to regain, that we need to get back into our lives.
I. OUR MAIN PURPOSE IN LIVING
Created for fellowship with Him
A. TO LIVE FOR GOD.
1. To Love Him
Deut. 6:5
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Mark 12:30:
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
2. To Serve Him
Deut. 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
We tend to satisfy self and if it feels good do it.
B. HOW?
Matt. 4:4
But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
1 Cor. 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell, Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Titus 2:11-13
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Phil. 1:21
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
II. OUR CONCERN & LOVE FOR ONE FOR ANOTHER
A. WE HAVE "CLICKS" THAT EXCLUDE SOME.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
B. WE HATE SOME.
1 John 2:9-11
He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
C. WE ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1 John 3:11, 14, 16
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, IF ye have love one to another. KJV
D. WE ARE TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
1 John 3:17
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
III. OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEING FAITHFUL
A. WE'RE REQUIRED TO BE FAITHFUL.
1 Cor. 4:2
Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
B. WE NO LONGER TELL THE TRUTH.
Psa. 5:9
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
C. WE MAKE EXCUSES.
1. Like the 3 men invited to come to the Supper of the Master.
a. I bought land and must go see it.
b. I bought oxen and must go prove them.
c. I married a wife and therefore I cannot go.
2. We can do what we want to do, when we want to do it!
3. Shut the tube off and obey God! O me, AMEN!
D. FAITHFUL IN LITTLE, ALSO IN MUCH.
Luke 16:10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
IV. OUR NEED FOR GOD'S MESSAGE
A. THE BIBLE SAID THIS TIME WOULD COME.
1 Tim. 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
2 Tim. 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teaches, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
People want rose water squirted on them, ears tickled, back slapped.
They want to be told how good they are.
We need to hear the TRUTH!
We are FORGIVEN SINNERS, if we know JESUS, but there are times we still sin.
Mention SIN, and people get mad and leave. They wear their feelings on their sleeves. Their feelings get hurt too easily. They quit coming to church. Who are they hurting? Themselves.
B. GOD'S WORD IS OUR ROADMAP
All we need to know about living the Christian life is there if we will but heed it.
But to learn it we must have a desire for it.
We have not yet arrived at perfection or near it.
V. OUR RESPECT FOR GOD'S HOUSE
This is God's house, not mine, not yours, but God’s.
It ought to represent something higher than the world.
It ought to be the best looking place on the block.
It is not a place to play and horse around in, but a place to worship Almighty God.
David said in
Psalms 122:1
I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.
When Solomon dedicated the temple to God:
God had this to say:
2 Chronicles 7:12, 16
And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
For now have I chosen and sanctified this house that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
If you need to get up and go to the bathroom, take your stuff with you and when you come back in, sit at the back so you do not disturb anyone by coming all the way back to your seat.
That means that the back two rows need to be reserved for that purpose. We do not eat in the sanctuary because it is set aside as the place of worship. Let’s not bring attitudes into His House either.
When the invitation is about to be given and is in the process of being given, please pray. Do not move around, talk or do anything that will distract from what is going on. I am offering salvation to anyone who wants it on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION:
These are but five of the things we have lost we need to regain.
What are we going to do? Sit around, do nothing.
Go to the Lord and ask forgiveness for our slothfulness, our apathy, our unconcern, our ease in Zion.
Sinner, the Lord asks of you the same as Christians today.
To love with all your might and to do that you need to give Him your heart.
1. Recognize you are a sinner without hope apart form Jesus.
2. Repent of your Sin.
3. Receive Jesus into your heart as Savior and Lord.
He wants to give you eternal life today, what will it be?
